The picture is set, so we can already go ahead and make our NFL Wild Card predictions 2022. The Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans will get some well-deserved rest, whereas the rest of the field will look to live another week.
NFL Wild Card predictions 2022
For those who need to have the Wild Card explained or the NFL playoffs explained, it’s actually pretty simple. Basically, teams are seeded depending on their record, and the higher seed hosts the lower seed in a winner-take-all game. Unlike other sports, the playoffs consist of just one game per round.
So, now that we already know which teams will take the gridiron for the postseason, let’s go ahead and talk about the NFL Wild Card schedule and, more importantly, the wild predictions and things we expect to happen next weekend.
NFL Wild Card schedule
Saturday, Jan. 15
- Raiders at Bengals
- Patriots at Bills
Sunday, Jan. 16
- Eagles at Buccaneers
- 49ers at Cowboys
- Steelers at Chiefs
Monday, Jan. 17
- Cardinals at Rams
Bills get back at Belichick
For two decades, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have owned, dominated, and crushed the Buffalo Bills. Now, finally, Sean McDermott‘s team will shake off those woes and knock them out of the playoffs in their third meeting of the season.
The Bills could’ve gone 2-0 against New England if it wasn’t for some bad playcalling in their first matchup. The Pats looked pretty bad against the Dolphins and Buffalo’s run defense has improved.
Simply put, it’ll be up to Mac Jones to pull off the upset.
Cowboys choke again
Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Micah Parsons have been outstanding together, but the same can’t be said of the Dallas Cowboys’ offense. The San Francisco 49ers are playing their best football of the season, while the Cowboys are heading in the opposite direction.
The Cowboys can’t stop the run and will have nightmares with the game’s most dynamic player in Deebo Samuel. Also, the Niners’ defense has stepped up big time over the past month or so and will put a lot of pressure on Dak Prescott. Add Mike McCarthy’s playcalling to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster, Cowboys fans.
Rams fall short… again
The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West but they’re not a good football team right now. They were up 17-0 over the Niners with the division on the line and still managed to lose. And their defensive juggernaut of Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Jalen Ramsey has yet to click.
The Cardinals haven’t exactly been great as of late but Matthew Stafford has looked pretty Jared Goffy in the second half of the season. We expect this to be a shootout with Cooper Kupp bailing Stafford’s wild throws out, and the Rams going home empty-handed… again.
Joe Burrow throws for 400+
This isn’t much of a bold take but needs to be said anyway. Joe Burrow is a bad man and is playing like an MVP right now, and the Las Vegas Raiders can’t get a stop against the pass. If not, just watch Justin Herbert going 6/6 on fourth and long in the season finale.
Burrow topped the 400-yard mark in both of his final games of the season and had a full week to rest, watch film, and prepare for this game. As long as the offensive line can keep Maxx Crosby away from him, Ja’Marr Chase is in for another historic performance.
Big Ben’s final game
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers live another day, but they only have Brandon Staley to thank for that. Other than T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, they have little-to-no reason to be in the playoffs, and they’re not likely to put in much of a fight anyway.
The Kansas City Chiefs are playing like a Super Bowl contender again and their revamped defense will have a field day with Big Ben. This will be the final game in Roethlisberger’s career or at least the last time we see him on a Steelers jersey.
Eagles fight hard but not hard enough
The Philadelphia Eagles are no pushovers. Their defense improved during the second half of the season and their running game opened up plenty of space for Jalen Hurts. But they’re just not talented enough to get past the reigning champions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have looked far from the team that won the Super Bowl and are quite undermanned on both sides of the field right now. Then again, it’s Tom freaking Brady we’re talking about here. He’ll get it done like he always gets it done.