What NFL games are on this end of the week? Full Saturday special case plan

What NFL games are on this end of the week? Full Saturday special case plan

 

 

What NFL games are on this end of the week? Full Saturday special case plan

The NFL playoffs have reached the wild card round, featuring six games over three days to determine the final four teams in the AFC and NFC. The postseason kicks off on Saturday with a rematch of two AFC teams that faced each other during the regular season, albeit under different circumstances.

The Cleveland Browns, seeded fifth, hit the road to face the AFC South champion and fourth-seeded Houston Texans in the opening playoff matchup. In their Week 16 encounter, the Browns emerged victorious with a 36-22 win in Houston. Notably, the Texans played without Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite C.J. Stroud at quarterback during that regular-season game.

The matchup between the Browns and Texans is set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock. Following that, the Chiefs and Dolphins will kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET, exclusively broadcast on Peacock.

Having secured the top wild card spot in the AFC playoffs, the Browns opted to rest some of their starters in Week 18. Despite this, Cleveland enters the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the AFC, having won four straight games, including a surprisingly productive performance by Joe Flacco at quarterback in the season finale.

Meanwhile, the Texans clinched their playoff spot dramatically in Week 18 with a 23-19 victory over division rival Indianapolis. This win, coupled with Jacksonville’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, allowed Houston to secure its first AFC South title since 2019.

In their last encounter, the Browns dominated against the Texans, with C.J. Stroud absent, leading to one of Houston’s poorest offensive performances of the year. Stroud’s return could be a game-changer as the Texans host their first home playoff game in four years.

On the other side, the Dolphins, after losing their season finale to Buffalo, secured a wild card spot in the playoffs. Miami’s defense has struggled in recent games, allowing nearly 500 yards per game in the last two, and they will be without key pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips due to injury.

Kansas City, entering the playoffs outside the top two seeds for the first time since the 2017-18 playoffs, relies heavily on its defense this postseason. Unlike previous playoff runs, the Chiefs boast one of the best defenses in the league in 2023.

Saturday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium is expected to be played in freezing conditions, with a wind chill as low as negative eight degrees. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill makes a return to Arrowhead Stadium, while the Dolphins will be without cornerback Xavien Howard, and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is questionable for the matchup.

In a weather-affected matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) are set to face the Buffalo Bills (11-6). Sunday’s forecast predicts temperatures of approximately 24 degrees with over seven inches of snow expected. Despite the cold, Buffalo heads into the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak since their Week 13 bye, securing the AFC East title.

After a decisive Week 15 loss to the Colts, the Steelers rebounded with a three-game winning streak to claim the final seed in the AFC playoffs. Quarterback Mason Rudolph, undefeated as a starter since stepping in, set a Steelers completion percentage record in Week 18. However, Pittsburgh will be without star pass rusher T.J. Watt, sidelined with a knee injury.

In the NFC, Sunday concludes with a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams (10-7) and the Detroit Lions (12-5). Notably, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returns to Detroit, facing his former team, while Lions quarterback Jared Goff squares off against the team that drafted him first overall in 2016. The Rams closed the season strongly with a 7-1 record, and Stafford’s impressive 16:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio earned them a wild card spot. The Lions closed the regular season at 4-3, with standout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta questionable for the game due to an injury suffered in the finale.

Wild card weekend concludes on Monday night with the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN, also available for streaming on ESPN+. The Eagles, entering the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular-season games, face uncertainties with Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J.

Brown not practicing, and injuries to wide receiver DeVonta Smith and quarterback Jalen Hurts potentially impacting their performance. In contrast, the Buccaneers secured the NFC South title by winning five of their last six games. Despite a challenging season finale against Carolina, quarterback Baker Mayfield and the offense performed well down the stretch. These teams previously met two years ago in Hurts’ first playoff start, with the Buccaneers emerging victorious with a 31-15 scoreline.

 

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