https://www.thenerdelement.com/2023/01/13/nfl-week-18-prediction-updates-and-wild-card-game-picks/

Good evening, everyone! Today I want to discuss which picks I got correct and which ones I got wrong! So, let’s get started! I predicted that the Bills would beat the Patriots 31-16, but the final score was 35-24 Bills over the Patriots. I predicted that the Vikings would beat the Bears 34-14, but the final score was 29-13 Vikings over the Bears. I predicted that the Bengals would beat the Ravens 27-20, but the final score was 27-16 Bengals over the Ravens. I predicted that the Dolphins would beat the Jets 30-23, but the final score was 11-6 Dolphins over the Jets in a low and a very close game. Miami Dolphins barely got into the playoffs. I predicted that the Steelers would beat the Browns 33-21, but the final score was 28-14 Steelers over the Browns. However, the Steelers just missed the playoffs this season after the Dolphins won. They needed the Dolphins to lose. I predicted that the Eagles would beat the Giants 35-24, but the final score was 22-16 Eagles over the Giants. I predicted that the Seahawks would beat the Rams 38-25, but the final score was 19-16 Seahawks over the Rams in overtime. The Seahawks drove down the field to kick a game-winning field goal to win the game and clinch a playoff spot following the loss by Green Bay against the Detroit Lions. I predicted that the 49ers would beat the Cardinals 38-13 and guess what was the final score?! It was 38-13 49ers over the Cardinals in an exact same prediction I made!!! What a shock!!! I knew that the Cards were going to get spanked in that game and the 49ers were playing for something and they clinched the number 2 seed just behind the Philadelphia Eagles. I predicted that the Lions would beat the Packers 27-24, but the final score was 20-16 Lions over the Packers. The Lions converted a huge 4^th down play on a short pass to end the Packers season and possibly Aaron Rodgers time with the Packers.

I predicted that the Buccaneers would beat the Falcons 28-13, but the final score was 30-17 Falcons over the Bucs. I predicted that the Cowboys would beat the Commanders 31-17, but the final score was 23-6 Commanders over the Cowboys. The Cowboys offense was absolutely horrible. Not a way to set yourself up by limping into the playoffs against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. I predicted that the Chargers would beat the Broncos 37-21, but the final score was 31-28 Broncos over the Chargers.

So overall, I have gotten 9 out of 12 picks correct!!!!! Now, let’s get into Wild Card game picks, shall we?! The first game I will predict is the Seahawks @49ers game, the divisional rivalries for the third time. The 49ers have swept the Seahawks this season. The weather conditions could impact the game a lot so both of these teams are going to have to run the ball very well. The 49ers have run the ball very well with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. The Seahawks have also run the ball well with Kenneth Walker and DJ Dallas. The problem that the Seahawks have to deal with is that the 49ers defense have not allowed opponents to score points in the second half of each game except for the Raiders game that they won barely and they have a good run defense. So, I think the 49ers will beat the Seahawks in a close game 31-27. The next game I will predict is the Chargers @Jags game on Saturday Night Football. The Jaguars somehow find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and the Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is going to be playing his first playoff game and he is facing a challenge. The Jags could beat the Chargers if they play hard, but I think the Chargers will barely beat the Jaguars 24-20. I won’t be too surprised if the Jags beat the Chargers because I could be wrong. The Jags could absolutely prove me wrong. The next game I will predict is the Dolphins @Bills game, the divisional rivalries for the third time in a season. The Dolphins don’t exactly look good at the quarterback situation because their starter Tua Tagovailoa is going to be out for the playoff game. They will either start Teddy Bridgewater or Skylar Thompson. I rather start Teddy Bridgewater if far were the Dolphins coach, but who knows. Thompson shows that he can be good as well. I think the Bills will beat the Dolphins 27-14. The next game I will predict is the Giants @Vikings game in a rematch. I think the Giants will make it a close game again, but come up short again by losing to the Vikings 34-27. The next game I will predict is the Ravens @Bengals game, the divisional rivalries on Sunday Night Football and for the third time in a rematch in Cincinnati. If Lamar Jackson is not playing for the Ravens, they have no chance at beating the Bengals, but if he does, they would have at least a better shot at beating the Bengals. As of now, I think the Bengals will beat the Ravens in a close game 29-23. The last game I will predict is the Cowboys @Bucs game on Monday Night Football in a rematch. The Bucs beat the Cowboys earlier this season on Sunday Night Football in Dallas in week 1. The Cowboys cannot look sloppy again on offense and if they lose to the Bucs team that has a struggling offense, chances are that Jerry Jones could fire Mike McCarthy. I think the Cowboys will beat the Buccaneers 27-21 to potentially end Tom Brady’s time with the Bucs by retiring or could play somewhere else in the NFL.

So, what do you guys think about the NFL Wild Card Game picks?! I would love to hear lots of comments, thoughts, opinions, questions, or concerns down below!

Stay tuned for NFL updates.

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