The 2024 NFL Playoffs are officially set to kick off as all 14 teams have secured the spots at the conclusion of the regular season. The Wild Card round is up first featuring 12 of those teams in action, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions earning the two byes. The opening weekend is loaded with six matchups across three days that will leave the postseason with just eight remaining teams at the conclusion. Here are the six teams that could be eliminated in round one.
Predicting Wild Card round losers in the 2024 NFL Playoffs
Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers
The Wild Card round will kick off on Saturday afternoon with a matchup between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans earned their spot by winning the AFC South division, so they will host the Chargers, who actually finished with a better record despite playing in tougher division. Houston went just 1-5 this season against teams currently in the playoffs, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they were eliminated in their first game. They also get the tough task of facing off against one of the best overall defenses in the NFL.
Loser: Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers
The second game of the playoffs features a clash between two AFC North divisional rivals. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers split their two head-to-head games this year, which makes for an intriguing rubber match. The lash of quarterbacks could be the difference in this game, as Lamar Jackson is a favorite for the MVP award, while Russell Wilson has been struggling recently. He has thrown for just six touchdowns across his past five games, which may not be enough to overcome the high-powered Ravens offense that has exceeded 30 points in each of their past four games.
Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers
Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos
The Buffalo Bills are the biggest favorites of the Wild Card round against the Denver Broncos. Quarterbacks will also be in the spotlight for this game, as Josh Allen is the other MVP-favorite facing off against rookie Bo Nix. Allen’s postseason success and the Bills’ strong season may be too much for the Broncos to handle. They also have to play on the road in Buffalo, which is a difficult environment for any visiting quarterback, but especially for rookies. It has been an impressive season for Nix and the Broncos, but it is likely to end against one of the biggest Super Bowl favorites this season.
Loser: Denver Broncos
Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers in the first week of the 2024 NFL season. The two teams will rematch in the playoffs with the Eagles coming in as one of the hottest teams in the league. They have won 12 of their past 13 games and have lost just one game at home this year, putting the Packers in a massively difficult situation, especially with them being on an active two-game losing streak and quarterback Jordan Love reportedly dealing with a hand injury this week. He is apparently expected to still play, but it could affect his overall performance against an already-elite defense.
Loser: Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Washington Commanders
One of the most exciting quarterback battles of the Wild Card round was selected to be featured on Sunday Night Football. Baker Mayfield has been having a spectacular season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Jayden Daniels is already a superstar for the Washington Commanders, despite still being a rookie. The Commanders are currently on a five-game winning streak and are one of the most attractive underdogs this week. They also defeated the Eagles just a couple of weeks ago, so they should have confidence that they can pull off an upset.
Loser: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Los Angeles Rams vs Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings had an excellent 2024 NFL season, winning 14 of their 17 games. They unfortunately still have to go on the road as a Wild Card team after losing the NFC North division title game against the Detroit Lions last week. While the Los Angeles Rams are an extremely dangerous opponent, the Vikings have been a better team this year and should have a strong chance of advancing, despite one of their three losses this year coming against them head-to-head earlier in the season.
Loser: Los Angeles Rams
Predicted matchups for the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs
Sportskeeda’s NFL Playoff Predictor offers one way to analyze the overall outlook of the 2024 NFL Playoffs. If these prediction of the six losers of the Wild Card round are correct, here are the potential matchups for the Divisional round next week. It will include the six winners this week, as well as the Chiefs and Lions coming off of their bye weeks.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers
Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions vs Washington Commanders
Philadelphia Eagles vs Minnesota Vikings