NFL Predictions: A Look at Every NFL Game This Season

WildCard Weekend

New York Jets at New England Patriots:

For the third time this season, these two teams will battle it out.  This time it’s a much closer game, as the Jets actually take the lead late in the third quarter.  On a drive deep in Jets territory, Tom Brady throws the ball to his old buddy Darrelle Revis who returns the interception to the Patriots 26 yard line.  On the very next play, Ryan Fitzpatricks lofts a ball to the corner of the end zone and Brandon Marshall goes up over two Patriot defenders and taps his feet in bounds for the touchdown.  Do you think this guy wanted to go home week one of his first playoff experience?  Absolutely not—The Jets pull off the shocking upset on the road and take this thing from the Patriots.  This marks the first time since 2010 that the Patriots failed to advance to the AFC Championship game.

The Pick:  Jets 27  Patriots 17

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts:

Could the road teams make the clean sweep?  The Steelers are favored in this one, and for good measure.  However, after racing out to a 10-0 lead the Steelers offense stalls out for the remainder of the half, allowing the Colts to take a 20-10 lead into halftime.  Things start well in the second half for the Colts who go up 27-10 early in the third quarter.  The Steelers come storming back in the fourth quarter to tie the game, but a four minute drive by the Colts set up a go-ahead field goal with only 18 seconds to go.  Roethlisberger finds Antonio Brown for a 28 yard strike down the field, setting up a 64-yard field goal attempt with only a second remaining.  Unfortunately for the Steelers, Boswell’s kick falls just short of the goal post sending Indianapolis to the divisional round of the playoffs.

AThe Pick:  Colts 30  Steelers 27

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers

Jameis Winston has had a really great sophomore season, and the Bucs have made real strides as a football team.  Now they are forced to go into Lambeau on a day where the windchill is negative 5 degrees, and try and compete with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.  Eddie Lacy runs wild in the first half, rushing for 96 yards and two TD’s and helping the Packers out to a 17-3 halftime lead.  Rodgers does the rest, putting the game to bed in the second half with two more scores.  A good season for the Bucs comes to an end.

The Pick:  Packers 31  Buccaneeers 13

 Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants

The Giants are finally back in the playoffs, and certainly don’t plan to be an easy out this season as they take on the Cardinals.  Carson Palmer looked visibly different during the playoffs a season ago, and this year is no different.  Palmer throws multiple interceptions in the first half, and looks shaken.  Eli Manning has been there and done that, and he welcomes Odell Beckham Jr. to the playoffs with multiple touchdown passes.  The score is closer than the game really was, and the Giants are back.  Do they have another run to the Super Bowl in them?

The Pick:  Giants  30  Cardinals 20

Next: The Divisional Round