Welcome to the NFL’s wild-card weekend, the soccer followers and bettors’ reward for having needed to endure 18 weeks of mediocre, unhealthy and horrible groups.
It’ll be wall-to-wall playoff video games from 4:30 Saturday afternoon till about 11:30 Monday evening.
And there received’t be a Large or Jet in sight — until you’re counting Saquon Barkley of the Eagles or Sam Darnold of the Vikings or Todd Bowles of the Bucs.
Let’s dig proper in.
SATURDAY
Los Angeles Chargers (-3) over HOUSTON TEXANS Below 42.5: There’s playoff expertise, then there’s Justin Herbert’s playoff expertise. The Chargers’ quarterback has performed in a single postseason recreation and it began out nice, with a 27-0 lead in opposition to the Jaguars in 2022. However that was in an period when the Bolts had been blowing video games in every kind of how, they usually ended up dropping, 31-30.
C.J. Stroud’s playoff debut final season was a lot better. He threw three landing passes within the first half, then watched Joe Flacco throw two pick-sixes in what grew to become a 45-14 blowout for the Texans (then 9-7) in opposition to the Browns (who got here in at 11-5).
This ought to be a aggressive recreation, with the distinction being first-year Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. He has taken the 49ers to the Tremendous Bowl, received the nationwide championship at Michigan and now succeeded at getting the Chargers to cease taking pictures themselves within the foot. Their 9 giveaways (three interceptions and 6 misplaced fumbles) had been the second-fewest within the NFL this season.
Stroud can be with out his No. 2 receiving risk, Tank Dell, and the offense has been off-kilter all season.
The Chargers have damage questions on each working backs, with J.Okay. Dobbins listed as questionable and Gus Edwards lacking the final two video games.
However Herbert and Harbaugh have been figuring it out all season, going 7-2 in opposition to the unfold (ATS) on the highway as a part of a 12-5 ATS mark.
Chargers, 23-17
Pittsburgh Steelers (+10) over BALTIMORE RAVENS; Below 43.5: Subsequent Harbaugh up is John, and if you wish to again him, it’s a must to lay double digits in opposition to the Ravens’ demise rivals, the Steelers.
These into recency bias can fixate on Baltimore’s 34-17 hammering of Pittsburgh on Dec. 21. However in the event you take into account the ten conferences earlier than that, the largest margin of victory by both staff was seven factors and the common margin was 3.7 factors.
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Within the Dec. 21 matchup, Zay Flowers had 100 yards receiving for the Ravens, however he’ll miss this recreation with a knee damage he suffered final week.
The coaches, Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin, know one another so nicely, and the gamers hate one another a lot, and Russell Wilson ought to make sufficient performs to maintain this shut all through.
Going to take the Below as a result of within the 10 Ravens-Steelers matchups this decade, the common complete rating was 35.1 factors.
Ravens, 24-16
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Steelers (Locks 9-9 in 2024).
LAST WEEK: 9-7 total, 1-2 Finest Bets.
Why Belief New York Put up Betting
Dave Blezow’s one of many longest tenured NFL handicappers on the Put up with picks relationship again 31 years. He received the Put up’s NFL betting standings in 2021 and the Playoffs most just lately in 2023.