The NFL regular season has come to an end, which means the playoffs are just around the corner promptly beginning Jan 14. The wildcard round consists of six teams from the American Football Conference (AFC) and six from the National Football Conference (NFC) with the top-seeded team from each conference earning a bye-week, meaning they advance directly to the next round. The wildcard round has historically provided some of the NFL’s greatest moments such as Andrew Luck’s 2014 45-44 comeback win against the Chiefs and the Music City Miracle that saw the Titans beat the Bills 22-16 on a game-winning kick return touchdown in 2000. This year, there may not be any instant classics as they are rare to come by, but we should be in store for some good football. So, let us get right into these predictions. 

NFC 

#7 Seahawks @ #2 49ers 

Jan 14 

4:30 p.m. EST 

FOX

    The 9-8 Seahawks and 13-4 49ers will be meeting for the third time this season at Levi’s Stadium. During their two regular-season meetings, the 49ers swept the two games with scores of 27-7 and 21-13. Both teams have league-wide fan favorites lining up behind center on Saturday with Seahawks rolling with Geno Smith and the 49ers relying on Brock Purdy. According to ProFootballReference, Smith has thrown for 4200 yards, 30 touchdowns and a league-leading completion percentage of 69.8%. The 32-year-old quarterback was originally drafted by the Jets and had been primarily a backup before getting a shot with the Seahawks and earning his first pro bowl nod. For the 49ers, rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, dubbed Mr. Irrelevant for being the last pick in the draft, has taken over the starting role after Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo both went down with season-ending injuries. The 49ers are 6-0 with Purdy and might be the hottest team in football right now with the addition of Christian McCaffrey and the late season surge of George Kittle while going on their 10-game win streak. I got the 49ers riding their hot hand behind big games from McCaffrey and Kittle. 49ers 37 Seahawks 24

AFC

#5 Chargers @ #4 Jaguars 

Jan 14

8:15 p.m. EST

NBC 

    The 10-7 Chargers visit the 9-8 Jaguars as both teams have been playing their best football in the later months of the season. The Jaguars started the season 3-7 before winning seven of their last eight which includes their current six-game win streak, whereas the Chargers started 5-5 before winning five of their last seven. The one thing the Chargers will need to do to win this game is establish the run game, as they have failed to get their lead back, Austin Ekeler, over 50 yards in six of their seven losses on the season. However, the Jaguars have a stingy run defense, allowing just under 2000 yards on the season. I got the Jaguars continuing their hot streak behind the efforts of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Christian Kirk. Jaguars 30 Chargers 28.

AFC

#7 Dolphins @ #2 Bills 

Jan 15 EST

1:00 p.m. 

CBS

    The 9-8 Dolphins lost five straight games before beating the Jets in an ugly 11-6 win with third-string quarterback, Skylar Thompson, under center. Meanwhile, the 13-3 Bills have won seven straight games including a 32-29 win against the Dolphins. With starter Tua Tagovaiola getting ruled out for Sunday’s game, and the status of backup Teddy Bridgewater still in question, I just cannot see how either Thompson or Bridgewater can get this Dolphins team to overpower Josh Allen, Stephon Diggs and the second-ranked Bills offense. Even with receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill who have a combined 3,000 yards on the season in their arsenal, without Tagovailoa available to get them the ball, the Dolphins just will not have the firepower to keep up. When Tagovailoa does not start the game, the duo averages just 137.5 combined yards compared to their average of just over 175 yards. I just think the Dolphins will just be overwhelmed by the Super Bowl favorites. Bills 32 Dolphins 21.

NFC

#6 Giants @ #3 Vikings 

Jan 15

4:30 p.m. EST

FOX

    The 9-7-1 Giants have had a resurgence under new head coach, Brian Daboll, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Their adversaries, the 13-4 Vikings, have had a weird season to say the least, according to ESPN. This phenomenon can be seen in their four losses they have been outscored 35-12 on average with all-pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson being held to under 50 yards in three of those four games. In their 13 wins, they outscored their opponents 29-22 on average with Jefferson having over 100 yards in nine of the 13 victories. When they do win, the game goes down to the wire, as seen in overtime wins against the Colts and Bills. When they lose they often get trampled with losses of 40-3 and 41-17 to the Cowboys and Packers, respectively. Although the Giants have cooled off drastically since their 7-2 start, they dominated the struggling Colts and looked good in their three-point loss to the Vikings where quarterback Daniel Jones passed for 334 yards and running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 84 yards and a score. I think the Giants live out their underdog story with a statement win Sunday against the Vikings thanks to big games from Jones and Barkley. Giants 27 Vikings 23.

AFC 

#6 Ravens @ #3 Bengals 

Jan 15 

8:15 p.m. EST

NBC

    After starting 4-4, the Bengals have won eight straight games to reach 12-4 and clinch their division. On the other hand, the 10-7 Ravens have gone 3-4 since starting 7-3. Former league MVP, Lamar Jackson, has missed 16 straight practices and five straight games since getting injured Dec. 4 in a 10-9 win against the Broncos. According to NBC Sports, Jackson’s status is not looking good for Sunday’s game which will then force head coach John Harbaugh to go with either Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown. Huntley went 2-3 as the starter in relief for Jackson and Brown threw two interceptions in a 27-16 week 18 loss to the Bengals. It is hard to beat the same team twice in seven days, but last year’s Super Bowl runner-up is so much better this year than they were last year, and I do not think there are many teams that can stop this young, healthy and hungry team from reaching the big game once again. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has more yards, touchdowns and fewer interceptions than last season and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has seen an increase in yards per game, receptions per game and catch percentage. Chase has been held to just 68 yards per game against the Ravens this season, but with Raven cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters being banged up late in the season, I see Chase surpassing 100 yards in a big-time Bengals win. Bengals 34 Ravens 17. 

NFC 

#5 Cowboys @ #4 Buccaneers 

Jan 16

8:15 p.m. EST

ESPN/ABC

    As what seems to be a trend in this Wild Card round, these two teams will be having a rematch of their week one game that saw Cowboys starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, got injured and the Buccaneers beat the Cowboys 19-3. Since then, the Cowboys had scored under 20 twice, in a 26-17 loss against the Eagles and a 26-6 meaningless week 18 loss to the Commanders. The 8-9 Buccaneers, led by one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady, have been struggling all year long. Brady broke the record for attempts and completions in a season, mainly due to the fact that he has not had any ground help whatsoever. They have had a 100-yard rusher just twice all season that came in wins against the Cowboys and Seahawks. Brady has thrown over 40 attempts 13 times this season, with a 5-8 record in those games. When he is able to throw under 40 times, the Buccaneers have a 3-1 record with the loss coming in a futile week 18 game against the Falcons. It is always foolish to bet against Brady, especially in January. If the Buccaneers can get any resemblance of a quality run game on Monday, I see them upsetting the high-powered Cowboys. The Cowboys have given up over 130 team rushing yards just 8 times, but they went 3-5 in those games, and with Cowboys star linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch, out with injury, it will give the Buccaneers a better shot at reaching that benchmark. Look for big games from Brady and running back Leonard Fournette. Buccaneers 31 Cowboys 28. 

    Wild Card weekend is always a fun time and a tease for what we should expect looking forward to in the playoffs. The season always flies by fast, but no matter the outcome, just sit back and enjoy some high-quality football this weekend.