2022 NFL playoffs: Previewing NFC wild card games
With the 2022 NFL playoffs finally upon us, let’s look at the three NFC Wild Card games and preview what might go down this weekend.
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET – (7) Seattle Seahawks at (2) San Francisco 49ers
The Niners swept the Seahawks in the regular season, earning wins in both September and December. The games weren’t close, with Seattle only scoring 13 points on offense across the matchups.
Brock Purdy is going into the playoffs undefeated, authoring perhaps the wildest story we’ve seen in years. The 49ers are loaded around him with a quality offensive line and weapons including receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey.
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For San Francisco, the key on Saturday will be avoiding turnovers and penalties. If the Niners play a clean game, they win. As for Seattle, it’ll need to convert in the red zone, hit a few big plays and win situationally on defense.
Sunday, 4 p.m. ET – (6) New York Giants at (3) Minnesota Vikings
The Giants might be considered the most “live dog” of anybody this weekend. Even though they’re only 9-7-1 compared to the 13-4 Vikings, few believe Minnesota is going places in January. The Vikings are an absurd 11-0 in one-score games this year, including a Week 15 win over the Giants in which Minnesota won 27-24 on a last-second, 61-yard field goal.
If New York is to win, it’ll need Daniel Jones to play a clean game. As well as that, it’ll need some unexpected production from someone such as receivers Richie James and Darius Slayton. It can’t only be Saquon Barkley. For Minnesota, can Kirk Cousins avoid the miscues that have defined his career in big moments, and does the defense get a few necessary stops?
Read: Josh Jacobs – Raiders Staff ‘Take It To Another Level’
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET – (5) Dallas Cowboys at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cowboys are inarguably the better team, but Tom Brady looms. The Buccaneers are only the fourth team in NFL history to win their division with a losing record, and yet here they are. Dallas has been uneven over the past month, suffering from Dak Prescott’s league-leading 15 interceptions.
If Prescott continues his turnover-happy ways, the Buccaneers have a good chance of advancing. Tampa Bay also needs to eschew the run game to allow Brad the opportunity to slice up Dallas with the quick game. If the Cowboys can get home with their high-end pass rush, it’ll be a long day for Tampa Bay.
