2024 NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions
The 2024 NFL Playoffs bring an exciting end to a roller coaster ride of a season that has new division champions, where Kansas City is not in the top two of the AFC, and where only one team surpassed 13 wins in the regular season.
Teams on bye: 1. San Francisco 49ers; 1. Baltimore Ravens
*all times EST*
AFC
7. Pittsburgh Steelers @ 2. Buffalo Bills
Notes: Monday, January 15th, 2024; 4:30 p.m. Highmark Stadium; CBS/Paramount+
The Steelers snuck into the playoffs by beating the top-seeded Ravens, and having Jacksonville lose their finale. A late resurgence by backup quarterback Mason Rudolph has stabilized the position for the late season run w/o starter Kenny Pickett who many fans had grown tired of.
This run comes after a bizarre season for Pittsburgh, in which they fired OC Matt Canada, and some fans even called to fire Mike Tomlin when the season concluded. Even after all that, they're here, with a tall task to take down probably the hottest team in the NFL.
Buffalo started weak, losing the opening week to the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets, a bad Patriot team, and two other teams who failed to make the postseason, Cincinnati and Denver. But with 5 wins in a row and 6 out of their last 7, Buffalo finds themselves as the 2 seed in the AFC.
With the news of Pittsburgh’s best defensive player TJ Watt expected to miss this game, and Buffalo's hot stretch, I see this as an easy choice.
WCW’s Pick: Bills 31, Steelers 10
6. Miami Dolphins @ 3. Kansas City Chiefs
Notes: Saturday, January 13th, 2024; 8:00 p.m. Arrowhead Stadium; Peacock
Miami lost a tough battle in week 18, losing out on the 2 seed, and a division title, something they haven’t won since 2008. They now trek north to Kansas City where Tyreek Hill will get a revenge game on his former team.
The Dolphins burst onto the scene early and looked like early favorites for the title. However, after losses to high-caliber teams, like the Ravens, Bills, and Eagles, they sit in the middle of the pack, hoping to pull off the upset of the defending champions.
The Chiefs need no introduction. They won 2 out of the last 4 Super Bowls and are constantly in contention, year in and year out. However, 2023 was a struggle. From WR problems to Travis Kelce and Mahomes under a new OC, things seemed bleak for some time. They still ran away with their 8th straight AFC West title and claimed the 3rd overall seed.
These two teams met in week 9 in Germany, a game in which KC won by 7. This time, however, Miami is ready for revenge. A big game from Hill wouldn’t be surprising either.
WCW’s Pick: Dolphins 23, Chiefs 20
5. Cleveland Browns @ 4. Houston Texans
Notes: Saturday, January 13th, 2024; 4:30 p.m. NRG Stadium; NBC/Fubo
Who would have thought Cleveland would make these playoffs? Not me, especially after DeShaun Watson went out with a season-ending injury. This team rallied behind aging QB Joe Flacco, who has had a recent resurgence and is in the conversation for CBPOY.
Not only are they without their starting QB, but also their running back, as the 4-time pro bowler also suffered a season-ending injury. This is truly one of the more Cindarellaesque type runs we have seen in the NFL over the past few seasons.
Houston has also dealt with injuries on their side, but the main storyline out of Houston in 2023–2024 is rookie CJ Stroud. The Ohio State product threw for 23 TDs, only 5 INTs, and over 4k yards. People have bashed OSUs’ success in producing NFL QBs, but Stroud seems to have broken the curse.
While they did not meet in the regular season, this game should be very close. Two evenly-matched teams both back in the postseason after a few years of disappointment.
WCW’s Pick: Texans 30, Browns 20
NFC
7. Green Bay Packers @ 2. Dallas Cowboys
Notes: Sunday, January 14th, 2024; 4:30 p.m. AT&T Stadium; FOX/Fubo
Green Bay clinched the postseason in the final week of the season, defeating their rival Chicago Bears 17–9. Not only has Jordan Love convinced most Packer fans he is the net franchise QB, but he did it while putting up respectable numbers.
It’s very hard to replicate and fill the shoes of two HoF QBs, but when you throw over 4,100 yards, fans are going to love you…. no pun intended.
Even with a down year from pro-bowl RB Aaron Jones, the youngest team in the NFL showed up when it mattered.
Dallas’ season also went above expectations. The Eagles were obvious favorites to win the NFC East and faltered late to give Dallas a division title. Leading the way was AP All-NFL second-team QB Dak Prescott who led the MVP conversation for a while.
This game should be a stellar one, even with it being a 7 vs. 2 seed. There’s also history, with Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy having coached Green Bay for 12 years, as well as winning a Super Bowl with the organization.
WCW’s Pick: Cowboys 27, Packers 21
6. Los Angeles Rams @ 3. Detroit Lions
Notes: Sunday, January 14th, 2024; 8:00 p.m. Ford Field; NBC/Fubo
Long-time Lions QB Matt Stafford will make a trip back to his old stomping grounds where his former team is in their first home playoff game since 1994. The Lions also claimed the NFC North in 2023, a feat never accomplished by Stafford.
After a disappointing year last season, the Rams are back. Even though they were without star WR Cooper Kupp for a few games, standout rookie WR Puka Nacua broke the record for most receptions and yards by a rookie wide receiver.
On the other side of the football, the Detroit Lions are back in the postseason. The rebuild has finally been worth it. After lots of great drafting and scouting, this team is really good. From Amon-Ra St. Brown as a stud receiver to Penei Sewell being named an All-Pro on the offensive line, this team has been built from the ground up.
They’re led by QB Jared Goff, someone the Rams simply didn’t want. In the trade for Stafford, he was the piece in return. He might be playing with a little extra something on his mind, considering this team gave up on him.
WCW’s Pick: Lions 17, Rams 7
5. Philadelphia Eagles @ 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Notes: Monday, January 15th, 2024; 8:15 p.m. Raymond James Stadium; ABC/ESPN/Fubo
The Eagles come into this game having lost 5 out of the last 6 games. Not only did people predict them to win the NFC East, but also to have a first-round bye. The defending NFC champs started hot but cooled off. QB Jalen Hurts was regarded as possibly an NFL MVP finalist. A month later, it all changed.
However, their season isn’t over. While they do have to travel to Tampa to play an underrated Bucs team with a QB who is currently in his “prove it” year.
Baker Mayfield has had a crazy few years, from being sent to Carolina, then to a late-season situation in LA, and now to Tampa. While he has shown he can be an NFL starting QB, the team around him hasn’t been the greatest. But even after all that, the Bucs find themselves hosting a playoff game.
This game won’t be that close, and one team is better than the other. One plays in one of the best divisions in the NFL, and the other barely one the NFC South.
WCW’s Pick: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 10
