It’s playoff time in the NFL season as we enter wild card week. Top seeds the Chiefs and the Packers can put their feet up and watch the rest battle it out in some interesting head to head clashes.
Here are my NFL 2021 wild card playoff predictions:
Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills
Philip Rivers and his Colts team will be pretty happy with their 11-5 season and reaching the play-offs. It gets really tough for them now though as they face a team who many have down as favourites to go all the way. The Bills certainly weren’t taking it easy last week despite already having qualified for the playoffs. A 56-26 demolition of the Dolphins, which ended Miami’s season, shows just how strong Buffalo are right now. Josh Allen is arguably the top quarterback in the league right now and he should help his team cruise through to the next round.
Colts 21 Bills 35
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Jared Goff’s thumb injury remains the biggest concern for the Rams going into the playoffs. Is backup quarterback John Wolford good enough to step up in such a big game? Well we are highly likely to find out. The Seahawks look in good shape after winning the last 4 of their regular season games with Russell Wilson in top form. This is a tough one to call but with Goff looking doubtful that should swing it the Seahawks favour.
Rams 16 Seahawks 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team
Washington are probably the story of the season even if it comes to an end on Saturday. Sure they were in the weakest division and just scraped it through thanks to the Eagles throwing in the towel last week, but it’s still a remarkable turnaround for a team who look dead and buried earlier in the season. They come up against a Buccaneers team who are becoming this years dark horse. Brady is finding his rhythm with his receivers and everything is clicking into place. I can’t see Washington stopping them here.
Buccaneers 28 Washington 14
Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry is hitting crazy numbers every week for the Titans. That’s lucky for them because their defense is not looking in great shape going into the playoffs. That has to be a big concern going into a game against Lamar Jackson. I think this will be a high scoring shoot out and just have a feeling the Titans can cause a bit of an upset if the defense can get themselves sorted.
Ravens 35 Titans 37
Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints
Going by last weeks big defeat to the Packers, it looks very unlikely that the Bears will go any further into the playoffs than Sunday. Their 8-8 record for the season, including a 6 game losing streak, certainly won’t put any fear into the hearts of this Saints team. New Orleans have suffered surprise playoff defeats before but I just can’t see Drew Brees and co letting this one slip.
Bears 18 Saints 35
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC North rivals clash for the second week running but both teams will line up differently. Steelers will bring back quarterback Ben Roethlisberger T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward to boost their chances. The Browns meanwhile will get their secondary back but lose head coach Kevin Stefanski who has tested positive for the coronavirus. This one really could either way but I think the Browns story isn’t finished yet.
