2024 NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview: How to watch, odds, picks, more

The best two weeks of the NFL season are officially upon us — the time of year when the temperature drops, the stakes rise, and heroes are made. This season, more than ever, has the potential to be one of the most competitive playoffs we have seen in a while.

Let’s dive into the first five games that are on the slate this weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

(5) Cleveland Browns vs. (4) Houston Texans 

• Spread: Browns -2.5
• Date: Saturday, January 13
• Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC

After a short hiatus, the Houston Texans have returned to their rightful 4:25 p.m. Saturday Wild Card slot to kick off playoff action. Although this is not your average Texans team. They have dealt with injuries throughout the season but despite everything, have found themselves at the top of the AFC South led by Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner CJ Stroud.

Stroud has been the saving grace in Houston this year, combined with explosive receiving threats in wide receiver Nico Collins, Noah Brown, running back Devin Singletary, and tight end Dalton Schultz. While Stroud has been without his top target Tank Dell since Week 12 when Dell broke his fibula, he has managed to throw for over 4,000 yards despite playing in only 15 games. Stroud was sidelined with a concussion in weeks 15 and 16 but came back just in time to help Houston win the AFC South against the Colts last week.

The Cleveland Browns have had anything but a consistent presence at quarterback throughout the season. They have started five different quarterbacks this year but have relied on a stout defense to keep them competitive and earn the No. 1 Wild Card spot. Through games with Deshaun Watson, PJ Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jeff Driskel, and Joe Flacco, it was surprisingly the veteran Flacco who has been the stabilizing force. On the other side of the ball, Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett has put together a career year hunting down opposing quarterbacks. Garrett has 14 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season, which both rank in the top ten in the NFL.

On Saturday afternoon, the matchup to watch will certainly be the explosive Texans offense against a stellar Browns defense. With a potential trip to Baltimore on the line if the seeds hold, I give the edge to the Cleveland Browns and a playoff reunion between Flacco and the team he once won a Super Bowl for the Ravens. Both of these teams have limited playoff experience on the roster, and a seasoned veteran like Flacco gives Cleveland a slight edge on Saturday.

(6) Miami Dolphins at (3) Kansas City Chiefs

• Spread: Chiefs -4.5
• Date: Saturday, January 13
• Time: 8:30 p.m.
• TV: Peacock

The Miami Dolphins will be tested on Saturday night in Kansas City where the forecast is expected to feel like sub-zero temperatures. A team that prides itself on being the most explosive offense in the league has plenty of questions to answer after fumbling away the division to the Buffalo Bills. All eyes will be on wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and whether or not he is healthy enough to go on Saturday night with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined against the Bills last week.

Waddle is an essential piece to the Miami offense and the cold weather forecasted will also play a role in the injury. It is also worth noting the Dolphins have one win against teams over .500 this season. Miami has largely beaten up inferior opponents and has failed to show up against the NFL’s elite.

While the Chiefs are once again in the playoffs, this Kansas City team has a different identity than teams of seasons past. Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes, but the receiving corps around him has been subpar, to say the least. The one thing that has kept the Chiefs competitive is the stellar Kansas City defense, which is second in the league in yards and points allowed per game. The defense will have their work cut out for them Saturday night as Dolphins wide receiver and former Chief Tyreek Hill will be looking to exact revenge on his old team. 

One thing worth noting off the field on Saturday night is this game will air on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. So for the Dolphins fans, Chiefs fans, Swifties, and everyone in between, make sure you have your subscription activated before kickoff. As for the game on the field, I believe Kansas City will establish their dominance once again and prove why they have been at the top for so long. Miami already lost to Kansas City once this year, and they have not proven consistently they can beat a quality opponent.

(7) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (2) Buffalo Bills

• Spread: Bills -10
• Date: Sunday, January 14
• Time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: CBS

The Pittsburgh Steelers barely snuck into the playoffs last week as the epic collapse of the Jacksonville Jaguars propelled Mike Tomlin and his squad to the final Wild-Card spot. In a season that has been a rollercoaster from firing offensive coordinators to uncertainty under center, they have found their way into the big dance.

It looked like the Steelers were dead in the water after losing three straight games to the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts, but just as they were on life support, they won their last three games of the season. Now with Mason Rudolph under center, Pittsburgh will have their hands full against Buffalo.

Speaking of rollercoasters, the Buffalo Bills have had quite the ups and downs this season, yet find themselves as the two seed in the AFC. Behind star quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills have eluded trouble just in the knick of time every chance they’ve gotten this year.

At one time Buffalo held a 6-6 record, beating Mahomes and the Chiefs to stay over .500 in Week 13. That was the start of a five-game win streak the Bills are currently riding into the playoffs. After some trial and error, they have found the winning formula and are one of the hottest teams in the AFC right now.

I give the edge to Buffalo in this game. While both teams enter on winning streaks, consistent quarterback play and a much-improved defense give Buffalo the advantage they need. It would be foolish to count Mike Tomlin out, especially as a double-digit underdog, but in the words of the great Chris Berman, no one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.

(7) Green Bay Packers vs. (2) Dallas Cowboys

• Spread: Cowboys -7.5
• Date: Sunday, January 14
• Time: 4:30 p.m.
• TV: Fox

Green Bay played their first playoff game last week against the Chicago Bears as they were in a win-and-in scenario against their division “rival”.

The word rival in quotations because is it a rivalry when it is as one-sided as the Packers dominating the Bears in every matchup? That being said, quarterback Jordan Love looked poised under pressure as he proved game-by-game that he is the next franchise quarterback in Green Bay.

On the other side of the ball though, the Packers will need to find a way to stop Tony Pollard and co. in Dallas. Green Bay has the 28th-ranked run defense in the league, allowing an average of 128.3 yards per game. They will certainly need to find a way to thwart Dallas on the ground if they are going to have a chance on Sunday.

As the saying goes, men lie, women lie, but the numbers never lie. The fact of the matter is the Dallas Cowboys are undefeated at home this year. A perfect 8-0 in Jerry’s World or AT&T Stadium, they are averaging an astronomical 37.4 points per game. Their only Achilles heel has been on the road, which would potentially not be an issue until the NFC Championship game. The dynamic duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has haunted defenses all year. If Green Bay is going to have a chance in this game, they need to make someone other than Lamb beat them.

If this game were being played on a neutral field, the outlook would be different. With the Cowboys having home-field advantage and just how dominant they’ve been this year, I believe the Cowboys will win this game running away, taking advantage of the inexperienced Love. With the Cowboys being the two seed, they are looking as strong contenders to make it to the NFC Championship game, which would be their first time in the 21st century.

(6) Los Angeles Rams vs. (3) Detroit Lions

• Spread: Lions -3
• Date: Sunday, January 14
• Time: 8:15 p.m.
• TV: NBC

Speaking of things to happen for the first time in the 21st century, the Detroit Lions won the NFC North for the first time in 30 years and will have a home playoff game.

It’s truly remarkable to think about this being the first time someone from Detroit can post on social media about going to see their favorite team play in a playoff game at their stadium. That being said, Dan Campbell’s squad put the league on notice this year. It seemed like they were going to fold at times but responded time and time again to any adversity they faced.

Hollywood could not write a better script for this game as Lions quarterback Jared Goff is facing off against the same team that traded him away for former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford played his first 12 seasons in Detroit before ultimately being traded to the Rams and winning a Super Bowl. Now, the prodigal son returns home wearing the enemy’s colors.

For the Rams, they have been injury-plagued all season but finally seem to be clicking at the right time. Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua took the league by storm, replacing the production of All-Pro Cooper Kupp who was sidelined the majority of the year by injury. Additionally, second-year running back Kyren Williams has dominated on the ground this year, rushing for over 1,100 yards. With how dynamic the Rams offense has proven to be, and the struggles Detroit has dealt with on that side of the ball this year, this will be the matchup that determines the game. 

While the Lions’ run defense is the second-best in the league, they tend to give up large chunk plays, meaning an opponent is never really out of the game. Detroit has the 27th-ranked pass defense, so expect Nacua to show why he is garnering some steam for Offensive Rookie of the Year. I give the edge to the Los Angeles Rams in this game, as they are more consistent on both sides of the ball and have limited chunk plays throughout the season. I believe this will be the most tightly contested game this weekend, with the game coming down to who has the ball last.

Odds courtesy of DraftKings. For more, click here.

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