The NFL playoffs start Saturday and continue into Sunday, as teams battle to advance in the playoffs and get one step closer to the coveted Lombardi Trophy!
Here’s a look at what is in store with our picks included.
Colts (#7) @ Bills (#2)
Time: Saturday, 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Bills have not won a single playoff game since the 1995 season and are favorites at home against the Colts in the weekend’s first matchup. Buffalo has come off of some huge offensive outbursts and face a Colts defense that was in the top 10 this year. The matchup might also represent the last time Philip Rivers gets a shot at a ring.
In the end, the Bills should win their first playoff game in more than two decades in front of a small but diehard home crowd.
Our pick: Bills 31, Colts 21
Rams (#6) @ Seahawks (#3)
Saturday, 4:40 p.m. ET, Fox
These two teams know each other well being in the competitive NFC West and split the season series with two fairly low scoring affairs. Russell Wilson will be front and center of course against his nemesis Jared Goff, who is banged up with a surgically repaired thumb. The Seahawks would stand to have a greater advantage with a full crowd, but that won’t be the case this year due to the pandemic.
Seattle has the advantage and should take care of the Rams in a close and fairly low scoring affair.
Our pick: Seahawks 19, Rams 16
Buccaneers (#5) at Washington (#4)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC
The main storyline here is the return of Tom Brady to the playoffs for a new team against another one who snuck into the playoffs. Though the two teams are separated by just one seed, Washington was subject to a very weak division in the NFC East this season.
Alex Smith’s resurgence as the starting quarterback is a great story in the NFL this season, but the team has scored more than 23 points just once this year with him at the helm. Washington’s emerging defense could help to keep him in it, but the Bucs have enough weapons to put away the underdogs in the end.
Tom Brady should be able to give the Bucs at least one playoff win this year.
Our pick: Bucs 24, Washington 17
Ravens (#5) at Titans (#4)
Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET, ESPN / ABC
Two of the NFL’s biggest stars go head to head in this one with Titans running back Derrick Henry taking on the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. Both teams met in the playoffs last season and there will likely be a number of big plays in this one. Ryan Tannehill is also a very capable quarterback and should keep the Titans in this game, though we’re giving the Ravens a slight edge in what should be a good early game.
Lamar Jackson should be able to redeem his playoff defeat at the hands of the Titans a year ago with a close victory this time around.
Our pick: Ravens 31, Titans 27
Bears (#8) at Saints (#2)
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET, CBS
The Saints should have two potent weapons ready for their round one game with Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas and are the heavy favorite in this one. The Bears will need to rely on Mitchell Trubisky and their defense to stop New Orleans’ offensive attack. Like Rivers in Indianapolis, this could be a last gasp for Drew Brees to reach another Super Bowl.
The Saints have more than enough arsenal on offense to take care of the underdog Bears.
Our pick: Saints 28, Bears 17
Browns (#6) at Steelers (#3)
Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC
The final matchup of the weekend features longtime stalwarts in Pittsburgh and the upstart Cleveland Browns. The two teams literally met a week ago in a game Cleveland needed to win, and this should be another competetive bout. How well Nick Chubb plays should be a key factor in this game.
Most experts are giving the Steelers the edge, but we’re using our upset pick on the Browns here because of the Steelers recent stumble and the grit of Baker Mayfield.
Our pick: Browns 22, Steelers 20 (UPSET PICK)
