The wild card spherical of the NFL playoffs are here<\/a>. Six video games throughout three days will decide which groups make the final four in the AFC and NFC<\/a>. Saturday kicks off the postseason schedule<\/a> with a rematch of two AFC video games seen in the course of the common season, however with a lot completely different circumstances.
The No. 5-seed Cleveland Browns<\/a> head on the highway to tackle the AFC South champion and No. 4-seed Houston Texans<\/a> to start out the playoff motion. The 2 groups met in Week 16 with the Browns winning 36-22<\/a> in Houston however the Texans had been taking part in with out Offensive Rookie of the Yr favourite C.J. Stroud<\/a> at quarterback.
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As soon as the Texans and Browns wrap up, the No. 3-seed Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> tackle the No. 6 Miami Dolphins<\/a> in a rematch of their Week 9 matchup in Germany. Kansas City won that game 21-14<\/a> however Saturday’s rematch could possibly be one of the coldest NFL games ever<\/a>.
This is what that you must know in regards to the Browns-Texans and Chiefs-Dolphins video games on Saturday.
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The Browns and Texans kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock. The Chiefs and Dolphins kickoff at 8:00 p.m. ET and shall be broadcast solely on Peacock.
The Browns rested a few of their starters in Week 18 after securing the highest wild card spot within the AFC playoffs. Cleveland is among the hottest groups coming into the playoffs within the AFC; the Browns gained 4 straight earlier than the season finale behind a surprisingly productive Joe Flacco at quarterback<\/a>.
Houston secured a playoff spot<\/a> in thrilling style in Week 18 with a 23-19 win over division foe Indianapolis. With the win and Jacksonville’s loss to the Tennessee Titans<\/a> a day later, Houston secured its first AFC South title since 2019.
The final time these groups met, Stroud was out of the sport and the Texans offense had one in all its worst days of the yr, committing a number of turnovers and managing simply 250 yards. His return could possibly be the distinction in Houston’s first dwelling playoff sport in 4 years.
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Miami<\/a> misplaced its season finale to Buffalo on Sunday Evening Soccer to drop to a wild card spot within the playoffs. Miami’s protection has been torched in its final two video games (practically 500 yards per sport allowed) and shall be with out prime go rushers Bradley Chubb<\/a> and Jaelan Phillips<\/a> because of harm.
Kansas City<\/a> enters the playoffs exterior of the highest two seeds for the primary time because the 2017-18 playoffs. Not like earlier playoff runs, the Chiefs’ protection is the group’s prime unit heading into the postseason and one of the best defenses in the league in 2023<\/a>.
Saturday’s sport shall be in freezing circumstances with a wind chill as little as unfavourable eight levels. It will be a return to Arrowhead Stadium for extensive receiver Tyreek Hill<\/a>. The Dolphins shall be with out cornerback Xavien Howard<\/a> for the sport and extensive receiver Jaylen Waddle<\/a> is questionable for the matchup as nicely.
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The primary sport of the day between the Steelers<\/a> and Bills<\/a> kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. The second sport of the day and the primary NFC playoff matchup between the Packers<\/a> and Cowboys<\/a> kicks off later at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX. The ultimate matchup of Sunday’s trio of playoff video games between the Rams<\/a> and Lions<\/a> begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The 2 groups meet in what shall be another weather-impacted game<\/a>. Forecasts present temperatures round 24 levels with greater than seven inches of snow predicted on Sunday. Regardless of the chilly temperatures, Buffalo enters the playoffs as one of many hottest groups within the league. The Payments have gained 5 straight since their bye in Week 13 to safe the AFC East title.
After a Week 15 blowout loss to the Colts<\/a>, Pittsburgh went on a three-game successful streak to safe the ultimate seed within the AFC playoffs. Quarterback Mason Rudolph<\/a> is 3-0 as a starter since coming in and set a Steelers completion percentage record<\/a> in Week 18. Apart from the snow impacting the sport, the Steelers may also be with out star go rusher T.J. Watt<\/a> who’s out with a knee injury<\/a>.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy faces the franchise he gained a Tremendous Bowl with in 2010 for the primary time within the playoffs. McCarthy and the Cowboys are undefeated at dwelling and gained their closing two video games, together with a controversial ending against the Lions<\/a> in Week 17.
Inexperienced Bay reached the playoffs thanks to 3 consecutive wins to shut the common season. The Packers’ offense posted its two greatest performances of the yr in Weeks 17 and 18 to offer Inexperienced Bay momentum heading into the playoffs.
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The NFC finishes off Sunday’s schedule with one other reunion, this time with longtime Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford<\/a> returning to Detroit because the Rams’ quarterback. Similar with Lions quarterback Jared Goff<\/a> going through the group that drafted him first overall in 2016<\/a>.
Los Angeles is among the hottest groups within the NFC and went 7-1 to shut the season. Stafford posted a 16:3 landing to interception ratio over that stretch to safe a wild card spot. The Lions went 4-3 to shut the common season and Detroit’s standout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is questionable<\/a> for the sport after an harm within the finale.
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Wild card weekend wraps up on Monday evening with the Eagles<\/a> and Buccaneers<\/a> going through off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. The sport may also be streaming on ESPN+.
Philadelphia could also be one of many coldest groups coming into the playoffs after dropping 5 of their closing six common season video games. Professional Bowl extensive receiver A.J. Brown<\/a> didn’t observe Thursday and accidents to extensive receiver DeVonta Smith<\/a> and quarterback Jalen Hurts<\/a> may impression their manufacturing within the wild card finale.
Tampa Bay, against this, gained 5 of their final six video games to safe the NFC South title. Quarterback Baker Mayfield<\/a> and the offense had been stymied in the season finale against Carolina<\/a> however performed nicely down the stretch. These groups met two years in the past in Hurts’ first playoff begin for the Eagles with the Buccaneers winning 31-15<\/a>.<\/p>\n