Post by NFL on Nov 30, 2022 16:23:02 GMT -5
AFC Wild Card:
#1 Tennessee Titans (12-2) -- BYE
#2 Las Vegas Raiders (11-3) vs #7 Los Angeles Chargers (9-5)
The seeding is a bit misleading on this matchup, as both teams have been relatively even throughout the season. Vegas has multiple win streaks of five games, while LA has put the second most points over the past month. Both rosters have changed since their last full strength matchup in week one, so this matchup could truthfully go either way.
#3 Cincinnati Bengals (11-3) vs #6 Houston Texans (9-5)
The Bengals benefitted from the league's 4th easiest schedule, but they did beat everyone they were expected to (outside of Cleveland). On the other hand, Houston bounced back from rough start and finished the season on a seven game win streak -- including wins over the Titans & Chargers. Houston looks like the better team over the course of the season but these two have been much closer over the last month (HOU 7th, CIN 10th in PPG).
#4 New England Patriots (10-4) vs #5 Buffalo Bills (10-4)
Buffalo won the most recent matchup between these two, nearly winning their first division title as a result. They've also scored the 6th most points over the past month, with only 20 fewer points than the Patriots during that period. New England has the only bye during this week and that could be the difference in what projects to be a relatively close matchup.
NFC Wild Card:
#1 Detroit Lions (13-1) -- BYE
#2 Seattle Seahawks (11-3) vs #7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
Seattle has been the better team all season, including the last month, but they seem to be the roster most affected by bye weeks in this round. Tampa beat the Seahawks just last week at full strength, so both teams go into this NFC Championship rematch with a chance to come out victorious.
#3 New Orleans Saints (9-5) vs #6 Arizona Cardinals (9-5)
The Saints looked like they were heading towards a rebuild, especially after a 1-4 start, but they finished the season winning 8 of 9 games and scored the most points in the league over the last 30 days. Arizona would have finished 7-1 in their final 8 games if not for a week 12 loss to the Saints, and now look like one of the bigger underdogs this week after a hot start to the season.
#4 Washington Commanders (9-5) vs #5 Chicago Bears (10-4)
On paper, this matchup seems to be the most lopsided with the vast PPG difference. Both teams benefitted from easy schedules but Chicago has consistently outperformed Washington all season. The Bears have been a bit more vulnerable as of late, only going 5-4 after a 5-0 start. Mainly due to the loss of Carson Wentz, the Bears will also be without their top two LBs this week. If Leonard Fournette can't go on MNF, Chicago may have a difficult time finding the depth to cover these losses.
#1 Tennessee Titans (12-2) -- BYE
- 2nd consecutive season w/ #1 seed, 1st round bye
- 3rd consecutive season w/ 12 wins
- 1 of 3 teams all time with three 12 win seasons (JAX, NO)
- 4th highest single season ppg average (199.3 PPG)
#2 Las Vegas Raiders (11-3) vs #7 Los Angeles Chargers (9-5)
- Split season series 1-1 (LV wk 1, LAC wk 4)
- LV: 11th in PPG // no byes
- LAC: 12th in PPG // Dennis Gardeck on bye
The seeding is a bit misleading on this matchup, as both teams have been relatively even throughout the season. Vegas has multiple win streaks of five games, while LA has put the second most points over the past month. Both rosters have changed since their last full strength matchup in week one, so this matchup could truthfully go either way.
#3 Cincinnati Bengals (11-3) vs #6 Houston Texans (9-5)
- CIN: 14th in PPG // Laviska Shenault, Markus Golden on bye
- HOU: 6th in PPG // Frankie Luvu, Myles Hartfield on bye
The Bengals benefitted from the league's 4th easiest schedule, but they did beat everyone they were expected to (outside of Cleveland). On the other hand, Houston bounced back from rough start and finished the season on a seven game win streak -- including wins over the Titans & Chargers. Houston looks like the better team over the course of the season but these two have been much closer over the last month (HOU 7th, CIN 10th in PPG).
#4 New England Patriots (10-4) vs #5 Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- NE: 5th in PPG // James Conner on bye
- BUF: 13th in PPG // no byes
Buffalo won the most recent matchup between these two, nearly winning their first division title as a result. They've also scored the 6th most points over the past month, with only 20 fewer points than the Patriots during that period. New England has the only bye during this week and that could be the difference in what projects to be a relatively close matchup.
NFC Wild Card:
#1 Detroit Lions (13-1) -- BYE
- 2nd postseason appearance, 1st since 2018 (NFC Champions)
- More wins than previous two seasons combined (10 wins)
#2 Seattle Seahawks (11-3) vs #7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
- SEA: 4th in PPG // Zaven Collins, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Jalen Thompson, Eddy Pineiro on bye
- TB: 7th in PPG // Derrick Brown on bye
Seattle has been the better team all season, including the last month, but they seem to be the roster most affected by bye weeks in this round. Tampa beat the Seahawks just last week at full strength, so both teams go into this NFC Championship rematch with a chance to come out victorious.
#3 New Orleans Saints (9-5) vs #6 Arizona Cardinals (9-5)
- NO: 9th in PPG // Robby Anderson, Brian Burns on bye
- ARI: 10th in PPG // Jeremy Chinn on bye
The Saints looked like they were heading towards a rebuild, especially after a 1-4 start, but they finished the season winning 8 of 9 games and scored the most points in the league over the last 30 days. Arizona would have finished 7-1 in their final 8 games if not for a week 12 loss to the Saints, and now look like one of the bigger underdogs this week after a hot start to the season.
#4 Washington Commanders (9-5) vs #5 Chicago Bears (10-4)
- WAS: 16th in PPG // D'Onta Foreman, Ben Niemann on bye
- CHI: 2nd in PPG // Shaq Thompson, Daviyon Nixon, Jaycee Horn on bye
On paper, this matchup seems to be the most lopsided with the vast PPG difference. Both teams benefitted from easy schedules but Chicago has consistently outperformed Washington all season. The Bears have been a bit more vulnerable as of late, only going 5-4 after a 5-0 start. Mainly due to the loss of Carson Wentz, the Bears will also be without their top two LBs this week. If Leonard Fournette can't go on MNF, Chicago may have a difficult time finding the depth to cover these losses.