What an incredible and dramatic night of NFL action we saw this past weekend with teams participation in the playoffs going right down to the wire, overtime needed to decide which of two teams made the playoffs and the AFC top seed on the line.
However, after the results came in, we finally knew what the playoff picture looked like and which two teams would be the top seeds, securing home field advantage and a crucial bye on the Super Wildcard Weekend giving them time to rest and recuperate ahead of the Divisional Playoffs next weekend.
You can enjoy plenty of great NFL betting action throughout the playoffs with bet365 Sport, who offer a wide array of betting markets including those popular in the United States, such as Spread, Total Points and Moneyline bets, as well as specific markets on each game.
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So will it be the top defenses in the NFL, or the best quarterbacks and their offense that will come out on top? We’ll take a closer look below, but first let’s review this weekend’s NFL results and how that left the playoff standings in both conferences.
NFL Week 18 Results
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) 28-24 Denver Broncos (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (12-5) 51-26 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
- Green Bay Packers (13-4) 30-37 Detroit Lions (3-13-1)
- Indianapolis Colts (9-8) 11-26 Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14)
- Washington Football Team (7-10) 22-7 New York Giants (4-13)
- Chicago Bears (6-11) 17-31 Minnesota Vikings (8-9)
- Tennessee Titans (12-5) 28-25 Houston Texans (4-13)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) 16-13 Baltimore Ravens (8-9) OT
- Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) 16-21 Cleveland Browns (8-9)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-7) 27-24 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- Carolina Panthers (5-12) 17-41 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-10) 38-30 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
- New England Patriots (10-7) 24-33 Miami Dolphins (9-8)
- New Orleans Saints (9-8) 30-20 Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
- New York Jets (4-13) 10-27 Buffalo Bills (11-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-8) 32-35 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) OT
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC Seedings
- Tennessee Titans (12-5) – Bye and Home Field Advantage
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-6)
- Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)
- New England Patriots (10-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1)
NFC Seedings
- Green Bay Packers (13-4) – Bye and Home Field Advantage
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
- Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-7)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
Now that we know how the seedings have worked out in both conferences, let’s now preview each of the six Super Wildcard Weekend games that will take place from Saturday through to Monday this weekend across the United States.
NFL Super Wildcard Weekend Fixtures
Saturday 15th January
- AFC – Las Vegas Raiders (5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (4)
The Raiders scraped their way into the playoffs by defeating the Chargers in overtime and their reward is a game against the up and down Bengals, who can be brilliant one week and poor the next. The Bengals did rest key men on Week 18 against the Browns and they’ll be back here and I am backing Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase, along with Joe Mixon to be the players to put the Bengals into the Divisional Playoffs, although I think it will be a very closely fought contest.
Our Prediction – Las Vegas Raiders 28-31 Cincinnati Bengals
- AFC – New England Patriots (6) @ Buffalo Bills (3)
For me, this is one of the games of the weekend which could see one of the seeded teams head out of the competition. The Patriots have already won in Buffalo this season, albeit in very windy conditions and Buffalo did beat the Pats at Foxboro a couple of weeks later. However, I didn’t like what I saw from the Bills offense against the Jets and if they play that way against the Pats defense, a top ranked unit, then I think they could be in trouble. This could go down to the wire and require overtime to secure the winner but I think the Pats may just edge it.
Our Prediction – New England Patriots 30-27 Buffalo Bills
Sunday 16th January
- NFC – Philadelphia Eagles (7) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2)
I think this could be another game that causes an upset and it would be THE upset of the round if I am right. I think the Eagles have improved markedly and although they were thrashed by Dallas last week, I do feel that with the Eagles already in the playoffs, they had nothing to play for in that game and probably didn’t play anywhere near as hard as they will here. Tampa’s defense has started to look fragile of late and their receiving corps has been hit hard. The Eagles could take advantage and secure what would be a huge and surprising win here over the NFC second seed.
Our Prediction – Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- NFC – San Francisco 49ers (6) @ Dallas Cowboys (3)
The 49ers produced a fine display to get the better of the Los Angeles Rams once again to earn themselves a place in the playoffs and they are going to be a tough team to beat if they can continue that level of performance they showed last week. The problem for them is that they are facing a Dallas Cowboys team that I feel are the form team in the NFC heading into the playoffs and I think the talent the Cowboys have make them a very real challenger for the NFC’s Conference Championship. Dallas should land the win here.
Our Prediction – San Francisco 49ers 28-42 Dallas Cowboys
- AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers (7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2)
The Steelers squeaked into the playoffs, ostensibly because the Indianapolis Colts could not beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on the final week of the season. Their reward is a shot at the Kansas City Chiefs who were pipped to home field advantage by the Titans. It’s another chance for Ben Roethlisberger in the playoffs, but I can’t see how this Steelers team can beat the Chiefs if Kansas play anywhere near their best. If Najee Harris can move the ball, the Steelers may have a chance but in truth, this should be an easy win for the home team.
Our Prediction – Pittsburgh Steelers 17-31 Kansas City Chiefs
Monday 17th January
- NFC – Arizona Cardinals (5) v Los Angeles Rams (4)
This all-NFC West clash should be an intriguing one. They have played each other twice this season, each team winning once and both teams come into this matchup on the back of a defeat in the final game of the season against divisional rivals. The Cardinals do seem to have run out of steam a little this season and while the Rams have been a little hot and cold at times, I am backing them to get the job done here.
Our Prediction – Arizona Cardinals 24-28 Los Angeles Rams
