WILD CARD ROUND
Previews and predictions for this weekend’s games.
AFC: Titans at Chiefs
When: 3:35 p.m. Saturday Where: Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, Mo. TV/radio: ESPN/ABC, 610 AM Records: Titans 9-7, Chiefs 10-6 Titans rankings: Offense 23rd (15th rushing, 7th passing); defense 13th (4th rushing, 25th passing) Chiefs rankings: Offense 5th (9th rushing, 23rd passing); defense 28th (25th rushing, 29th passing) Last playoff appearances: Titans lost in 2008 divisional round, Chiefs lost in 2016 divisional round. Titan to watch: QB Marcus Mariota. Can he elevate his game after a mediocre regular season? Chief to watch: RB Kareem Hunt. How will the rookie build on his stellar regular season? Did you know: Their last playoff meeting was in 1993 at the Astrodome when the Titans were the Oilers.
PICKS
Jenny Dial Creech: Titans 24-21 John McClain: Chiefs 30-20 Dale Robertson: Chiefs 27-17 Brian T. Smith: Chiefs 24-14 Jerome Solomon: Titans 20-17 Aaron Wilson: Chiefs 27-13
AFC: Bills at Jaguars
When: 12:05 p.m. Sunday Where: EverBank Field; Jacksonville, Fla. TV/radio: CBS, 610 AM Records: Bills 9-7, Jaguars 10-6 Bills rankings: Offense 29th (6th rushing, 31st passing); defense 26th (29th rushing, 20th passing) Jaguars rankings: Offense 6th (1st rushing, 17th passing), defense 2nd (21st rushing, 1st passing) Last playoff appearances: Bills lost in 1999 wild-card round, Jaguars lost in 2007 divisional round. Bill to watch: RB LeSean McCoy. The health of his injured ankle plays a big role in Buffalo’s chances. Jaguar to watch: QB Blake Bortles. He was quite underwhelming in week 17 and must bounce back quickly. Did you know: The Jaguars beat the Bills in their first playoff game in 1996.
PICKS
Jenny Dial Creech: Jaguars 24-14 John McClain: Jaguars 24-13 Dale Robertson: Jaguars 24-7 Brian T. Smith: Jaguars 17-10 Jerome Solomon: Jaguars 33-13 Aaron Wilson: Jaguars 17-13
NFC: Falcons at Rams
When: 7:15 p.m. Saturday Where: Los Angeles Memorial Colisuem TV/radio: NBC, 610 AM Records: Falcons 10-6, Rams 11-5. Falcons rankings: Offense 8th (13th rushing, 8th passing); defense 9th (9th rushing, 12th passing) Rams rankings: Offense 10th (8th rushing, 10th passing); defense 19th (28th rushing, 13th passing) Last playoff appearances: Falcons lost in 2016 Super Bowl, Rams lost in 2004 divisional round. Falcon to watch: WR Julio Jones. The Falcons will need their elite wideout to be at full strength to win on the road. Ram to watch: QB Jared Goff. The former first overall pick’s playoff debut will be highly scrutinized. Did you know: No Super Bowl runner-up has made it back to the big game since the 1993 Bills.
PICKS
Jenny Dial Creech: Falcons 31-24 John McClain: Rams 27-24 Dale Robertson: Rams 24-21 Brian T. Smith: Rams 28-20 Jerome Solomon: Rams 31-24 Aaron Wilson: Falcons 24-21
NFC: Panthers at Saints
When: 3:35 p.m. Saturday Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans TV/radio: Fox, 610 AM Records: Panthers 11-5, Saints 11-5. Panthers rankings: Offense 19th (4th rushing, 28th passing); Defense 7th (3rd rushing, 18th passing) Saints rankings: Offense 2nd (5th rushing, 5th passing); Defense 17th (16th rushing, 15th passing). Last playoff appearances: Panthers lost in 2015 Super Bowl, Saints lost in 2013 divisional round. Panther to watch: QB Cam Newton. As he goes, so does the Panthers’ offense. Saint to watch: RB Alvin Kamara. His game-breaking ability will test a tough Carolina defense. Did you know: This is the first playoff game between NFC South teams since the division was created in 2002.
PICKS
Jenny Dial Creech: Saints 31-13 John McClain: Saints 23-20 Dale Robertson: Saints 28-24 Brian T. Smith: Saints 24-20 Jerome Solomon: Panthers 24-23 Aaron Wilson: Panthers 21-17