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The NFL regular season is over, and it's time for the 2022/2023 NFL playoff rounds. The teams that qualify for the playoffs are the divisional leaders from each conference and three Wild Card teams with the best league record—totaling seven for each conference. The NFL playoffs consist of three rounds before the Super Bowl.
In the Wild Card round, all qualified teams face each other except for the top seed of each conference, which gets a bye. The divisional round is where the top-seed teams play the lowest-ranking team, and the winners of the Wild Card round play each other.
The last round is known as the conference championship game. The winners from the divisional round play each other, and the winner gets to the Super Bowl. All six teams in the Wild Card round met earlier in the season, which will serve as a rematch. The last time this occurred was in 2009.
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We will look at all six games in the AFC and NFC wildcard round matchups arranged by schedule.
AFC
1. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan 14, 8:15 pm
The Jaguars had a fantastic 2022 season and ended the season with a 9-8 winning record and also won their division. This is even more impressive when considering the 2021 losing record of 1-15 and the 2020 losing record of 3-14. Trevor Lawrence, "the prince that was promised," showed a glimpse of his college and high school prowess that saw him get selected first overall during the 2021 draft pick.
The Chargers also had an impressive season with a 10-7 winning record, with Justin Herbert putting up an outstanding quarterback performance, having thrown for 4,739 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. The playoff matchup between these two teams feels exciting, as they both have plenty to prove.
The Jaguars and Chargers met once this season at the Chargers' home, and the Jaguars won the game as it ended 10-38. It's been, at least, four years since either of the teams made a playoff appearance, with the Chargers being the most recent when they made the playoffs in 2018.
2. Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan 15, 1:00 pm
With the Bills finishing second in the AFC conference table and the Dolphins seventh, the first Wild Card round game will be the Bills against the Dolphins. The Bills and Dolphins are divisional rivals and face each other twice every season. Both teams have met twice this season, losing at each other's homes. This matchup promises to be exciting.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is still a doubt to play as he is still in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The Bills and Dolphins have met four times in the playoffs, and the Bills are 3-1 in playoff victories against the Dolphins. The Bills are the favorites to win the game.
3. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan 15, 8:15 pm
The Bengals and Ravens will face off in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs for what will be a rematch of the regular-season game in which the Bengals came out victorious, winning against the Lamar Jackson-absent Ravens by 27-16 last weekend. The two teams initially met in Week 5 in Baltimore, and the Ravens won the game 19-17.
Though the Bengals versus the Ravens is a seasonal affair, having met 54 times with the Ravens leading the series 28-26. The playoff game will be the first in their respective history where they meet in the playoffs. The Bengals are the favorites to win the game.
NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan 14, 4:30 pm
The Seahawks, who finished seventh in the NFC conference, are set to face the second-seeded 49ers. The NFC West division rivals have met twice already this season and will need to face each other to keep their Super Bowl dream alive. The 49ers won the initial two contests.
The 49ers are huge favorites to win the playoff game. But the Seahawks see this as an opportunity to get one over on the 49ers. The two teams have met 49 times in their history, and the Seahawks lead the series 30-19. They've meant once in the playoffs. The Seahawks were victorious in the 2013 NFC championship game.
2. Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants, Sunday, Jan 15, 4:30 pm
The 2022 season was incredible for the Vikings. They ended the season with a winning record of 13-4, improving from last season's 8-9 losing record. The Vikings' Justin Jefferson had a great year. He led the league in receptions and receiving yards. The Vikings met with the Giants in Week 16. The Vikings won the game 27-24.
The Giants also had an impressive season, with a 9-7 winning run for the 2022 season. The Giants versus the Vikings have occurred three times in the playoffs, and the Giants have won two contests, including the 2000 NFC Championship game. The game is expected to be a tight contest, with the Vikings as the favorite.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Jan 16, 8:15 pm
A season that looked like Tom Brady and the Bucs might miss the postseason saw them win their division, the NFC South. Despite an 8-9 record, the Bucs won their division and are fourth in the NFC table. The Bucs beat the Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2022 regular season, 19-3.
The Cowboys had an eventful year, with their franchise quarterback Dak Prescott out after Week 1 and second-choice quarterback Cooper Rush put up a good five-week performance before Prescott returned. It hasn't been the easiest for Dallas or its quarterback.
Prescott has had multiple pass interceptions in the last couple of weeks (tied for first for most interceptions this season, and he achieved this with lesser games. This will be a tight contest, and the winner will most likely emerge due to errors from the other team. Dallas has led the series 16-9 against the Bucs overall.
Miami Dolphins Nation! Check out the latest Miami Dolphins Schedule and dive into the Dolphins Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.
