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)

NFL Week 18 Picks 2025 (Saturday 4th January-Sunday 5th January)

Remarkably we have moved into the final week of the NFL regular season with seventeen weeks already in the books and with one more left to go.

Fourteen places are up for grabs in the NFL Playoffs when the season begins and twelve of those have already been secured as we move into Week 18.

Seeding is still up for grabs, most notably the Number 1 Seed in the NFC which will be decided on Sunday Night Football, while the AFC North Division will be decided on Saturday with both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers playing in back to back games.

The Wild Card Round of the Playoffs is set to be played across next weekend and so it is no surprise that some of the teams that have secured their place in the post-season will choose to shut down starters. That does mean Saquon Barkley is not going to be given the time to snap the regular season record for rushing yards, but the Philadelphia Eagles Running Back is unlikely to be disappointed if it means winning a Super Bowl.

Decisions that are going to be made by the Head Coaches in terms of starters makes the week a little harder to call so you just have to be that much more careful with the selections being made.

The NFL Picks for the 2024 season had been in good shape through the first half of the regular season, but Week 9 through to Week 16 had been much tougher and undone a lot of the good work that had been put together.

Despite the poor run, the NFL Picks have produced a positive number for the regular season going into Week 17.

We had some luck with the Cincinnati Bengals pick, but misfortune when backing the Atlanta Falcons to cover against the Washington Commanders to even those games out and overall the 7-3 record from the ten Picks made means the regular season has been a good one.

Being careful through Week 18 is the key before heading into the Playoffs and two solid weeks out of three have just restored some lost momentum from the second half of the regular season.

Picks from the Week 18 games will be added to this thread and can be read below.

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens Pick: One more win will secure the AFC North Division for the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) and that would mean earning the Number 3 Seed in the Playoff and a home game next week. Three blowout wins in a row have put the Ravens in a strong position and they are a massive favourite to beat the Cleveland Browns (3-13).

The Browns have had a miserable season all in all and they will be looking forward to drawing a line under the campaign and try and go again in 2025. There is every chance they could still secure the Number 1 Draft Pick with a loss and some help on Sunday and even the desire to play spoiler for a rival may not be as high considering the Ravens have already secured a Playoff spot.

Instead the motivation might be on the side of the home team considering they were beaten in Cleveland and have lost three of their last four games against the Browns.

The exception in that little run is a blowout win for Baltimore and they may have the capabilities of crushing this Browns team that may be down to a fourth choice Quarter Back.

For now it sounds like Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be given the start, but Cleveland are toying with the idea of Bailey Zappe at Quarter Back instead after the poor play of DTR. Jameis Winston is going to be the emergency Quarter Back, but neither Thompson-Robinson nor Zappe are going to give the Ravens too much to worry about.

The Browns would love to establish the run to set things up, but that looks a much tougher task against the Baltimore Ravens Defensive Line and especially with so little to play for. Jerome Ford might not even suit up and it is asking a lot of either of the two expected starting Quarter Backs to exploit this Ravens Secondary if playing from third and long spots on the field.

It would mean facing the Baltimore pass rush, which has been getting after the Quarter Back, and errant throws will be picked off by the Defensive Backs who have benefited from the pressure being produced up front.

Lamar Jackson has just set a new rushing record for Quarter Backs in the NFL, but he will be well aware of the challenges that the Cleveland Browns have given to him in the past. However, between Jackson and Derrick Henry, the Ravens should be able to establish the run, even against this tough Browns Defensive Line, and that should just open things up for the pass.

The Ravens have found a decent balance with their Offensive unit and Lamar Jackson has proved he can run and throw the ball effectively. The big test will be taking that into the Playoff and really giving Baltimore the level needed to have a deep run, but this is a final regular season game and the Quarter Back should have spaces to exploit.

Having a player like Derrick Henry behind him means the Ravens are able to negate much of the pass rush and the Ravens Offensive Line should give Lamar Jackson time to make his plays down the field.

Of course this is a huge spread and it will be very difficult for the home team to overcome the mark, although the feeling is that as little as 24 points could be enough for Baltimore.

The Browns might not have the same motivation to play spoiler as if this game was played a couple of weeks ago and Baltimore have won three in a row by huge margins.

After losing in Cleveland, Baltimore will be that much more focused and that can help them secure the AFC North behind a big win- a couple of turnovers may just give them those extra possessions to beat a Cleveland team thinking ahead rather than on this final regular season game.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: Two AFC North rivals have plenty to play for this weekend and that is even if the Baltimore Ravens have won the Division before kickoff.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) can only win the Division if the Ravens are upset by the Cleveland Browns in the early Saturday kickoff, although that is very unlikely considering the huge favourite the Ravens are.

Of course that will mean there are question marks about whether the Steelers would play their starters with a Playoff spot already secured if they have nothing more than Seeding to play for. At the moment the Steelers are in control of the Number 5 Seed which would mean a road game at the Houston Texans rather than falling into Number 6 and having to face the Baltimore Ravens again.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin has indicated that he would not consider resting starters even if the Steelers are unable to win the Division, although that mindset could potentially change. The Steelers have lost three in a row to lose control of the AFC North and there is a feeling that they would love to have more positive momentum before playing their first Playoff Game next week.

Russell Wilson has enjoyed a good season at Quarter Back and he racked up 414 passing yards in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) on the road. However, that was the Bengals at the end of a three game losing run and they have just given themselves hope of reaching the post-season having won four in a row since then.

The Steelers should be able to have a positive day Offensively if the starters are in the game with the Offensive Line expected to establish the run, which makes things that much more comfortable for Russell Wilson at Quarter Back. Pittsburgh look healthier and Wilson will feel he can exploit the issues the Bengals have had in the Secondary all season, even if the Offensive Line have just suffered in pass protection.

Interceptions have helped power the Cincinnati run of wins and they will be hoping they can step in front of some of the passes in this one as the Bengals look to finish with a winning record and then scoreboard watch on Sunday.

Joe Burrow and the Offensive unit deserve a lot of credit for keeping Cincinnati alive too having beaten the Denver Broncos to make this a meaningful game for themselves in Week 18.

The Quarter Back is clearly a very good player, but it does help that the Bengals have two top Receiving options and Burrow has made it clear that he hopes that both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are still playing here in September 2025. And Cincinnati's Offensive Line have just found some spaces for Chase Brown to exploit on the ground during this winning run, although Brown is not expected to suit up this week.

Pass protection has been a problem for Cincinnati, but Joe Burrow has taken the hits and still gotten up and attacked teams effectively down the field. You have to believe that Joe Burrow is hugely encouraged by the successes teams have had throwing against the Steelers Secondary during their losing run and the belief is that the Cincinnati Bengals can do enough to keep Playoff hopes alive through another day.

The uncertainty of the approach that Pittsburgh will take is a concern, but you have to believe that Mike Tomlin will have his starters out on the field to build rhythm for at least half of this game, even if Baltimore have won.

It could see the Steelers score enough points to at least help combine with the Cincinnati Bengals to cover this total line set, especially if the game is anything like their first meeting. With plenty of throwing likely to be used, especially by the Bengals, this could stretch out the game and both Offensive units may show off their playmakers in a high scoring Week 18 outing.

At the end of the day, it may be the Bengals who have enough motivation and momentum to edge to the win on the road to keep their Playoff hopes alive.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers Pick: Losing to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17 has meant the Green Bay Packers (11-5) have lost their grip on the Number 6 Seed in the NFC.

They are going to be playing in the Wild Card Round next week, and the Packers will still be looking to finish the season with a strong performance and try and move back above the Washington Commanders. Playing at the Los Angeles Rams rather than the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round has to be motivation enough for the Packers who have fallen to the best teams they have faced this season.

Fortunately for Green Bay, this is not one of the best teams and the Chicago Bears (4-12) are about to enter an uncertain off-season with a new Head Coach to be appointed. The early signs were positive for the Bears, but things began to go wrong when allowing the aforementioned Commanders beat them on a Hail Mary and that sparked a ten game losing run.

For much of that run, the Bears had been competitive, but they haven't even been that over the last four weeks and even the additional time to prepare to face a Divisional rival is unlikely to have helped turn the page.

The Bears have been struggling mightily on the Offensive side of the ball with the team having problems establishing the run, which has left Caleb Williams in a tough spot behind an under fire Offensive Line. There has simply not been a lot of protection offered to the rookie Quarter Back, and Williams must be looking forward to the end of the season even more so than many of his team-mates.

Caleb Williams does have some Receivers who can make plays for him, but the Bears may be behind the chains against this Packers Defensive Line and that is only going to see the pocket collapse around the Quarter Back. This has proven to make it tough for consistent drives to be maintained, while Williams will have to be aware of the Interceptions that the Green Bay Packers have manufactured.

Giving Jordan Love and the Offensive unit extra possessions could be key to covering a big spread and the Green Bay Quarter Back is looking for a confidence boosting performance in the final game of the regular season. Following the loss to the Vikings, Jordan Love made it clear he needs to be a bit better to get Green Bay over the line against the stronger teams they are set to face in the NFL Playoffs.

He can lean on the Packers Offensive Line much more than Caleb Williams can do with the Bears unit and Josh Jacobs can keep Green Bay in third and manageable spots against a worn down Chicago Defensive Line.

With plenty of time being afforded to him, Jordan Love should find the spaces to exploit in the Chicago Secondary and the Packers can certainly move into the Wild Card Round behind a big win.

The Bears should have beaten Green Bay when hosting them at Soldier Field in November, but the defeat has maintained the Packers dominance of this rivalry. Before that narrow win, the Packers had also cleared the lines the layers had set for them against the Bears and they can get back to doing what they do best against Chicago with the likelihood that the starters will stay in the game for the full game.

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons Pick: It always surprises to see Head Coaches mismanage the time at the end of games as often as they do and Raheem Morris admitted his failure to use one of two Time Outs left at the end of the Fourth Quarter in Week 17 might have proved costly for his team. The Atlanta Falcons (8-8) wasted too much time and ended up having to take a long Field Goal, which came up short, and ultimately were then beaten in Overtime by the Washington Commanders.

It is a devastating defeat that means the Falcons have lost control of their own destiny- if they had won in Week 17, Atlanta would have been one win away from securing the NFC South Division and earning the Number 4 Seed in the Playoff, but now they need to win and hope the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are upset when playing New Orleans at the same time.

Making the Playoffs is a long shot right now, but the Falcons will have to focus and make sure they do their end of the bargain by beating the Carolina Panthers (4-12) who have lost five of their last six games, including a 34 point blowout at the hands of the Buccaneers in Week 17.

Players like Chuba Hubbard have been shut down for the season and the Panthers are another team who will have a relatively high Draft Pick with big decisions to make.

Bryce Young looks to have done enough to earn another shot as the starting Quarter Back and he will be hoping that someone can step up and fill Hubbard's shoes more effectively than they did last week. The Quarter Back did not play badly against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Panthers were unable to establish the run and the one-dimensional Offensive plan was pretty easy for the Buccaneers to deal with.

At least this week the Panthers Offensive Line are facing an Atlanta team that have allowed plenty of yards to be picked up on the ground and that should be a huge boost for Young.

There is little doubt that Bryce Young will need that help considering the improved play of the Falcons Secondary in the second half of the season. The hope is that Carolina can establish the run and sustain drives with the Quarter Back asked to complete third and manageable spots on the field.

However, any time the Panthers are behind the chains it becomes much tougher for Bryce Young operating behind an Offensive Line that has not been nearly as effective in pass protection as they have in run blocking. In recent games, Atlanta have found a very positive pass rush and that could be key to stalling drives and giving the Offensive unit a chance to win this game for the home team.

Michael Penix Jr has had little starting time for the Atlanta Falcons, but has shown enough to have the fans believing that the page being turned from Kirk Cousins to the rookie came too late and ultimately has cost the Falcons a spot in the post-season. He began poorly last week on the road at Washington, but Penix Jr recovered really well and was not helped by his Head Coach in his bid to win both of the starts made for Atlanta.

He should be able to lean on Bijan Robinson and the Offensive Line in this one to make things all the more comfortable and the Falcons are expected to have the qualities needed to rip open some big gains on the ground. This is going to make life comfortable for the rookie Quarter Back and Michael Penix Jr is expected to have the time to find his playmakers down the field.

Both teams should have success moving the ball in this final regular season game, but Atlanta's balanced Offensive unit should have the edge.

Bryce Young has played well since being restored to the starting lineup, but this Falcons Secondary is playing with more confidence and the pass rush might just force a couple of good field positions for Michael Penix Jr and the rest of the Offensive unit. The Panthers showed in Week 17 that their desire to really compete might just have slackened a touch and Penix Jr can have a very strong game before the team begins scoreboard watching and hoping for an upset in Tampa Bay.

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: There must have been a feeling that the disappointing Week 16 loss at the Dallas Cowboys might have been the fatal blow to the Playoff hopes, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) have been given a second opportunity to secure the NFC South Division.

No one needs to scoreboard watch with their destiny back under their own control and Tampa Bay only need to beat this Divisional rival in Week 18 to earn the Number 4 Seed in the NFC.

Five wins in six games have given the Buccaneers every opportunity to win the Division and they blew out the Carolina Panthers to bounce back from the disappointment of losing in Dallas. Being at home and facing an eliminated opponent means all of the cards are in Tampa Bay's favour and they are set as a very big favourite.

That is no surprise against the New Orleans Saints (5-11) who have been hit hard by injury and who have suffered three defeats in a row with the last two being blow out losses.

The awful terrorist attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans will have rallied the Saints together and it will give them motivation to end this season and give their community something to smile about. Of course the Saints players would have been concerned about any family members or team members that had headed into New Orleans to celebrate the New Year and it will have been an emotional time for the team before heading to Tampa Bay.

Spencer Rattler is expected to earn another start at Quarter Back for the New Orleans Saints, but this is going to be a tough test for him without some key Saints playmakers. Alvin Kamara is questionable to play, but even with the Running Back healthy and ready to go, it would have been tough for the New Orleans Saints to establish the run against this Buccaneers Defensive Line playing at a very high level.

Instead all of the pressure will be on Rattler and the rookie Quarter Back is going to be put under duress by this Tampa Bay pass rush. This pressure up front has helped the Tampa Bay Secondary produce some big games of late, while Spencer Rattler has made rookie mistakes when trying to force passes down the field.

Extra possessions would make things all the more comfortable for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers who have overcome losing some key players to maintain momentum and look to have another Playoff run.

Earning the Number 4 Seed will mean a meeting with either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round, but Tampa Bay know the Playoffs is a 'new season' for teams and the Buccaneers have to be confident of heading into that game with a lot of momentum behind them.

Bucky Irving has taken over as the lead Running Back and he has to be excited about playing behind this Buccaneers Offensive Line that has been able to bully teams up front. The home team are expected to rack up some serious yards on the ground and Bucky Irving also represents a threat coming out of the backfield to give Baker Mayfield another option in the passing game.

Being in front of the chains should mean Baker Mayfield has that bit more time to attack this New Orleans Secondary and the veteran has proven himself to be very comfortable in the system being run. Mike Evans continues to play at a really high level and the Buccaneers should be able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air as they take the game to New Orleans.

Make no mistake, this is a huge spread and a backdoor cover cannot be ruled out, but Tampa Bay have been in really good form and crushed the Carolina Panthers by 34 points last week. Backing up those big wins is tough, but prior to the defeat to Dallas, Tampa Bay had won four games in a row by margins of 23, 3, 15 and 23 points and they have all of the momentum to blowout a Saints team that have been outscored by 50 points in their last three losses.

Earlier this season, the Buccaneers racked up just shy of 600 Offensive yards in beating New Orleans by 24 points on the road and they should have all of the momentum to win this game comfortably in Week 18 too.

There is an outside chance that the Buccaneers could actually improve Seeding with a win too, but the only real focus has to be winning to ensure Playoff Football is played next weekend.

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: The NFC West Division crown has already been secured by the Los Angeles Rams (10-6) and they are either going to finish with the Number 3 or Number 4 Seed in the Playoff.

With that in mind, Sean McVay has made it clear that he will give some key players a rest before the Wild Card Round is played next weekend and that includes starting Quarter Back Matthew Stafford.

Jimmy Garoppolo is very assured as the backup, but he may be without some of the top Receiving options and the starting Running Back with the mentality already focused on the Wild Card rather than finishing the regular season with another victoy.

The Seattle Seahawks (9-7) still have plenty to play for, even if the season ends in Week 18.

An opportunity to win ten games in a single season would see the team surpass 2023, which is a boost, while there are players that have personal incentives to reach. Head Coach Mike Macdonald has made it clear that his Seahawks team are going to be playing to win, even if finishing with the same record as the Rams would see them miss out on a deep tie-breaker, and the fact that Los Angeles are going in with a host of backups helps.

You cannot really know what to expect from the Los Angeles backups and they are not likely to contain the run, although Geno Smith is going to take to the air to make sure the incentives are reached. The Quarter Back has been under duress behind this Offensive Line, but that should be eased in this final regular season game and Geno Smith should be able to hit his playmakers down the field.

The Seahawks are going to be motivated having lost the first of the regular season meetings in early November, despite being the better team, and the Rams may not be able to sustain Offensive drives in this one.

Improvements made down the stretch makes it tough for the Rams and the second string to have a lot of success and that begins with the challenges to run the ball against this Seattle Defensive Line.

Experience is not a problem for Jimmy Garoppolo, but playing behind the chains is tough and Seattle's Secondary have also shown enough down the stretch to offer the team some positives to take into 2025. The Seahawks can build some pass rush pressure and they may be able to force some errant throws from Garoppolo, which may just give Seattle the edge and the momentum to push through and cover this spread.

Los Angeles have won three in a row in the series, but the Seattle Seahawks might have the motivation to come through with a big road win.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders Pick: Jim Harbaugh has guided the Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) back into the Playoff in his first season as the Head Coach and he has made it clear that his starters will be playing even with the Wild Card Round to come next week.

There is an outside chance that the Chargers can improve Seeding with a victory, but they will know where they stand by the time this game kicks off as they need a Pittsburgh defeat on Saturday.

In Week 17 the Chargers crushed the New England Patriots on the road and they are not expected to play at home again this season, so there is a road warrior mentality that Jim Harbaugh will want to harness and this is an opportunity to build momentum.

Of course the Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) will want to try and spoil the plan for a rival from within the AFC West and they have won consecutive games, although that might have been costly for the Raiders and their bid to earn a very high NFL Draft Pick.

The wins have been against Jacksonville and New Orleans and this is a significant upgrade in opponent for the Raiders to beat in their final game of the season.

Las Vegas will be hoping they can establish the run, although it has not been the best of time for this Offensive Line which has worn down. However, there have been spaces to exploit against this Chargers Defensive Line and that may be a positive for Aidan O'Connell at Quarter Back.

He should have some time to find Brock Bowers, who has set a new rookie record for Receiving yards out of the Tight End position, and that should give Las Vegas a chance to keep the chains moving. However, this is a Raiders team that have been pretty poor for most of the season and who were beaten by 12 points when facing the Chargers in Los Angeles.

This will also be seen as a chance for the Chargers to build some rhythm and that should mean a few more carries for JK Dobbins who only returned to action in Week 17. He has had a bit more time than the usual work week to get himself ready, which will help, and Dobbins can certainly give Los Angeles a threat on the ground against this struggling Raiders Defensive Line.

Justin Herbert has been given time at Quarter Back and he should be given time by the Offensive Line to find some of the playmakers down the field.

This is an opportunity for Justin Herbert to keep things ticking along against a Raiders Secondary that have been worn down through the course of the regular season, even if they have played pretty well against the last two opponents. However, holding Mac Jones and Spencer Rattler down is one thing and containing Justin Herbert is another and this looks like a chance for the Chargers to back up the win over the Patriots with another win and cover of a line that is set at a similar mark as it was in Week 17.

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions Pick: No one will have been surprised to hear that Sunday Night Football will conclude the regular season with the Week 18 game between the Detroit Lions (14-2) and Minnesota Vikings (14-2).

The situation has led to plenty of people talking about whether the NFL Playoffs need to be Seeded more effectively considering a team with fourteen wins is going to enter the Wild Card Round having to travel and as the Number 5 Seed.

Both the Lions and Vikings have so much to earn this week, but slipping down to Number 5 will make things much tougher when it comes to positioning a way into the Super Bowl.

The NFC North and the Number 1 Seed in the NFC is going to be handed to the winning team, which means a Bye Week through to the Divisional Round and an opportunity to host the Playoffs through to the Super Bowl and, perhaps even more importantly, earning plenty of rest and recuperation time.

For the losing team it will mean a road game either in Los Angeles, Tampa Bay or Atlanta and even winning that game would likely mean having to travel to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round if Seeding is played out.

With that in mind, both Dan Campbell and Kevin O'Connell are going to be preparing their team to put in one big effort to secure the top Seed in the Conference.

Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings have been the surprising team of the season and they have found a way to win games even when in tough positions within games. They have maintained momentum and the Vikings have continued to surprise, while there were just 8 yards and 2 points between Minnesota and the Detroit Lions in one of their two losses this season.

In recent games the Vikings Offensive Line have not been able to get Aaron Jones going, but they could change that against Detroit's Defensive Line that have just had issues clamping down on the run.

The reality is that there will be a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Quarter Back Sam Darnold, but it helps that the Quarter Back is surrounded by some big time Receivers. The injuries in the Detroit Secondary gives Darnold a huge opportunity to put Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in routes that can challenge the Lions down the field and the Minnesota Vikings have to be very confident that they can move the chains with a lot of success.

Planning may be a little bit different for the Detroit Lions when they have the ball and they will want to lean on their big Offensive Line and not shy away from moving the ball on the ground. David Montgomery is set to miss out again, but Jahmyr Gibbs is more than capable of holding down the fort and continues to be a big threat coming out of the backfield.

Keeping Jared Goff in front of the chains is important to just ensure he is given enough time to find his own Receiving playmakers and the Lions have shown they have the Offensive power to overcome Defensive problems. The Quarter Back will be challenged by an improving Minnesota Secondary, but Goff will play with a lot of confidence after helping Detroit fight back in their win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

There is so much to like about this game and the winning team may have the momentum to take into the Playoff that leads to an appearance in the Super Bowl.

Taking the points in what could be a game in which the winning team will be the one that has the ball last looks the right play, especially with the Vikings being as competitive as they have been all season.

Having a full Field Goal start is a huge boost and Minnesota might have enough to keep this one close, even against a very dangerous Lions Offense.

MY PICKS: Baltimore Ravens - 19.5 Points @ 1.86 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Cincinnati Bengals - 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Green Bay Packers - 10 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Atlanta Falcons - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 14 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers - 4.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Minnesota Vikings + 3 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 17: 7-3, + 3.27 Units (10 Units Staked, + 32.70% Yield)

Week 16: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 15: 6-2, + 3.37 Units (8 Units Staked, + 42.13% Yield)

Week 14: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 13: 1-3, - 2.17 Units (4 Units Staked, - 54.25% Yield)

Week 12: 2-4, - 2.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 36.17% Yield)

Week 11: 2-3, - 1.23 Units (5 Units Staked, - 24.60% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 5.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 72.14% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 8: 4-2, + 1.72 Units (6 Units Staked, + 28.67% Yield)

Week 7: 4-3, + 0.73 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.43% Yield)

Week 6: 4-2, + 1.67 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.83% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 4: 6-2, + 3.45 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.13% Yield)

Week 3: 3-3, - 0.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.83% Yield)

Week 2: 4-2, + 1.62 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.67 Units (7 Units Staked, + 38.14% Yield)

Season 2024: + 6.61 Units

NFL PlayOffs Wild Card Weekend Picks 2020 (January 4-5)

A lot of people speak about how quickly time seems to move between the NFL kicking off and getting into the PlayOffs and I have to very much agree with those thoughts.

Seventeen weeks of Football are now in the books and we are down to the final twelve teams who are going to be entering a 'new season' as they push for a spot in the Super Bowl and winning the NFL Championship.

There are some really good teams involved in the next few weeks and I am looking forward to all of the potential PlayOff games we are about to see. Like many others, I am stunned to see the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round after they failed to win a game in which they were over 17 point favourites in Week 17 of the season.

It has led to more questions about the Patriots and whether this dynasty is now over, but they are big favourites this weekend and any team with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's experience have to be respected.

Teams like Baltimore, Kansas City and New Orleans look way better equipped to win the Super Bowl, but we will get to see it all played out beginning with this Wild Card Round played over two days.

My personal lean is towards a Kansas City Chiefs versus New Orleans Saints Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens not too far behind. I do think the majority will be behind one of those four teams as far as Super Bowl predictions will go so I am not putting my neck on the line with my own selection of teams, although I will also admit it will be a Super Bowl I can really enjoy without the Patriots involved no matter how the final two shake up from the four teams selected.


Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans Pick: I don't think too many people will be expecting either one of these teams to have a very deep PlayOff run, but a win in the Wild Card Round could be a big boost in the development for one of the Quarter Backs playing. Deshaun Watson is playing in his second PlayOff game on Saturday, while Josh Allen is at this stage for the first time in his career and the two players have shown they are men you can build your franchise around.

Winning a PlayOff game will give the successful Quarter Back a huge boost going into the 2020 season and I also think it will be a boost for the winning team even if they will be significant underdogs in the Divisional Round of the PlayOffs regardless of whether that game is in Baltimore or Kansas City.

The Texans and Bills were both beaten in Week 17, but key players were rested in losses to Divisional rivals which meant very little to two teams locked into their Seeding in the AFC. However the Bills almost had a scare when Levi Wallace was banged up before the starters were pulled, although they look to have escaped a serious injury after Wallace returned to practice this week.

He looks to be trending towards playing in this Wild Card Game and that is very important to a strong Buffalo Defensive unit which sets the mood for the team. One of the big strengths of the Houston Offense has to be the depth in the Receiving options so missing a key Corner Back like Wallace would have hurt the Bills and especially after Will Fuller returned to practice for Houston and is almost certainly going to play in this one.

Deshaun Watson is a very good Quarter Back, but he has had one or two issues finding consistency when Fuller is not in the line up. The Wide Receiver stretches things out and makes it easier for Watson to make plays, but this is going to be a tough test for him against the Bills whose Secondary have played very well all season.

The problem for Watson is that even the improvements made to the Offensive Line have not been enough to prevent the protection breaking down when teams begin to rush him. The Texans will find it tough to give Watson a lot of time when he drops back to pass and things won't be helped by what is expected to be a challenging day trying to run the ball against the Buffalo Defensive Line.

If the Bills can clamp down on the run like they have, they should be able to stay in front of the chains and from there I would expect the pass rush to stall a couple of drives and perhaps even lead to a mistake or two from Watson at Quarter Back.

Avoiding mistakes is likely going to be a key part of the team meetings in the week leading up to this PlayOff game for both teams and it is important for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills that they give their Defensive unit the best chance to put the team in a position to win. Josh Allen has been much improved in his second year as Quarter Back of the Bills, but he will know he doesn't need to push himself to make huge plays to give his team the best chance of winning a PlayOff game for the first time in twenty-five years.

Buffalo are a team who want to pound the ball and they will believe they will be able to establish the run in this one. Recent games were not the best for the Bills in terms of the run, but the Houston Defensive Line has struggled up front and Devin Singletary could have a decent outing, while Josh Allen is more than a capable scrambler from the Quarter Back position which will double his threat in this one for the Texans.

There is the boost of having JJ Watt back, although that is going to impact the pass rush rather than the ability to clamp down on the run and I think Buffalo will have a chance to establish the ground game which really opens things up for them Offensively. If they are able to get things going, Josh Allen will be able to turn and attack this Secondary with real success and the Bills look a live underdog here.

JJ Watt's return will give the Texans a boost emotionally as well as helping what has been an inconsistent pass rush, but even that may not be enough. The Bills have proven to be very comfortable playing on the road and Josh Allen has come on leaps and bounds which could see him produce a rare success for a first time PlayOff Quarter Back.

There is a real trend where opposing a Quarter Back making his debut in the PlayOffs is concerned, but I do think Buffalo have the Defensive unit to restrict Houston and give Josh Allen all of the chances he needs to help win the game.

Buffalo are 8-1-2 against the spread in their last eleven games on the road and they are 5-0-2 against the spread in their last seven as the road underdog. The Texans are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven as the home favourite and I do think Deshaun Watson can be rattled by the kind of pressure he will face in this one as well as the lack of separation his Receivers might have.

It'll all be on Watson who won't have much support from Carlos Hyde running the ball and I think it may lead to Buffalo winning the turnover battle.

I am a little concerned by the record of first time Quarter Backs playing in the PlayOffs, while Buffalo have not played well against the best teams they have faced. However home favourites of less than 3 points are 1-9 against the spread on Wild Card Weekend since 2000 and I am going to take the points in this opening PlayOff game.


Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots Pick: When 'all' you have to do is beat the Miami Dolphins to secure the Number 2 Seed in the AFC it is not just a disappointment that the New England Patriots have failed to do that in Week 17, but potentially one that costs them a realistic chance of making the Super Bowl. The Patriots were 17.5 point favourites against the Miami Dolphins, but stunningly lost in Foxboro and that means playing in the Wild Card Round of the PlayOffs for the first time since 2009.

There are plenty of doubters now and that has to be fuelling the New England Patriots although the second half of the season has seen them not really go into the kind of PlayOff mode we have seen in the past. Instead the Patriots have not really found the consistency they would have liked and now have to face a Tennessee Titans team who were playing as well as most down the stretch in the regular season.

It was some benefit for the Titans that they were able to play a Houston team resting key starters in Week 17, but they still had to win on the road and did that very well. This is a far biggest test for the Titans though considering the experience that is in front of them, but Tennessee do have a very strong minded Head Coach in Mike Vrabel and I do think they will be as well prepared for this test as they can be.

The weather was looking like being a big concern for this game with Winter Storm Henry approaching Foxboro, although it sounds like it will be rainy and not snowy when this game kicks off.

So while the main impact of Weather Storm Henry won't be felt, one Henry will be heading to the Stadium and looking to make as much rumbling as possible. Derrick Henry is a huge part of the Tennessee Offense and he is likely to have even more of the ball if the rain makes it difficult to throw down the field.

We have all known how impressive Bill Belichick has been in planning to erase the biggest threat his opponent has on the field, but taking away Henry completely won't be easy. The Titans Offensive Line have been opening some big holes for Henry, while the physical nature of the Running Back means he can wear down Defensive Lines and eventually break a big one down the field.

The Patriots have been pretty good on the Defensive Line when it comes to clamping down on the run, but Ryan Tannehill has also played well enough when he drops back to throw which gives them the balance to at least keep New England guessing. It would be a surprise if New England don't try and force Tannehill to beat them through the air considering the conditions expected in Foxboro, but Henry will get his numbers.

And I do think Tannehill and the Titans will be encouraged by what Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Miami Dolphins did in Week 17. With AJ Brown beginning to show he could be one of the top Receivers in the NFL in the years ahead, Tennessee should be able to move the chains in this PlayOff game and give themselves an opportunity to win.

Much will depend on how Ryan Tannehill handles the pressure of playing in his first ever PlayOff game, while he also has to exorcise some demons in Foxboro having never won here with the Miami Dolphins. Like with the first PlayOff game, the trend against first time Quarter Backs playing in the post-season is not a good one for Tannehill, but Tennessee have been confident since he came into the starting line up and that should mean they can score enough points to potentially earn the upset.

It would be an upset even if Tennessee will be a trendy pick for some, because the New England Patriots are still a team who have shown they can overcome adversity. The long-running Super Bowl successes just can't be ignored and Tom Brady will have spent all week hearing about how the Patriots time is done which will have lit a fire under a player that may be finishing up his personal time here.

No one will dispute Brady's place in the pantheon of NFL history, but the Offensive unit has struggled this season and it is hard to see how much they can turn that around. Like Tennessee, the Patriots are going to try and establish the run and they may have some success doing that through Sony Michel if they pick up from where they left off last week.

Running the ball against the Tennessee Defensive Line is far from easy, but New England's Offensive Line have shown better shape in recent games and so they may have more success than most. In the conditions it is likely going to be the first port of call for the game-planning, although the Titans Secondary has been struggling in recent weeks too and that can't have escaped the attention of the Patriots either.

Unfortunately outside of Julian Edelman, who is banged up, the Patriots don't have the reliable Receivers of years gone by which will make it hard for Tom Brady to have the kind of successes he has enjoyed. The Titans also bring a pass rush which can be disruptive and I do think they are going to have the insight of their Head Coach to make this a close game on Saturday evening.

Tennessee have covered in their last four road games against teams with a winning record, although the trends largely favour New England in this game. The Patriots are a team who bounce back from losses, have been very strong at home and who have a very good record in PlayOff games as the favourite.

However I think the right play is with the road team and the points in what I feel will be a close game in the conditions. I hate opposing New England because they are capable of turning it on and getting things done, but my feeling is that the Tennessee Titans are playing well enough to keep this one close.

If Derrick Henry can get rumbling, this feels like a game that might be settled by a Field Goal margin in Foxboro on Saturday.


Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints Pick: Any build up to this game is going to feature images and video from the 'Miracle of Minneapolis' two years ago when somehow the New Orleans Saints snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Minnesota Vikings. That was a Case Keenum inspired Vikings team that moved past New Orleans who suffered another heartbreaking PlayOff defeat twelve months ago.

Revenge is going to be on the minds of the fans who travel to the SuperDome on Sunday for this Wild Card Game, but I think Sean Payton will be playing down the significance of that. In Week 17 one inch prevented the Saints from having a Bye into the Divisional Round so the only focus this week is not revenge, but simply winning a PlayOff game against a quality opponent.

New Orleans won't deny there is something for them to prove having lost in the PlayOffs in the manner they have in each of the past two seasons, but Kirk Cousins will heading into the game with the Minnesota Vikings knowing many are expecting the latest implosion from him in a big game environment.

That narrative was added to in Week 16 when Cousins was downright awful against the Green Bay Packers in a game that ended their hopes of winning the NFC North. It came at home on a Monday Night Football and Minnesota have to be concerned about how they have played against fellow PlayOff teams in the regular season.

Granted that doesn't matter once you get into the post-season, while Cousins will also have Dalvin Cook back and hopefully a healthier Adam Thielen to throw to. The absence of Cook has been difficult and one of the premier Running Backs in the NFL is hoping to have a big impact on this game when making his first PlayOff appearance at the end of a season in which he cracked 1000 yards on the ground.

The Saints Defensive Line has just clamped down on runners of late as they have filled some of the gaps left behind by injuries and so it won't be easy for Cook who is unlikely to be fully healthy. However Dalvin Cook has shown he can burst through some small holes to open things up for Kirk Cousins and the key for the Vikings will be to try and control the clock on the ground while also keeping the team in front of the chains.

For much of the season it has worked for the Vikings who haven't asked Kirk Cousins to do too much, but in a potential shoot out with the Saints more may be expected of the Quarter Back. He does have a couple of solid Receivers, although the injury to Adam Thielen has made the passing attack that much easier to defend, while the Saints Secondary has overcome some injuries and continue to play at a high level.

They are helped by the pass rush that can be generated and I do think that is going to be an important part of slowing down the Vikings when they do have the ball. The last thing Minnesota want to do is get down multiple scores and have to move away from the game plan and drop back to throw fifty times to stay with their hosts.

Judging by recent games played by the New Orleans Saints, it is not too far fetched to believe they will be able to score on most possessions. Drew Brees is playing as well as at any time in the last twelve months and the Minnesota Secondary is banged up which leaves them vulnerable to a team who have scored at least 34 points in four games in a row.

Things could become very problematic for the Vikings if they do give away a couple of big runs on the ground as that will just open things up for Brees who has been carving up opponents. Alvin Kamara has played well in the last couple of weeks, but he is also a major threat catching short screen passes and all in all it looks like a game in which New Orleans are going to be able to do what they want Offensively.

Despite the public favouring New Orleans, sharp money has come in on Minnesota to drop the spread, although it is still above the key number 7. I do think the Vikings could potentially sneak a backdoor cover which makes this a dangerous number to lay, but the favourite is 5-1 against the spread in the last six between these teams and New Orleans have plenty of momentum behind them.

Minnesota are 1-5 against the spread in their last six road games when set as the underdog, and while the Saints have not been the best home favourite to back, they are a team with plenty of good trends behind them.

Kirk Cousins lost his only other PlayOff start to the Green Bay Packers and I think the Saints will be too potent Offensively for this Quarter Back to keep the Vikings with them. It is a big number without a doubt, but the New Orleans Saints can find the points to earn the cover and get ready for a trip to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the PlayOffs.


Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: Since Carson Wentz was Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles he was named the starter and the team have gone on to two PlayOff runs which includes winning the Super Bowl. However injuries meant Nick Foles led those post-season runs and so, stunningly, this is the first ever PlayOff start for Carson Wentz.

Four wins in a row gave the Philadelphia Eagles the NFC East title and that means they get to host this Wild Card Game despite winning two games fewer than the Seattle Seahawks. The latter are only here because they failed to convert a pass which landed on the one inch line on Sunday Night Football last week which would have given the Seahawks at least a home game in the Wild Card Round.

Pete Carroll is not bothered about how things have shaken up for his team which has been decimated by injury. The Seahawks finished 7-1 on the road in the regular season so having to win three road games to make the Super Bowl is not something the players will be intimidated by, even though they have lost key personnel to injury.

Some of the Defensive players will be back for Seattle which is a boost, while Marshawn Lynch has had an extra week with the team having been signed just before Week 17 after Chris Carson joined the other Running Backs in being ruled out for the season. I expect Lynch will get to see a bit more playing time in this one, and injuries on the Philadelphia Defensive Line should mean Seattle can get things going on the ground.

It will certainly be music to the ears of Russell Wilson who is playing behind a shaky Offensive Line when it comes to pass protection, although the Quarter Back scrambles from pressure as well as anyone. More importantly Wilson is one of the best passers of the ball when on the run and his ability to extend plays does see the Seahawks hurt opponents when they don't always expect it.

There are some holes in the Philadelphia Secondary which Wilson can exploit if the Seahawks are running the ball as they can and I do think this will make it a tough day for Carson Wentz on his PlayOff debut.

Give the Quarter Back his due first of all- Wentz has been brilliant the last four games and he has shown the Eagles are right to see him as a franchise Quarter Back. Unfortunately the Eagles have been destroyed by injuries on both sides of the ball and I can't see a magical run like they had when winning the Super Bowl three years ago.

Carson Wentz is likely going to be throwing to players that were way down the depth chart or coming off practice squads again on Sunday, but the Seattle Defensive unit is likely to be bolstered by a couple of key returns from injury. That makes the challenge for Wentz all the greater, although he should be aided by Miles Sanders at Running Back.

Sanders was banged up last week, but can come in with Boston Scott to at least make some big plays on the ground against a Seattle Defensive Line which has struggled against the run for much of the season. That will give the home underdog a chance for the upset if they can keep Carson Wentz in third and manageable spots, but even then you do find it hard to know whether the Receivers can make enough plays for their team and Quarter Back.

The Eagles have used being an underdog as a huge motivation in their last couple of PlayOff runs and one led to a Super Bowl win. That means they need to be respected, but Seattle look to be coming in a little healthier and I do think they are the stronger all around team.

Seattle have also won here already this season which has to give them a mental boost and they have now covered in their last four visits to Philadelphia. They have an impressive record bouncing back off a loss and the Seahawks are also 10-3-1 against the spread in their last fourteen road games.

Philadelphia have been very impressive as an underdog in the PlayOffs, which I have mentioned, but they are also 5-12 against the spread in their last seventeen as the home underdog. As much as I love the spirit they have shown under Head Coach Doug Pederson, I think a competitive loss is on the cards for the Eagles.

MY PICKS: Buffalo Bills + 2.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Tennessee Titans + 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
New Orleans Saints - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Seattle Seahawks - 1.5 Points @ 1.95 William Hill (2 Units)

Week 17: 2-4, - 3.98 Units (12 Units Staked, - 33.17% Yield)
Week 16: 7-4, + 5.04 Units (22 Units Staked, + 22.91% Yield)
Week 15: 1-7-1, - 12.28 Units (18 Units Staked, - 68.22% Yield)
Week 14: 2-5, - 6.36 Units (14 Units Staked, - 45.43% Yield)
Week 13: 5-3, + 3.26 Units (16 Units Staked, + 20.38% Yield)
Week 12: 4-2, + 3.20 Units (12 Units Staked, + 26.67% Yield)
Week 11: 4-3-1, + 1.48 Units (16 Units Staked, + 9.25% Yield)
Week 10: 4-3, + 1.10 Units (14 Units Staked, + 7.86% Yield)
Week 9: 4-4, - 0.64 Units (16 Units Staked, - 4% Yield)
Week 8: 2-4, - 4.20 Units (12 Units Staked, - 35% Yield)
Week 7: 2-4, - 4.10 Units (12 Units Staked, - 34.17% Yield)
Week 6: 6-3, + 4.84 Units (18 Units Staked, + 26.89% Yield)
Week 5: 4-5, - 2.72 Units (18 Units Staked, - 15.11% Yield)
Week 4: 3-6, - 6.54 Units (18 Units Staked, - 36.33% Yield)
Week 3: 5-2, + 3.28 Units (12 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)
Week 2: 3-4, - 2.70 Units (14 Units Staked, - 19.29% Yield)
Week 1: 4-4, + 0.16 Units (15 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Season 2019: 62-67-2, - 21.16 Units (259 Units Staked, - 8.17% Yield)