Playoffs are set for a wild start

Don’t count out visitors

Wild card games can be so unpredictable because, at times, the visitors come in with a better record than the host.

The Raiders (12-4), one of the AFC’s powers until, well, the past three weeks, travel to Houston (9-7) for Saturday’s late-afternoon contest. Then the Giants (11-5) head to Green Bay (10-6) in the capper to the four-game round on Sunday.

Pittsburgh and Seattle both have an edge on their opponents in record, and the betting lines show that. The Steelers (11-5), despite having lost to Miami (10-6) this season, are 10-point favourites. The Seahawks (10-5-1) are eight-point favourites over Detroit (9-7).

Detroit (+8) at Seattle: Neither side has been inspiring down the stretch, with Detroit throwing away the NFC North crown with three straight closing losses, and Seattle kicking away a bye by splitting its final six.

These are two of the worst running teams in football, but Seattle has Thomas Rawls back, which could make for a distinct edge. Best Bet: Seahawks, 20-17 Oakland (+3½) at Houston: When the Raiders selected quarterback Connor Cook in the fourth round last April, the Cowboys were eyeing him. Dallas went with Dak Prescott.

We all know Prescott’s 2016 story. Third-stringer Cook will become the first QB to make his initial NFL start in a playoff game. Meanwhile, the Texans are headed back to the so-far-underwhelming Brock Osweiler. Upset Special: Raiders, 17-16 Miami (+10) at Pittsburgh: The Dolphins turned around their season with a Week 6 win over the Steelers. But Miami is yet another team using a backup QB, Matt Moore, although starter Ryan Tannehill has progressed nicely in his recovery from a knee injury. If Jay Ajayi can run wild again, Miami has a solid chance.

However, the Steelers are a tested bunch and got to rest several players in the season finale, including Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Steelers, 23-17

New York Giants (+4) at

Green Bay: The showcase of the wild card weekend. We could see either of these teams, despite their shortcomings, progressing to the conference title game and possibly the Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers probably has been the league’s top quarterback since Thanksgiving. Green Bay’s defence also has come on. Meanwhile, New York is showing elements of the torrid pass rush and opportunistic defence that lifted it to NFL championships in 2007 and 2011. Packers, 26-21