Super Wild Card Weekend Preview

CINCINNATI — After 272 games, the NFL Playoffs is set to begin Saturday afternoon. There are several teams that can win Super Bowl LIX on February 9th, and that’s what makes the NFL Playoffs so compelling.

This weekend, there are six compelling Wild Card games. From classic rivalries to fun matchups, this weekend is going to be fun to watch from Saturday late afternoon through Monday night.

Let’s look at all six matchups on Super Wild Card Weekend.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) @ 4. Houston Texans (10-7, AFC South Champions) – 4:30 p.m. on CBS (Ian Eagles, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)
Westwood One: Kevin Kugler, Ryan Harris

For the eighth time in the last 14 seasons, the NFL Playoffs and the road to the Super Bowl will begin in Houston. The Houston Texans have now won eight AFC South titles in the last 14 seasons, and those division titles have earned them all eight of the Postseason berths. Each time, including this season, they have hosted the Saturday, 4:30 Wild Card game. The Texans are 5-2 in the Wild Card round in their previous seven playoff appearances.

This time, though, the task won’t be favorable for the Texans on Super Wild Card Weekend. That’s because the Los Angeles Chargers, winners of three straight games to close out an 11-6 regular season, are coming into this game with the Jim Harbaugh Effect in full force. The Chargers were just 5-12 last year. But enter Jim Harbaugh, and the Chargers have quickly become a really good, fundamentally sound football team. Justin Herbert still has the flash that quickly made him one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks, but he’s also more efficient and more mistake-free this season. This Chargers offense, though, is driven through its running game, which is getting back J.K. Dobbins just in time for the start of the Playoffs Saturday afternoon. On defense, the Chargers are allowing just 17.7 points and 324.4 yards per game.

The Texans won their second straight AFC South title this season, which is what they were expected to do. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. C.J. Stroud didn’t take that huge second-year leap he was widely believed to take this season. He was good, but he wasn’t as great as some expected him to be. Season-ending injuries to wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell may have contributed to Stroud’s inconsistencies, but fellow wide receiver Nico Collins, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Joe Mixon all stayed healthy for 17 games this season. The Texans defense held up their end of the bargain throughout the regular season, allowing just 21.9 points and 315 yards per game. This Texans defense has really good players on the front and back ends. Can Stroud elevate his game and those around him on offense now on the stage that is the NFL Playoffs? That question may not only determine the outcome of this game but also how far the Texans can go in the NFL Playoffs.

There’s a perception I’m getting that the Chargers are going to cakewalk over the Texans this weekend. I don’t feel that way. The Chargers have a history of slipping on the NFL Playoffs stage, a phenomenon known as “Chargering.” There’s also enough talent on both sides of the ball on the Texans that they will make this a close game. Plus, C.J. Stroud has faced Jim Harbaugh twice before, in the 2021 and 2022 editions of The Game. The Texans playing at 4:30 on Saturday of Super Wild Card has become an almost certainty in the NFL, and so is Jim Harbaugh taking his team to the NFL Playoffs in his first season as their head coach.

Top 12 Players in Chargers-Texans
1. C.J. Stroud
2. Khalil Mack
3. Danielle Hunter
4. Larceny Tunsil
5. Justin Herbert
6. Derwin James
7. J.K. Dobbins
8. Ladd McConkey
9. Will Anderson IV
10. Joe Mixon
11. Derek Stingley Jr.
12. Nico Collins

Chargers Offense vs. Texans Defense
The Chargers want to an offense that’s driven through its running game. Getting running back J.K. Dobbins returning heading into the Playoffs is crucial for this Chargers offense to be what it wants to be, and Dobbins looked strong this season coming back from an Achilles injury that ended his 2023 season after just one game. But don’t let the Chargers offensive identity fool you into thinking Justin Herbert isn’t still an elite quarterback. He is, and he’s been more efficient this season than any of his first four seasons prior to 2024. Herbert threw just three interceptions in the regular season, becoming just the second quarterback in NFL history with three or fewer interceptions and 500+ pass attempts in a single season. Herbert has rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey and second-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston, with the two combining for 1,860 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.

On defense, the Texans will look to get after Justin Herbert and bait him into some bad throws into their opportunistic secondary. We remember all the additions the Texans made on offense this past offseason, but they made just as big of an impact on the defensive side of the ball in defensive end Danielle Hunter. Hunter’s 12 sacks give him six seasons with 10+ sacks. He teamed with Will Anderson to become one of just four pair of teammates in the NFL to each have 10+ sacks this season. In the secondary, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has gotten better and better in each of his first three seasons, and he ranked second in the NFL with 18 passes defended this season. Rookie safety Calen Bullock led all rookies with five interceptions this season.

Texans Offense vs. Chargers Defense
When the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon this offseason, I looked at their roster and thought that they could be a legitimate challenger to the Chiefs. Unfortunately, Diggs and Tank Dell are both out for the remainder of the season with injuries. That’s heavily impacted second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who hasn’t taken that big second-year leap he was expected to this season. He’s still been good, and Stroud still has Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz to throw to and Joe Mixon to hand the ball off to. Speaking of Mixon, he is still an effective running back. Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and he’s had some really good performances in the Playoffs when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals.

But the Chargers defense is going to make it difficult for the Texans to move the ball on Saturday afternoon. With Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack up front and Derwin James in the secondary, the Chargers gameplan on Saturday should be simple; pressure Stroud and force him into bad throws into the secondary. The Chargers gave up an NFL-leading just 17.7 points per game in the regular season, and they allowed 400+ yards just twice.

This game will be decided… by which team can get their running game going and which teams plays the best in the trenches. We know the Chargers want to be a run-first team on offense, and the Texans have the ability to run the football with Joe Mixon. But the team that plays the best in the trenches, the team that protects their quarterback the best will win this game.

Score Prediction: Chargers 26 – Texans 20
The Chargers are the better team, and they will show that today. But given the Texans talent on both sides of the ball, this game will be a lot closer than what might be expected. Just 369 days ago, Jim Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to the National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston. Saturday afternoon, he will lead the Chargers to their first playoff win since 2018 and further prove the Harbaugh Effect is very real.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) @ 3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North Champions) – 8 p.m. on Prime Video (Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung)
Westwood One: Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic, Ross Tucker

A classic AFC North rivalry renews itself on the playoff stage for the first time in 10 years and the fourth time in the last 17 years. These two teams are heading into the Playoffs this season, with the Steelers losing their last four games of the regular season and the Ravens winning their last four regular season games to win their second straight AFC North title.

Make no mistake, though, the Steelers are the last team the Ravens want to see in the Playoffs. Not only is Lamar Jackson 2-4 in the Playoffs in his career, but he’s also 2-4 against the Steelers in his career.

Jackson could win his third MVP this season. He’s been ridiculous, throwing for 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Two of those interceptions came in the two games against Pittsburgh. Derrick Henry is still a great running back. He may be in his 10th season, but that didn’t stop him from rushing for over 1,900 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Add in all the weapons the Ravens have in their passing game, and this Ravens offense ranked third in the NFL in points per game and led the NFL in yards per game. And for all the talk about their defense struggling this season, they still finished in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed per game.

Speaking of defense, the Steelers have made it their identity throughout their franchise history. With T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward up front and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary, the Steelers have the ability to shut down opposing offense and turn them over in doing so. But the Steelers defense struggled down the stretch, and their offense couldn’t complement them and bail them out. There’s disjointedness on offense with Russell Wilson and George Pickens not connecting in the passing game and Najee Harris not getting going in the running game.

This the NFL Playoffs, though, and all best are off and records don’t matter now. It’s a new one-month season, and the Steelers are absolutely capable of beating the Ravens on Saturday night. But will this Ravens team be too much for the Steelers? We’ll find out in the latest edition of this legendary AFC North rivalry.

Top 12 Players in Steelers-Ravens
1. Lamar Jackson
2. T.J. Watt
3. Roquan Smith
4. Kyle Hamilton
5. Derrick Henry
6. Nnamdi Madubuike
7. Patrick Queen
8. Minkah Fitzpatrick
9. Cameron Heyward
10. Mark Andrews
11. Kyle Van Noy
12. Marlon Humphrey

Steelers Offense vs. Ravens Defense
There was a three-game stretch this season where the Steelers offense looked really good. That was in Weeks 7-10, when the Steelers averaged 30.3 points per game. Since then, though, it’s been a disjointed and subpar effort for the Steelers offense. Six times in the Steelers last eight games, they were held below 20 points, including their last four games in the regular season. It just looks like the Steelers don’t know who they want to be on offense. Najee Harris is the only player in the NFL with 1,000+ rushing yards and six+ rushing touchdowns in each of the last four years, so the Steelers should try and run their offense through them.

But it won’t be easy against the Ravens defense. The Ravens allowed 100+ rushing yards just five times in the regular season. With four Pro Bowlers and two First-Team All-Pros, this Ravens defense is stacked with talent on all three levels. If they put the Steelers defense behind the eight-ball on Saturday night, that’s going to be a huge advantage for them.

Ravens Offense vs. Steelers Defense
My goodness, this Ravens offense is electric. Them signing Derrick Henry back in March made too much sense. If it’s possible, Henry made Jackson an even better player this season. Jackson had 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions this season, becoming the first player in NFL history with 4,000+ passing yards, 40+ touchdowns and five+ interceptions in a single season. In addition, he’s rushed for 86.8 yards per game in his previous six playoff games. How good was Derrick Henry this season? He became the first player in NFL history to have three seasons of 1,500+ rushing yards and 15+ rushing touchdowns.

But this Steelers defense is still stout, contrary to what transpired over their last four games. With T.J. Watt, Cameron Hayward and Alex Highsmith up front, this Steelers defense can make any game ugly and physical. T.J. Watt plays at his best against the Ravens, and he’ll have to Saturday night if the Steelers are going to have any chance of winning this game. Worth noting; Watt has never won a playoff game in his eight-year career.

This game will be decided… if Derrick Henry gets going, like he did when he had 162 rushing yards in the Ravens 34-17 win over the Steelers in Week 16, the Steelers are in trouble. If the Steelers contain him, like they did when they limited him to 65 rushing yards in Week 11, that’s going to give their defense the opportunity to fluster Lamar Jackson and force him into mistakes.

Score Prediction: Ravens 23 – Steelers 20
This is going to be a really close game. The Ravens not having wide receiver Zay Flowers in this game is going to make things interesting. I believe this will be a classic knockout fight between the Steelers and Ravens, that will end with Justin Tucker being good from 45 yards as time expires to send the Ravens to the AFC Divisional round.

7. Denver Broncos (10-7) @ 2. Buffalo Bills (13-4, AFC East Champions) – 1 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson, Jay Feeley)
Westwood One: John Sadak, Derek Rackley, Olivia Dekker

I find this matchup to be really compelling. Buffalo should be here, with potential league MVP Josh Allen leading a prolific offense. The Broncos, on the other hand, have exceeded all expectations with rookie quarterback Bo Nix and a defense that is ridiculously good.

Back in the offseason, the Bills were being viewed as team that would decline after losing multiple key members on both sides of the ball. However, all the Bills did was win the AFC East on December 1st, their fifth straight division title, and win 13 games for the third time in the last five seasons. Josh Allen is playing the best football of his career, and the Bills defense was still good despite injuries and playing some of the best offenses in the NFL during the regular season.

Bo Nix was the sixth of six rookie quarterbacks take in the first 12 picks of the NFL Draft. But Denver found a gem and their quarterback of the future. He has been stellar this season, and the Broncos are not just a cool story and a team that’s in the Playoffs because they had an easy schedule, backed in or lucked out with a weak AFC. This team is 10-5 since starting 0-2, and they deserve to be here. This Broncos team is strong on both sides of the ball, and this is the Broncos first playoff appearance since they won Super Bowl 50 in 2015. It’s also the Broncos first winning season since 2016.

Top 12 Players in Broncos-Bills
1. Josh Allen
2. Patrick Surtain II
3. Dion Dawkins
4. Bo Nix
5. Nik Bonitto
6. James Cook
7. Courtland Sutton
8. Jonathan Cooper
9. Quinn Meinerz
10. Greg Rousseau
11. Garrett Bolles
12. Marvin Mims

Broncos Offense vs. Bills Defense
For years, the Broncos offensive line was much-maligned and not good. This year, they allowed just 24 sacks. Led by Quinn Miner, Garrett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, the Broncos offensive line has quickly become one of the best units in the NFL.

The Broncos offensive line has been a big reason of Bo Nix’s success in his rookie season. Nix threw for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns this season, leading all NFL rookies in those two categories as well as completions with 376. Denver’s weapons are good, you just may not know a lot about them. That’s okay, considering the Broncos haven’t been on this stage since the Obama Administration. But Courtland Sutton had a stealer season with 81 receptions 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns. Marvin Mims may be the hottest receiver entering the NFL Playoffs, with four touchdown in his last two games.

Buffalo’s defense is still good, even though their defensive stats over their last five games may reflect otherwise. Let’s not forget, they played the Rams and Lions when they gave up 44 and 42 points. In their next three games to conclude the regular season, the Bills didn’t allow more than 23 points.

Bills Offense vs. Broncos Defense
Buffalo’s offense was ridiculously prolific this season, scoring 30+ points 12 times. Josh Allen was the engine of this Bills offense, and it was a team effort in the passing game led by Khalil Shakir. But James Cook rushing for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns was the difference, and it’s what makes this Bills offense different than in years past.

Aside from Nix, what makes this Broncos team what it is is their defense. Denver’s defense led the NFL with 63 sacks. That includes 13.5 from Nik Bonitto and 10.5 from Jonathan Cooper. Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL, and he may win Defensive Player of the Year this season. Surtain can shut down an entire half of the field, and it makes Denver’s defense that much better.

This game will be decided… by the Bills ability to pressure Bo Nix. If they can, their secondary will make plays in addition to putting Denver’s offense behind schedule. Denver’s offensive line is really good, and if they keep Nix upright in this game, it’s going to make things interesting and a little tense in Buffalo.

Score Prediction: Bills 38 – Broncos 28
There are going to be a lot of points scored in this game. I believe Buffalo is still a tier above the Broncos in terms of what level of contender they are, but the Broncos are going to show that they belong in this game and that they will be serious contenders next year.

7. Green Bay Packers (11-6) @ 2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, NFC East Champions) – 4:30 p.m. on FOX (Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
Westwood One: Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Amber Theoharris

These are two titans of the NFC that have staged some memorable playoff matchups in NFL history. From the 1960 NFL Championship where Chuck Bednarik laid out Jim Taylor to Freddie Mitchell’s 4th&26 conversion in 2003 to the Packers beating the Eagles 21-16 to start their Super Bowl run in 2010, these two teams are no stranger to meeting in the Playoffs. In fact, for those who love NFL history, this game is being played 21 years to the Sunday of Freddie Mitchell’s famous 4th&26 conversion.

As for the present, there is talent all over the field in this game. For starters, Saquon Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards this season in leading the revival of the running back position this season. Philadelphia’s offense is downhill and down the field, with Barkley’s running setting up Jalen Hurts to take downfield shots to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But the biggest reason why the Eagles proved last year was a fluke is their defense. Vic Fangio has come in and completely revamped this Eagles defense, leading the NFL with just 278.4 yards allowed per game and ranking second with 17.8 points allowed per game. There’s talent on all three levels of this defense, and they may be the difference in the Eagles making a deep playoff run or losing early in the Playoffs for the second straight season.

Jordan Love led the Packers to a two-win improvement this season. further proving that he is the next franchise quarterback in Green Bay. But this offense, like Philadelphia, is driven through its running game and Josh Jacobs. Jacobs’s running ability opens up Love’s ability to hit his bevy of receivers down the field, including tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. Green Bay’s defense is also really good, ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in both yards and points allowed.

The problem with the Packers, though, is that five of their six losses were to teams with 14+ wins this season. They’re a good team, but they struggle against elite teams. Philadelphia is an elite team. and they’re healthy going into this game. Green Bay is not, with Jordan Love banged up and wide receiver Christian Watson out with a torn ACL. The Packers surprised many last year when they went into Dallas, as a No. 7 seed, and clobbered the Cowboys in the Wild Card round. They can do it again this season at Philadelphia, but it won’t be easy against this Eagles team.

Top 12 Players in Packers-Eagles
1. Saquon Barkley
2. Jalen Hurts
3. A.J. Brown
4. Jordan Love
5. Lane Johnson
6. Rashan Gary
7. DeVonta Smith
8. Josh Jacobs
9. Zach Baun
10. Nakobe Dean
11. Xavier McKinney
12. C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Packers Offense vs. Eagles Defense
Josh Jacobs was one of the best free agent signings last offseason, of players not named Saquon Barkley. With over 1,300 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, Jacobs has been the engine of this offense during the second half of the regular season, with a rushing touchdown in each of his final eight regular-season games. Jacobs allows wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks and tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave to get open down the field, and that makes this Packers offense hard to defend.

But this Eagles defense is so solid that they can defend the Packers well Sunday afternoon, especially without Christian Watson. Zach Baun, Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith are an elite linebacking trio, and Baun and Dean both had great games against the Packers in Week 1. In addition, this secondary is loaded with playmakers. There’s nowhere to hide with this Eagles defense. Matt LaFleur is going to have to have a creative gameplan to move the ball down the field and put points on the board.

Eagles Offense vs. Packers Defense
Say what you want about Nick Sirianni. He and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore have this Eagles offense rolling with a formula that’s tough to beat. The Eagles offense goes as Saquon Barkley goes, which is pretty far considering how great Barkley is. His downhill running gives A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith opportunities to make big plays downfield. Even in the Eagles first season without future Pro Football Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce, the Eagles offensive line was once again one of the best in the NFL.

Green Bay’s defense has gotten better with coordinator Jeff Hafley. There are playmakers on all three levels. Xavier McKinney was second in the NFL with eight interceptions this season, which is great. But the Packers are going to have to be stout against this dynamic Eagles offense.

This game will be decided… if Saquon Barkley gets going early, good night. And if the Eagles defense stuffs Josh Jacobs, the Packers are going to fall behind early and have no chance.

Score Prediction: Packers 34 – Eagles 20
These two teams played a great game in Week 1. Saquon Barkley had three touchdowns in that game, and he was just getting started this season in that game. That game was also played in Brazil. This game is in Philadelphia. The Eagles have the formula on offense and the complimentary football to make a run in the Playoffs. That starts on Sunday afternoon with a big performance from a rested Barkley and Eagles offense, who will have a big game in a 14-point win.

6. Washington Commanders (12-5) @ 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South Champions) – 8:15 p.m. on NBC (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)
Westwood One: Jason Benetti, Mike Mayock, Laura Okmin

My favorite games of the weekend. This game can go either way, and it’s between two teams that are easy to root for.

Washington has completely rebranded themselves as an NFL franchise. From new ownership to head coach Dan Quinn to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have made themselves a very likable team and a fun team to watch. It’s almost like the Commanders have become a wellness center for Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, tight end Zach Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner. All of them have revived their careers in Washington. This is the first time the Commanders have won 12 games in a regular season since 1991, when they won Super Bowl XXVI.

Tampa Bay has quietly become one of the NFL’s most consistent franchises in recent years, winning four straight NFC South titles. Like the Commanders, the Buccaneers have been a wellness center for Baker Mayfield. He’s become one of the NFL’s most prolific quarterbacks, with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns this season. Mike Evans has 11 straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, running back Bucky Irving had a really good rookie season and the Buccaneers defense is talented on all three levels.

This is going to be a really good game. The fact that this is the Sunday Night Football game of Super Wild Card Weekend is awesome. It’s a testament to the Commanders rebranding and Baker Mayfield’s surge to the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.

Top 12 Players in Commanders-Buccaneers
1. Jayden Daniels
2. Mike Evans
3. Baker Mayfield
4. Antoine Winfield Jr.
5. Terry McLaurin
6. Bobby Wagner
7. Lavonte David
8. Dante Fowler Jr.
9. Frankie Luvu
10. Zach Ertz
11. Bucky Irving
12. Calijah Kancey

Commanders Offense vs. Buccaneers Defense
Jayden Daniels has come in and completely taken the NFL by storm. His rookie season ranks in the top 10 all-time for rookie quarterbacks in rushing yards (1st, 891), completion percentage (1st, 69), wins (3rd, 12), passer rating (4th, 100.1) combined passing and rushing yards (4th, 4,459) combined passing and rushing touchdowns (4th, 31) and touchdown passes (6th, 25). Daniels made Terry McLaurin a top 10 wide receiver in the NFL, and he helped Zach Ertz re-emerge as one of the most reliable tight ends in the NFL.

Daniels and the Commanders will be going up against a stout Buccaneers defense. Kancey and Vita Vea are dynamic up front, with the reliably consistent Lavonte David backing them up. With Antoine Winfield Jr. lurking in the secondary, the Buccaneers will look to disrupt the activity in the Commanders offensive backfield and bait Daniels into mistakes down the field.

Buccaneers Offense vs. Commanders Defense
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans have quickly become one of the NFL’s most dynamic duos in the NFL. But Tampa Bay is more than just those two, with running back Bucky Irving rushing for over 1,100 yard and eight touchdowns in his rookie season.

Tampa Bay can attack this Commanders defense. With Irving bringing a revival to the running game, the Buccaneers are now multi-dimensional on offense. They can stress the Commanders vulnerable secondary. As long as they hold up front, the Buccaneers offense will be able to move the ball and score a lot of points on Sunday night.

This game will be decided… by the Buccaneers defensive front disrupting the Commanders offensive backfield, or lack thereof. If Kancey and Vea have Daniels running all night, that’s going to have him prone to mistakes. If Daniels has time to throw and the Commanders are able to run the ball, that’s going to force the Buccaneers linebackers and defensive backs down into the box. That will open up downfield shots for Terry McLaurin and allow Zac Ertz to find soft spots in the Buccaneers defense.

Score Prediction: Commanders 30 – Buccaneers 27
This will be a great back-and-forth game. Jayden Daniels is the best player in this matchup, and I think that’s where the Commanders will edge the Buccaneers in what should be a great playoff game.

5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3) @ 4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7, NFC West Champions) – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters)
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner

Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody effected by the wildfires in Los Angeles, which prompted moving this game to Glendale, Arizona.

Minnesota enters as a 14-win Wild Card team, led by a resurgent Sam Darnold and deep receiving corps on offense and a stingy defense coordinated by Brian Flores.

On the other side, the Rams enter with all of their experience from winning Super Bowl LVI three years ago. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Sean McVay are back in the Playoffs where they have a lot of experience. A young defense also helped the Rams win their fourth NFC West title in eight years.

Top 12 Players in Vikings-Rams
1. Justin Jefferson
2. Sam Daronld
3. Puka Nacua
4. Matthew Stafford
5. Cooper Kupp
6. Kyren Williams
7. Harrison Smith
8. Jordan Addison
9. Braden Fiske
9. Jared Verse
10. T.J. Hockenson
11. Aaron Jones
12. Andrew Van Ginkel

Vikings Offense vs. Rams Defense
Minnesota’s offense is deep, dynamic and prolific. Sam Darnold is finally in a situation where he can thrive, and he’s got all-world receiver Justin Jefferson to throw to. That’s in addition to second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison and the consistently reliable T.J. Hockenson.

When you think of the Rams in Sean McVay’s tenure, you think of their dynamic offense. But it’s their defense that got them to the Playoffs by virtue of winning the NFC West. With rookies Braden Fiske and Jared Verse leading the way up front, the Rams defense has been able to still be really good in their first season after Aaron Donald retired back in March.

Rams Offense vs. Vikings Defense
The Rams offense still has really good players in Stafford and Kupp, plus third-year running back Kyren Williams. However, this is a matchup problem for the Rams going up against the Vikings defense. The Rams scored just 44 combined points through Weeks 15-17, before they rested their starters in Week 18.

Minnesota’s defense is stingy, stout and complex to figure out. Brian Flores flummoxed Sean McVay’s offense in Super Bowl LIII when Flores was on the New England Patriots coaching staff. Even though the Vikings are on the road, their defense should travel.

This game will be decided… if the Vikings offensive line can hold up against the Rams defensive front, Sam Darnold will be able to make all the necessary throws in this game. But like the Lions defense got to Darnold in Week 18, the Rams can cause him to have a rough night if their defensive front can win in the trenches.

Score Prediction: Vikings 30 – Rams 23
This is going to be another really good game. The Vikings, though, are 14-3 for a reason. This is a talented team on both sides of the ball that won’t be fazed playing on the road as a 14-3 Wild Card team.