Sportsnaut
The field of teams for the NFL playoffs is nearly set well ahead of Week 18, meaning the regular-season finale could be all about battling for position with playoff seeds. While there might not be win-and-in scenarios, there are a few playoff matchups we’re hoping to get because of Weeks 17 and 18.
Let’s dive into the four Wild Card round matchups we’d love to see in the NFL Playoffs come January.
The collective hearts of Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears fans probably do not want to see a third meeting between these two NFC North rivals. More than likely, though, it is exactly what we will get come Wild Card Weekend at Soldier Field. The two meetings this season culminated in a +1 point differential, with Green Bay narrowly outgaining Chicago in total yardage (721–715) and the Bears winning the turnover battle 2–1.
Plus, there is the fact that Ben Johnson emphasized during his introductory press conference his desire to beat the Packers twice per season, and you know Green Bay badly wants to end the season for its hated rival. This matchup just feels like destiny.
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We swear this isn’t about wanting to see Josh Allen stiff-arm Josh Hines-Allen or Hines-Allen sacking Allen. It is just about how great of a football game this could be. These two teams haven’t met yet this season, but it feels like they could be on a collision course for a duel on Wild Card Weekend.
Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills quarterback, would be facing a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that allowed just 15.3 points and 277.2 total yards per game, with a 67.3 QB rating and 5.1 yards per attempt allowed to quarterbacks during a six-game win streak. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence would be tested by one of the league’s best passing defenses from the regular season. Whichever team comes out on top could be viewed as the AFC’s club to beat entering the Divisional Round.
We got to see Drake Maye take on the Los Angeles Chargers last season, a matchup the New England Patriots lost 40–7 at home. Suffice it to say, we do not anticipate anything of that nature happening in a potential Wild Card Round matchup between these two AFC contenders.
Maye would be facing one of the most well-coached defenses in football, and the Chargers’ ability to fly to the football and wrap up would complicate things for New England. However, as the recent Week 16 win showed, Maye would have opportunities for big throws downfield. On the other side, a pedestrian Patriots pass rush and a league-average secondary could put Justin Herbert in a position for a shootout between two of the AFC’s best young quarterbacks.
A chess match between...
