Varacchi’s NFL Playoff Preview 2017 – Wild Card Weekend

Football playoffs might be my favorite part of the sporting year.  The Giants are my team, but I still watch all the other games, making new allegiances and hating new foes.

I had a solid year predicting the three local teams, but my playoff predictions are historically shaky. Any monetary losses you suffer are your own fault, but if you win, don’t forget about me.

Saturday, January 7

AFC Wild Card Game: (5) Oakland Raiders at (4) Houston Texans

NRG Stadium, Houston; 4:35 p.m. (ET) on ESPN

Could this be the lamest matchup in postseason history? It sucks that Carr is injured because the Raiders could've been fun to watch, but dropping down to a 3rd-string QB suggests a lackluster game. As far as the Texans, they are the 4th team in NFL history to make the playoffs without scoring 28 points in a game during the season. Should be a real thriller.

Raiders 13, Texans 7

AFC Wild Card Game: (6) Detroit Lions at (3) Seattle Seahawks

CenturyLink Field, Seattle; 8:15 p.m. (ET) on NBC

I actually have very little excitement towards this game, too. My fandom towards Richard Sherman has faded a bit, I have no Marshawn Lynch to enjoy, and I loathe the rest of the Seahawks. I'd like to see the Lions win, but I'm worried about Stafford's finger and the fact that the Lions lost four games in a row heading into the playoffs.

Seahawks 27, Lions 17

Sunday, January 8

NFC Wild Card Game: (6) Miami Dolphins at (3) Pittsburgh Steelers

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh; 1:05 p.m. (ET) on CBS

Is it just me or is this entire weekend kind of blah (outside of my Giants, of course)? I'm rooting for the Steelers, simply because I think they're the only team in the AFC that could challenge the Patriots.

Steelers 35, Dolphins 10

NFC Wild Card Game: (5) New York Giants at (4) Green Bay Packers

Lambeau Field, Green Bay; 4:40 p.m. (ET) on FOX

Yep, that's an image of Lawrence Tynes kicking the winning field goal in 2007. I know the Giants beat the Packers in Lambeau en route to both of their last Super Bowl wins, but I hate to attribute that sort of thing to the current teams. Even just comparing this game to the Giants/Packers game in Week 5 is irrelevant because both teams have changed since then. I just know that Postseason Eli is a guy I can have faith in, and I have good feelings.

Giants 26, Packers 21

First-Round Byes

NFC: (1) Dallas Cowboys (15–1) and (2) Atlanta Falcons (11–5)
AFC: (1) New England Patriots (14–2) and (2) Kansas City Chiefs (12–4)

Remaining NFL Playoff Schedule

Divisional Round

Saturday, January 14
NFC Divisional Round Game 1: (2) Atlanta Falcons vs. highest remaining NFC seed at 4:35 p.m. (ET) on NBC
AFC Divisional Round Game 1: (1) New England Patriots vs. lowest remaining AFC seed at 8:15 p.m. (ET) on CBS

Sunday, January 15
AFC Divisional Round Game 2: (2) Kansas City Chiefs vs. highest remaining AFC seed at 1:05 p.m. (ET) on CBS
NFC Divisional Round Game 2: (1) Dallas Cowboys vs. lowest remaining NFC seed at 4:40 p.m. (ET) on Fox

Conference Championship Round

Sunday, January 22
NFC Championship: 3:05 p.m. (ET) on Fox
AFC Championship: 6:40 p.m. (ET) on CBS

Super Bowl 51

Sunday, February 5
Super Bowl: AFC champion vs. NFC champion, NRG Stadium, Houston, TX; 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Fox