Those were two exciting Saturday NFL wildcard games! We’ll quickly break down what happened, as well as take a look at the Sunday matchups as NFL Wildcard weekend continues. We’ll also discuss some betting advice and the latest odds for the games for when it’s time for NFL betting.
NFL Wildcard Games Recap From Saturday
Here’s what went down on Saturday’s NFL wildcard weekend.
Chiefs’ defense too superior for Miami in frosty game
The Chiefs maintain their hopes of returning as Super Bowl champs once again. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins, 26-7, at freezing Arrowhead Stadium to win the Super Wild Card Weekend and move to the next stage of the playoffs.
The Chiefs got out to a fast opening, driving 69 yards in nine plays and scoring on the first possession when Mahomes passed to Rashee Rice. Miami's Tyreek Hill, who thankfully shrugged off injury concerns, did provide a 53-yard touchdown in the second quarter. However, this would be the Dolphins' only score and they just couldn't handle the tough Chiefs defense. The Dolphins found it difficult to convert on downs, as they went 1 for 12 on third downs and 3 for 6 on fourth down attempts.
Mahomes was solid in the matchup by completing 23 of 41 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown. The star QB also added 41 rushing yards. Rashee Rice was Mahomes' primary target in the victory, collecting 8/12 targets for 130 yards and one TD.
Rookie C.J. Stroud helps Texans destroy Browns
Saturday's NFL wildcard game involving the Texans and Browns shifted in an instant. Moments after trailing in the second quarter, Houston reclaimed the lead and went on to score 35 consecutive points in their eventual 45-14 victory.
Houston quarterback, C.J. Stroud, delivered the game-winning touchdown, and his first-half passing yards of 236 set a new playoff record for rookies. The Browns just couldn’t match the fast pace of the Texans and this match was far less competitive than anyone thought. Stroud was a major reason for the win after finishing with 274 yards and three touchdowns.
NFL Playoff Schedule
Here’s when and where you can catch all the NFL wildcard weekend action. Don’t forget that you can also learn more on how to bet on football before watching the games.
- Sunday, January 14th: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys starts 4:30pm ET and played at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) on Fox and NFL+.
- Sunday, January 14th: Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions starts 8:15pm ET and played at Ford Field (Detroit) on NBC, Peacock, Universo, and NFL+.
- Note: Game originally scheduled for Sunday at 1pm ET, but postponed due to poor weather. Monday, January 15th: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills starts at 4:30pm ET and played at Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, N.Y.) on CBS, Paramount+, and NFL+.
Rams vs. Lions predictions
Moneyline: Rams +135 / Lions -160
Spread: Lions -3.0
Over/Under: 51.5
The matchup between quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff is going to be just fantastic. The Lions have a complete offense, great running back pair, and a highly skilled passing game. Still, the Rams continue to surprise their opponents recently and it wasn’t that long ago when L.A. won the Super Bowl.
Lions' outstanding rookie tight end, Sam LaPorta, will not play in this game due to a knee injury that ended his season. His absence is going to be noticed when the game enters the midway point. The Rams ended the regular season on a 7-1 run and Stafford is looking better than ever, possibly even more talented than when he won the Super Bowl. What's more, the Lions' pass defense has been iffy late in the games and they start to lose focus.
The Rams are talented on offense and even though the NFL wildcard betting lines suggest the Lions, we think a Rams bet is a better moneymaking reward.
Steelers vs. Bills Predictions
Moneyline: Steelers +360 / Bills -480
Spread: Bills -10.0
Over/Under: 35.5
Having defeated the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins in their last five matches, the Bills are among the most interesting squads in the league right now. One of the rare QBs in the NFL who can lead an offense is Buffalo's Josh Allen. Although Allen is prone to turnovers, Buffalo's offense has a lot of potential with him. Pittsburgh typically gives up a lot of rushing yards to running backs (10th most in league) so the Bills' James Cook has a good opportunity here.
The fact that Pittsburgh won't have T.J. Watt, probably the finest defensive specialist in the NFL, is their greatest challenge. Pittsburgh has a much more difficult road to win in Buffalo without him. Bad weather will also be a major issue here, as the game is already postponed once. High winds are predicted, but it may just come down to which club is the tougher. Right now, theNFL playoff betting lines appear as if Buffalo looks stronger with a better running game.
Packers vs. Cowboys Predictions
Moneyline: Packers +278 / Cowboys -355
Spread: Cowboys -7.5
Over/Under: 50.5
Dak Prescott has looked like an MVP for the Dallas Cowboys, but the offense has become too predictable and depends heavily on CeeDee Lamb to bail them out.
The Packers’ defense has sufficient quality to cause problems for Dallas, although the team has struggled with consistency at times. If everything falls together at the right time, then it's bad news for Dallas.
Packers' QB, Jordan Love, was hugely impressive as a starting player and had the second-most TD passes in the NFL. He had a promising season and adds more upside to Green Bay's offense than Dallas might anticipate.
There's no doubt that the Cowboys are the favorite according to the NFL wildcard betting lines, but the youth and unpredictability of the Packers is going to be enough to confuse Dallas and Green Bay comes away with a shock win.
Final Thoughts on the NFL Wildcard Weekend
There’s a lot to unpack here, but you’ll always find the best betting advice over at How To Bet for the NFL and much more.
