Super Wild Card Weekend Preview (Sunday Edition): Panel Picks and What You Need to Know
Hi everyone, I didn’t have much time to put together a real preview for Sunday like I did for yesterday’s game, but still wanted to share the panel’s picks for Cowboys vs Packers and Lions vs Rams as well as a tad bit of advice for your own picks.
Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers
We had Deshaun Watson’s former team beat up on his current one yesterday, and then saw Tyreek Hill come up short against his old squad at Arrowhead. This matchup is another revenge game in its own way. Mike McCarthy spent plenty of playoff games on the sideline for the Packers, but will be coaching against them in the postseason for the first time.
No team is facing more pressure than the Cowboys who are consistently the most watched team on television and have not made it past the divisional round in 25 years. But this year feels different. The Eagles are no longer a threat to be taken seriously, and it feels like Dallas could be on a collision course with San Francisco that will take place in the NFC Championship game.
Dak Prescott’s excellent season plays a part in why Cowboys' fans are particularly overzealous this year—he looks to be the MVP runner up, and is top-5 in most of the important QB categories including QB wins. His connection with Ceedee Lamb should be clicking today as they face a weak Packers defense that will have a new coordinator in about a month’s time. Green Bay’s front seven—particularly Rashan Gary and De’Vondre Campbell have overachieved this year and hav stopped the run well, so expect Lamb to easily go over 100 yards.
On the other side, Jordan Love has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since week 11—he’s thrown 18 touchdowns and just one interception in that span. He’s done well to elevate inexperienced receivers like Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed to starting caliber players. Green Bay’s key on offense, however, is Aaron Jones who is averaging 135.3 yards from scrimmage in his last three games. THey’ll need to get the ground game going against a feisty Cowboys front, and a dangerous secondary that rank 5th in defensive DVOA this season. Here are the picks.
Panel Picks
Ray: Cowboys beat Packers 42-20
In my opinion, the Packers are the biggest frauds in this playoffs. I’ve always hated them and will continue to hate them and will find great pleasure in seeing them lose soundly to Dallas
Josh: Cowboys beat Packers 31-25
The Cowboys have good showing overall but Dak has a mediocre night. They overcome early struggles, and the Packers fall short on last second drive.
George: Cowboys beat Packers 38-17
The Cowboys and CeeDee burn through Love and the packers, proving to be too high powered and the moment proving to be too large for Green Bay.
Webb: Cowboys beat Packers 40-17
Ceedee Lamb torches the vulnerable Green Bay secondary, and the lights are too bright for Jordan Love in his first career playoff game as Dallas continues their hot streak at home.
Rahul: Cowboys beat Packers 31-24
I’m pissed that the packers shut Seahawks chances of making it to the playoffs, because Geno never wrote back and we would’ve won the Super Bowl. Anyway, Jordan Love is the real deal, his receivers Doubs and Reed are finally healthy, but it’s not going to be enough against the Cowboys offense. Dak will air a couple quick TD’s to Lamb (note: easy value leg for parlays) and Ferguson, Pollard will rush for a TD and the Packers will be forced to come from behind. Love will do well for his first playoff game ever, but when it comes down to it, the lights will be too bright for him, and DaRon Bland will come away with the game sealing interception.
Jackson: Packers beat Cowboys 13-10
Defensive battle in this game. Nobody can get anything going offensively, but the Packers squeak it out late in the fourth.
Theo: Cowboys beat Packers 28-21
With their loyal fans cheering them on, the Cowboys will continue their sixteen game home win streak. Prescott to Lamb will be the connection of the evening, unsurprisingly to many who have kept up with the Cowboys’ season. However, the past decade and a half have seen Green Bay come out victorious over Dallas 9 times out of 10, and Jordan Love will certainly put up a fight. Although not matched with my score, I predict a slug-fest that concludes with a lack of trust in Packers kicker Anders Carlson resulting in coming up short on fourth-and-long.
Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles
If we’re talking about revenge games, this is the ultimate one. 2 years ago, Jared Goff was left for dead when he was traded by the Rams for Matthew Stafford. Since then, in the wake of Stafford’s Super Bowl in 2021 with LA, Goff has done nothing but grind in improve. He has logged the same number of wins as Stafford, and is 20-7 in his last 27 starts.
In this game, Goff and his Lions enter as the favorite after a historic 12-win season. HIs offense has been especially potent with rookies Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam Laporta looking like veterans in their inaugural seasons. Gibbs leads the league in YPC, and Laporta made the Pro Bowl with five touchdowns. Let’s not forget about Amon-Ra St. Brown either who made his first All-Pro team just days ago. St. Brown posted a career-high 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Detroit will be facing a secondary that game into the season as the worst in the league bue has steadily improved under Sean McVay as the season has gone on. Akhello Witherspoon, Jordan Fuller, Quentin Lake, and Cobie have all buckled down in the secondary this year. The real strength for LA on defense is in their pass rush with Aaron Donald, and defensive rookie of the year candidate, Kobie Turner who has nine sacks this season.
Still, the Rams will only go as far as Matthew Stafford takes them and that could be far considering he’s had a terrific bounce back year and is facing a vulnerable Lions secondary. They are 19th in YPG allowed, and Stafford has been dicing apart strong defense all year. We can’t discount the Rams’ young standouts Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, who have both been revelations out of the fifth round for LA.
One last note: The Rams have had one of the worst special teams units all year, and I would not be surprised if the let the rest of the team down in this game.
Panel Picks
Ray: Cowboys beat Packers 42-20
This will be the best game of the wildcard weekend. Great history with this one. The game will come down to the wire and will I’m expected the Lions to win which is why I’m picking them. I would not be surprised if in typical Lions, fashion they forget how to play football in the playoffs, though.
Josh: Lions beat Rams 36-17
Blowout win for Goff, and the Lions go crazy in both halves. Stafford throws 2 picks and offense just can’t get going, have a 11 point 4th quarter but not enough.
George: Rams beat Lions 41-38
Stafford and McVay string together an excellent game and Lions fail on some major risks in an offensive masterclass.
Webb: Lions beat Rams 32-27
The Rams season comes to a fitting end with a costly 4th quarter special teams gaff. Though their defense allows some chunk plays to the LA receivers, the Lions offense moves the chains easily against a young Rams secondary.
Rahul: Rams beat Lions 34-30
This one is going to be a shootout. Both teams have great offenses and mediocre defenses. But ultimately, when healthy, I’m leaning on the Rams offense to take greater advantage of a leaky Lions defense. Stafford will air 3 TD’s in his return to Detroit, and Goff will feel the pressure form the game and Aaron Donald, leading to him committing more mistakes and costing the Lions the game.
Jackson: Lions beat Rams 35-3
The Lions are dawgs. Period.
Theo: Lions beat Rams 27-24
This will be the most fun game of the week in terms of offensive dominance. Both offenses will keep the ball moving and the points racking up, with Detroit holding time of possession with their strong runningback duo. I expect many freak plays such as tipped balls that go flying, toe taps, and, the NFL’s favorite, some crucial and random penalties ultimately costing the Rams the game. Detroit will pull ahead in this relatively even matchup and move on to the Divisional Round.
That’s all I’ve got today. Enjoy Sunday’s slate!