From USA Today Sports

In February, over 100 million people will tune into the Super Bowl, the championship of football. To decide which teams will be playing in the big game, the NFL playoffs will be kicked off with wildcard weekend last Saturday. Here is a look around each of the six slated matchups and at each of the 14 playoff teams. 

The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers each have a bye this week, meaning they are automatically qualified for the divisional round of the playoffs.  Both of these teams are widely regarded as the best teams in the league with them having the best betting odds to win the Super Bowl (49ers +225, Ravens +325). Both teams are coming off of losses, but they sat key players, like MVP candidate quarterback Lamar Jackson for the Ravens and star middle linebacker Fred Warner for the 49ers. 

The NFL’s wildcard weekend kicked off with the Browns facing off against the Texans. The Browns, led by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who has won a Super Bowl in the past while playing for the Ravens. 

The Browns have faced many challenges this season, such as losing their top-tier running back Nick Chubb early on, and have been experiencing quarterback trouble, with four different quarterbacks starting games. However, Joe Flacco has emerged as a solution and has been playing at an elite level. 

The Texans were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year. However, with their high draft pick, they were able to acquire CJ Stroud, who has had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history. While neither of these teams are considered Super Bowl contenders, they are both solid and can hold their own. Stroud proved to be the better of the two, as Flacco threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, as the Texans won 45-14. 

The next game was between the Dolphins and the Chiefs, The Dolphins have Tyreek Hill, who is the best receiver in the league and was also a former player for the Chiefs. On the other hand, the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, who have been considered the best in their positions in the past. However, this year they have not been performing as well as they have previously. 

These two teams have already met in the regular season, with the Chiefs winning by just one score. Although both teams have strong offenses, the Dolphins were not able to overcome the cold weather, scoring just seven points to Kansas City’s 26. 

The upcoming game between the Bills and the Steelers was likely to be a one-sided affair. The Steelers don’t have a good record, and their top player, linebacker T.J. Watt, wasn’t able to play. 

Meanwhile, the Bills have been performing exceptionally well, winning all of their last five games entering the game. They have a strong set of players in every position, making them a formidable team. In a game that was originally snowed out, the Bills took it by a score of 31-17. 

The next game was between the Packers and the Cowboys. The Cowboys have an elite team, and their quarterback, Dak Prescott, is having a rebound year. They haven’t lost a single game at home all season. The Packers have had an inconsistent season, but strong play from their quarterback, Jordan Love, who was initially underestimated, has propelled them to the playoffs. Of course, you cannot predict football. Prescott struggled early and the Cowboys defense could not handle Love, as the underdog Packers won by a score of 48-32. 

The Rams were scheduled to play against the Lions in the second to last game. A few years ago, the Rams and Lions made a significant trade that is widely considered to be mutually beneficial for both teams. The Rams acquired veteran QB Matthew Stafford, who led them to a Super Bowl victory that season. However, their performance has declined since then, with a record of 5-12 in the following year before a return to the postseason now.

On the other hand, the Lions got QB Jared Goff and several draft picks. They have been able to revive Goff’s career and build a strong, young team, including promising stars like WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. While Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua was excellent, the Lions edged out the Rams, winning 24-23. 

Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles traveled to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers. While the Bucs were the home town, they were the severe underdogs to a strong Eagles team that had been stumbling to end the regular season. Led by Baker Mayfield, who is having quite the comeback season himself, the Bucs capitalized on many Philly mistakes to win 32-9. 

Overall, the NFL playoffs are shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable ride. With some of the league’s best teams and players facing off in high-stakes matchups, anything can happen. From blowouts to nail-biters, each game is sure to be a spectacle for football fans. As the playoffs continue, it will be interesting to see which teams rise to the challenge and which ones fall short. One thing is for sure, though – the Super Bowl is sure to be a thrilling finale to an already memorable season.