The NFL wild-card round kicks off Saturday with six games over three days, and professional bettor Scott Pritchard of PritchardsPicks.com has analyzed every matchup. Here are his predictions.
Rams at Panthers
Los Angeles (12-5) visits Carolina (8-9) as 10½-point favorites with a total of 46. The Rams own the league’s top scoring offense and a top-10 defense, while the Panthers rank near the bottom in offensive production and have a mediocre defense. In their Week 13 meeting, Carolina won 31-28 at home, but needed two fourth-down touchdown passes and three Matthew Stafford turnovers, including a pick-6. Stafford and the Rams are poised for revenge. Pritchard predicts a 31-14 Rams victory.
Packers at Bears
Green Bay (9-7) travels to Chicago (11-6) as 1½-point favorites, total 44½. This marks only the third playoff meeting between the storied rivals, with each team having won once. The Packers have lost four straight games, becoming just the fourth team to enter the playoffs on a four-game skid. However, Green Bay is expected to snap that streak thanks to Chicago’s weak defense (27th vs. run, 22nd vs. pass) and a well-above-average Packers defense, especially against the pass. If Jordan Love protects the football, the Packers should advance. Pritchard picks Green Bay 27-17.
Bills at Jaguars
Buffalo (12-5) faces Jacksonville (13-4) in a pick’em game with a total of 51½. The Bills own the top-ranked rush offense but have lost eight straight road playoff games. They’ll face the Jaguars’ top-ranked rush defense, but Josh Allen could exploit Jacksonville’s bottom-12 pass defense. Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ pass-reliant attack may stall against Buffalo’s top-ranked pass defense. Pritchard sees the Bills winning 31-24.
49ers at Eagles
San Francisco (12-5) visits Philadelphia (11-6) as 5½-point underdogs, total 44½. The Eagles rested starters last week and lost to the Commanders, costing them the No. 2 seed. Coach Nick Sirianni hoped the rest would spark a change for the defending Super Bowl champions, but a bottom-nine offense and a run defense that struggles against a stellar 49ers rush defense and a San Francisco offense that leads the league in third-down conversion percentage could spell trouble. Pritchard predicts the 49ers win 24-20.
Chargers at Patriots
Los Angeles (11-6) travels to New England (14-3) as 3½-point underdogs, total 45½. Both teams boast top-four defenses, but the Patriots have a distinct offensive edge, ranking top five in all major categories, while the Chargers are middling, particularly 20th in points per game. Cold temperatures in Foxborough could hinder offense, but New England’s firepower should prevail. A win would give the Patriots their first home playoff victory since 2018. Pritchard picks the Patriots 24-20.
Texans at Steelers
Houston (12-5) heads to Pittsburgh (10-7) as 3-point favorites, total 38. The Steelers have won 23 straight home Monday Night Football games, and the Texans are 0-6 on the road in the playoffs in franchise history. Houston’s top-ranked defense aims to end those streaks, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have likely prepared extensively. Pritchard expects the Steelers to win 20-17.
