NFL Wild Card Predictions!

Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans

This is quite possibly the worst QB matchup in NFL playoff history. Connor Cook will be starting his first game ever in the NFL. The injury to Raiders starting QB Derek Carr has dropped the Raiders from Super Bowl contenders to a team just hoping to win a playoff game. The Texans will be starting Brock Osweiler who has been, to say the least, a major disappointment. This game will probably come down to defense and run the ball.

The difference will come down to one thing in the end, and that’s the fact that Connor Cook is not a quality NFL starter and the Texans defense are just better than the Raiders. In the first game between these two teams the Texans made the Raiders running game non-existent and I thnk they will this time also. Texans 23 Raiders 10

Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks

Both of these teams are facing significant injury problems. The Lions Matthew Stafford was an MVP candidate up until an injury to his middle finger a little over a month ago. The damage makes it hard to grip the ball properly because he is unable to bend his finger. The loss of Earl Thomas for the Seahawks has seemed to bother their defense. I am going for the upset here; I think Stafford will slowly continue to play better, and it will be enough in this game. Lions 24  Seahawks 20

Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Miami Dolphins have done a great job overcoming numerous injuries to qualify for the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers over the last half of the regular season went on their usual December run to win the AFC North.

At first glance, most people will consider this a mismatch but remember earlier in the season the Dolphins blew out the Steelers with relative ease. I know that was earlier in the season, but they did still beat them. My one big question about the Dolphins would be this playoff run more of the product of a very soft schedule over the last half of the season.

The Dolphins have to be able to run the ball and pressure Roethlisberger, and they have the man to do that in Cameron Wake. In the end, the Steelers just have too much talent with Big Ben, Bell, and Brown. Steelers 31  Dolphins 17

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

This is an intriguing matchup; you have a hot Aaron Rodgers against an excellent Giants defense. The Giants went to Lambeau in 2007 and 2011 and won, but this is not the same team. The Giants have big time flaws on the offensive line, and they have struggled to score points this season.

Now the Giants secondary is excellent, and they are good enough to cool off Aaron Rodgers. So, the big question is how are the Giants going to score enough points to win this game? I have to go with Rodgers in this game; I don’t think no matter how good the Giants defense is Rodgers is still going to at least score in the twenty’s. Packers 24  Giants 13