In Sunday's early game (3:05 p.m. ET), the NFC's top-seeded Green Bay Packers host the wild-card entry Tampa Bay Buccaneers at potentially snow-dusted Lambeau Field in what will be the first. NFL Divisional Playoffs predictions: Picks, point spreads, betting lines for every game Rams, Packers, Ravens, Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Saints Updated Jan 15, 2021; Posted Jan 15, 2021.
Just like that, the 2021 NFL season is in the books. Seventeen weeks and 256 regular-season games later, we can (finally) look ahead to what should be an exhilarating postseason.
This year’s playoff field looks a little different than you might be used to. We’ve got an extra Wild Card team in each conference, expanding the field to 14 teams. And this year, only one team in each conference will receive a first-round bye. You know what that means? We’re getting SIX games for Wild Card weekend.
Here’s a look at the bracket…
And the TV schedule for the Wild Card games…
SATURDAY
1:05 EST: Colts @ Bills (CBS)
4:40 EST: Rams @ Seahawks (FOX)
8:15 EST: Buccaneers @ NFC East Winner
SUNDAY
1:05 EST: Ravens @ Titans (ABC/ESPN)
4:40 EST: Bears @ Saints (CBS)
8:15 EST: Browns @ Steelers (NBC)
Now, what would a playoff bracket be without some predictions? To get an idea of how things might shake out this month, we’ve called on our resident NFL experts Charles McDonald and Steven Ruiz to make their picks for each and every playoff game. Let’s take a look…
WILD CARD ROUND
Steven: The Seahawks offense has looked broken for going on two months now, and Sean McVay will have adjustments to the adjustments we saw from Seattle’s defense when these teams played in Week 16. And Jared Goff, if he’s healthy, can’t play that poorly again, right?
Ravens-Titans and Steelers-Browns were the only other games that gave me pause. I chose the Ravens because their offense has finally figured things out and should be able to run at will on that struggling Titans defense. I picked the Steelers because (1) they’re the better team, and (2) they almost beat the Browns without Ben Roethlisberger or T.J. Watt.
Charles: I went with the Saints over the Bears for obvious reasons. Come on now, Mitch Trubisky ain’t getting past that defense. Same goes for Washington against Tampa Bay.
The most interesting games to me are Ravens-Titans and Steelers-Browns. I chose the Ravens because they seem to be hitting their stride. The offense is more organized, Lamar Jackson is playing beautiful football right now and the defense is still rock solid. Shutting down Derrick Henry and the Titans offense will be tough as hell, but the Ravens have the talent and coaching to slow them down. I went with the Browns over the Steelers because Ben Roethlisberger has turned into a shell of himself recently, but I’m a bit wary because the Browns let a Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs-led offense hang around until the final minute of the game. The Seahawks over the Rams was a tough pick, so I sided with the better quarterback.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Steven: I may have picked the Steelers, but I’m rooting for the Browns so we can get a Bills-Ravens matchup while the Steelers are sacrificed to the Chiefs. Alas. This way, we’re stuck with two rematches of blowouts we saw during the regular season on the AFC side. I don’t see any reason why those results would change.
On the NFC side, I didn’t even hesitate to take the Saints and Packers. New Orleans is just an awful matchup for Tampa Bay (on both sides of the ball) because it is one of the few teams that can match the Bucs’ talent. The Rams are just too flawed (at one position in particular) for me to trust them on the road against Aaron Rodgers.
Charles: Bills-Ravens is the potential game I’m most looking forward to this postseason. This is a much better version of Josh Allen than the one the Ravens faced last season and that’s part of the reason why I’m picking them to advance to the AFC Championship game. I think the Chiefs would buzzsaw the Browns. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt can keep the Browns in the game for the majority of it, but at some point they would need Baker Mayfield to go throw-for-throw with Patrick Mahomes. Hard pass.
On the NFC side, I think the Packers have enough firepower to beat a Buccaneers defense that’s been a bit shaky lately. Rolling with the Saints over the Seahawks because Dennis Allen will have the Saints defense ready for whatever Brian Schottenheimer and the Seahawks offense throw at them.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Steven: I’m a coward and went with chalk picks to make Championship Sunday. I’ve also been talking about how costly losing home-field advantage would be for the Saints and their 40-something quarterback, and yet here I am picking that 40-something quarterback to out-duel Rodgers on a freezing cold Lambeau Field. I do think the Saints could run at will on that Packers defense and the Saints have a defense capable of at least keeping Davante Adams in check, putting the play-making onus all on Rodgers. Anyway, if I picked Green Bay, I’d have the same Super Bowl pick as Charles and that’s boring.
Charles: I’m even more of a coward and picked both No. 1 seeds to make the Super Bowl. It’s not a very imaginative pick, but these are probably the two best teams in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes have been unbelievable this season and their play combined with the structure of their offenses makes their teams safe bets to make it to the Super Bowl. Like Steven said, the Saints can make things interesting if Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, and Taysom Hill turn into monsters on the ground, but keeping up with Rodgers will still prove difficult.
SUPER BOWL LV
Steven: I’ve spent the whole season arguing that it’s a one-team league. I’m not going to change my take now. Kansas City’s many close calls over the last two months would scare me a lot more if we hadn’t already seen this team win a Super Bowl. I’m fully convinced they’re bored and have been on cruise control all season. When these teams played last month, the Saints defense did defend the Chiefs as well as anyone could have reasonably expected and … it just didn’t matter. Mahomes was too good. I don’t know if New Orleans can replicate that performance, so this one could end up a blowout.
Charles: The Chiefs are a good football team. They have the best player in the sport. That’s all the reasoning I need.
The NFL Playoffs are here. Finally. They will start during Wild Card Weekend with the Indianapolis Colts taking on the Buffalo Bills in what should be a tremendous AFC matchup.
The Baltimore Ravens will look to exact revenge against the Tennessee Titans following their loss in the NFL Playoffs last season. Meanwhile, Drew Brees wants to make sure this is not his final game as his Saints host the Chicago Bears in one of the most-lopsided matchups of the weekend.
It’s in this that we look at the first weekend of the NFL Playoffs with game-by-game predictions.
Update: Jan. 10, 6:45 AM EST
NFL Playoff schedule: Sunday wild card games
Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Time/station: 1:05 PM EST, ESPN
Ravens-Titans point spread: Ravens -3.0 (over/under 55.0)
Despite the ridiculous play of running back Derrick Henry, who went for over 2,000 yards on the ground during the regular year, there’s some major concerns for these Titans heading into the NFL Playoffs. That has to do with the defensive side of the ball. This past week saw Tennessee give up 29 second half points in narrowly defeating the hapless Houston Texans. All said, Tennessee has yielded 78 points over the past two games. Ouch!
Related: If you’re a fan of the Titans, check out #Titans rumors, rankings, and news here.
As for the Ravens, they are headed into the NFL Playoffs on a high note. After some COVID-related issues at the midway point of the season, Baltimore has run off five consecutive wins. It is also averaging 37.2 points during that span. Sure Henry could keep this close. Heck, it might be a repeat of the NFL Playoffs last January. Even then, I don’t envision the Titans’ defense being able to stop Lamar Jackson and Co. in what promises to be a high-scoring affair.
NFL Playoffs prediction: Ravens 35, Titans 31
Related: NFL defense rankings – Offseason outlook for top defenses, Arizona Cardinals soar with J.J. Watt.
Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints
Time/station: 4:40 PM EST, CBS
Bears-Saints point spread: Saints -9.5 (over/under 47.0)
About as lopsided as it comes for a playoff game, the .500 Bears will have to head to Nola to take on a Saints team that has Super Bowl on its mind. Perhaps ready to retire after the season, future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees will want to make sure this is not his final game.
The good news for Saints fans is that I just don’t see this coming to fruition. After losing six in a row earlier this season, embattled Bears head coach Matt Nagy shockingly led the team to the playoffs. Mitchell Trubisky looks to be rejuvenated. Even then, this is a tremendous mismatch on both sides of the ball.
Related: NFL Playoff predictions
Chicago finished the regular year losing six of seven against teams with winning records. Its ability to make the playoffs came largely due to wins over the likes of the Texans and Jaguars. Heck, this squad lost to the hapless Detroit Lions. Let that sink in before picking a major upset during the first weekend of the NFL Playoffs.
NFL Playoffs prediction: Saints 30, Bears 13
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Time/station: 8:15 PM EST, NBC
Browns-Steelers point spread: Steelers -6.0 (over/under 47.5)
Update: Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, OL Joel Bitonio out (COVID-19)
We have to give the Browns credit. Dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that threatened to derail their season, Baker Mayfield and Co. responded Week 17 against these very same Steelers to clinch their first playoff spot since 2002. Although, it must also be noted that said win came with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger resting.
Remember, Pittsburgh took care of Cleveland by the score of 38-7 back in Week 6. Prior to Sunday’s game, the Browns also posted a disappointing 2-4 record against teams with winning marks, primarily taking advantage of bottom-feeders to win 11 games.
Related: Top 100 players in the NFL today
With all of that said, we’re looking at a bitter rivalry game under the bright lights in Pittsburgh. It’s also important to note that Big Ben and the Steelers lost four of five to end the season after starting 11-0. Could that give the Browns reason for hope? I say yes.
NFL Playoffs prediction: Browns 27, Steelers 24
NFL Playoff schedule: Saturday wild card games
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
Time/station: 4:05 PM EST, CBS
Colts-Bills point spread: Bills -6.5 (over/under 51.5)
The Bills finished up the regular season with a 13-3 record and in style by virtue of a blowout 56-26 win over the Miami Dolphins. It’s a game that saw MVP candidate Josh Allen throw three touchdowns in just over two quarters of action to finish the regular year with a franchise record 45 total touchdowns. All said, Buffalo averaged an otherworldly 47.7 points in their final three regular-season games. Talk about entering the playoffs on a high note.
Buffalo will host a limited number of fans for its wild card game against the underdog Colts. For Indianapolis, getting into the playoffs with an 11-5 record was no small accomplishment. Philip Rivers played pretty darn good football in his first regular season with the team.
Related: NFL quarterback rankings
At issue here is a lackluster season-ending performance from the Colts. Their Week 17 game against the one-win Jaguars was within one score in the final stanza. Indy also finished 2-4 during the regular season against teams that boasted a winning record. Despite the feel-good story in Indianapolis, it’s hard to imagine Fran Reich’s squad keeping pace with the high-flying Bills.
NFL Playoffs prediction: Bills 31, Colts 24
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
Time/station: 4:40 PM EST, Fox
Rams-Seahawks point spread: Seahawks -3.5 (over/under 42.5)
Update: Seahawks star S Jamal Adams (shoulder) questionable
Update: Rams QB Jared Goff (finger) limited participant in practice Wednesday
Despite seeing John Wolford lead them to a playoff-clinching win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, there’s certainly some concern in Los Angeles right now. Will Jared Goff be ready to go in the wild card round of the NFL Playoffs against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks after suffering a fractured and dislocated thumb in his throwing hand back in Week 16? That seems highly unlikely, leaving the Rams to rely on Wolford once again. It’s not a great situation for head coach Sean McVay and Co. to be in right now.
Even if Goff is able to go, it’s not like he was setting the world on fire ahead of suffering the injury. In fact, the former No. 1 pick had thrown three touchdowns against three interceptions in his previous three starts. That included a horrendous performance in a 20-9 loss to Seattle in Week 16.
Related: Ranking NFL defenses
The backdrop here is a Seahawks offense led by MVP candidate Russell Wilson, who accounted for 42 touchdowns while leading Seattle to over four touchdowns per game during the regular season. I fully expect the Rams’ top defense to keep this close for a while with Aaron Donald doing his thing against Wilson. I just can’t pick an upset given Goff’s struggles and the fact that he’s unlikely to even play in this one.
NFL Playoffs prediction: Seahawks 27, Rams 13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team
Time/station: 8:15 PM EST, NBC
2021 Nfl Playoff Projections
Buccaneers-Washington point spread: Buccaneers -8.5 (over/under 45.0)
Update: Washington QB Alex Smith (calf) limited participant in practice Wednesday
2021 Nfl Playoff Predictions Espn
It’s definitely a feel good story in the nation’s capital. Head coach Ron Rivera battling through cancer. Alex Smith returning under center after suffering a life-threatening foot injury back in 2018. Washington’s players overcoming a disastrous owner to show out and win the pedestrian NFC East.
None of that is going to matter at home against GOAT Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come the NFL Playoffs. Brady threw for nearly 400 yards and four more touchdowns during Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. He finishes the season having thrown 40 touchdowns while leading the Buccaneers to an absurd 30.6 points per game. Antonio Brown is finding his groove. Rob Gronkowski continues to do Rob Gronkowski things.
I would absolutely love to go with Washington in an upset. It would be a tremendous story for Rivera, Smith and Co. Unfortunately, reality tells me otherwise. This is not going to be a close game.
Nfl Playoff Predictions 2021 Youtube
2022 Nfl Playoff Predictions
NFL Playoffs prediction: Buccaneers 35, Washington 16