AFC Wildcard Weekend Preview
The NFL Season finally ended this weekend, and with that set up the first round of playoffs, on route to this year’s Super Bowl.
The AFC was the first to set up its wildcard round, with the Miami Dolphins clinching the seventh seed, as they beat the New York Jets, combined with a New England Patriots loss. The Kansas City Chiefs sealed the number one seed with their win over the Las Vegas Raiders and were followed by the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens into the playoffs.
Chargers @ Jaguars
The Jaguars made the post season as they beat the Tennessee Titans to the division title, alongside getting their first above .500 season in four years. The Florida franchise has enjoyed a resurgence under Super Bowl winning coach Doug Peterson. Despite starting 3-7, second-year QB, Trevor Lawrence, combined with the teams big money off-season additions then led the team to a 9-8 finish, becoming the second team since the 2008 Chargers to make the playoffs to start 4-8 and make the post season.
The Jaguars and Lawrence found a different gear down the stretch, utilising his Clemson connections with RB Travis Etienne and finding WR Christian Kirk on deep shot after deep shot. Defensively the team have struggled finish 24th in overall defence but have found plays through DE Josh Allen and fifth-year safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who forced a fumble that essentially sealed the team the division title.
The AFC South Champions look a balanced side, and under the experience of Peterson could make a run, but it looks a stretch for this young side.
The Chargers make the post season for the first team since 2017, finishing 10-7, and second in the AFC West. Under the arm talent of Justin Herbert, second year coach Brandon Staley has put together the third best passing offence in the NFL, but the team has lacked any rushing game, be that running the ball on offence, or stopping the run on defence.
Despite their woes with the run, the Chargers are stacked with talent, especially on offence. RB Austin Ekeler has been a standout in all of the offensive game, being used more in the passing game, and on the goal line, amassing 17 total touchdowns. Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have been huge in getting the ball down the field and making plays for Herbert, with the team hoping the latter will be healthy for wildcard weekend after he left the game in Week 18. Khalil Mack has done his best to make moves on defence, alongside Derwin James, who has had a career high season in sacks. But the team leaves a lot to be desired on that side of the ball.
The Chargers have the firepower, but lack the all-round package, but if Herbert has his favourite weapon, Williams, I feel they will be just a little too much for the young Jaguars. The Charger’s take this one, but it could be a close one.
Dolphins @ Bills
The Bills won their third straight AFC East title, with QB Josh Allen putting up another Pro-Bowl season for his team. Sean McDermott’s team continued to be the second-best team in the AFC, with the forever elite link between Allen and Stefon Diggs, alongside the huge addition of star OLB Von Miller to an already solid defence.
Buffalo’s weakness has been on redzone defence, something they have had a problem with all year, conceding over 28 points per game on average. Despite this the team only lost three games, using turnovers and their elite offence to turn teams over week-in, week-out.
Allen’s Bills will be hoping to go one better than last year, but an impending date with the Chiefs, seems an inevitable stop, if they want to get to the big game.
The Dolphins had a hell of a turnover this offseason, bringing in new Head Coach, Mike McDaniel, trading for star WR Tyreek Hill and committing to second year QB, Tua Tagavailoa. Despite starting 3-0, the south Florida side have had nothing but an up and down year.
Tagavailoa would suffer a concussion in Week 3, his first of three this season, leading his status to be in doubt. This, in turn has led the team to use three different QB’s throughout the season. The uncertainty at QB and stuttering form on both sides of the ball resulted in the Dolphins winning just two games in the last seven weeks.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Miami still boasts the fourth best passing offence in the NFL, alongside the fourth best rushing defence. Hill leads the team in receiving, despite the different QB’s and Raheem Mostert has once again shown his worth at RB. Second year DE, Jaelan Phillips has been a stud upfront and leads the team in sacks, the trade signing of OLD Bradley Chubb has also aided the run defence and CB Xavien Howard has put up a Pro-Bowl season.
Miami may have issues in the centre, and are also a very young side, but despite this will be very hard to break down. The Dolphins beat the Bills in week three, but I think it’s the Bills who walk away with the win here, their offence and experience will come up with the answers in this one.
Ravens @ Bengals
The Bengals won their second straight AFC North title, as Joe Burrow and co continue to impress and look set to go on a run, just as they did a year ago. Zac Taylor’s team stuttered at the start of the year, being 2-3, before only losing one game for the rest of the season.
Ja’Marr Chase has continued to make his mark as the team’s number one WR, with Tee Higgins having a stellar season as well. Joe Mixon proves once again his worth at RB with nine touchdowns and over 1200 total yards. At first the Bengals struggled on defence, but having Trey Hendrickson healthy has helped them turn around, along with the leadership of Jessie Bates in the secondary.
The Bengals are an all around solid team, with several elite weapons on offence. If they can get past the Ravens, they can be a match for the Bills and Chiefs in the conference.
John Harbaugh’s Ravens have had a stop start season. Once again hit with injuries, a team that should be full of stars has failed to finish and leave his potential unfulfilled. Despite this, Baltimore has made the post-season, showing its resilience, and quality in depth.
Former MVP, Lamar Jackson has missed five games, leading the team to use three different QB’s, alongside this the Ravens lost WR Rashod Bateman early in the year, as well as return specialist Devin Duvernay. Though injuries have pelted the team, the Ravens have continued to run the ball well and have had several stars stepping up on defence, despite problems in the redzone.
The Ravens are stacked on many levels but have underperformed in many areas this year. They managed to make the playoffs but uncertainty on who will be available on Sunday make this team anyone’s guess, they could make some all inspiring plays, or be slowly broken down.
A healthy Ravens can push the Bengals far, with Jackson they could win the game, but the unknown answers leave this one as Cincinnati’s to lose. A close game, but Burrow and the Bengals move on.
