We’re just two days away from the start of the NFL playoffs, with six games coming up Saturday, Sunday and Monday night to determine which eight teams will remain alive for next week’s divisional round. As the week has gone on, point spreads have shifted, teams have brought some of their key players back from IR and the COVID-19 list, and so it’s time to take an updated look at the six matchups as you finalize your NFL betting strategy.
NFL News: Last-Second Predictions for Wild Card Games
Las Vegas Raiders (+5.5) at Cincinnati Bengals (O/U 49.5)
Saturday, January 15 | 4:30 pm ET, NBC
The Raiders’ postseason chances looked to be on life support until the team won four in a row to close out the regular season, all by one score. They won a thrilling overtime matchup in Los Angeles to end the Chargers’ season – giving up a 14-point lead and a 15-point lead in the process, but getting the final field goal in the extra frame. They had to expend a lot of energy in prime time and now turn around on a short week and visit Cincinnati, where hot quarterback Joe Burrow awaits the chance to pick apart their secondary, which permitted more than 300 yards through the air on four different occasions.
The Raiders do have Maxx Crosby, a defensive end, in the Pro Bowl – and the Cincinnati O-line has permitted 55 sacks. However, the Bengals have Joe Mixon, who ran for 1,205 yards during the regular season (third overall) and who also can catch passes out of the backfield. Cincinnati rolled over the Raiders in Week 11, and they should be able to repeat that accomplishment on Saturday.
Bengals to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
New England Patriots (+4) at Buffalo Bills (42.5)
Saturday, January 15 | 8:15 pm ET, CBS
Playoff football in the Northeast often means wintry weather, and Saturday night’s matchup between the Pats and the Bills has a forecast of temperatures near zero with a 30 percent chance of snow. Conditions should be more like the teams’ first meeting, when the Patriots only attempted three passes in a run-heavy win. Buffalo led the league in fewest yards and points permitted this season, but they have struggled at times to stop the run, as was the case when the Pats won in Buffalo earlier this season and in several of Buffalo’s other losses. This time around, though, the Bills should have the edge against a rookie quarterback who has regressed a bit in the last fourth of the season.
Bills to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Philadelphia Eagles (+8.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (49)
Sunday, January 16 | 1:00 pm ET, FOX
I wouldn’t expect the Philly Special to derail Tom Brady’s latest pursuit of an NFL championship, as the Eagles are now a run-heavy team. In fact, they led the NFL with 159.7 rushing yards per contest, but those numbers may not hold up against the Buccaneers, who only permitted 92.5 rushing yards per contest, third best in the NFL.
Tampa Bay should get tailback Leonard Fournette (hamstring), linebacker Shaquil Barrett (knee) and pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) back for Sunday’s game, and those returns should compensate for the ongoing absence of Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown.
Bucs to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
San Francisco 49ers (+3) at Dallas Cowboys (50.5)
Sunday, January 16 | 4:30 pm ET, CBS
Dallas’ defense is stellar at generating pressure on the passer and getting sacks – Micah Parsons has 13 sacks all by himself. However, the 49ers like to run the ball a lot and use short dropbacks that get rid of the ball before the pressure can show up. They also don’t make a lot of deep throws, which should counteract Dallas’ strengths in terms of generating interceptions.
The Dallas offense has sputtered frequently since the Week 7 win in New England (don’t let the 50+ point performances against undermanned Washington and Philadelphia defenses fool you). Dallas has a 5-2 all-time record against San Francisco in the playoffs, but I don’t see this game going the Cowboys’ way.
49ers to cover: Bet the Game Today
Pittsburgh Steelers (+12.5) at Kansas City Chiefs (46)
Sunday, January 16 | 8:15 pm ET, NBC
Pittsburgh wouldn’t even be in the playoffs if the Indianapolis Colts hadn’t gone to Jacksonville and laid a giant egg, losing to fall out of the postseason. Then the Steelers had to win in Baltimore (needing overtime to do it) and wait to see if the Raiders-Chargers game would end any way other than a tie. That game, of course, went to overtime, and now Ben Roethlisberger’s career will extend at least one more game.
The Chiefs should have Tyreek Hill (heel) back, along with tailbacks Clyde Edwards-Helaire (shoulder) and Darrel Williams (toe). Kansas City routed Pittsburgh during the regular season and should be able to do it again.
Chiefs to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
Arizona Cardinals (+4) at L.A. Rams (49.5)
Monday, January 17 | 8:15 pm ET, ESPN / ABC
Of the six games on the slate, this is the one on which I am least likely to bet. Why? Because I’m not sure what is more likely – Matthew Stafford throwing two or three picks and putting the hands of the opportunistic Kyler Murray, or Aaron Donald and Von Miller getting a strip-sack of Murray each and the Rams turning short fields into touchdowns. The Cardinals lost four of five down the stretch, with the only win coming over an overrated Dallas team. The Rams won three of four down the stretch but saw Stafford throw eight picks in those four games. I like the Rams’ defense slightly better, but after seeing them cough up a 17-0 lead to lose to San Francisco at home last week, that margin is slight.
Rams to win and cover: Bet the Game Today
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