A week in the NFL: Super Wild Card Weekend predictions
More stories from Adam Hop
January 31, 2021
Football fans around the world have looked forward to this year’s unique postseason football. This weekend, starting on January 9th, the NFL Playoffs will finally start with a super wildcard weekend, Featuring six high-powered matchups, I thought that I should give you my fair share of predictions on what I think will happen this weekend. Here is this weekend in the NFL.
AFC
#7 Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ #2 Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Both teams have played great football this year, but it is very hard to go against an offense led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. The Bills have played outstanding in December, beating teams like the Steelers and the Dolphins, and although the Colts have been led by their defense so far this year, the Bills have a great counterpunch with a top-five offense and a top-five defense. If the Bills’ offense can get rolling as they have been, the Bills will win this one.
My Prediction: Bills win 34-24
#5 Baltimore Ravens (11-5) @ #4 Tennessee Titans (11-5)
If there is one game that everyone should tune into this weekend, this is the one. This game is the most balanced game of the weekend. The Titans and the Ravens both matched up in week 7 with Tennessee taking home the win in overtime, but ever since that game, Baltimore has been on a roll. After going 5-5 to start off the year, last year’s MVP Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to six straight wins with notable victories over the Browns and the Giants. While Baltimore was on a roll, Tennessee hit a rocky patch at the end of the year after losing to the Packers on the road and barely squeaking out a win against Houston in week 17. With this, I think that Baltimore will come out on top, but not by as much as people think.
My Prediction: Ravens win 38-31
#6 Cleveland Browns (11-5) @ #3 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
For the last matchup of this crazy weekend in football, we have an AFC North division rivalry between the Browns and the Steelers. During the regular season, these teams split their series 1-1, but the Browns won the week 17 matchup narrowly while the Steelers sat out some of the best players on their roster. With notable guys like Ben Rothlisberger and Cam Heyward coming back for this week’s matchup and the Browns being COVID plagued, I see the Steelers running away with this game.
My Prediction: Steelers win 31-17
NFC
#6 Los Angeles Rams (10-6) @ Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
With both teams being led by their defenses as of recent, this game will be a close one. With the Rams potentially being short-handed with the thumb injury to starting quarterback Jared Goff, it gives the Seahawks a little bit of an advantage. Led on offense by MVP candidate quarterback Russell Wilson and high-flying receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks offense will have to produce a lot for them to win this game. I think that Seattle can get the ball rolling again in the playoffs, and they can win this game quite easily.
My Prediction: Seahawks win 38-21
#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) @ #4 Washington Football Team (7-9)
This game is a no brainer pick if you are an NFL fan. The NFC East champion Washington Football Team is a decent team, but they stand no chance against this Tampa Bay team. The Buccaneers are arguably the most balanced team in the NFL with a great offense and a great defense. Led by one of the greatest quarterbacks ever in Tom Brady on the offensive side and veterans Lavonte David and Ndamukong Suh on the defensive side, Tampa Bay can be a dangerous team in the postseason.
My Prediction: Buccaneers win 42-24
#7 Chicago Bears (8-8) @ #2 New Orleans Saints (12-4)
After the Bears started off 5-1, they hit rock bottom, losing six games in a row after. But with the resurgence of starting QB Mitch Trubisky, the Bears have gone 3-1 in their last four games of the year, barely getting by the Arizona Cardinals for the last playoff spot on the NFC side of the bracket. Even though Chicago is a hot team right now, the Saints are a buzzsaw. With players like Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara leading them on the offensive side of the ball and their defense being one of the top defenses in the league, it is hard to go on the Bears’ side in this matchup.
My Prediction: Saints win 35-14
Adam is a junior at FHC and is now in his second year on the FHC Sports Report. Adam plays football in the fall and throws for track and field in the Spring....