NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round Odds, Best Bets & Predictions for Key Games

Updated: Feb 27, 2024

So, now we know who has punched their ticket to make it to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. There were some surprises (Jaguars selling playoff tickets and then not making it) and some narratives that will only strengthen after what we saw in week 18. When all is said and done, we can all look forward to some extremely exciting games beginning this weekend as playoff season gets underway.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at all the odds and our picks for the wild card playoff games for this year. It is always one of the best weekends on the NFL calendar, cold weather, tension and bundles of excitement!

NFL Saturday, January 13

Houston Texans 🆚 Cleveland Browns

What a season it has been for the Houston Texans. There weren’t a lot of expectations for this franchise heading into the season with a rookie QB and head coach, it was seen as a rebuilding year. However, they have defied those expectations culminating in walking into Indianapolis last week and wrapping up the AFC South with a 23-19 win. CJ Stroud likely confirmed himself as the offensive rookie of the year with another stellar display, throwing for 264 yards and 2 TDs. His top receiver on the day was Nico Collins, who posted 195 yards and 1 TD. Despite injuries, these Texans are fearless, and they welcome a Browns team to Houston this weekend who themselves are quite a story. They have gone through five different Quarterbacks this season but eventually settled on veteran Joe Flacco in December, and he got up off the couch to lead Cleveland to the playoffs in impressive fashion. Flacco mania has fully taken hold in the state and his story has really caught the imagination. Can he really lead the Browns to the Super Bowl? Stranger things have happened.

Kansas City Chiefs 🆚 Miami Dolphins

It has been a weird season for the Chiefs. The expectation for this team is Super Bowl or bust, that is natural when you have appeared in 3 Super Bowls in 5 years and won 2 of them. Also, when you have a superstar QB and a head coach that will be in the hall of fame, the scrutiny will always be there. By those lofty standards, this team have fallen well short this season. Yes, they are in the playoffs and did indeed win the AFC West yet again, but not in the style we have become accustomed to. Mahomes has been below par, we’ve barely heard Travis Kelce’s name in weeks. It has been the defense that has carried this team for the majority of the season, and that defense will be up against a team this week that also come into the playoffs with many questions. The accusation against Miami has been they crumble in big moments and they did little to allay those shouts with a concerning loss to the Bills last week. There were bright spots, RB De’Von Achane continues to impress and Tyreek Hill had his usual big day, but in the second half the offense sputtered and the amount of injuries the defense has told in the end. Tua also threw 2 picks and the Dolphins have a ‘flaky’ tag, the pressure on both teams in this one is immense.

NFL Sunday, January 14

Buffalo Bills 🆚 Pittsburgh Steelers

We had the full Josh Allen experience last Sunday. Interceptions, huge throws, amazing runs, strange decisions, that is what you get with no17 for the Bills. He gets a lot of criticism, people claiming he throws too many picks and isn’t smart with the football. I love watching him and there is no doubt he gives Buffalo a chance whenever he is on the field. He had a horrible first half in Miami last week, but he came storming back in the 2nd half and in addition to those 2 interceptions threw for 2 TDs and 359 yards. Receiver Khalil Shakir had 105 yards through the air and there was also some nice connections with Stefon Diggs. From seemingly being dead and buried at 6-6, the Bills won the AFC East and will welcome the Steelers to Western New York this week. Pittsburgh have rather stumbled into the playoffs, but they will feel now they are in they have as good a chance as any. They have done it off the back of QB Mason Rudolph, who started the season as the backup but now seems to be QB1. The ground game has been key for the Steelers in recent weeks, and in their win over the Ravens last week Najee Harris ran for 112 yards and a TD. In a worrying development, star linebacker TJ Watt suffered a knee injury and didn’t finish the game. His health will be vital if they are to have any chance in this one.

Dallas Cowboys 🆚 Green Bay Packers

The Cowboys wrapped up the NFC East in typical fashion by putting up a load of points in a 38-10 win over the Commanders. QB Dak Prescott threw for 279 yards and 4 TDs, while Cee Dee Lamb had 98 yards and 2 TDs. Prescott and Lamb have formed a real connection which has been outstanding in recent weeks. People will still question if they can do it in the postseason and on the biggest stage, but they undoubtedly have the talent. Backed by a strong defense, the Cowboys will be a tough out in these playoffs which Green Bay may find out as they travel to Jerry World this weekend. Unlike last year when the Packers fell at the final hurdle and missed out on the playoffs, they punched their ticket against rivals the Bears with a 17-9 victory. Jordan Love continues to improve and had a nice day with 316 yards and 2 TDs, while RB Aaron Jones had 111 yards rushing and Jayden Reed had 112 yards receiving. These Packers are young and feisty and will need to be fearless to have any chance of progressing.

Detroit Lions 🆚 Los Angeles Rams

There were some big expectations for the Lions this season after their strong finish last year, and they have met those head on, winning the NFC North for the first time since 1993. They still had an outside chance of clinching the no2 seed in the conference going into last week, and did their job with a win over the division rival Vikings, 30-20. Jared Goff threw for 320 yards and 2 TDs while receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had another fantastic day, with 7 recs for 144 yards and a TD. They have some serious weapons on offense, and will need them this week as they welcome the exciting Rams team to Detroit in the wild card round. Unlike the Lions, there were no expectations for the Rams entering the season. The team was full of rookies and it was seen as a rebuilding year, but coach Sean McVay was having none of it and they have excited many a football fan this season with top quality QB play from Matthew Stafford and stars emerging on both sides of the ball. The biggest of those stars is receiver Puka Nacua, who broke the record for most receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history last week. These Rams play with so much energy and are a great watch, this could be a shootout.

NFL Monday, January 15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 🆚 Philadelphia Eagles

In a post Tom Brady world, the Bucs were searching for a QB to lead them. In stepped Bake Mayfield, who I think it’s fair to say divides opinion. I think it is also fair to say he has been solid for the most part this season and has led the Bucs to the NFC South title and a home playoff game. In Chris Godwin and Mike Evans they have some excellent receiver weapons, wile running back Rachaad White has got better as the season has gone on. They also have some great players on defense and will fancy their chances in Florida this weekend against a reeling Eagles team. If it wasn’t bad enough that the Eagles endured a nightmare December, losing their grip on first place in the NFC East amid talk of infighting, in their defeat to the Giants last week, star receiver A.J Brown went down with a knee injury and was ruled out for most of the game. His status will be closely monitored all week and could be a huge factor in this game. Whether he is healthy or not, the Eagles must rediscover their early season form or face going home far earlier than anyone could have expected.