The NFL playoffs are right here, and it’s wild to assume that only a few months in the past the Detroit Lions surprised the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the first recreation of the season.
Each of these groups have made the playoffs and will probably meet within the Tremendous Bowl.
The highway begins right here. With the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers having first-round byes, the remainder of the division winners and wild-card groups will hope to slender down the sphere.
Learn the breakdowns of the weekend’s playoff video games beneath.
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Texans vs Browns – Saturday, 4:30 pm ET
C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans warms up previous to the sport in opposition to the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Jan. 6, 2024. (Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)
The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns are each again within the playoffs and driving waves of momentum to get again to the postseason. The Texans, behind C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans, turned the primary crew within the Tremendous Bowl period to win a division with a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach, respectively. The Browns are within the playoffs for the second time within the final 20 years.
All eyes shall be on Stroud to see how he can deal with the playoff strain, and it’s been a minute since Houston has had any postseason success. He has 4,108 passing yards and 23 landing passes this season.
He’s going up in opposition to a Browns protection that options Myles Garrett, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Denzel Ward. To not point out, Joe Flacco seems to have turned the clock again; since taking the reins because the beginning quarterback, he has 1,616 passing yards and 13 landing passes.
Cleveland beat Houston on Christmas Eve, 36-22.
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Chiefs vs Dolphins – Saturday, 8 pm ET
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs runs onto the sphere earlier than the sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 31, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Photos)
All eyes shall be on Miami Dolphins vast receiver Tyreek Hill’s return to Arrowhead Stadium in a pivotal matchup in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The Patrick Mahomes-led squad is trying to win back-to-back Tremendous Bowl titles, which hasn’t been completed because the early 2000s.
However each groups have struggled down the stretch. The Dolphins had been within the driver’s seat for the AFC East title earlier than shedding to the Buffalo Payments within the last recreation of the common season. The Chiefs gained three out of their final 4, however the offense hasn’t seemed the identical as in previous years.
The Chiefs gained the AFC West division title for the eighth straight season, and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel should scheme one thing nice to high a legend in coach Andy Reid. Miami is within the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the primary time since 1997-2001.
Don’t neglect, the climate shall be an enormous issue because the wind chill is predicted to make it nicely beneath zero levels on the sphere in Kansas Metropolis. For what it’s price, the final time the 2 groups performed was in Germany earlier this season. Kansas Metropolis gained the sport, 21-14.
Payments vs Steelers – Sunday, 1 pm ET
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Payments drops again in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Onerous Rock Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Photos)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Payments will meet within the wild-card spherical to kick off Sunday’s slate of video games. The Payments enter the sport because the AFC East champions, having overwhelmed the Dolphins within the last recreation of the common season. The Steelers are driving a three-game profitable streak to make it into the playoffs.
Pittsburgh defeated the Baltimore Ravens final weekend and wanted a Jacksonville Jaguars loss to sneak in. It occurred that means, and now it’s as much as Mason Rudolph and the offense to attempt to get one thing completed in opposition to the Payments. With out T.J. Watt, it’s going to make issues even more durable on protection.
Buffalo gained the AFC East for the fourth straight season as Josh Allen racked up 4,306 passing yards and 29 landing passes. Loads shall be driving on Allen’s shoulders to make issues occur and maintain Buffalo turnover-free in opposition to the hungry Steelers.
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Cowboys vs Packers – Sunday, 4:30 pm ET
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys calls a play throughout the first half in opposition to the Washington Commanders at FedExField on Jan. 7, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos)
There’s a wealthy historical past between the Dallas Cowboys and Inexperienced Bay Packers within the postseason, particularly not too long ago from Dez Bryant’s non-catch and Aaron Rodgers’ late-game heroics. Now, it’s a brand new period as Dallas appears to be like to get again to the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in 28 years whereas the Packers have a brand new period with Jordan Love taking snaps.
Dak Prescott led the NFL with 36 landing passes this season, rising the highlight on the Cowboys quarterback as the 2 groups meet within the playoffs. On protection, Micah Parsons is the chief and shall be wanted to proceed his tear. He had 14 sacks in 2023 and have become the fifth participant since 1982 to have 40-plus sacks in his first three seasons.
Love was behind Prescott with 32 landing passes. It’s his first playoff spot and first within the post-Rodgers rea. Love has 4,159 passing yards to his credit score as nicely. The Packers are thriving however should dig deep to eke out a win on the highway.
Lions vs Rams – Sunday, 8 pm ET
Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions waits to steer the crew onto the sphere earlier than the sport in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Area on January 7, 2024, in Detroit. (Nic Antaya/Getty Photos)
Playoff soccer enters Ford Area for the primary time. The Detroit Lions are internet hosting a playoff recreation and welcome former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams into city on Sunday night time.
It’s a extremely anticipated recreation through which quarterback Jared Goff will get an opportunity to enact some revenge on the Rams for buying and selling him for Stafford a couple of seasons in the past. The followers are going to be wild and loud because the upstart Lions look to construct upon a possible dream season. Goff has 4,575 passing yards and 30 landing passes, and Amon-Ra St. Brown has 119 catches for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sam LaPorta additionally has 10 touchdowns.
The Rams acquired into the playoffs behind the division-winning San Francisco 49ers. The Rams have performed nicely as Stafford has developed Puka Nacua right into a dynamite receiver in his rookie season alongside Cooper Kupp. Let’s not neglect, Aaron Donald has eight sacks whereas rookie Kobie Turner led the crew with 9.
It will likely be a helluva recreation in Detroit come Sunday night time.
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Buccaneers vs Eagles, Monday, 8:15 pm ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is proven throughout the recreation in opposition to the Panthers at Financial institution of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Jan. 7, 2024. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
The wild-card finale is between the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the defending convention champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Baker Mayfield’s final playoff look got here when he was with the Browns in 2020. They surprised the Steelers for the crew’s first postseason victory in 18 years. Now, he will get to steer the upstart Bucs in opposition to an Eagles crew that seems to be in some turmoil.
Quite a lot of the strain shall be on the Eagles. Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown had been injured of their loss to the New York Giants final week. The crew isn’t precisely exuding the identical confidence they’d this time final yr. However a win fixes all the things. They may march all the way down to Tampa and beat the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay solely scored 9 factors of their win over the Carolina Panthers final weekend.
Can Mayfield and the Bucs catch the Eagles off guard? Discover out Monday.
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