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NFL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: THE 2025 WILD CARD ROUND

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FINAL REGULAR SEASON RECORD: (183-89)

Our record in the NFL regular season does not mean anything and is thrown out the window when it comes to the post-season. Now we dive into the first round of the playoffs and we dissect each match up the best we can. We have predictions for each match up. We hope the Kansas City Chiefs get ousted and do not make the Superbowl. That is my first goal. Which many of you have the same opinion. We do not want to see that meathead Travis Kelce rejoicing with multiple Taylor Swift showings in a Superbowl win. The Chiefs and Lions have that first round bye. Next week we hope we have a prediction to axe the Chiefs out of the tournament. My second goal is to try to make the right prediction on each match up in front of me. These match ups are intense because many of these games can go either way. These are my wild card picks. All games are straight Pick-Em and nothing to do with the spread. Hope we knock each match up out of the park.

NFL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND STRAIGHT PICK-EM

SATURDAY GAMES

AFC

#5.LA CHARGERS (11-6) AT #4.HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7)

NO PLAYOFF HISTORY

It seems like the Houston Texans have locked down the first game of the post-season that is always scheduled on Saturday afternoon. Jim Harbaugh looks to become the second head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in his first season with two different teams.

C.J Stroud is (1-1) in post-season with both games coming last season. Justin Herbert is (0-1) all time in post-season. He started that game where the Chargers blew a 27 point half time lead to the Jaguars.

The Texans were the experts’ sexy pick going into the regular season with the belief that they would go deep into the post-season. The Chargers lost many players in the off-season and it looked more like a rebuilding year for them. Jim Harbaugh has a lucky horseshoe up his rear because he can turn around a franchise quickly and he did. Many did not expect the Chargers to make it to post-season. Justin Herbert has thrown the least amount of interceptions. He goes against the defense that have the most interceptions this past season. Chargers have been rolling while the Texans have been stumbling most of the second half of regular season. CJ Stroud is struggling with two of his top receivers done for the season in Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. The Chargers offense can eat up the clock with a well-balanced attack by Harbaugh. The Chargers pass rush will cause Stroud some problems. From the eye test, the Texans have not been good while the Chargers have played solid football for several weeks now. The Texans are just off to me. They are going through the motions and are not the same team that beat the Browns in the first round of post-season last year. I like Herbert taking care of the football and milking away the clock to a mistake-free game by LA.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

AFC

#6.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) AT #3.BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5)

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Steelers (3-1) Ravens

These two division rivals, the Steelers and Ravens, will meet for the 3rd time this season. They split the regular season series (1-1).

Russell Wilson is (9-7) all-time in the post-season. All of those games for Wilson came wearing a Seahawks uniform. Then Lamar Jackson who is (2-4) all time in post-season. Jackson went (1-1) in post-season last year.

Lamar Jackson slayed the Steelers dragon in the last meeting when these two teams faced off. The Ravens gave the Steelers a good solid beat down. The Steelers have struggled down the stretch as they are on a 4 game losing streak. For Jackson, the Steelers are the only team all-time in the division he has a losing record to, as he is only (3-5) all-time. The Steelers will be looking to insert their back up QB in certain situations and see if Justin Fields can provide an offensive spark. The Steelers offense need a jump start because the Wilson battery has run dry. The Steelers defense played well versus a top offense in the league last week holding Joe Burrow’s Bengals to 19. The Steelers only scored 17. The Ravens have put up a ton of points and their defense has gotten better. The Ravens defense is nowhere near what they were last season in post-season. One of the top units in the league. Mike Tomlin Steelers have lost their last 5 playoffs games as they’ve been one and done. I see it happening again. The Steelers will use Derrick Henry and Jackson’s legs to eventually wear out a Steelers defense that will show up and play well. The question is: Where’s the Beef in the Steelers offense? Fields is not the answer.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

SUNDAY GAMES

AFC

#7.DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) AT #2.BUFFALO BILLS (13-4)

PLAYOFF HISTORY: BILLS (1-0) BRONCOS

Last Sunday the Broncos needed to win to get in. They did it at home versus the Chiefs and blew them out (38-0). The Chiefs rested 10 of their starters. The Bills rested many of their starters in a loss to the Patriots in New England.

The rookie quarterback for the Broncos, Bo Nix, will make his first career playoff start. The Bills’ Josh Allen has started 10 playoff games where he is (5-5) all-time.

The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. The Bills have one of the best offenses in the league. Can Bo Nix thrive on the road in a very hard place to win in Buffalo? The Broncos will have to take advantage of the Bills’ 3rd down defense which is the worst in this post-season tournament. Last year Sean Payton came into Buffalo with Russell Wilson and beat the Bills in a regular season game. The Bills are a different animal than that team. You can not pin down one guy on this Bills offense. The Bills offense line is solid and Allen can make plays on the run which can cripple even the best of the best defenses in the league. Bills are (8-0) at home this season. They are (4-1) under Allen in the wild card round. The Bills will be healthier on defense, which they will need. I think the Broncos will play well. The Bills have done well against rookie QB’s. The Broncos have struggled winning games against teams with a winning record. The Bills Mafia behind you in this one will not help this Broncos team. Bills prevail in the second half and put the Broncos away late third quarter.

OUR PICK: BILLS

NFC

#7.GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) AT #2.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3)

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Eagles (2-1) Packers

The Packers lost to the Eagles during the regular season. Jalen Hurts will be back for this game as he missed the last few games from a concussion. The Packers have a concern with Jordan Love’s elbow which he hurt playing the Bears in the final game of the season.

Jordan Love is (1-1) as a starter in post-season. Jalen Hurts had the Eagles in the Superbowl a few seasons ago and has a (2-3) playoff record as a starter.

Can Jordan Love have a short memory mentally and not relive the injury he suffered when the Packers played this same Eagles team in Brazil? Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in that game versus the Packers. Barkley has three straight games versus the Packers where he has tallied at least 100 or more scrimmage yards in those contests. The Packers are still one of the youngest teams in the NFL. So, can they pull out an upset in this one? Josh Jacobs has been unstoppable in recent weeks and did not play the full game versus the Bears. He did not leave the game with an injury. I have some concern over Love’s elbow injury. I think the Eagles defense can contain Jacobs from not having a huge game. The Packers have not done well record-wise against teams with winning records this season. They have given these teams battles but have fallen short. This is a game where you think the Packers can pull off the upset. I feel Jalen Hurts will respond with a nice game and use Barkley to do most of the heavy lifting. Love makes mistakes and he will throw 1 or 2 interceptions that the Eagles will cash in on. Then eventually Philadelphia will prevail at home which is a tough place to win.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NFC

#6.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (12-5) AT #3.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-7)

PLAYOFF HISTORY: Buccaneers (2-1) Redskins

Jayden Daniels should be a lock for rookie of the year for the Commanders. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders and ruined the debut of Daniels’ first start in the NFL in the first week of the season.

This will be the first ever playoff start for the rookie Jayden Daniels who guided the Commanders to post-season in his very first season in the NFL. For Baker Mayfield, this will be his 5th start in the post-season. He is (2-2) all-time in post-season. Mayfield beat the Eagles last season & then lost to the Lions in the divisional game.

This game has the signs to be an old fashioned shoot out between the Commanders and the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers offense ranks number (4) in the NFL scoring 29.5 (PPG) points per game. The Commanders ranked number 5 in points per game in the NFL with 28.5 PPG. Who has the better defense? The Buccaneers defense since the bye in week 11 have allowed only 17 PPG. The Buccaneers defense are (6-1) down the stretch of the season. They have allowed only 3.3 in the second half of that stretch. Meanwhile the Commanders defense is better versus the pass than the run. The Commanders rank number 30 against the run this season in the NFL. This should be good for Buck Irving who is probably licking his chops because when he reached the 80 mark in yards on the ground, the Buccaneers are (6-0) in that 7 game stretch to end the season. The Commanders have had some magical comebacks in the last few weeks. Besides the Hail Mary play by Daniels versus the Bears, he had a nice drive to put the Eagles on ice a few weeks back. It may be who has the ball last is the team that wins this score fest. The Buccaneers still have many holdovers from that Tom Brady led team a few years back. The Commanders lack the post-season experience as the Buccaneers have did this and done that. I like Mayfield to stay red hot. I think Daniels makes a great impression in his first ever start in the NFL. The Commanders fall short. Perhaps like a field goal short.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

MONDAY NIGHT

NFC

#5.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-3) AT #4.LA RAMS (10-7)

PLAYOFF HISTORY: RAMS 5-2 VIKINGS

This game will be played at Arizona, home of the Cardinals, who are on the couch watching the post-season. They moved the game due to the LA wildfires that are creating havoc on the west coast.

Matthew Stafford has won a Superbowl and is (4-4) all-time in post-season play. Then you have Sam Darnold who has never started a playoff game in his NFL career. Darnold has played in one playoff game as a 49er in a mop up role.

The Vikings were brought back down to Earth last week on Sunday night versus the Lions. It snapped an impressive winning streak of 9 games and at the same time, the loss dropped them to the number 5 seed. If they would have won, they would have a first round bye with the number 1 seed. The Rams have had a roller coaster season for them up and down, they are very streaky and could be very dangerous in the post-season. The Vikings this season won 14 games which is the most ever by a wild card team in NFL history. The Vikings lost to the Rams in regular season. The Vikings defense could not contain the Rams receiver Puka Nacua who had a big game. Brian Flores, the defensive coach, has elevated this Viking defense to another level which should throw everything at the Rams including the kitchen sink. Both the Rams and the Vikings defenses have to blitz these quarterbacks to throw their game off. The Lions did that to Sam Darnold last week and he missed some easy throws. This match up has some stud receivers as we need to mention Cooper Kupp, the other Rams weapon of mass destruction. Then the Vikings may have the best receiver in the NFC in Justin Jefferson. Both teams have a solid running game behind them. This could be a shoot out, but it would not surprise me if the score ends up like 20-17 either. In close games, the Vikings know how to seal the deal. The Rams baffle me because they can score 40-something points versus the Bills and then be held to 13 against the Cardinals. Both teams have young bright minds as head coaches. Sean McVay seems to be on a different level than most leaders in the game. You have to chalk up experience to Stafford. Did the deal that Darnold signed with the devil expire last week in Detroit? If the Vikings are going to win this, they need Darnold to have a good game. The Rams are too unpredictable down the stretch with that offensive output each contest was lower than a limbo stick. The Rams have a weakness at the corner back position. I think the Vikings can exploit that. The best record of a wild card team before this was the Tennessee Titans at 13-3 and they went to the Superbowl in 1999. Unfortunately they played the St. Louis Rams in that one and lost. I like the Vikings defense to turn things around. This game is on a neutral field in Arizona which should benefit the Vikings. Viking are my road warrior of the weekend.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

NFL WEEK 18: WEEKLY PREDICTIONS DONE THE WILD SHAMROCK WAY

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The final NFL week of regular season we may as well flip a coin for some of these week 18 match ups.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (12-4)

WEDNESDAY ACTION: (1-1)

THURSDAY SEASON RECORD: (11-8)

FRIDAY’S RECORD: (1-1)

SATURDAY WHAT A DAY RECORD: (5-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (15-5)

SEASON RECORD: (172-84)

NFL WEEK 18 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

THE SATURDAY GAMES

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-13) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-5)

Only Myles Garrett for the Browns will show up in this first match up of week 18. Garrett and Trey Hendrickson are tied for the league in sacks with 14. I can see Garrett being amped up for that title, the sack master. The Ravens wrap up the AFC North with a win here. The Browns have checked out as a team several weeks ago. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will run the Ravens their 4th AFC North title in the last 7 seasons.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-8) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-6)

The second game on the docket for Saturday has two teams that have something to play for. The Bengals have won 4 straight and need this win over the Steelers. They hope the Dolphins lose and the Broncos to get into the playoffs. If the Ravens win, the Steelers will know they can’t win the division as they have a playoff berth clinched coming in. The Steelers want to win and perhaps face a banged up Texans team over a rematch against a very talented Ravens team. The first time Bengals and Steelers met, Pittsburgh won 44-38. The Steelers were 10-3 sitting pretty until they lost 3 straight games. Joe Burrow and the Bengals could be a dangerous team if they find their way into the post-season. The Bengals offense has been clicking and their bad defense has found ways to create turnovers. This is a divisional game & these teams dislike each other. I like Mike Tomlin and that Steeler defense to find a way and make a statement while stopping the bleeding and win this one. Bengals will make several changes in the off-season hoping not to dig themselves an early grave in the beginning of the season.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3)

This game could have had some interest as the former Giant running back now Eagle was going for Eric Dickerson’s single season record for rushing yards. Saquon Barkley just needed 101 yards to break the former Rams record. Barkley sees the grand scheme of things as Philadelphia wants to make a playoff run to the Superbowl representing the NFC. This game really means nothing to either team. I’m not buying what the Giants did last week versus the Colts. The Eagles will rest several players, but Philadelphia will still prevail over this New York team that is no good.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7)

Could the New Orleans Saints win one for their city here? After the tragic event that took place on Bourbon Street in the wee hours of the morning on New Year’s Day could this Saints team rally and find a way to beat the Buccaneers? The Buccaneers need this win to clinch the NFC South and they have been playing some solid football over the last several weeks. The Saints team in the past came out clicking on all cylinders after Hurricane Katrina. That was a different Saints team. This Saints team in present day is decimated by injuries. Baker Mayfield has looked unstoppable for weeks as their offense exploded last weekend with a beat down of the Panthers. Saints play well in this one to start with emotions at a high level. The Buccaneers prevail in the second half as they are the better team and the division is on the line.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-7) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (3-13)

The Texans already have the number 4 seed in the AFC locked up, winning the South division. The Titans have lost 5 straight as they will go with dueling QB’s in this one. Will Levis will get another look along with Mason Rudolf. The Texans have lost two straight, this team has struggled, and everyone will play even though this game means nothing. The Texans looking to go into post-season with a high note with a win. The last time these two teams met was only a few weeks ago as the Titans upset the Texans. For the Titans, if they lose this one and Patriots win, they have the number one pick. Maybe use that pick for a Quarterback. I like the Texans cleaning up their act here and taking this final game because of the challenge by their head coach.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-12) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8-8)

The Falcons are not in control of their own destination as they once were. The Falcons need to win against these Panthers. They need the Buccaneers to lose to the Saints to win the NFC South. This game they should win as Panthers QB Bryce Young is 0-12 in his young career on the road. Michael Penix has so far played pretty good in his first two career starts in the NFL. He should be licking his chops because the Panthers defense gave up over 500 yards of offense last week to the Buccaneers including 5 touchdowns through the air. The Panthers will have several defenders out in this one. The Falcons will certainly use the running game to set up the pass and come away with a winning record this season but will be home for the playoffs. The signing of Kirk Cousins meant the team was clicking there for awhile until the wheels fell off the veteran QB. Penix has provided a spark. Too little too late for the Falcons as the Buccaneers have been one of the hotter teams right now in the NFC.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (11-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (7-9)

The Cowboys stunned the Commanders in their first meeting of the season. At the time the Cowboys were looking awful, the Commanders had a winning streak. The Cowboys were blown out of the water by the Eagles last week. The Cowboys may start Trey Lance in this contest. The Commanders are in the post-season and have won 4 straight games. The Commanders could get a better seed as a wild card with a win and a Packers loss by the Bears. I don’t see the Cowboys sneaking up on the Commanders this go-around. Look for Jayden Daniels to finish the regular season strong and earn those Rookie of the Year honors.

OUR PICK: COMMANDERS

CHICAGO BEARS (4-12) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5)

The oldest rivalry in the NFL, the Packers and Bears, seems to have been one sided for decades in Green Bay’s favor. The Head Coach of the Packers, Matt LaFleur, has never lost to the Bears and is 11-0 all-time versus Chicago since he arrived. The Bears Interim Head Coach, Thomas Brown, finally got something from his defense last week holding the Seahawks to 6 points. The Bears offense only scored three. The Bears have not won a game in a very long time. They have lost ten straight. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is trying to avoid being sacked the most in NFL history as a rookie quarterback that was set by David Carr who was brought down to the turf 76 times his first season. Williams has 67. The Packers want to stay ahead of the Commanders in seeding as they have a playoff berth clinched but don’t want to fall to the bottom of the totem pole in the NFC brackets. Packers are at home and I like their defense, and Jordan Love will do well. The Bears are one of the bottom feeders in the NFL and the Packers have done well dispatching those kinds of teams.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-12) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-9)

How did the Colts lose to the Giants last week? Joe Flacco and that Colts team blew that game and were ousted out of the playoff picture. The Jaguars have given some teams some battles, but they did nothing special in a Raiders loss last week. I think Joe Flacco is better than Mac Jones. Jonathan Taylor has been running through and around opposing teams’ defenses with big games the last few weeks. The Jaguars should just take a knee and go with a better draft pick. The Colts blew a playoff chance last season in their last game of the season. They check that box already. Watch them have a big day against the worst pass defense in the league to close out their season.

OUR PICK: COLTS

BUFFALO BILLS (13-3) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-13)

It seems like yesterday when the Patriots with Tom Brady were not playing for anything in the last game of the season versus the Bills. The script has been flipped indeed. The Bills have the number seed locked down in the AFC. Josh Allen will start the game to keep a consecutive streak of 104 games intact. Look for the Bills to go with Mitch Trubisky very quickly. The Patriots should just kneel down in this one to get the number one pick overall in next season’s draft. I think the Patriots have found their QB in Drake Maye so the Pats could cash in on the number one pick by trading teams in need of a QB. They’d get extra draft capital out of it. The Bills will rest guys. I think the Bills young players will blossom in this game due to the performance the Patriots had versus the Chargers last Saturday. Look for Ray Davis to have a big game running the ball. Trubisky has won some games in the NFL, so he will try to defeat the Patriots in relief of Allen and have success doing it. Give me the Bills to get that 14th win and feel good going into the playoffs with certain guys rested for the post-season

OUR PICK: BILLS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-9)

Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. needs only 14 yards receiving to beat his father’s 1st season of 836. Junior coming into the last game of the season has 822 yards and may want to have a big day and perhaps find that 1,000 yard club in receiving. The 49ers will be without their starting QB Brock Purdy who was injured on Monday night. The 49ers will go with Josh Dobbs, a former Cardinal. The Cardinals played well against a good Rams team last week with nothing to play for holding them to only 13 points. The Cardinals know what to expect from Dobbs. Kyler Murray will end the season with a bang to keep this organization thinking he’s a number one guy behind center for years to come.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-1) AT DENVER BRONCOS (9-7)

The Chiefs have nothing to play for here locking up the number one seed and first round bye. Or do they? If the Chiefs lose, that ends the Bengals season for sure if they win Saturday night. The Broncos need a win & they would be in the post-season. No Patrick Mahomes in this one. The Chiefs will rest starters and veteran Carson Wentz will get the nod as the starting QB in this one. The thing is: Is it more important for the Chiefs to knock out a division rival over another team? The thoughts of Joe Burrow are probably playing in many AFC heads this final week of the season. For the Broncos they should have won at Kansas City. It was a blocked field goal with only seconds remaining that could have been a walk off for Denver. The Chiefs have been lucky with many wins this season. That game was with Mahomes at QB. This Denver defense is talented. Bo Nix is a rookie but has played well. The Chiefs will have other guys resting in this one, not just Mahomes. I like Denver’s chances.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7) AT LA RAMS (10-6)

The Rams have the division wrapped up and really don’t need anything in this game. LA is starting Jimmy G. Some may have thought Jimmy Garoppolo hung up the spikes from a bad season in Vegas. The former 49er found a job as Matthew Stafford’s back-up, a guy who has a record of 43-20 as a starter in the NFL. The Seahawks crumbled like a house of cards at the end of this season. Seattle was lucky to escape Chicago only putting up 6 points and winning. Geno Smith has something to play for 6 million smackers in contract incentives. I think Seattle should be done with the Smith experiment and find a better QB for the future. The Rams will rest guys. Look for Seattle to finish strong for their rookie Head Coach, Mike Macdonald, who will look good in year one with a 10-7 record rather than 9-8.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

LA CHARGERS (10-6) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-12)

The Raiders tight end, Brock Bowers, needs 9 receptions in his last game of the season to break Zach Ertz’s record of 116 catches by a tight end in NFL history. Ertz set that tight end record in 2018. The Raiders have won two straight games with Aiden O’Connell behind center. For the Chargers if the Steelers lose their game on Saturday night, the Chargers could get the higher seed in the AFC playoffs than Pittsburgh with a win. Even if the Chargers are playing for nothing, I see a Jim Harbaugh-coached team finding a way with whoever he has out there on the field to notch a victory.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-8) AT NEW YORK JETS (4-12)

Could this be Aaron Rodgers’ last season in a Jets uniform? It may be Rodgers’ last season in the NFL. If I was a team, I would not want Rodgers and I don’t care if I was desperate at the QB position. He is a team cancer, period. He may go out a winner in this match-up with the Dolphins. Miami will be playing without their starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. That means Tyler Huntley, the former Ravens QB, will get the nod behind center. The Dolphins need a win and some help to get a wild card spot in the post-season. The Dolphins had played horribly without Tua as the starter. I hate Rodgers. He goes out in the blazing glory as the Jets kick the Dolphins to the curb in this one.

OUR PICK: JETS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-2) AT DETROIT LIONS (14-2)

The Vikings versus the Lions for all the marbles in the final game of regular season. It looked like the Lions were the runaway train for the NFC North and number one seed in the conference. The winner of this game will be the NFC North Champs. They will be the number one seed in the NFC. They will get the first round bye. The Vikings have won 9 straight games. This will be the second time the Lions and Vikings played each other as Detroit won the first meeting in a close game. I expect another close affair in this winner take all. Both teams are in the post-season, but a loss sends one of these teams to the number 5 seed in the NFC. The number 5 seed would have a road game in the first round while the winner will rest up in the first round. Sometimes being the hunter is easier than holding down the fort. The Lions will have the home field. Both teams can score. The Vikings have the better defense which may be the factor in this one. The Lions have a lot of injuries. The Vikings seem like have mastered winning the close games. The Lions have blown many teams out of the water. Sam Darnold has played well in the last several weeks as we know Jared Goff has been amazing the entire season. This is must-see game. I like the Vikings having the last laugh in this one. I like their defense able to get the better pass rush and create mistakes that will benefit Minnesota here.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS