In the upcoming NFL wild-card weekend, two road teams emerge as favorites. The Houston Texans host the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon, with the Browns holding a 2.5-point advantage. Similarly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, where the Eagles are favored by 2.5 points. Positioned as the No. 5 seeds in the playoffs, both the Browns and Eagles confront division winners with the least favorable records in their respective conferences.
Divergent paths define the trajectories of these teams as they enter the postseason. The Browns secured four consecutive victories before strategically resting most starters in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. This maneuver solidified their hold on the No. 5 seed, affording them the luxury of treating the final regular-season week as a quasi-bye for key players.
In contrast, the Eagles approached Week 18 with aspirations to clinch the NFC East but stumbled, trailing 24-0 to the Giants in the first half, resulting in their fifth loss in the last six games. Previously boasting a 10-1 record after defeating the Buffalo Bills in late November, the Eagles plummeted from the top seed in the NFC to a wild-card spot. Adding to their challenges, QB Jalen Hurts sustained a finger injury, while WR AJ Brown and WR DeVonta Smith dealt with knee and ankle injuries, respectively.
The four home favorites in this playoff scenario include the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys, both securing the No. 2 seeds in their conferences. The Bills, claiming the AFC’s No. 2 spot with a Week 18 triumph over the Miami Dolphins, are substantial 9.5-point favorites against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers, who secured a playoff berth with a victory over the Ravens, face uncertainty with the potential absence of TJ Watt due to a left MCL injury suffered in the Baltimore game.
In a matchup showcasing Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys are favored by 7.5 points at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers earned their playoff berth with a Week 18 victory over the Chicago Bears.
The Kansas City Chiefs, positioned as the No. 2 seed in the AFC, enter Saturday night’s clash against the Miami Dolphins as 3.5-point favorites. Notably, former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill is set to play at Arrowhead Stadium as a visiting team member for the first time. The Chiefs had previously triumphed over the Dolphins 21-14 in Germany earlier in the season. The game’s total has already decreased to 43.5, reflecting the anticipated freezing temperatures in Kansas City on Saturday night, potentially nearing 0 degrees.
Against the Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions hold a 3-point advantage. This marks Stafford’s first game in Detroit since his trade to the Rams before the 2021 season. The encounter is only the second meeting between the teams since Stafford’s trade, which involved Jared Goff and a first-round pick. The Lions may face challenges with the potential absence of rookie TE Sam LaPorta, who reportedly suffered a bone bruise during the Week 18 victory over the Vikings when he hyperextended his knee.
