2022 NFL DIVISIONAL WILD CARD PLAYOFF WEEKEND 15th-18th JANUARY 2022

 

With the regular season over the end of season playoffs await as all teams still standing look forward to an appearance in Superbowl LVI. In the NFL's expanded playoffs for the 2022 postseason, seven teams from each conference make the field. That's different from recent years, when six teams from the AFC and NFC each participated. This changes the bye scenario too while in the past two teams received first-round byes, it's only the top seed in each conference receiving a bye week now. Green Bay Packers captured the #1 seed position in the NFC and will have a bye week into the playoffs, while over in the AFC the #1 seed was claimed by Tennessee Titans. After that, things proceed as they classically have, with four teams playing on each side of the divisional bracket before the conference championship games and Super Bowl.

NFL playoffs schedule

Wild-card games: January 15th-18th

Divisional games: January 22nd-23rd

Conference championships: January 30th

Super Bowl LVI: February 13th

We are down to the final fourteen teams of which the top seed in each conference await the wild card winners, The NFL announced that beginning in the 2021 season, Super Wild Card Weekend (January 15-17, 2022) will conclude with a Monday night game. Last season, the NFL expanded the playoffs for the first time since 1990, adding a third wild card team in each conference, thus creating "Super Wild Card Weekend" – two Wild Card games on Saturday and three games on Sunday and the final game on Monday shared across the various US Broadcasters CBS, NBC, FOX and ESPN, it doesn't appear that the UK will have any live games on Tv (channel 5 used to have Monday night football) however the BBC Radio will cover things on Sunday night here. 

We intend to update these games as they are played during the course of the weekend. Times here are GMT (Uk).

Saturday 15th January 2022
AFC WILD CARD

Las Vegas Raiders 19 @ 26 Cincinnati Bengals  [H/T 13 - 20]

21:30   Venue: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati.
The Las Vegas Raiders [10-7] pulled off a thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers to reach the NFL play-offs for the second time in 19 years. The Chargers fought back from 29-14 down to force overtime and the score was still level with two seconds left but Daniel Carlson kicked a field goal as time expired to clinch a 35-32 win. They will face Cincinnati [10-7] who lost their final game at the Cleveland Browns but had already captured the NFC North title, and I must prefer the form of the Bengals here even though they had similar records at the end of the season the Bengals easily outscore their opponents and I predict over 48 points.

Sunday 16th January 2021
AFC WILD CARD
New England Patriots 17 @ 47 Buffalo Bills  [H/T 3 - 27]
01:15    Venue: Highmark Stadium, Buffalo, NY.
Into the early hours of Sunday morning here in Uk, where New England will travel to Buffalo. Bill Belichick's Patriots [10-7] have bounced back from the loss of QB Tom Brady and finished runners up to the Bills [11-6] in the NFC East. Another shoot out to progress in the post season and who would bet against the Patriots going forth again? Both teams know each other well, there will be no major surprises. "Good team, obviously," said Bill Belichick on Monday morning. "They're the third seed in the conference. We know they're a good team. They certainly played well in the last game we had against them...We have a lot to get ready for."

NFC WILD CARD
Philadelphia Eagles 15 @ 31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers  [H/T 0 - 17]
18:00    Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Florida
Philadelphia Eagles [9-8] surely have it all to do here as they travel to the current Superbowl champions Tampa Bay [13-4], Tom Brady and all. The Eagles faced the Buccaneers earlier this season back in Week 6, won by Tampa Bay 28-22. After winning the Super Bowl in the first season having acquiring quarterback Tom Brady in free agency, the Buccaneers enter the playoffs as winners of seven of their final eight games to capture the NFC South Division title and the #2 seed. Looks like a comfortable win at home for Tampa Bay [-7.5pts h'cap] and over 45 points scored.

NFC WILD CARD
San Francisco 49ers 23 @ 17 Dallas Cowboys  [H/T 16 - 7]
21:30    Venue: AT&T Stadium, Texas
San Francisco [10-7] head to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys [12-5] who are the #3 seed in the NFC thanks to demolishing Philadelphia 51-26, on Saturday, in what was a tune-up game for the NFC East champs. San Francisco 49ers, impressively whipping the NFC West champion Rams, 27-24 in overtime to earn the second wild-card entry. Looks very possible that CBS will cover this game and that means Tony Romo commentating on his former side. Can also see this being a high scoring affair so over 50 points the call.

Monday 17th January 2021

AFC WILD CARD
Pittsburgh Steelers 21 @ 42 Kansas City Chiefs  [H/T 7 - 21]
01:15    Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Could be the final swansong for 'big' Ben Roethlisberger after a final round win for the Steelers [9-7-1] against Baltimore to seal this play off place. Will have to be on their A game against a strong Kansas City [12-5] side who have been to the last two Super Bowls. The two sides met on Christmas Day and the Chiefs ran out an easy 36-10 victory, can see plenty of points here again with the Over 46 points including in various accumulators this weekend. Have already got Kansas as the winners this season, though they have to go the long way around to reach a third consecutive Superbowl.

Tuesday 18th January 2021

NFC WILD CARD
Arizona Cardinals 11 @ 34 LA Rams  [H/T 0 - 21]
01:15    Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
The final wild card game sees the Arizona Cardinals [11-6] travel to the LA Rams [12-5], Rams played in the regular season at Arizona on another "Monday Night Football" game with the Rams securing a 30-23 win. The Cardinals won their game in Los Angeles earlier this season, 37-20. Of the pair though the Cardinals second half of the season was not as strong as their opening, and the Rams have improved their roster heading towards the post season playoffs and would be slight favourites. Rams to win and also cover the -3.5 points handicap.

Will update with the final scores later over the weekend and then look forward to the AFC and NFC Divisional Round next weekend 22nd - 23rd January.