You may recall that earlier this week we took a look at how the 18th and final Gameweek of the NFL regular season panned out and which teams made the Playoffs.
- NFL Playoffs – Super Wildcard Weekend
- Saturday 14th January
- Seattle Seahawks (9-8) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-4) (9.35pm)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) (1.15am)
- Sunday 15th January
- Miami Dolphins (9-8) @ Buffalo Bills (13-3) (6.05pm)
- New York Giants (9-7-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (13-4) (9.40pm)
- Baltimore Ravens (10-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) (1.15am)
- Monday 16th January
- Dallas Cowboys (12-5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) (1.15am)
If you recognise that article, then you will also recall that rather than give you our standard tips within that final review of the season, we told you we would preview all six Super Wildcard Weekend games later in this week.
And that time is now here!
As usual, we will be using bet365 Sport for the odds for any of the selections made in this article as the company continues to offer an excellent range of bets covering both the pre-match and In Play betting markets on all NFL playoff games to come.
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So lets get cracking with a look ahead to the games this weekend and how we think each one will turn out and what the best bets are for each of the games.
NFL Playoffs – Super Wildcard Weekend
Saturday 14th January
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-4) (9.35pm)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
- Most Recent Game – 49ers 21-13 Seahawks (15th Dec 2022)
- Series Record – 49ers – 19 Wins, Seahawks – 30 Wins, Ties – 0
- Seahawks Key Players – Geno Smith (QB), Quandre Diggs (FS)
- 49ers Key Players – Brock Purdy (QB), Fred Warner (LB)
Game Analysis And Prediction
The 49ers do not have a good record against the Seahawks and that will be very much on the minds of niners’ fans ahead of this wildcard game. This season, the 49ers did record two wins over Seattle, but that generally when the teams have met, it has been the Seahawks that have come out on top.
Pete Carroll’s team have done well to get this far after a somewhat inconsistent season, but now they are in the playoffs, the 49ers will be very wary of what they can achieve.
That said, the 49ers have won all their last ten and seem to have found great balance in the team with the arrival of Christian McCaffrey a turning point in the season and Brock Purdy’s emergence from Mr Irrelevant in the draft, to being the incumbent QB1 for the 49ers is one of the stories of the season.
The 49ers should have enough quality to win this, but I think the Seahawks make it a lot tougher than many would expect.
Prediction – Seahawks 16-27 49ers
Tips
- Seahawks to cover the spread (+9.5) – 10/11
- 49ers to win by 7-12 points – 10/3
- George Kittle (49ers) – Anytime Touchdown Scorer – 6/4
Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) (1.15am)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville
- Most Recent Game – Jaguars 38-10 Chargers (25th Sept 2022)
- Series Record – Jaguars – 4 Wins, Chargers – 9 Wins, Ties – 0
- Chargers Key Players – Justin Herbert (QB), Khalil Mack (LB)
- Jaguars Key Players – Trevor Lawrence (QB), Foyesade Oluokon (LB)
Game Analysis And Prediction
The Jaguars come into this game as the team in form with a superb finish to the season seeing them secure the AFC South title and with it the fourth seed spot in the AFC. The Chargers finished the season with a slightly better 10-7 record, but their form has been a little inconsistent at times this year.
One thing to note here is that the Chargers are starting to get some key players back from injury over the past two weeks or so and that will certainly help them as they head into the playoffs as something of an unknown factor.
The Chargers are capable of beating anybody on their day, they just have not had too many of those days in big games of late, but I am backing them to snatch a narrow win here over the Jags who will put up a fierce resistance on home field.
Prediction – Los Angeles Chargers 37-31 Jacksonville Jaguars
Tips
- Chargers to cover the spread (-2.5) – 10/11
- Over 47.5 Points – 10/11
- Evan Engram (Jaguars) to score at any time – 2/1
Sunday 15th January
Miami Dolphins (9-8) @ Buffalo Bills (13-3) (6.05pm)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – Highmark Stadium, New York
- Most Recent Game – Dolphins 29-32 Bills (17th Dec 2022)
- Series Record – Dolphins – 62 Wins, Bills – 55 Wins, Ties – 1
- Dolphins Key Players – Teddy Bridgwater (QB), Xavien Howard (CB)
- Bills Key Players – Josh Allen (QB), Matt Milano (LB)
Game Analysis And Prediction
The news that Tua Tagovailoa, Miami’s first choice quarterback, will miss this game is a huge blow to the Dolphins and a factor which massively swings this game in favour of the Bills. Especially when you consider that his back up, Teddy Bridgewater, may still not recover in time to play.
Having see the Dolphins struggle to put up any points against the Jets last week, where they managed just 11, three field goals and a safety, against a Bills side much better in defense and so much better in offense, it just looks like an impossible task for Miami here.
I am very confident that the Bills will end up taking complete control of this game and I’ve backed them to land an easy win here and I would not be surprised if it is by an even greater margin than the scoreline I’ve predicted below.
Prediction – Miami Dolphins 13-35 Buffalo Bills
Tips
- Bills to cover the spread (-13.5) – 10/11
- Bills to win by 19-24 points – 17/4
- Josh Allen (Bills) to score at any time – 13/10
New York Giants (9-7-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (13-4) (9.40pm)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
- Most Recent Game – Giants 24-27 Vikings (24th Dec 2022)
- Series Record – Giants – 12 Wins, Vikings – 18 Wins, Ties – 0
- Giants Key Players – Saquon Barkley (RB), Dexter Lawrence (NT)
- Vikings Key Players – Justin Jefferson (WR), Patrick Peterson (CB)
Game Analysis And Prediction
These two teams played out an exciting match up just a few weeks ago with the Vikings claiming a dramatic win. I have a feeling we may have a sense of déjà vu watching this game as my research leads me to believe we can expect a similar match up again on Sunday.
For me the Vikings have the edge because of one reason, Justin Jefferson. I can’t see how the Giants can keep him quiet enough in this game for them to have enough to win it. In two well-matched teams, he will be the difference maker in my view.
I expect things to be a little tighter given that it is a playoff match up, but even so I am still backing the Vikings to land the win.
Prediction – New York Giants – 20-24 Minnesota Vikings
Tips
- Vikings to cover the spread (-3.0) – 10/11
- Under 47.0 Points – 10/11
- Vikings to win by 1-6 points – 3/1
Baltimore Ravens (10-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) (1.15am)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
- Most Recent Game – Ravens 16-27 Bengals (8th Jan 2023)
- Series Record – Ravens – 28 Wins, Bengals – 26 Wins, Ties – 0
- Ravens Key Players – Isaiah Likely (TE), Roquan Smith (LB)
- Bengals Key Players – Joe Burrow (QB), Trey Hendricksen (EDGE)
Game Analysis And Prediction
I think if Lamar Jackson was fit and healthy and playing well, then this would be a coin toss game as despite the Bengals having the edge on offense, I’d feel that the Ravens have an equal advantage on defense too.
However, Jackson is a major doubt to play and in truth, I can’t see him doing so. So in my mind, that is a mortal blow here for Ravens hopes of reaching next weekend’s Divisional stage of the playoffs.
There’s also the fact that since going 0-2 at the start of the season, the Bengals have been playing some of the best and most consistent football on both sides of the field since. That consistency will be key here in what is another divisional match up in the playoffs.
Prediction – Baltimore Ravens 21-34 Cincinnati Bengals
Tips
- Bengals to cover the spread (+9.5) – 10/11
- Over 40.5 Points – 10/11
- Ja’Marr Chase to score TD in 1st quarter – 11/2
Monday 16th January
Dallas Cowboys (12-5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) (1.15am)
Key Stats & Data
- Venue – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
- Most Recent Game – Buccaneers 19-3 Dallas Cowboys (11th Sept 2022)
- Series Record – Dallas – 15 Wins, Tampa – 6 Wins, Ties – 0
- Cowboys Key Players – Dak Prescott (QB), Micah Parsons (LB)
- Buccaneers Key Players – Tom Brady (QB), Vita Vea (NT)
Game Analysis & Prediction
Two of the best defenses in the NFL clash here in a game that bet365 feel will be one that doesn’t see too many points scored. I tend to disagree with that given the quality of Tom Brady and co for the Bucs and also for the Cowboys offense that has scored 40+ points several times in recent weeks.
Both teams may be better defensively, but it will be on offense where this game is decided and for me, I just see the Cowboys defense having more energy to cause Tom Brady and his offensive line problems than the Buccaneers will be able to muster against Dak Prescott.
I have a feeling this will be a close one, one score in it perhaps, but I am backing the Cowboys to gain revenge for their Week 1 defeat to the Bucs here.
Prediction – Dallas Cowboys 28-21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tips
- Cowboys to cover the spread (-2.5) – 10/11
- Over 44.5 Points – 10/11
- Cowboys to win by 7 to 12 points – 19/4
All times shown above are stated as UK Kick off times.
Join me next week when I review the results of the six games this week and look forward to the four games taking place in the Divisional Round next weekend.
