NFL play-offs: Wildcard Weekend predictions & Phoebe Schecter on Detroit Lions' Super Bowl hopes
2025-01-08
Category: sports

We now know which teams will be battling it out in the NFL play-offs and you can read my Wildcard Weekend predictions later in this column.But what a game the regular season finished with last Sunday.It's been a historic year for the Detroit Lions, and with their defensive and offensive coordinators (Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson) likely to become head coaches elsewhere next season, they know this is their big Super Bowl chance.And there was so much weighing on the result of their game against the Minnesota Vikings. Winning meant being the NFC Conference's number one seed, getting a first-round bye and home-field advantage, while losing meant being the fifth seed and having to travel to the fourth seed this weekend.It was a defensive masterpiece at first, then the Lions just ran away with it 31-9. Jahmyr Gibbs was the star with four touchdowns but I was so impressed with Glenn and his gameplan to stop the Vikings.There's talk around (Vikings quarterback) Sam Darnold and how long it takes him to throw the ball. The Vikings were hoping star receiver Justin Jefferson would come open but Amik Robertson, a back-up cornerback for the Lions, covered him so well.That was probably the most unexpected thing. To hold Jefferson to three receptions and Jordan Addison to one, that's unheard of for the Vikings. The Lions' defence in the red zone (between the 20-yard line and the goal line) was phenomenal.The Lions still have 16 players on Injured Reserve and it was like they were playing for that number one seed, so they could get a break for some of their team-mates to come back and join them.It keeps adding fuel to the fire for the Lions - 'you can kick us when we're down, we can have guys out there who you don't know, but it doesn't matter. We're going to come after you and we're going to win'. That mentality exudes throughout the organisation and sends a loud message to the rest of the NFL.The Lions know their time is now.
What went wrong with my tip the Bengals?
Denver's win over a weakened Kansas City Chiefs team denied the Cincinnati Bengals a play-off spot in the AFC Conference.Before the season, I tipped the Bengals to win the Super Bowl  - and Joe Burrow to be this season's Most Valuable Player - and I stand by that last call.Burrow did have an MVP-quality year. He was just the third quarterback in NFL history to have more than 4,500 passing yards, 40 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season. The other two to do it - Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers - were both the MVP.Ja'Marr Chase also won the receiving triple crown, so the Bengals had the top quarterback, the top receiver, but their defence was one of the worst in the NFL.A lot of teams are happy not to have the Bengals in the play-offs because Burrow can pick apart anybody. They're so fun to watch and, as Burrow's said, he was just getting going. If only they started the season fast.
Were NFL teams right to rest players?
A lot of people were annoyed about the Chiefs resting many of their starters but they'd earned the right by clinching the AFC's number one seed. Why even risk them?The Green Bay Packers lost receiver Christian Watson to a knee injury last week and quarterback Jordan Love hurt his elbow. The Packers had already clinched a play-off spot and a win wouldn't have made much difference to their seeding, so was it worth playing theirb starters?The Chiefs rested Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen came off after just one snap for the Bills. I would say for both those teams it was the right thing to do.The biggest concern for the Chiefs is that the last time many of their starters played was Christmas Day so they'll have about 25 days between games.With Mahomes and coach Andy Reid, no-one's ever going to doubt if they'll be fit enough or game-ready. But it does make you think, how the Chiefs are going to create a game-like situation in practice to get them mentally locked in next week?
Wildcard Weekend play-off predictions
AFC - Los Angeles Chargers (5) at Houston Texans (4)I think the Chargers will take this. They're on fire and the Texans are on a downward slope.(Head coach) Jim Harbaugh and (defensive coordinator) Jesse Minter have done a great job in their first year with the Chargers and completely changed the team's culture.Pittsburgh Steelers (6) at Baltimore Ravens (3)This will always be a physical game but although (receiver) George Pickens is back for the Steelers, it's just not firing for them as it was earlier in the season.Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has taken this new approach - pretty much since losing to the Steelers in November - where he's taken control of the offence and run the ball more, so I see the Ravens coming out on top.Denver Broncos (7) at Buffalo Bills (2)I'm really excited for this match-up, I think it'll be electric. Who doesn't want to see Bo Nix and Josh Allen?The Denver defence led the NFL for most sacks (63) and (cornerback) Patrick Surtain is the potential Defensive Player of the Year, but Buffalo's not an easy place to go.The Bills have been playing 'Mr Brightside' at every home game and I don't know if you've seen any of the videos but the whole crowd, the players, everybody is singing. It's such a great atmosphere.When Chiefs fans were flying in for their game in November, the Bills song 'Shout' was being played at the airport. I'm sure they will have something planned for the Broncos and, for me, it's a Bills win.NFC - Green Bay Packers (7) at Philadelphia Eagles (2)Love said he can play but Watson's out, and the Packers are going against an Eagles team that has been quietly chugging along, with rushing leader Saquon Barkley having rested last week.Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hopes to clear concussion protocol after missing two games, but either way, I think the Eagles have this.Washington Commanders (6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3)I'm excited for this match-up because you can get any version of Baker Mayfield and the Bucs, and there will be a fun match-up between (Commanders cornerback) Marshon Lattimore and (Bucs receiver) Mike Evans as they have a rivalry.But Jayden Daniels has had a phenomenal rookie season as Commanders quarterback and I don't know if the Bucs' defence can stop him.Minnesota Vikings (5) at Los Angeles Rams (4)The Rams rested a bunch of their guys last week while the Vikings are coming off one of the most emotionally draining performances.People say the NFL's a copycat league so the Rams will look at what the Lions did to the Vikings - with back-ups in - and say 'we can do the same', so I'm going with the Rams.Phoebe Schecter was speaking to BBC Sport's Ben Collins