It’s January, and that means it’s 2023-24 Playoffs time. The 14-team field has been set, with 12 teams set to take the field this Saturday through Monday during Super Wildcard Weekend, while the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens get the week off.

The action kicks off on Saturday, with rookie C.J. Stroud and the AFC South-winning Houston Texans taking on the AFC’s top wildcard team: the Cleveland Browns, with unlikely hero Joe Flacco at the helm. On Saturday night, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and the Miami Dolphins take on Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs in a game with freezing conditions at Arrowhead Stadium.

A Sunday tripleheader sees the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to take on the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions hosting the Los Angeles Rams as the two teams that swapped quarterbacks a couple of seasons ago meet in a dramatic playoff setting.

On the final Monday Night Football broadcast of the season, the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles take to the road to face the NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Read on for my 2023-24 NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any predictions, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter.

Picks Record

Week 18 Picks: 11-5

Week 1: 9-7

Week 2: 12-4

Week 3: 8-8

Week 4: 12-4

Week 5: 7-7

Week 6: 11-4

Week 7: 5-8

Week 8: 11-5

Week 9: 11-3

Week 10: 7-7

Week 11: 8-4

Week 12: 11-5

Week 13: 7-6

Week 14: 6-9

Week 15: 11-5

Week 16: 10-6

Week 17: 11-5

Week 18: 11-5

Overall: 161-101 (62%)

Season Total established for now at 62%: but 10 games missing, will have to re-do some math.

Saturday Games

(The Athletic)

#6 Cleveland Browns (11-6) at #4 Houston Texans (10-7) at 4:30 PM ET: Two of the best stories in football this season kick off the 2023-24 NFL playoffs. The Cleveland Browns have been a defensive juggernaut no matter who plays quarterback, but as the wheel spun to none other than Joe Flacco, the team got better than ever. C.J. Stroud exceeded expectations and proved he probably was the best quarterback available in the 2023 NFL Draft by leading the Houston Texans to the playoffs, but between injuries and subpar play, it doesn’t feel like Houston is peaking right now despite winning the AFC South. I think Stroud and the Texans will be back on this stage often, but the Browns are a wrecking ball at the moment. Browns win 26-17

#5 Miami Dolphins (11-6) at #4 Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) at 8:00 PM ET: With insane wind chills of -25 degrees or lower forecast in Kansas City on Saturday night, anything goes. Sure, the Miami Dolphins have a horrible record in these type of situations as an offensive-minded, pass-first team, but again, anything goes when temperatures drop this low: routine plays become wildcard factors. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have not been playing their best football as of late… and yet to pick against them at home in extreme conditions would be foolish. Chiefs win 16-15

Sunday Games

(WYRK)

#7 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at #2 Buffalo Bills (11-6) at 1:00 PM ET: In another game with extreme weather projected, snow and cold temperatures could impact the outcome of this, on paper, lopsided affair. Even at 10-7, the Pittsburgh Steelers largely stumbled in to the AFC’s final wildcard spot, while Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills surged from a mediocre team at midseason all the way to the #2 seed in the blink of an eye. Barring a freak, weather-induced miracle, this is Buffalo’s game to lose. Bills win 23-13

#7 Green Bay Packers (9-8) at #2 Dallas Cowboys (12-5) at 4:30 PM ET: Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys secured the NFC East title with a clutch record down the stretch, and are ready to defend home turf at Jerry World. Jordan Love managing to lead this Green Bay Packers squad to the postseason is impressive, but the Cowboys have the power to put this game out of reach quick should Green Bay not play near-perfect football. Cowboys win 33-17

SEE ALSO: Post-Week 18 Power Rankings

#6 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at #3 Detroit Lions (11-6) at 8:00 PM ET: In perhaps the spiciest matchup of the weekend, the Detroit Lions host the Los Angeles Rams and former franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. Of course, Jared Goff, who once led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance, is now playing quarterback for the Lions, and at a high level. But despite Dan Campbell’s best coaching efforts, Detroit’s defense is still suspect, while Sean McVay’s Rams are loaded with talent on both sides of the football. Rams win 27-23

Monday Night Football

(Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

#5 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) at #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) at 8:15 PM ET: In a growing and continuing trend, the #4 seed in the NFC hosts a clearly superior #5 seed. Despite the two additional wins the Philadelphia Eagles possess over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, let’s not forget the Eagles are defending NFC champions. Of course, there’s injuries abundant on both sides of this game, and we may even get Marcus Mariota vs. Kyle Trask. But whether its Jalen Hurts vs. Baker Mayfield, Mariota vs. Mayfield, or anything in-between, the Eagles have the talent to win at least one playoff game over a mediocre NFC South winner: even if Philadelphia hasn’t been playing incredible football lately. Eagles win 20-16

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Header Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times

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