NFL Wild Card Weekend: Reason to bet each underdog
NFL Wild Card Weekend is here, and there are six underdogs trying to go on the road and beat the division winners.
Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5)
The Raiders appeared finished after they lost 48-7 to the Chiefs in December, but they haven’t lost since. Derek Carr and his squad have won four straight to get into the postseason, riding what has been a great pass rush from Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. While the Bengals are a very good team, they struggle to block in front of Joe Burrow with one of the league’s worst offensive lines.
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New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-4)
Buffalo is the more talented team, but the weather on Saturday night is great news for New England. The Patriots are catching the Bills on an evening projected at two degrees with a chance of snow. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has struggled in difficult weather, and this could allow for a game to be played on the ground. If it is, the Patriots have a clear advantage.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8.5)
The Buccaneers should win, but this is a big line and the Eagles have confidence after playing Tampa Bay tough on a Thursday night in October. Philadelphia loves to run the ball, but it also has a pair of excellent weapons in receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. If quarterback Jalen Hurts utilizes them, the Eagles can make this very competitive.
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys (-3)
The best game of the weekend. San Francisco can pound the ball, and the weaponry of receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle are going to give the Dallas secondary all kinds of problems. The Cowboys need to slow down the Niners’ run game and then handle a wicked front seven on the other side of the ball. San Francisco is a great bet to win outright.
Read: Pete Carroll Doesn’t Intend On Going Anywhere
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs (-12.5)
This is the toughest case to make, but the Steelers are also getting more points than any team in Wild Card Weekend history. Pittsburgh will need to force Kansas City into multiple turnovers and then capitalize, all while getting a few big runs out of Najee Harris. If that happens, the Chiefs could find themselves in a close game at Arrowhead.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (-4)
The Cardinals could be hosting this game, but they lost to the Seattle Seahawks on the final weekend of the regular season. This comes down to getting an interception or two from Matthew Stafford, who has consistently thrown the ball to the other team down the stretch. Also, how healthy is receiver DeAndre Hopkins and can he go?
