2018-19 NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Round Picks

Here are my picks for the Wild Card Round of the 2018-19 NFL Playoffs.

Saturday, January 5th
(A6) Indianapolis Colts (10-6) vs (A3) Houston Texans (11-5)- 4:30, ESPN/ABC: These two teams played each other twice this season in two close games with each team winning once. The Colts are coming off a big divisional road win in Nashville against the Titans to win the AFC's final wild card spot. The Texans are coming off a divisional home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to clinch the AFC South. The keys to this game is whether DeShaun Watson gets time to throw considering the Texans offensive line is the worst among the playoff teams and whether the Texans pass rush can get to Andrew Luck, who's offensive line is much improved now with the drafting of Quenton Nelson to go with Ryan Kelly and Anthony Costanzo. The Texans are missing trade acquisition DeMaryus Thomas due to a torn achilles so DeAndre Hopkins is the Texans only offensive weapon unless Watson uses his mobility. The secondary is the other weakness of this team that hasn't got that much attention and Andrew Luck has torched that secondary throughout his career and that will be the case again as T.Y. Hilton and Eric Ebron will have big games as the Colts will win their first playoff game in four seasons.
Prediction: Indianapolis 30, Houston 26.

(N5) Seattle Seahawks (10-6) vs (N4) Dallas Cowboys (10-6)- 8:15, FOX: These two teams met earlier in the season and the Seahawks won this game convincingly and that was before the Cowboys acquired Amari Cooper, which changed the outlook of their season. The Seahawks are coming off a divisional home win over the Arizona Cardinals on a game winning field goal by Sebastian Janikowski to ensure themselves the five-seed. The Cowboys are coming off a divisional road win in East Rutherford against the Giants in a meaningless game that Ezekiel Elliott did not play in. The key to this game is Russell Wilson against the improved and young Cowboys defense and the 'Boys defense slowed down Drew Brees in a primetime game a few weeks ago meanwhile the Seahawks offense and Wilson have not had much success against elite defenses this season. The Seahawks defense is somewhat vulnerable without Earl Thomas in that secondary after he was lost for the season although Bobby Wagner has been sensational this season. This was the hardest pick of Wild Card weekend, but I trust Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson more in a playoff game than Jason Garrett (who may be axed if he loses) and Dak Prescott, despite the Cowboys being home.
Prediction: Seattle 27, Dallas 23.

Sunday, January 6th
(A5) Los Angeles Chargers (12-4) vs (A4) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)- 1:00, CBS: These two teams met a few weeks ago in a Saturday night game in Los Angeles in which the Ravens got the big win on the road. The Chargers are coming off a divisional road win in Denver against the Broncos. The Ravens are coming off a big divisional home win over the Cleveland Browns to win the AFC North title. The Ravens are 6-1 since Lamar Jackson took over as the starter and perhaps saved John Harbaugh's job and he is definitely the key to this game against a solid Chargers pass rush and secondary. The Ravens pass rush is very good but their secondary is not and that's where I see Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense having success. In a back and forth contest that will be fun to watch, I like the Chargers to get the win on the road.
Prediction: LA Chargers 24, Baltimore 20.

(N6) Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) vs (N3) Chicago Bears (12-4)- 4:40, NBC: These two teams did not meet this season, but met last year and the Eagles won convincingly, but that was when Carson Wentz was healthy and the Bears didn't have Khalil Mack or their current wide receivers on their roster. The Eagles are coming off a shutout road win in Landover against the Redskins in which Nick Foles suffered a rib injury. The Bears are coming off an impressive road win in Minneapolis against the Vikings in which they eliminated their division rivals out of playoff contention. This is Mitch Trubisky's first playoff game and how he does will be the key for their playoff success and Kyle Long does appear to be healthy, which is big for their offensive line. The Eagles offense is strangely better with Nick Foles and always tends to thrive when they are doubted, but the Bears defense is by far the best unit on the field led by Mack in the pass rush and the secondary is getting back Eddie Jackson, which offsets the loss of Bryce Callahan due to a foot injury. Soldier Field will be fired up as the Bears get their first playoff win in a whopping eight years.
Prediction: Chicago 27, Philadelphia 17.