The playoff spots and top 18 draft spots are signed, sealed and delivered.
So how are things shaping up for the wild card round of the playoffs?
Here’s the race to the top.
AFC
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3) versus 7. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Bills Stadium, Buffalo
Sunday 10 January
Kick off 5:05am (AEST)
The Bills are really, really hot right now and Indy have just come right at the right time to get in to the playoffs. It’ll be a match-up of strength versus strength, with Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and one the NFL’s elite offences going head-first into one of the best defensive units in the league. The Colts will look to lean on rookie running back Jonathan Taylor, who has piled up 560 rushing yards in the last month and will be key to try and keep the defence fresh against the raging Bills.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) versus 6. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Monday 11 January
Kick off 12:15pm (AEST)
Fresh from a close-fought victory by the Browns, these sides will line up quite differently this week. Pittsburgh will get starters Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward and NFL sack leader TJ Watt back in action. Cleveland have been battling a COVID shutdown of their practice facility this week, which will also rule out coach Kevin Stefanski of the game. Yes, even coaches can be ruled out by COVID. Cleveland are already fighting against history, so this will make it an even bigger mountain to climb.
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
4. Tennessee Titans (11-5) versus 5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville
Monday 11 January
Kick off 5:05am (AEST)
The Titans hold recent form in this duel, having won in Week 11 and also stomping all over the Ravens’ title aspirations last year by beating them 28-12. Both games were in Baltimore and even though Tennessee hosts this game, it’s the Ravens who are backed by many to continue their recent sizzling form, having won five straight, with four games scoring 34 or more points. The big question will be whether the Titans can blunt the Ravens’ rush attack, as their pass rush is non-existent.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) – bye
NFC
2. New Orleans Saints (12-4) versus 7. Chicago Bears (8-8)
Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Monday 11 January
Kick off 8:40am (AEST)
When the Saints go marching into the Superdome to take on the Bears, they could be doing so with a near-healthy squad to choose from. Running back Alvin Kamara is lucky enough to have his COVID stand-down period finish the day before their wild card game. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is also being monitored, though who knows with the season he’s had. The Bears meanwhile are sweating on the health of linebacker Roquan Smith, but will play without the weight of any pressure or expectation. The Saints will be the ones faced with the now-or-never type scenario, due to Drew Brees nearing possible retirement.
3. Seattle Seahawks (12-4) versus 6. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Lumen Field, Seattle
Sunday 10 January
Kick off 8:40am (AEST)
Having split their two previous encounters this season, it will be a battle of defence versus defence. The Rams’ defence has been consistent all season long, while Seattle’s came to life down the stretch of the regular season and will pose a big problem to LA’s offence, regardless of whether Jared Goff returns at quarterback. Goff made a limited return to practice yesterday, as did the Hawks’ safety Jamal Adams.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
4. Washington (7-9) versus 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Sunday 10 January
Kick off 12:15am (AEST)
Could this be the end of the 2020 ride for Washington? In a way it would be good to finally cut ties with the NFC East for the year. In another, how cool would it be to see the Ron Rivera-led team of scrappers tip up one of the more fancied sides? Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans has still not been able to practice this week, while on Washington’s side, running back Antonio Gibson and receiver Terry McLaurin are getting back on track. They will be needed to try and provide enough offence to challenge Tom Brady and the Bucs.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3) – bye
Here’s the race to the bottom.
Clinched NFL draft picks 1-12
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)
2. New York Jets (2-14)
3. Miami Dolphins (10-6) via Houston Texans (4-12)
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)
7. Detroit Lions (5-11)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
9. Denver Broncos (5-11)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
11. New York Giants (6-10)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Paul
Roar Guru
and both teams probably have room for improvement. I'm not sure how the Bucs will go in the tundra that is Green Bay, but they've probably exceeded most fans expectations and Brady seems to have their attack working nicely. The Chiefs are sputtering a little ( a not overly convincing 2nd half against Cleveland) and the Bills win was pretty gutsy I thought, given the conditions.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
......gee Paul, it looks like I'm the one who needs to do some morning 'imbibing'! Buccs and Bills still there as your predicted smokies. Nice going mate! :thumbup:
Paul
Roar Guru
it might sound silly, but Ben's lost a yard of pace. He's never been the quickest QB, but could get out of tight spots and still deliver in years gone by. What also badly hurt him this year was a bunch of WRs who simply couldn't catch. He really only had one target for the back end of the season and tried to get Diontae Johnson into the game but Johnson dropped passes you'd expect a 10 year old to catch. That completely upset the rhythm of the attack and a great defence could only do so much.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"I think the disruption to ALL Clubs over covid cannot be underestimated.." ...spot on Paul! I think the Ravens were really hammered with C19 but it certainly affected all teams to a varying extent. The Steelers' form really puzzled me. I haven't watched them a great deal this season but something happened. (Any ideas? Big Ben?) I was very (VERY) surprised when I found out the score against the Browns! Yep, very strange season indeed Paul.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Absolutely! I'm much like yourself mate - I see the SB as 'signalling' the start of the NRL season with trials and 9's building up to the season proper. (Paul and myself are already trash talking! :stoked: ) Let's hope we do have something to smile about this year. Your mob will be fine - another GF appearance very likely. I'm looking at 22/23 for the Dogs to be highly competitive!
Shooter McGavin
Roar Guru
There was certainly something about the footage of Ben sitting on the bench looking with Pouncey. Looked like he'd just seen the end of his career. But then again, that could've just been the lighting (can't trust anything these days!). See Philly gave Doug Pederson the flick too?! Good job, I think he set fire to a number of things in that last game.....including his contract :thumbdown:
Paul
Roar Guru
I think the disruption to ALL Clubs over covid cannot be underestimated and I'm sure that's had a major impact on results. My Steelers should have buried the Browns, but got blown off the park early and never recovered. Exactly the same could easily happen to all other teams including the Chiefs, I think. It's just one of those really strange seasons.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I was more confident last season than this one , Paul. The Chiefs just haven't buried any side this year ? They seem to go from brilliant to terrible in the one match, though doing just enough to get home ? I worry about their consistency especially in defence. Unless they have something left up their sleeves, I worry about them getting caught out with hot spell from a Josh Allen ( Bills) , or Aaron Rodgers ( Packers), or Lamar Jackson ( Ravens), and the whole season is gone !
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
Aye, and I think we’re going to be seeing a few other moves as well. Have you heard the news about Watson? He’s talking up a trade with the Dolphins! But it will be the end of a very long era if Ben is to depart the Steelers. And I can’t see him having a “sunset” success at another club, like Manning and Brady, or even a solid effort like Rivers. I think it’ll be more like Cam at the Patriots...
Paul
Roar Guru
I reckon Big Ben might get the tap on the shoulder from the Steelers Pete. I doubt he'll be with the team next season.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was surprised the Steelers got that close to be honest, Albo. I reckon we were pretenders for much of the season, winning a lot of close games but getting found out in the last 4 or 5. Yep, agree, hard to go past the Cheifs, they look good on both sides of the ball.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
There were some crazy games on the Super Wildcard weekend! The craziest has to be the Browns deserved victory over the Steelers. What a bizarro beginning! Is this the end for some veteran QBs? Rivers (who played well for my Colts) and maybe Big Ben (who was pretty awful, although some of those picks weren’t entirely his fault)?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Crispy ! They one good thing about the upcoming Super Bowl is that it means that the real footy will then be just about a month away !! I'm hoping we both have a few smiles through 2021 .
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Thanks Albo - you're a gentleman and a scholar mate! ;) The Seahawks just didn't have any intensity and haven't looked like a SB winning team for some considerable time. They were making up the numbers. Paul's Steelers on-the-other-hand were 11-0, looking fabulous and the rest is history. Their huge late season fall surprised me TBH. Your Chiefs look like specials for a SB double to me mate. Mahomes is a joy to watch and they look like they've got another gear in them! Hope they get up for you! (way too short for a bet though). HNY Albo! :thumbup:
Seano
Roar Rookie
I hope that’s not the end for Rivers, played well today and I do love a stand and deliver offense, he could well be the last of that style of QB.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Sorry about your Seahawks, Crispy ! And Paul's Steelers have just gone out in straight sets. The Democrat States have won most things over there recently, but I don't think the Super Bowl is going to be one of them. The Trumpsters are due a consolation win. I reckon a RED state will get the last laugh there. Hopefully its the "reddest " of them out in the mid-west , the mighty Chiefs !
Paul
Roar Guru
same to you :thumbup: Can't wait for the footy to start.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
.....it'll still be 6 weeks longer than Bird will last! ;) HNY mate! :thumbup:
Paul
Roar Guru
Awww, that's not very nice, Chris P. I'm guessing your boys will be looking for a new coach by the time you play the mighty Dragons in round 9. :happy:
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
:stoked: :thumbup: I've got a feeling Albo's Chiefs will do the SB double Paul - hopefully against the Seahawks but I think it will be against the Packers. It would be a very good match up and highly entertaining! Hope the Dragons show some decent form for you this year Paul (and the Dogs do your mob slowly and decisively! :stoked: )