This weekend will see the start of a time-honored annual January tradition: The NFL playoffs. With the entire 14-team field set, we’ll soon know who is worthy of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 57 in Arizona next month and who, well, should probably be trying harder in the NFL Draft.
The first stop on that winding postseason journey is Wild Card Weekend this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And there’s an important question every team playing this weekend must consider and ask itself before potentially making it to the next round.
Take the Jaguars, for example.
They’re one of the brighter and younger teams in pro football. Will the face of the franchise in Trevor Lawrence shine or wilt under the playoff lights? In Baltimore, after the Ravens backed into the postseason — will Lamar Jackson even play, and do the Ravens even have a shot without him?
One thing’s for sure: The suspense of playoff football is terrible to some. I, meanwhile, hope it lasts. Let’s break down one burning question for every AFC Wild Card team (and check out our questions for the NFC side)