The NFL playoffs have arrived, and the objective is simple.
Win or go home.
Super Bowl 57 is on the horizon but only two teams will punch their ticket. It takes three wins to secure the exclusive invitation. This weekend, 12 teams begin their postseason slate during “Super Wild Card Weekend.”
Each team will face an opponent they have already played this season.
An NFC West rivalry was renewed on Saturday afternoon. The San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks for the third time this season. This time, the win sends Geno Smith and company home for good.
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Sunday will feature two other divisional matchups. The Buffalo Bills will host the Miami Dolphins in the early slate. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are set to renew their AFC North rivalry in prime time.
The remaining matchups feature teams looking for retribution. The Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens hope to pull off a road upset. Can the Cowboys spoil another Tom Brady playoff run?
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Here’s a rundown of all the wild-card action around the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers 41, Seattle Seahawks 23
Briefly: Despite fighting hard in the first half, the Seattle Seahawks could not keep up with the red hot San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card opener. Brock Purdy led San Francisco’s high-powered offense with four total touchdowns and 332 passing yards. Christian McCaffrey added 136 total yards and was on the receiving end of one of the scores. Despite the loss, Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf had 10 receptions for 136 yards and caught both of Geno Smith’s touchdown passes. The San Francisco defense quieted them in the second half, led by 11 tackles from Dre Greenlaw and two sacks from Charles Omenihu.
One highlight to know: With 2:31 left in the third quarter and the 49ers up 23-17, the pocket collapsed around Smith and Omenihu sacked him. The quarterback lost hold of the football in the frenzy and NFL sack leader Nick Bosa jumped on the ball for the fumble recovery. The play squashed any momentum the Seahawks had.
Next up: The 49ers move on to the divisional round and will host the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks’ season is over.
Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET (Saturday)
TV: NBC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Chargers got a firsthand look at the Jaguars in Week 3. Jacksonville rolled into SoFi Stadium walked away with a 38-10 victory. It was a signature win that catapulted the Jaguars forward. The Chargers will seek retribution on Saturday night. A lot has changed for each team since the early-season matchup. Both quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert will make their postseason debut. However, Herbert will be without key playmaker Mike Williams. The veteran receiver was ruled out due to a back injury. How will his injury impact the Chargers offense? This could be a toss-up game that comes down to the final possession.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET (Sunday)
TV: CBS
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Bills are playing for more than just football. With teammate Damar Hamlin progressing after a scary collapse in Week 17, the Bills enter the postseason with a renewed spirit and mission. The Dolphins have some confidence as well. They defeated Buffalo in Week 3 and lost by a field goal in Week 15. While both rivals know each other well, the elephant in the room is Dolphins rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson. A lot will be on his shoulders in his first playoff start. Expect the Dolphins to rely on the run game to alleviate early pressure. However, it will be on Thompson to make timely plays if Miami has any hopes to pull off a monumental upset.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: Which Vikings squad will show up on Sunday? This is the million-dollar question regarding the matchup. Minnesota has looked like Super Bowl contenders this season. The trio of stars Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook are dominant at times. However, the Vikings can suffer from letdowns in a big way. The Giants should be well rested as starters got a nice break during Week 18. Expect the Giants to challenge the Vikings passing defense that ranks 31st in the league. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones completed 30 of 42 passes for 334 yards in the previous matchup. He added one touchdown and one interception.
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Ravens are expected to be without quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday. It’s a major blow to their chances against the Bengals in the wild-card round. Reserve quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown have been serviceable. However, the Bengals are a different entity. Week 18 provided a blueprint of both team’s current reality. The Bengals won 27-16 and forced four sacks and four turnovers. Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase hauled in eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. It could be a similar story on Sunday night.
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, ABC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: Tom Brady has another chance to win his eighth Super Bowl title. Despite a turbulent season that resulted in an 8-9 losing record, Brady still has the Buccaneers in a prime position. Tampa Bay has a home playoff game against a challenging Dallas squad. Brady is 7-0 in his career against the Cowboys. However, Dallas arrives with confidence. Key players have returned since their Week 1 loss against Tampa Bay. Expect the Cowboys to rely on running back duo Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to control the line of scrimmage. This could be a close encounter where a mistake can sway the outcome of the game.
