The 2019 NFL playoffs will get underway this weekend with the AFC and NFC Wild Card rounds. There are also five candidates to become the new offensive coordinator for Detroit. While it is easy to think that the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs are destined to meet up in the Super Bowl this February, don’t be too quick to wager on that. Matchup scenarios for the playoffs have also been updated.
There are four games on the NFL schedule this weekend. The first two games listed below are on Saturday, with the other two taking place on Sunday.
Colts at Texans (-2) 4:35 PM ET (ESPN, ABC)
The Indianapolis Colts are one of if not the hottest team in the NFL. Andrew Luck is back to being the Luck of old as he has returned from a serious injury to once again become one of the best passers in the league. According to a Forbes report, Luck finished the year with just over 4,500 yards passing and 39 touchdowns. Luck and the Indianapolis offense will need every bit of that magic as they face one of the top defenses in Houston.
The Texans are at home and they have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. However, Deshaun Watson has been sacked 62 times this season. 62! That is not good. The Colts defense is 10th in scoring this season. If they can contain Watson, they have a shot at winning on the road.
Toughest game to call, but somehow, Houston moves on.
Pick Texans -2
Seahawks at Cowboys (-1.5) 8:15 PM ET (FOX)
These teams are unpredictable. One thing fans do know, this will be a hard-hitting affair between two teams that will try to run the ball to set up the pass. Just like the Texans, home field advantage doesn’t seem to mean much in the eyes of Las Vegas oddsmakers.
The Cowboys have been installed as one-point favorites to advance on to the divisional round next week.
If stats tell the story, the Cowboys should have great success running the ball against the Seahawks Saturday night. While Dallas boasts the fifth-best rush defense, Seattle had some issues stopping the run. The Seahawks finished 30th in yards per rush on defense.
That could lead to a big day for Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, and the Cowboys.
Pick - Dallas -1.5
Chargers at Ravens (-3) 1:05 PM ET (CBS)
This is going to be a tough game! The Baltimore Ravens beat the Los Angeles Chargers in late December as quarterback Lamar Jackson had a nice coming out party. This kid is good. The Ravens rushed for 159 yards on that day and made it look easy in doing so. This game is shaping up to be a bit different. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is having a great season and unlike the Rams, this Los Angeles team is flying under the radar. Rivers and the Bolts get some payback.
Pick -- Chargers +3
Eagles at Bears (-6) 4:40 PM ET (NBC)
It is unfortunate in many ways that these two are squaring off in the first round.
Both have the ability and talent to make it to the conference finals, but obviously one of them will have their season end when the game concludes. The Eagles are a hot team right now behind Nick Foles, but they will be facing the best defense in the NFL in Chicago - and unlike last season, Philadelphia's path back to the Super Bowl will have to be on the road not at home. The defending champs won’t go down easy.
The Bears should squeak out the win, but this game has overtime written all over it.
Pick -- Eagles +6
Below is a look at the updated Super Bowl odds, as of January 3, thanks to Oddshark, heading into the postseason.
- Saints +250
- Rams +400
- Chiefs +470
- Patriots +650
- Bears +700
- Ravens +1300
- Chargers +1500
- Cowboys +2500
- Texans +2500
- Seahawks +2800
- Colts +3000
- Eagles +3500