Wild Card weekend in the NFL went nearly exactly as scripted, at least in the beginning.
The big home favorites (Eagles, Bills and Ravens) all won by 12 or more points, including Buffalo scoring 31 unanswered after trailing 7-0 early in the first quarter in a 31-7 win over the Broncos.
The three underdogs that emerged victorious from Wild Card weekend were the Texans, Commanders and Rams.
Houston’s defense showed up when it counted it most, as it intercepted Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert four times and outscored Los Angeles 32-6 over the final three quarters in a 32-12 victory to kickoff Wild Card weekend on Saturday afternoon.
The Commanders made history on Sunday night, winning their first playoff game in 19 seasons in a dramatic, back-and-forth, 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers when place kicker Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal bounced off the right upright and in as time expired.
Our prognosticators throughout the season are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst/columnist, NorthJersey.com), Steve Edelson (columnist, APP.com), Vince Mercogliano (Rangers/NHL columnist, lohud.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, Asbury Park Press/APP.com), and Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA TODAY Northeast/NorthJersey.com).
Staff standings entering Divisional Round
Bob Jordan: 5-1
Bert Bainbridge, Art Stapleton and Chris Iseman: 4-2
Steve Edelson and Dave Rivera: 3-3
Brian Marron: 2-4
Here are our staff predictions for the four games in the Divisional Round and who will be moving on to Championship weekend:
Bert Bainbridge
Chiefs 24, Texans 17
Lions 31, Commanders 24
Eagles 27, Rams 21
Bills 28, Ravens 27
Art Stapleton
Chiefs 31, Texans 17
Lions 27, Commanders 20
Rams 20, Eagles 17
Bills 24, Ravens 21
Bob Jordan
Chiefs 30, Texans 10
Commanders 24, Lions 20
Rams 31, Eagles 21
Ravens 24, Bills 17
Dave Rivera
Chiefs 23, Texans 20
Lions 27, Commanders 21
Rams 27, Eagles 21
Ravens 30, Bills 24
Steve Edelson
Chiefs 35, Texans 25
Commanders 31, Lions 30
Eagles 24, Rams 14
Ravens 21, Bills 20
Chris Iseman
Chiefs 31, Texans 20
Lions 34, Commanders 27
Eagles 27, Rams 21
Bills 21, Ravens 17
Brian Marron
Chiefs 27, Texans 13
Lions 41, Commanders 31
Eagles 24, Rams 13
Ravens 27, Bills 24
