Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Wild Card Round Playoffs Predictions

*THESE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS! Just simply my own as a semi-serious analyst. Contact me on Twitter @jcs436 or email jcs436@nau.edu for feedback or even your own opinion!

Playoffs are finally here! Praise be unto the football gods. So, I’m going to just jump in immediately in how I am going to do this. If you want to see the strengths and weaknesses of every playoff team, I recommend going here for that information : http://www.nfl.com/
For this, I won’t just examine how well each team did over the season. This is the post-season where everyone is 0-0. Instead, I am going to look at the matchups of the teams and go in-depth about how each team can win and how each team can lose, and then I will give my final opinion. So it will be similar to how I did my Super Bowl 50 prediction, which I did get right by the way!

On to the playoffs!

Sanders went 8-8 putting his regular season total to 157-97-2.

Oakland Raiders vs Houston Texans

A case for the Raiders:

Much is to be said about how banged  up the Raiders are on offense but they can try to adapt a style of game that Seattle used from 2012-2015 to constantly beat their opponents. The Raiders have the physical defense to beat down Osweiler and Co. along with a running game to push the Texans tough defense. If rookie Conor Cook can play mistake free football in his first ever career start, the Raiders have the best chance in winning.

However,

A case for the Texans:

The Raiders can’t rely on Connor Cook playing mistake free football and the Texans can relish in the fact that they can prey on a rookie quarterback starting his first game in a playoff game. The odds for the Texans defense to dominate this game are numerous. As for Osweiler and the offense, this can be a game where Osweiler makes a redemption. While I have NOT like Osweiler all season, part of me believes he can make a small statement in this game to show he can play. However, it doesn’t mean I am positive for his future games even IF he does make a small statement here.

Final Judgment:

This is a tough one simply because both offenses are question marks on how well they will perform. On defense though, the Texans are superior so based on a game of unknowns, I will stick with the one known and that’s that the Texans defense is really tough to play especially at home where they are 7-1.

Raiders 20  Texans 23

Detroit Lions vs Seattle Seahawks

A case for the Detroit Lions:

The Lions are massive underdogs who have fallen from grace. They appeared to be on their way to an NFC North division title at Week 14 but went on to lose their last 3 games, which were all against playoff teams (Giants, Cowboys, Packers). However, not all hope is lost for this team. They still have their winning formula intact: Keep the game close till Matt Stafford can put in a game-winning drive in the 4^th quarter. It’s odd to think that a team’s winning formula is to rely on a little football magic and intense pressure in the 4^th quarter. However, they aren’t the only team to have that same formula (Looking at you Oakland) and it’s not a terrible one either. For them to keep the game close, they must limit turnovers against Seattle and keep Seattle’s offense from getting too far ahead at any point. If the Lions can do both of these things, they have a chance at upsetting Seattle at home in a playoff atmosphere.

Speaking of Seattle at home in a playoff atmosphere…

The Case for the Seahawks:

The 12s have always been a huge influence on opponents when Seattle plays at home. During the playoffs, it’s no different and has even caused very minor grade 1 earthquakes in the area before. They will be a huge reason the Seahawks can win as they can cause the Lions to lose focus on important drives. However, there are some drawbacks to Seattle. They have lost their identity as a very physical team. Their defense is still rough, but their ground game is no longer punishing and their passing game isn’t one of the leagues. That being said, Russell Wilson has proved time and time again that he can carry an offense that doesn’t have too many pieces around him. He can look to Jimmy Graham or Doug Baldwin for help and, if all else fails, he can run the ball on the defense to keep them guessing.

Final Judgment:

While my gut is telling me the Lions can pull off the upset, I can’t trust my gut this time around. Seattle is too tasty of a meal to deny and I can’t see Seattle’s defense letting Matt Stafford roll them over. It’s possible and it can happen, but it’s highly unlikely so I am going with Seattle.

Lions 21  Seahawks 24