NFL Wild Card Weekend!

First, I will overview what happened in the playoff-clinching scenarios in Week 18

1. The first game this Saturday was between the Ravens and Browns, which if the Ravens won, they would clinch the AFC North, as well as the 3rd seed in the playoffs. The Ravens won easily, 35-10, clinching the division.

2. The second game Saturday was between the Steelers and Bengals. If the Steelers won, they would clinch the 5th seed in the playoffs. If they lost, their fate was dependent on the Chargers, which if the Chargers win, the Steelers would move down to the 6th spot. If the Bengals won, they would still be alive for playoff contention, however, their fate would be dependent on the Broncos and Dolphins, needing them both to lose to get the final playoff spot. If the Bengals lost, they would be eliminated from playoff contention. The game was close, but low-scoring, but ultimately, the Bengals won 19-17, keeping their hopes alive.

3. Now into Sunday, where the games got crazy! First, the Buccaneers defeated the Saints, clinching the NFC South.

4. To which Bucs WR Mike Evans once again had 1,000 receiving yards in the season. That is his 11th year in a row accomplishing this, which ties a record set by Jerry Rice.

5. This would also knock the Atlanta Falcons out from playoff contention, even though their loss to the Panthers would have eliminated them anyway.

6. The Packers and Commanders were both fighting for the 6th seed. But with the Commanders having the tiebreaker, the Packers needed a win and a Commanders loss to get the 6th spot.

7. Both the Packers and Commanders had crazy games, with their final plays occurring almost simultaneously!

8. The Bears defeated the Packers on a game-winning field goal!

9. The Commanders defeated the Cowboys on a game-winning touchdown!

10. Therefore solidifying the Commanders as the 6th seed and the Packers as the 7th seed

11. The Patriots also would beat the Bills, which allowed the Tennessee Titans to clinch the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

12. The Bengals and Dolphins both needed the Chiefs to beat the Broncos to have a chance at the playoffs, but as the Chiefs rested their starters, the Broncos would cruise to a 38-0 victory, allowing them to clinch the 7th seed in the playoffs, and knocking out the Dolphins and Bengals.

13. And as mentioned before, the Steelers were waiting on the Chargers, who went on to easily defeat the Raiders, making the Chargers the 5th seed and the Steelers the 6th seed.

14. Sunday Night Football was essentially the NFC North championship as the Lions would face the Vikings. The winner would get the #1 seed, as well as a first-round bye, and the loser would become the #5 seed, and face the Rams in the playoffs. The Lions won easily, 31-9, and became the #1 seed.

The schedule has been released for the Wild Card games

The Saturday, January 11 games will be

(5) Chargers (11-6) at (4) Texans (10-7) @ 4:30 PM ET

(6) Steelers (10-7) at (3) Ravens (12-5) @ 8:00 PM ET

The Sunday, January 12 games will be

(7) Broncos (10-7) at (2) Bills (13-4) @ 1:00 PM ET

(7) Packers (11-6) at (2) Eagles (14-3) @ 4:30 PM ET

(6) Commanders (12-5) at (3) Buccaneers (10-7) @ 8:00 PM ET

Then, there will be one game on Monday, January 13

(5) Vikings (14-3) at (4) Rams (10-7) @ 8:00 PM ET

1. Jim Harbaugh has returned to NFL coaching (first time since 2014), and in his first year with the Chargers, he's already in the playoffs!

2. The Steelers and Ravens have already played twice this year, with both of them winning one game.

3. This is the Broncos first playoff appearance since 2015, when they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning.

4. The Packers and Eagles have played once this year, it was Week 1 in Brazil, with the Eagles winning 34-29

5. The Commanders and Buccaneers played Week 1, with the Buccaneers winning 37-20.

6. The Vikings and Rams also played earlier this year, In Week 7, the Rams won 30-20.

Here are my predictions for the games:

Chargers over Texans

Ravens over Steelers

Bills over Broncos

Eagles over Packers

Buccaneers over Commanders

Vikings over Rams

But what do you think? Who's winning these games? Did your favorite team make it to the playoffs? Which teams are going to the Super Bowl? Let me know your predictions!