NFL Playoff Picks 2026- Conference Championship (Sunday 26th January)

It has been a remarkable season and we are now just hours away from learning which two teams will be heading to the home of the San Francisco 49ers to compete for the Super Bowl.

Injuries have been a big factor throughout the 2025 season and those continue to have a big impact on the outlook for teams, even this late into the year.

The Denver Broncos lost their starting Quarter Back in the win over the Buffalo Bills, while the Seattle Seahawks have a Quarter Back fighting through the pain. Offensive Linemen and Defensive Linemen absentees can be so important at this time of the season when winning at the Line of Scrimmage is so very important.

Both Championship Games to be played on Sunday are intriguing with the factors around them, but it still feels like the winner of the NFC Championship will be a big favourite to win it all in two weeks time.

The AFC Champion is going to have something to say about that, but the focus has to be on the opponent in front of each team this Sunday and both games look like they can produce drama.

It has been a difficult season for the NFL Picks after a decent last few years, but my thoughts on the Conference Championship Games can be read below.

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos Pick: There was some controversy attached to the end of the Denver Broncos (15-3) win over the Buffalo Bills with a long debate over whether the road team should have been awarded a catch in Overtime that would have put them in a position to win the game. If the decision on the field had ruled Brandin Cooks down with the ball, there would unlikely have been an overturn on the review, but that is in the books and it is the Broncos who will be hosting the AFC Championship Game as the Number 1 Seed.

Fans would have left the Stadium in buoyant mood, but that would have changed very quickly.

Quarter Back Bo Nix was quickly ruled out for the season having suffered an injury on the penultimate play of the Divisional Round win over the Bills.

All of a sudden, the Denver Broncos are going to be heading into the Conference Championship Game with a backup at the most important position of any sport.

Making it all the more challenging is that Jarrett Stidham has not thrown a pass in the NFL since Week 18 of the 2023 regular season.

Head Coach Sean Payton is backing his Quarter Back to come in and do what is needed for the Denver Broncos and there will be plenty of respect for Stidham on the other sideline considering he was Drafted into the League by the New England Patriots (16-3).

He played under the guidance of Josh McDaniels and that should help the Patriots plan for what they may see from a Quarter Back that is the first since 1972 to have his first start of a season in the Conference Championship Game.

Josh McDaniels will be passing all of the data over to the New England Defensive unit, but he will also be focusing on making sure Drake Maye and company have a good plan to deal with what has been one of the top Defensive units in the NFL.

The Patriots have done just enough Offensively, but the run through to the Championship Round has been based on the performance on the other side of the ball. Drake Maye has had a very strong season at Quarter Back, but his two Playoff appearances this season have been erratic to say the least and he has to make sure he has better control of the football when he is being hit.

Turnovers could be a huge part of the outcome of this AFC Championship Game and so the Quarter Back has to be careful.

He will be looking to lean on the New England rushing attack, which has been operating well, and there looks to be an advantage on the Line of Scrimmage in favour of the Patriots. For much of the season the Broncos have been very good at stopping the run, but they have struggled towards the end of the regular season and into the Playoffs and keeping Drake Maye in front of the chains would give the Number 2 Seed a real advantage.

Third and manageable compared with third and long will be a huge difference for the New England Offensive unit.

Putting Maye in a position where he can make quick throws to keep the chains moving would be a distinct advantage, but holding onto the ball too long will allow the Denver pass rush to have a big impact in the contest. The Patriots Offensive Line have been very good at establishing the run, but the pass blocking has been something of a weakness and Drake Maye will not want to attempt to attack this Denver Secondary with the pocket collapsing around him.

You have to imagine the Broncos Defensive players have been focused this week in producing their absolute best to give the injury hit Offensive unit a boost.

They look capable of at least slowing down the New England Offense, which has not exactly been lighting up the scoreboard in the two Playoff wins, and that will give Jarrett Stidham an opportunity.

It would not surprise anyone if Sean Payton has a solid plan for his backup, but you have to believe the Broncos are going to want to get behind this Offensive Line and at least make sure they can establish the run.

JK Dobbins looks set to miss out again, which is another blow for the Offense, and the Broncos will have noted how effective this New England Defensive Line have been at playing the run in recent games. They have made things very difficult for the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans and so the game plan may be to get Jarrett Stidham comfortable and ask him to make some quick, easy throws to settle in, especially while New England anticipate plenty of early runs.

Head Coach Mike Vrabel has really put together a strong Defensive unit and they have a team that will feel they can shut down the Broncos.

If they can keep Denver in third and long, the New England Secondary will be full of confidence and belief in their Secondary having made Justin Herbert and CJ Stroud look very ordinary. They have also been turning the ball over with great success in the two Playoff wins, although Jarrett Stidham may be given a bit more protection behind the Denver Offensive Line than either Herbert or Stroud were afforded.

Those Interceptions being created by the Patriots have to be respected and New England do look capable of winning this one on the road.

However, there have only ever been 10 Road Favourites of 4 or more points in the Conference Championship Round and those teams are a perfect imperfect 0-10 against the spread.

Hosts that have been set as the underdog are on a 14-3 run against the spread in the NFL Playoffs over the last decade too.

Good teams do have a habit of stepping up their level to offer as much support as possible to a backup Quarter Back, while Denver are hosting, which should also be a big help.

Most are going to back the New England Patriots against Jarrett Stidham, but this Broncos Defensive unit can make this a low-scoring, competitive affair and that makes the points being given to the hosts appealing. The AFC hosts have tended to be the stronger at covering the spread in the Championship Game and the Denver Broncos will have a point to prove after the injury to Bo Nix and can keep this one close thanks to the Defensive unit going up against Drake Maye and company.

Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: For the third time this season, the Seattle Seahawks (15-3) and Los Angeles Rams (14-5) face off, but this time with a place in the Super Bowl on the line.

If the previous two games are anything to go by, this is going to be an exciting, competitive contest that will come down to the final snap of the ball.

The Los Angeles Rams beat Seattle by 2 points when hosting them earlier in the season, but the most recent game in Week 16 of the regular season saw the Seahawks recover from a big deficit and earn a home win. This ultimately led to them finishing with the Number 1 record in the NFC and is the reason that the Seattle Seahawks host the Championship Game.

You want to know how competitive the games were in the regular season? The Rams had a single point advantage in the two games played and just ONE Offensive yard more than the Seahawks.

Seattle had been favoured when hosting in Week 16 and they are going into the Championship Game as a slightly stronger favourite- they played on Saturday in the Divisional Round and so have an extra day of rest, while the Rams had a very tough road game on Sunday that they could have easily lost in Overtime in frigid temperatures in Chicago.

That has been factored into the spread, while the Seahawks are also holding home advantage, which has been a key to the outcome of the majority of recent Conference Championship Games.

However, things are not exactly going smoothly for Seattle- Quarter Back Sam Darnold is playing through an injury, while Running Back Zach Charbonnet has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury suffered in the blowout of the San Francisco 49ers. There are still some issues on the Offensive Line, even though Charles Cross is back in practice to protect Darnold's blindside, and this is a match up that has been tough for Seattle in two regular season meetings.

Kenneth Walker III had a big outing at Running Back behind a powerful Seattle Offensive Line, but he will have a different test without his partner to come in and give him some time to rest. This week Walker III is also running against the Los Angeles Defensive Line, which is much stronger than the one he was facing last week, although the Seahawks will have confidence they can establish the Running Back.

This looks to be an important factor in the outcome of the game, especially as we are still not sure how healthy Sam Darnold is at Quarter Back- the Divisional Round blowout of the 49ers began very early and so Darnold was not under much pressure to drop back and throw the ball, but it is unlikely to be that comfortable in this game agains the Rams.

Any time Sam Darnold and the Seahawks are in third and long, the Rams pass rush is likely going to put the Quarter Back under significant pressure and that has not always been a position in which Darnold has thrived. There have been holes in the Rams Secondary that have been exploited in this Playoff run, which have been exploited by Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, but Seattle are a run first Offensive unit and the main ambition for Sam Darnold is to avoid giving this game away.

Instead he will be happy to play the field position and lean on a fantastic Seattle Defense that has continued to perform at a top level all season.

In recent games, the Seahawks Defensive Line have proved to be stout at clamping down on the run, while the Secondary have stepped in front of passes and turned the ball over.

However, Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have a potent passing game and talented Receivers who will feel they can break clear of some of the Defenders to be faced and offer up passing lanes down the field. Matthew Stafford has been dealing with a finger issue and Sean McVay admitted he did not give his Offensive unit the best game plan to deal with the Chicago Bears, but both are expected to be improved on Sunday.

Giving the Rams most confidence is the fact that they put up almost 600 Offensive yards and Matthew Stafford had over 450 passing yards in the narrow loss in this Stadium in Week 16.

They did blow that lead, but it will offer Stafford and company encouragement about what they can do in the Championship Game and he will also have Davante Adams available for this one. That gives the Rams another crease on the Offensive side of the ball and Los Angeles do have a very good balance in the team.

If the spread moved to the key number 3, it would be an easy choice to back the Los Angeles Rams in what should be another game that comes down to the wire.

On the current line, the Rams still look worthy of being selected with the points they are being given, but it could come down to a final Field Goal and it is a dangerous line.

NFC home teams are just 8-10 against the spread in the Championship Game, while home teams facing Divisional rivals are just 13-17 against the spread.

Blowing out the San Francisco 49ers will have caught the eye, but everything went right for the Seahawks from the opening kick off and NFL teams that have won home games by at least 35 points are 14-26-1 against the spread in the next game played.

There has been so little between the teams throughout the course of the season that it feels unlikely to be much different on Sunday so the points being given to the Los Angeles Rams looks the best play.

MY PICKS: Denver Broncos + 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams + 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Divisional: 2-2, - 0.26 Units (4 Units Staked, - 6.50% Yield)

Wild Card: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 18: 3-4, - 1.51 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.57% Yield)

Week 17: 5-6, - 1.45 Units (11 Units Staked, - 13.18% Yield)

Week 16: 3-5, - 2.28 Units (8 Units Staked, - 28.50% Yield)

Week 15: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 14: 0-1, - 1 Unit (1 Unit Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 50-65, - 20.31 Units (115 Units Staked, - 17.66% Yield)

NFL Playoff Picks 2026- Wild Card Round (Saturday 10th January-Monday 12th January)

The NFL regular season has thrown up plenty of surprises in the 2025 campaign and so there cannot be too many raised eyebrows when it comes to the final fourteen teams who are taking part in the post-season.

Of course there are some big favourites that have been eliminated before the Playoffs have begun, but that won't be written in the history books when a Super Bowl Winner is decided in early February.

Pressure is on those that are still playing in January and that is because they may feel this is a small window that has opened up for success before some of the stronger teams bounce back next season. That especially feels the case for those involved in the AFC side of the Bracket, although whoever comes through is expected to be the Super Bowl underdog with the NFC teams looking stronger one through seven.

However, in saying all that, there have been so many surprising results from week to week this season that you cannot dismiss a few more happening over the next three weeks before the Super Bowl is actually set for San Francisco.

Picking a favourite is difficult, but the way my Bracket worked out saw the Denver Broncos facing the Philadelphia Eagles in the big game.

That could change very quickly and this has been the worst season for a number of seasons for the NFL Picks, which perhaps makes my predictions look all the weaker immediately anyway.

The Wild Card Round is played between Saturday and Monday and all of the selections are in this thread below.

For games where a selection has yet to be made, those will be added in the next several hours as Wild Card Weekend kicks off in Carolina and concludes in Pittsburgh over the next few days.

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers Pick: After the San Francisco 49ers were beaten on Saturday in Week 18, an opportunity arrived for the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) to move into the Number 5 Seed in the NFC. That would mean beginning the post-season at the home of the NFC South Winners rather than facing the Philadelphia Eagles or Chicago Bears and a blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals saw the Rams move up into this Seeding position.

It was also important to snap a two game losing run before the Playoffs, although the Carolina Panthers (8-9) will ultimately have been thankful for one of those Rams losses.

If Los Angeles had beaten Atlanta in Week 17, the Carolina loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have meant elimination for the Panthers and the Buccaneers hosting this Wild Card Game. They still needed the Falcons to win out against the New Orleans Saints to finally begin to think ahead to the post-season for the first time in almost a decade, but Carolina have made it and will believe this represents a 'new season.

They have to think that way after the Panthers closed the regular season with three losses in four games, including consecutive defeats.

One of those losses was to the Seattle Seahawks as Carolina were beaten by 17 points in the last game of the regular season, but the Panthers should not be intimidated by facing the Los Angeles Rams considering they upset this opponent in the regular season in November.

It was a day when one of the leading contenders for the regular season MVP, Matthew Stafford, was responsible for three turnovers and that was a decisive factor in what turned out to be a 3 point loss right in this Stadium. The Rams were 9.5 point favourites on that day, but the spread has actually moved another point in their favour despite the defeat and that is a number that will be very tough to cover.

Over the course of the season, the Rams have played well Defensively, but they struggled to find the right balance on this side of the ball in the loss to Carolina.

The key to beating the Panthers is stopping the run, but the Los Angeles Defensive Line have finished the season looking vulnerable and that is something that the home team are going to be wanting to expose. With a Quarter Back lacking Playoff experience, the Panthers will want to control the clock and tempo of this game, while also making sure Bryce Young is not feeling too much pressure trying to convert from third and long spots.

There has been plenty to like from Bryce Young this season after looking like a bust, but the young Quarter Back has still been inconsistent, while the Los Angeles pass rush will be looking to unleash if they can force the Panthers behind the chains. Being able to do that should help slow this opponent down, but the key is at the Line of Scrimmage and finding a way to clamp down on the rush.

Bryce Young did throw 3 Touchdowns without an Interception in the upset of the Rams earlier this season, but it may be tough to replicate that now that the Rams Secondary will be more ready to deal with what this Quarter Back can throw at them.

The Rams also have to expect veteran Quarter Back Matthew Stafford to have a much cleaner game all around and there will be a real feeling that Los Angeles can find plenty of balance on this side of the ball.

Running the ball will just make sure the passing lanes remain open, although it is clear that the Rams will go as far as Matthew Stafford can take them.

Importantly key players are returning for the Playoff push with Davante Adams back to give Stafford another big option in the passing game and that will aid the Rams who have to respect how the Carolina Panthers Secondary were playing to close out the season. They limited Baker Mayfield (twice) and Sam Darnold in the passing game in the last three games, but Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are another big test and this is a team that have been very good at throwing the ball all season.

The Rams also have the experience edge and it should be noted that first appearances in the Playoffs for Quarter Backs have been hugely challenging- those that have been set as the underdog, like Bryce Young, are just 14-22-1 against the spread in this spot, while those Quarter Backs are also just 23-43-1 against the spread when facing an opponent with a Quarter Back that has played in the post-season previously.

Last season the Texans showed that a Head Coach/Quarter Back combination who are both making first appearances in the Playoffs in those current roles can overcome the recent trend as they were able to upset the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Texans were more talented than this Carolina team have looked.

At the same time, you cannot ignore some recent big trends that make it less appealing to back the Rams here- road teams that have won at least 11 regular season games were just 1-3 against the spread in the Playoffs twelve months ago, while underdogs have been very productive in recent NFC Wild Card Games.

Road favourites are just 8-13-1 against the spread in the Wild Card Games played since 2008, which is hard to ignore, while hosts have been in very good form in the Saturday Wild Card Games in recent years with this being a 'short week'.

You would still expect the Rams to find a way to win here, but it does make asking them to cover a bit more of a question, especially with the line where it is.

However, Los Angeles do look the right side and outright winners have tended to cover far more often than not in recent Wild Card Games.

Conditions could be difficult for the Los Angeles Rams with the chance of there being rain and wind, but they should still have too much for a Panthers team that backed their way into the post-season. Add in the motivation to make up for the road loss in the regular season and it should be a clear thinking Los Angeles team arriving in Charlotte for this opening Wild Card Game and the Rams can win well.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Pick: Rivalry games will always come with extra attention, but a Divisional rivalry taking place in the post-season will go down in folklore for whichever team is able to come out on top.

The home team have won the last five times a Divisional rivalry has been played in a Wild Card Game, but the Chicago Bears (11-6) and Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) split two regular season games and will have a lot of respect for what the other brings to the field.

There is plenty of familiarity coming out of the fact that the Bears and Packers are meeting for the third time in six weeks and second time in four weeks at Soldier Field.

Both teams would have loved to have had more momentum- the Bears finished with the Number 2 Seed in the NFC, but have lost two in a row, while the Green Bay Packers have lost four in a row. Key players have not played for a while with Quarter Back Jordan Love taking snaps for Green Bay for the first time since being knocked out of the last game here at Soldier Field, while the starters were resting in Week 18 to make sure they can overcome all ailments ahead of this Wild Card Game.

The Bears were beaten in Week 18 right here by the Detroit Lions, but earned the Number 2 Seed after the Philadelphia Eagles were beaten on the same day and that means they have this tough looking Wild Card Game to open on their return to the post-season.

It has been a really good first season as Head Coach for Ben Johnson, while he will use his experience Coaching with the Detroit Lions in recent years to help his young group come together. The Offensive game plan has certainly worked for Quarter Back Caleb Williams in his second season in the NFL, but he is making his first start in the post-season and has to overcome some serious trends going against him.

Much like Bryce Young earlier in the day, Caleb Williams will know Quarter Backs making the first Playoff start are just 15-23 against the spread in those outing and a really poor 23-43-1 against the spread when facing an opponent with a Quarter Back that has Playoff experience.

It looks like Chicago will be going into this one as the underdog so Williams will also have to overcome the 14-22-1 record against the spread that those 'rookie' Playoff Quarter Backs have faced.

His performances on the field have to give the Chicago Bears a huge amount of confidence and they will also note that Caleb Williams is going to be facing a banged up Green Bay Defensive unit that have shown plenty of signs of having worn down.

This season the Bears made a real effort to give the Quarter Back time and he is playing behind an Offensive Line that have given him Caleb Williams time when he has dropped back to throw. That is helped by the ability Williams has in scrambling away from pressure and still keeping his eyes down the field, while the Chicago Offensive Line have been very happy when it comes to run blocking and this is an area where they should be able to pummel an injury hit Green Bay Defensive Line.

A tandem at Running Back should mean Chicago can keep legs fresh as they look to make sure Caleb Williams is kept in third and manageable spots, and from there it will be a chance for Williams to shine.

Rome Odunze looks like he will be suiting up to offer up more downfield threat and the Bears will be confident they can have Offensive successes with a balanced play-calling day. Of course they should watch out for Trevon Diggs who the Green Bay Packers have been able to sign after he was cut at the end of the season by the Dallas Cowboys, but there will be a confidence in Chicago that the home town team can produce on this side of the ball.

The tougher test may actually be when the Green Bay Packers have the ball.

In the last few weeks there had been some improvement shown by the Chicago Defensive unit as injuries began to clear up, but they were struggling to get off the field in the last couple of defeats.

Now they have to take on the Green Bay Packers team that will have Jordan Love at Quarter Back and a number of the key Offensive starters hoping to be much healthier with a couple of weeks of rest under the feet. Jordan Love had 234 passing yards with 3 Touchdown passes in the first game against the Bears and the Quarter Back had begun in decent shape in the game here at Soldier Field before being knocked out of the game with concussion.

Josh Jacobs should be feeling much better having had a number of injury issues at the close of the regular season and he is going to be an important figure for the Green Bay Packers- they should be able to use the Offensive Line to establish the run and that is going to be important for this team to make sure they strike a balance on this side of the ball that makes it tough to stop them.

It should also mean Jordan Love has enough time to move the ball down the field before the Chicago pass rush can get to him and there are plenty of skill players that can step up for the road team.

In his absence it has been tough for the Packers to throw the ball with the same consistency as when they have Love at Quarter Back, but the expectation is that the Chicago Secondary is going to have some problems getting on top of all of the Receivers that can be targeted.

Recent seasons have seen the underdog put together strong returns in the Wild Card Round, while road favourites have a poor record.

The Number 2 Seed has also been dominant in the Wild Card Round since the expansion of the NFL Playoff, while the Chicago Bears have won the most recent regular season meeting between these NFC North rivals.

However, you cannot ignore how many things had to go in the Bears favour at Soldier Field to earn the victory, including recovering an onside kick and seeing the Packers turn the ball over when driving in Overtime.

There really wasn't much between the teams in the regular season, but Jordan Love's Playoff experience may end up making the difference.

We should see plenty of points assuming the weather conditions do not worsen significantly, although it will be cold as expected in January Chicago weather.

Once all is said and done, the Green Bay Packers may be the team who can avoid those late game mistakes that cost them three weeks ago and they may just be able to force a mistake from a first time Playoff Quarter Back and come out on top in this good looking Wild Card Game.

Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: The NFL Playoffs look incredibly competitive this season and you could feasibly make a case for any of the fourteen teams to win the Super Bowl next month.

The AFC Playoff picture has been opened up by the elimination of the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, two teams that would have entered the season amongst the favourites to win it all.

One of the 'favourites' that will still be playing Football in January is the Buffalo Bills (12-5), but they failed to win the AFC East and that means the team has to head out on the road for at least the Wild Card Round. The Bills finished as the Number 6 Seed and they are a very narrow favourite to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) who won the AFC South in the first season under Head Coach Liam Coen.

After another inconsistent start to the season, the Jaguars won the last eight regular season games, which means they have the second longest winning streak in the NFL ahead of the Wild Card Round. The real credit has to be that the Jaguars have won those games under the pressure of being chased by the Houston Texans, who won nine games in a row, and that should mean Jacksonville are very much battle-hardened as they return to the post-season.

Head Coaches that are Coaching in the Playoffs for the first time are 10-6 against the spread in recent times under this situation and that should give Jacksonville belief, although it should be noted that they are facing a very experienced Buffalo team that have been so very close to reaching a Super Bowl.

However, the Bills will be disappointed that they have not quite been able to get over the line, while the standout statistic here is that Buffalo have not won any of the last nine road Playoff Games going back to 1992.

Quarter Back Josh Allen is absolutely the key to any success in January and February 2026 and he kept his streak of starts going when taking one snap in Week 18. However, Allen has been dealing with a foot issue and there is no doubt that the Buffalo Bills will need the Quarter Back to use his legs if they are going to find a way to win this Wild Card Game.

Running the ball in general is going to be key as Jacksonville will be hosting in unfamiliar conditions- instead of the warm weather that has been around, there is a forecast that this will be played in rainy conditions and that may mean teams are trying to pound the rock.

The Bills Offensive Line will be confident in being able to establish the run, although that will be very dependent on Josh Allen being able to scramble down the field. By having some of the Linebackers focusing on the Quarter Back, James Cook will end up having more spaces to exploit, but if Allen shows he is not quite at full health, the Jaguars may just believe the Defensive Line can force the Quarter Back to show off his passing ability.

Jacksonville have not really been able to pressure the Quarter Back, but the Secondary have played well and they should be confident that third and long spots will be difficult for the Bills to convert. Stopping Josh Allen completely is unlikely, but the Jaguars can feel they have won if the Quarter Back is not able to run as effectively as usual and has to rely on some of the Receivers to step up.

It is the injuries on the Buffalo Defensive unit that could be the real issue in this game and they may struggle to deal with what has become a balanced and effective Jacksonville Offensive unit.

Trevor Lawrence has played well and is capable of running the ball when needed, and it is a game in which the Jaguars Offensive Line can force spaces up front to keep the team in front of the chains. For much of the season, the Bills have been banged up and unable to stop the run with any consistency and the Jaguars are not going to shy away from pounding the ball against the Bills and making sure their own Quarter Back is kept in positive field position.

The arrival of Jakobi Meyers has been really important for the Jaguars and allowed Trevor Lawrence to display the passing that had encouraged this team to take him as the Number 1 Pick in the Draft.

To be fair to the Bills Secondary, they have produced decent numbers this season, but some of that is down to the issues they have had up front in stopping the run. Recent outings have been against teams that have not thrown the ball nearly as well as Trevor Lawrence has been during this eight game winning run.

There are plenty of recent general Wild Card Game trends that favour the Buffalo Bills, while the experience factor cannot be dismissed.

Oddsmakers are clearly anticipating a close game and it would be a surprise if that is not the case.

Josh Allen's health is a real concern for the Buffalo Bills, while there is also pressure on the team knowing that the likes of Kansas City and Baltimore are not going to stand in the way. That can be a hindrance at times and the Jacksonville Jaguars look balanced Offensively, which could end up proving to be the big difference between the teams on the day.

San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: There is a belief that you want to be playing your best Football in January and so it was a surprise to see so many of the NFC Playoff teams losing in Week 18.

Both of these teams were beaten, although the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) will most certainly be feeling the pain more than most.

They went into a home game in Week 18 with a chance to not only win the NFC West, but a win would also have meant a Bye as the Number 1 Seed in the Playoff. Instead the 49ers slipped below the Los Angeles Rams and that means having to travel across the country and take on the defending Champions on their home turf.

It has been far from a vintage season for the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), but they did comfortably win the NFC East and losing in Week 18 is not something that overly concerned the Coaching staff. You have to believe that facing the Green Bay Packers rather than either of the NFC West Wild Card teams was something that the Eagles actively tried to avoid by sitting the starters in Week 18 and they certainly will believe they match up best with the injury hit 49ers.

Take nothing away from the season that the 49ers have produced, but they were not exactly given the most taxing of schedules and San Francisco struggled mightily against the Seattle Seahawks last week.

One of the big injuries late in the season has been suffered by Trent Williams and there is no doubt that the San Francisco Offensive Line is not nearly as strong without him. Perhaps Williams will try and suit up, but he could be limited and the 49ers may not get too much change out of this Philadelphia Defensive Line that have played the run pretty well all season.

Christian McCaffrey can still be a factor having maintained good health, but the Running Back may be a big threat leaking out of the backfield and offering Quarter Back Brock Purdy a security blanket.

Brock Purdy was receiving plenty of plaudits for some of his late season play, but the entire Offensive unit struggled against the Seahawks in Week 18 and this Philadelphia Defense has been the strength of the defending Champions.

Without a strong running game to back him, Brock Purdy is going to be put under pressure by this Eagles pass rush and throwing against this Secondary from third and long will be asking a lot without the kind of Receivers San Francisco have had in recent seasons.

Those years would have also been at a time when the 49ers could rely on the Defensive unit to keep them in games, but to say they have been banged on this side of the ball would be a huge understatement.

Over the last couple of weeks, the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks have given the Philadelphia Eagles the blueprint they need on the Offensive side of the ball- both teams have run the ball very well behind the Offensive Line and the Eagles and Saquon Barkley should be able to pick up from where those teams left off.

No one will suggest Barkley has been nearly as strong as last season, but the Eagles ended the regular season running the ball with more confidence and also have Quarter Back Jalen Hurts who is capable of moving the chains with his legs too.

This should make things pretty comfortable for Hurts when he does drop back to throw the ball downfield.

The 49ers Secondary has been exposed by the lack of a pass rush up front and Jalen Hurts will have plenty of time to target the likes of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, while Dallas Goedert continues to make big plays when needed.

It has been an inconsistent season for the Eagles Offense, but this looks a 'get right' opportunity.

Number 3 Seeds have not been the best teams to back in recent Wild Card seasons, while NFC underdogs have been thriving against the spread.

This has to be noted, but in the last 34 Playoff Games involving a Road team that has more regular season wins than the host, the Home team have a 22-11-1 record against the spread.

Hosts are also 16-8 against the spread in the last four seasons of Wild Card action and this looks like a game in which the Philadelphia Eagles should be the stronger team by some margin on both sides of the ball. As long as the Offensive unit have a semi-decent outing, they should have too much for an injury hit visiting team that have overachieved this season.

Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots Pick: Winning the AFC East and ending the dominance of the Buffalo Bills and securing the Number 2 Seed in the Conference means the New England Patriots (14-3) should be full of confidence. They have a Head Coach in Mike Vrabel who has had considerable success in the role with the Tennessee Titans, but who also understands what winning looks like in New England and this is a dangerous team.

However, the Patriots are going to have a first time Playoff Quarter Back in Drake Maye and it has been stated multiple times that those players have tended to struggle in the first starts in the post-season. That has been particularly evident when they have been opposed by a Quarter Back that has Playoff experience, and this is the situation for Maye and the Patriots when taking on the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6).

A Week 17 loss to the Houston Texans ended the Chargers hopes of finishing above the Denver Broncos in the AFC West and they rested all starters in Week 18 for the loss to the Number 1 Seed.

That won't matter and there are plenty of players in the Chargers locker room that feel that the week off between competitive games will have done them the world of good. One of those is Quarter Back Justin Herbert who has been playing through a broken hand on his non-throwing hand and who admitted that not being hit in Week 18 has helped him feel so much better.

All of his experience is going to be needed if the Chargers are going to upset the odds and beat the New England Patriots here in Foxboro.

For much of the season it has been Justin Herbert carrying the team on his back, but the Offensive Line has been decimated and it is very hard to win games consistently without the strong support up front. It has led to Herbert being under pressure all of the time and 54 Sacks backs up that statement as the Chargers look to head to New England with backup Tackles.

Trey Lance absorbed six more Sacks in relief of Justin Herbert last week, but having the starter back is going to help and the Chargers will certainly feel they can pummel the ball on the ground to at least keep the team in third and manageable spots. That should make things a bit more comfortable in the passing game, while the Chargers may believe they can control the pass rush at the Line of Scrimmage if they are pounding the rock with some success.

The real key is on the Defensive side of the ball where the Chargers have played well on season.

In particular the Chargers Defensive Line have really been able to clamp down on the run and they need to make sure they are able to at least give New England something to think about. The Offensive Line has been able to keep Drake Maye in third and manageable spots on the field, but it may not be as easy to do that against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Drake Maye has not been afforded a lot of protection when he has stepped back to throw the ball and so the Patriots need to make sure they are running the ball with some effectiveness.

The Quarter Back will have some holes to exploit in the Secondary, but this is a tough Los Angeles Defense and they can keep this one close against Drake Maye.

Nothing will be easy for the Chargers, but the experience of the Head Coach and Quarter Back can see them potentially pull off the upset.

MY PICKS: Los Angeles Rams - 9.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 6 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Week 18: 3-4, - 1.51 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.57% Yield)

Week 17: 5-6, - 1.45 Units (11 Units Staked, - 13.18% Yield)

Week 16: 3-5, - 2.28 Units (8 Units Staked, - 28.50% Yield)

Week 15: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 14: 0-1, - 1 Unit (1 Unit Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 48-58, - 15.05 Units (106 Units Staked, - 14.20% Yield)

NFL Week 18 Picks 2026 (Saturday 3rd January-Sunday 4th January)

And before you know it, we are into the final Week of the NFL regular season.

There are still some things in play in Week 18, but perhaps not as many as the League would have wanted.

However, that has not stopped the broadcasters from being able to select some 'winner takes all' offerings from the final set of games and the NFC South and AFC North Divisional games are set for big spots.

The Las Vegas Raiders are almost certainly going to be 'on the clock' when the regular season comes to a close, while the fourteen teams entering the NFL Playoffs are all going to believe the year is going to begin with a Super Bowl Championship.

You can certainly make the case for a number of teams to contend for the Championship in what has been a very wide open NFL season and that should be good viewing for neutral fans all around.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: There will be a lot of regret in Atlanta that the Falcons are already eliminated considering how open the NFC South Division has been, but they may yet have a big impact on the final standings and which team will be playing in the post-season.

The Falcons are still involved after upsetting the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17, although they will not be a factor if the Carolina Panthers (8-8) are able to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) for the second time in three weeks.

It remains the ultimate focus for the Panthers who will not want to be nervously watching Sunday results and hoping they are still able to move through to the Playoffs via the backdoor. An Atlanta win over New Orleans will mean the Panthers are in no matter what happens on Saturday, but it has been made clear to the players that the only control they have over the situation is winning this game in Tampa Bay.

Things are much, much clearer for the Buccaneers who know their grip of the Division has been loosened by losing a number of tight games over the last month.

That includes a late Interception in the defeat to the Panthers in Week 16 when the Buccaneers looked on course for at least a game-tying Field Goal and perhaps the go-ahead Touchdown. Everyone associated with the Buccaneers have been feeling the disappointment of recent results and Quarter Back Baker Mayfield will need to be at his absolute best if Tampa Bay are alive for at least one more day.

He started the season in fine form, but Mayfield has been playing through injury and that has perhaps contributed to the back-breaking mistakes he has made. Interceptions are one thing, but second half Interceptions hurt so much more and that has become a feature for the Buccaneers, who would have been in a 'winner takes all' spot if they had not been upset by the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.

They cannot change that now and the fans will be expecting a big effort to at least maintain having a chance of playing more Football in January beyond this week.

Injuries have been a big part of the season for the Buccaneers, but they will feel they can run the ball with some success in this one. However, Head Coach Todd Bowles has suggested that too much stock was placed in this aspect of the Offense in the loss to the Carolina Panthers and this time they may choose to use the pass to open the running lanes.

In recent games, teams have been able to pound the rock with some success against the Panthers Defensive Line and the Buccaneers are set to have key performers on the Offensive Line available for this game.

Tampa Bay will want to establish the run to at least slow the Carolina pass rush, which has been a big weapon for the Panthers in recent games and contributed to stronger play out of the Secondary. They will be tested by the likes of Mike Evans, who has shown how much he has been missed for long stretches of the season, and the Buccaneers will note that they had more Offensive yards than the Carolina Panthers in the Week 16 loss.

On that day it proved to be the sole Interception thrown by Baker Mayfield which made the difference, and the Buccaneers have been speaking about playing a clean game.

The same will be said for the Carolina Panthers who will certainly feel they can run the ball with success in this one too and that will help ease the pressure on Bryce Young. The Quarter Back has shown positive flashes, but there are still plenty of outings like the one in Week 17 in which Young has struggled in the passing game and that has perhaps held the Panthers back.

Bryce Young should have more time than Baker Mayfield and he should be in third and manageable spots on the field, but he did not reach 200 passing yards in the win over the Buccaneers and has struggled for consistency. If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can get in front, they will certainly feel they can contain the Carolina passing game for long enough to earn the win and continue the home dominance of this Divisional rival.

Nothing has come easy for a team that has gotten used to losing close games, but the Buccaneers were driving for a win in Week 16 and this time they can use home field to just edge past the Panthers and then hope the Atlanta Falcons fail to win the final game of the season on Sunday.

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers Pick: After the Los Angeles Rams were beaten on Monday Night Football to put the NFC South in a funny position going into the final Week of the regular season, it was also a result that has massively cleared up the top of the NFC West.

Three teams will be heading to the post-season from the NFC West, but two of those will be out on the road.

One of those is the Los Angeles Rams, but the other is going to be decided on Saturday when the Divisional lead is fought out between the Seattle Seahawks (13-3) and San Francisco 49ers (12-4). Avoiding defeat is the focus for the Seahawks, but a loss would hand the 49ers the top Seed in the Conference and the Divisional title having already beaten Seattle on the road back in Week 1 of the season.

So much has changed for the 49ers since then with injuries decimating the Defensive unit and playing without Quarter Back Brock Purdy for a huge part of the regular season. With that in mind, all credit has to be given to Kyle Shanahan and his Coaching staff for putting the 49ers in a position where they can win the NFC West and earn the top Seed in the Conference.

At the same time, credit has to be given to the Seattle Seahawks for the season they have put together and Sam Darnold will feel this is another chance to prove himself as capable of winning a big game.

The Quarter Back led a huge comeback against the Los Angeles Rams a couple of weeks ago to keep the Seattle Seahawks on track for the top Seed in the Conference and he will have been encouraged by the San Francisco Defensive struggles in the 49ers win over Chicago last weekend.

Both teams are in a tough spot- Seattle had to play in the early Eastern time slot last week and San Francisco were on Sunday Night Football meaning this short week feels shorter than usual.

However, there will be no excuses with so much on the line not only for the Division, but potentially for the run to the Super Bowl.

Seattle might be on the road, but they are going to be confident in what they can do with the ball in hand.

In recent games, the Seahawks Offensive Line have shown they can play January Football by helping establish the run and Seattle are expected to have considerable success on the ground. Last week the Bears were able to execute very well when running the ball to keep the Quarter Back in front of the chains and and the Seahawks will look for a similar approach to make sure they are extending drives.

This should mean Sam Darnold has time to find his Receivers when he does drop back to throw, while the Quarter Back is not expected to be under a lot of pressure after the injuries San Francisco have suffered in the pass rush department. All of that suggests that the Seahawks can have successes like the Bears and Indianapolis Colts have had against the 49ers in the last couple of weeks and that will shift the pressure onto Brock Purdy and the San Francisco Offensive unit.

In those games Brock Purdy has more than handled the extra pressure and he will be confident with the likelihood of having George Kittle back.

However, Trent Williams is expected to missing on the Offensive Line and that is a massive blow for the 49ers who may struggle to run the ball with any consistency. It was already going to be a test against this Seattle Defensive Line, but without Williams it is so much tougher and that will mean it is up to Brock Purdy.

The Quarter Back has shown he can make big plays with his arm and his legs in leading the 49ers to high-scoring wins over the Colts and Bears, but those Defensive units do not stack up to the capabilities of the Seattle Seahawks.

Brock Purdy has been well protected, but the Seattle Secondary have played at a very good level all season and so it may be tough to replicate recent outings produced by the Quarter Back. Instead drives may stall and the 49ers may be a bit too one-dimensional, which could mean the momentum ends up being with the Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers have won seven of the last eight between these NFC West rivals, but the sole exception in that run came in the San Francisco home loss to Seattle last season.

We could see the Seahawks make it back to back wins at the Stadium that is hosting the Super Bowl in February and that will make Seattle a real threat to return here for the big game in the weeks ahead.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans Pick: There is still an outside chance that the Houston Texans (11-5) can win the AFC South, but they will need to win this game and hope the Jacksonville Jaguars lose when facing the Tennessee Titans. That looks unlikely, but the Texans will be playing next week in the Wild Card Round of the post-season, no matter what happens in Week 18.

Winning the Division would mean a home game in the Wild Card, but everything is suggesting the Houston Texans would actually be heading onto the road and very likely against the aforementioned Divisional rivals Jacksonville.

Nothing suggests the Texans will be resting key players in this one in preparation for next week and the start of the Playoffs and that gives Houston the edge in this game.

They are hosting the Indianapolis Colts (8-8) who will be motivated by wanting to end the season with a winning record, but injuries have stacked up and that has ultimately cost the Colts. Philip Rivers came out of retirement to try and help Indianapolis find a win or two that may have been enough to earn a spot in the post-season, but it was not to be and Rivers is not going to be starting this final regular season game.

Instead it is Riley Leonard who will be given a first start in the NFL as the Colts look to analyse what they have in the young Quarter Back, although it seems harsh to do that against this Houston Defensive unit.

It is the Houston Defense that has been the main reason the Texans have won eight in a row and built up considerable momentum to take into the Playoffs.

The Texans Defensive Line will certainly feel they can clamp down on the run and see if the Indianapolis Colts trust Riley Leonard to beat them with his arm. That is going to be a huge challenge for an inexperienced Quarter Back, especially against a Secondary that loves to turn the ball over, and Leonard being asked to make plays from third and long spots on the field looks tough.

Even with that in mind, this does feel like a big spread considering how Offensively challenged the Houston Texans have been this season- the Defensive unit, as stated before, have been the key, and CJ Stroud and company have some making up to do if they are going to offer the same kind of quality when they have the ball.

In saying that, this may be a Defensive unit that Houston can expose and especially if they are able to create short fields.

Credit has to be given to the Colts Defensive Line for the way they have continued to fight at the Line of Scrimmage, but the Secondary have picked up too many injuries and that has allowed Quarter Backs to attack the Colts with plenty of success. We have seen the likes of Brock Purdy pile up the Offensive numbers against the Colts and there are some key starters sitting out in Week 18, which can only aid CJ Stroud in his bid to show rivals that this Houston team have some firepower that deserves to be respected.

The Quarter Back should have time when he steps back to throw, and he should be able to hurt this Colts Secondary.

With a couple of turnovers, the Houston Texans may just end up pulling clear of a visiting team that will look back at this season with some regret and one that may lose some motivation if they fall a couple of scores behind.

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: A big home loss in Week 17 has locked the Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) into the Number 7 Seed in the NFC Playoff Bracket and so the focus in Week 18 is simply getting healthier. That means a host of starters will be missing for this final game of the regular season and the Packers have already chosen third string Quarter Back Clayton Tune to begin this game.

A surprising decision by the Dallas Cowboys to cut Trevon Diggs may have worked for the Packers who picked him up to improve the Secondary, which has been struggling without the pass rush pressure up front.

He is another who may be worked out during the week to get ready for the Wild Card Round and there are a host of Green Bay players who just need a bit of time to see if they can recover physically and mentally for a post-season run.

Clayton Tune is in an unenviable position when facing the Minnesota Vikings (8-8) who will be keen to finish the season with a winning record, even if the year is not one that they will remember too fondly.

A third string, inexperienced Quarter Back facing a Brian Flores Vikings Defensive unit feels like a huge mismatch, especially as the Packers may struggle to run the ball very well. This all means the pressure is on Clayton Tune to keep things moving, but he could be lured into a couple of mistakes by the Vikings if he is throwing out of pressurised spots on the field.

JJ McCarthy is set to take the field for the Vikings, which is important as they look to end the season with one more win and give the Quarter Back a little more experience. He should be facing a number of Packers backups and McCarthy is still surrounded by a couple of Receivers who have the capabilities of a big bounce-back year in 2026.

Minnesota's Offensive Line should set the table up front and JJ McCarthy is unlikely to be under any immense pressure.

This should mean the Vikings are in a position to comfortably move the chains up and down the field and Minnesota can do enough to cover what is a big line.

Overall it has been a difficult season for the Vikings as injuries and inexperience hit them hard, but they should be able to finish with a flourish against this rival.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos Pick: They battled through injuries and came very close to winning in Week 17, which would have given the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) real motivation to end the regular season on a high.

If they had fought back and beaten the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Chargers would have been looking to win the AFC West, but the defeat came a couple of days after the Denver Broncos (13-3) had won on Christmas Day.

Both of those results mean the Denver Broncos have won the Division, but Sean Payton's team still need another victory to secure the top Seed in the Conference. They are playing after a mini-Bye and the focus has been on the Los Angeles backups after it was announced that Justin Herbert and a host of starters would not be suiting up.

Technically the Chargers are still fighting for Seeding as they can finish anywhere between the Number 5 and Number 7 spot, but there is also a real feeling that health means much more to them in January than the final Seed. No matter where they finish, the Chargers know they cannot be competitive without getting some of their key players prepared and that is the focus, which leaves them vulnerable to this Divisional rival.

It may not be what the New England Patriots or Jacksonville Jaguars want to hear, but the Chargers have to do what is right for them and one of those two teams can earn 'revenge' when they are likely hosting Los Angeles in the Wild Card Round.

That does mean the Denver Broncos winning this game and it has been made clear to the players that they have to focus if they are going to secure the top Seed in the Conference. Even when the chips seem to be in hand, the Broncos have struggled for consistency and they made heavy weather of beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.

Bo Nix and company should be able to move the ball with some consistency against a team that will be a shell of the usual level of player that they will send out onto the field.

The Broncos can run the ball with some success and Nix will be throwing against a Secondary that will have some issues stopping the pass. This is a chance for Denver to show that they have an Offensive unit capable of backing up a strong Defensive unit, which is going to be the key to any deep Playoff run.

They are not exactly a unit that you would trust, but the Denver Broncos could make some big plays on the other side of the ball to set up some short fields.

Trey Lance has not lived up to his billing when being Drafted into the NFL and the Quarter Back has a challenging task in front of him, especially with the Offensive Line ravaged by injury and skill Offensive players sitting out.

Even in normal circumstances, the Chargers would know how hard they would have to work to run the ball with any consistency against this Denver Defensive Line, while the banged up Offensive Line has not been able to keep the pass rush out of the backfield. All of that should be on show in this Week 18 game that means so much more to the hosts than the Los Angeles Chargers and it is going to be very hard for Trey Lance to change the narrative.

There is a chance that Lance will show off some of his talent with the Broncos perhaps a little unsure what to expect, but they can also force a couple of mistakes and this should see Denver eventually pull away for a big win.

As mentioned, the Broncos have not exactly been a team that have looked as strong as the record would suggest, but they are rested, prepared and highly motivated and those can all be factors that lead to a solid win for Denver.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Pick: The loss in Week 17 has stopped the Chicago Bears (11-5) from finishing the season with the top Seed in the NFC, but they are still chasing the Number 2 Seed having already clinched the NFC North.

There is going to be some question marks around whether the Bears want to finish with the Number 2 Seed knowing that would mean facing the Green Bay Packers for a third time, but games against San Francisco/Seattle or the Los Angeles Rams are not exactly 'easier'.

Instead the focus looks to be on bouncing back from the Week 17 loss in San Francisco and the Bears will certainly want to earn revenge for a regular season loss to the Detroit Lions (8-8) who have surprisingly been eliminated. This should also mean something to Head Coach Ben Johnson against the team where he was Coaching last year and who thumped Chicago pretty comfortably earlier in the season.

This time the Lions are ravaged by injury, although they are going to have Jared Goff playing at Quarter Back, and the game is being played at Soldier Field. An outdoor game in the elements of Chicago may not exactly been the most appealing to the Lions team that have nothing to play for and that may show up in this game.

Jared Goff and company will have noted how the 49ers moved the ball against the Bears last week and look to follow suit, but there are so many key players missing for the road team.

The Offensive Line have been worn down and that has seen the Lions really struggling to establish the run in recent games- failing to do that makes it very difficult for this team to function as they would like, while Goff is without a number of Receivers that are going to get healthy and have big returns next year.

Prior to the loss to the 49ers, the Chicago Bears had looked a little stronger in the Secondary with important names returning for them, but that Week 17 game was a considerable setback.

However, the Lions may not have the personnel to be able to exploit Chicago as much as they would like and the motivation has to be questioned.

January Football usually means looking to run the ball as effectively as possible- where the Detroit Offensive Line has been struggling, the Chicago Offensive Line have been hugely excited about getting to help the team to pound the rock. The numbers have been really impressive in recent games as the Bears have used a tandem at Running Back to very good effect, while they are facing a Lions Defensive Line that have given up monster plays on the ground.

As long as the Bears can continue at their current pace, Caleb Williams will be operating in third and manageable spots from the Quarter Back position and that should see him making his plays down the field before the pressure can get to him. Over the last several weeks, the Lions Secondary have tried to fill the holes that injuries have left behind, but those have eventually worn them down and Williams should be able to make sure the Chicago Bears are in a very good spot to bounce back from a loss and make sure they head into the Playoff with some momentum.

The home team will not want to risk anyone who is needed next week and who is not at full health, but overall the Bears should have the stronger personnel out on the field on both sides of the ball.

Covering will not be easy if attention shifts to next week, but the Lions have not looked fully focused in the last couple of weeks as the Playoffs slipped out of sight. With the setting giving the Bears real home field advantage, the new NFC North Champions can just show the rest of the Division they fully deserve that tag ahead of the Wild Card Round of the post-season.

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: For a period in Week 17, it felt like the NFL was going to have to deal with the worst case scenario of having most key Playoff slots confirmed before the final week of the regular season. Things changed and they did have a couple of key games that could be placed in high-profile spots.

The game that will round out the 2025 regular season on Sunday Night Football will also determine the final Playoff place when the AFC North is decided.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) have once again finished with a winning record under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, although there has been speculation about the future of Tomlin. Fans have not been happy, and missing the Playoffs will be a big blow for the Steelers, especially as they just had to beat struggling Cleveland last week to confirm their place as Divisional Winners.

It was a loss that came twenty-four hours after the Baltimore Ravens had run right through the Green Bay Packers to keep the season alive.

Derrick Henry was the key player just days after the Ravens had been hugely criticised for leaving him on the sidelines in the Fourth Quarter when trying to control the clock against the New England Patriots with a Week 16 lead. They were not going to make the same mistake and Henry crushed the Packers and is expected to be a key figure for Baltimore once again.

However, this week he will be playing behind Quarter Back Lamar Jackson who looks to be trending towards a return to action having missed the win last time out. It has been a season of ailments for Jackson, but there was no way he was going to sit out this huge game and it certainly gives the Baltimore Ravens an edge.

They were beaten by the Steelers at home, but the Ravens will still be wondering how that happened having pounded Pittsburgh on the ground and out-gained them significantly over the course of the game.

Pittsburgh will have TJ Watt back on this side of the ball, but the Defensive Line is going to know they are in for a very tough evening dealing with Derrick Henry and this Ravens Offensive Line. In recent games they have gotten back to basics with the Offensive approach and the assumption is that Henry is not going to be out of the lineup very often now we have reached January when the King really reminds everyone of his qualities.

TJ Watt will have an impact in the passing game, but the Ravens are much more dangerous when they can use play-action, although Lamar Jackson may not be taking too many risks with his legs. That does lessen his impact at Quarter Back, but the return is a boost and the pressure will be on the Steelers to find better Offensive plays than they produced in the very disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns.

It is a big blow that DK Metcalf is going to conclude his suspension this week having become the main target for Aaron Rodgers, while Darnell Washington broke his arm last week. Calvin Austin III is likely to suit up, but the veteran Quarter Back has not been given the kind of options in the passing game as he would have hoped, even if Rodgers has spoken glowingly about his time in Pittsburgh.

Aaron Rodgers will be hoping the Pittsburgh Offensive Line can at least help out and recent performances have been encouraging, although this is an improved Baltimore Defensive Line.

The Running Backs are likely to be a big part of the passing game, but it may not be easy for Pittsburgh to attack this vulnerable Baltimore Secondary without the likes of Metcalf and Washington. Aaron Rodgers has plenty of experience, but could also face plenty of pass rush pressure when he does drop back to throw the ball and that is where the Ravens look to have the slight edge.

This has traditionally been a rivalry that has been very competitive and with the underdog usually making use of the points being offered to them.

However, Baltimore blew out Pittsburgh twice last season and this feels like an opportunity for the Ravens to dominate at the Line of Scrimmage and ultimately allow Derrick Henry to carry them into the Wild Card Round. As long as Lamar Jackson is able to make a few plays, the Steelers could struggle to find enough Offensive output to keep this one close and the Baltimore Ravens can win the AFC North again and take the Number 4 Seed in a wide open Conference.

MY PICKS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 1.5 Points @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Houston Texans - 10.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings - 9.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Denver Broncos - 13.5 Points @ 1.81 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chicago Bears - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Baltimore Ravens - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 17: 5-6, - 1.45 Units (11 Units Staked, - 13.18% Yield)

Week 16: 3-5, - 2.28 Units (8 Units Staked, - 28.50% Yield)

Week 15: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 14: 0-1, - 1 Unit (1 Unit Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 45-54, - 13.54 Units (99 Units Staked, - 13.68% Yield)