2018 Wild Card Predix

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Written by Sam DeCoste

This it. The NFL Playoffs have arrived, with some great games to get us started. Colts-Texans, Seahawks-Cowboys, Chargers-Ravens, and Eagles-Bears round out the weekend. So without further ado, it’s time for the playoffs! Let’s see who will move on to the Divisional Round. Who will win this week? Find out in the Playoff Predix! Enjoy!

Here are my records from the 2018 regular season:

Lock of the Week record: 11-6
Last week's record: 13-3
Regular season record: 167-87-2

The Road to Super Bowl LIII Bracket presented by Franchise Quarterback

 IND @ HOU

Round three between Indianapolis and Houston to get the postseason started. What a surprise to see the Colts back in the playoffs, and to see them winning with a new formula: protecting the franchise. Andrew Luck is the least sacked quarterback of all signal callers who has started all sixteen games, while Deshaun Watson of the Texans is actually the most sacked QB, getting sacked an astounding 62 times. Indy has a capable defense this year, led by the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Darius Leonard, and they can put the pressure on Watson like all their opponents this year have. Not to mention Andrew Luck is still Andrew Luck, and Andrew Luck with time in the pocket can be deadly. I know the Colts are the six seed, but Houston haven't been entirely convincing this season, and there are gaping flaws on this team that Indy can capitalize on to help them advance. By the way, Frank Reich deserves some Coach of the Year praise. Reich is just one of three head coaches in NFL history to turn around a 1-5 football team and get them into the playoffs, and a deep playoff run would certainly help his cause.

Prediction: IND 27, HOU 26

 SEA @ DAL

What an impressive 2018 season for Seattle and Dallas. Considering their rosters at the beginning of the season, and each of their slow starts, it's remarkable that they even made it to this point. But for Seattle, Pete Carroll has put a coaching masterclass by winning with a new formula, running the ball and playing opportunistic defense. The Seahawks lead the NFL in rushing yards per game, which travels well, especially in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys have been transformed the second half of the season ever since acquiring Amari Cooper from Oakland, which has unleashed a consistent passing game as well as allowing Ezekiel Elliott some space to run. But the Dallas defense has turned it on as well, allowing the seventh least amount of yards per game, fifth in rushing defense, and sixth in scoring defense. Everything on paper suggests Dallas should be clear favorites. However, I am not ready to pick Dallas in a game with this magnitude. In elimination football, I have more trust in Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson, two Super Bowl champions, to outlast whatever Dallas can throw at them, even in Jerry's World.

Prediction: SEA 23, DAL 20

 LAC @ BAL

It's been a long wait for Baltimore to return to the playoffs, but the Ravens are finally back, and in style. They come in with the NFL's most efficient defense, allowing under 300 yards per game, and rushing for over 150. It's been very straightforward for the Ravens, run the ball, keep the opposition off the field, and play elite defense. That's exactly what they've done in six of their last seven games with Lamar Jackson at QB. Now the Chargers are in town, a team which Baltimore thwacked just two weeks ago, 22-10. The Chargers put up fewer than 200 yards of total offense and could not any sort of rhythm against Baltimore. And now the Ravens are at home, in the cold? If the Chargers couldn't do it in 65 degrees in LA, they're not gonna do it this week when it matters the most. The Chiefs and Pats will be hoping the Chargers can knock Baltimore out, because nobody wants to see Baltimore in their building.

Prediction: LAC 6, BAL 24

 PHI @ CHI

Don't look now, but the champs aren't done just yet. Three wins to end the season and a Vikings collapse thrusted Philly back into the playoffs, with a chance to make another shock run to defend their title. But winning in Chicago will be a daunting task for any team, much less an Eagles squad banged up. Chicago's defense ranks third in the NFL in yards allowed, at the top in rushing defense, and top in takeaways. And Chicago is one of the toughest places to play when their team plays at home in the postseason, and Nick Foles will have a very hard time making plays against this secondary. Not to mention Khalil Mack will be after him all game. The Bears are the largest favorites to win this weekend of any another team, and deservedly so. The Eagles aren't the same team they were in 2017, and the Bears look primed to make a deep postseason run. 

Prediction: PHI 7, CHI 21