This Wild Card weekend will surely be filled with thrilling matchups, upsets, and probably a blowout or two. In the AFC, there are multiple games that could be decided on whether an injured player returns or not. Will Justin Herbert and the Chargers get revenge on the Jaguars? How do Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins stay in the game with the Bills? How hungry are the Bengals to get back to the Super Bowl? These are the questions that will be answered this weekend when the AFC's best go head to head for a chance at the Lombardi trophy.
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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars I 8:15 pm on NBC
This is a matchup of two teams looking to prove themselves as teams nobody wants to play in the postseason. The two played each other in week 3 of this season, which was very lopsided in Jacksonville's direction, ending in a 38-10 win for the Jaguars. The Chargers, who are beginning to gain players who are coming back from injury, are definitely looking to redeem themselves by getting a win against the team that handed them their worst loss of the season. However, one of Los Angeles' star wide receivers in Mike Williams hasn't practiced so far this week. Because of the difference we've already seen in this team when Williams is sidelined, we think his possible absence will be all Jacksonville needs to steal another win from the Chargers. Of course, no matter who is playing, we think this will be the game to watch this weekend.
Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills I 1:05 PM on CBS
At this point in the week, it seems like this game will be more about how close the Dolphins can possibly make it than who wins. This game is about a Bills team who are playing for Damar Hamlin, the safety on IR who suffered a heart attack during the week 17 matchup with the Bengals. With a mix of Hamlin and how close they've been for years now, they have more than enough motivation to be able to go all the way. We, along with most other people, believe this run begins with a statement win against Miami.
The Dolphins have been struggling with injuries for a few weeks now, with the most notable being their QB Tua Tagovailoa being out with a concussion on Sunday. The Miami offense has mostly looked explosive and unstoppable when Tua was on the field, but without him, they will have to figure out a very different strategy coming into this game. When Tua isn't on the field, the Dolphins are 1-3, that win coming last week with rookie Skylar Thompson. Without Tagovailoa, you just can't go against Buffalo in this game, which is why we're taking them in a blowout win.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This game is one of the rare cases that the two teams played each other the week before. The Bengals won the week 18 match 27-16, going against Baltimore's third-string quarterback. Baltimore's star quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn't been on the field in 38 days with a PCL sprain. After not practicing for the second day in a row this week, it doesn't seem like that streak will be coming to an end any time soon. However, backup QB Tyler Huntley threw during practice on Thursday, indicating that he may play vs. Cincinnati. With recent words going around the league (and LB Roquan Smith's monster contract extension), it definitely a possibility that Lamar Jackson has played his last game as a Baltimore Raven. With everything happening going into this game, the odds are stacked against Baltimore.
In Cincinnati, they are looking to get back to where they were last season. After starting off slow, the Bengals quickly picked up the pace to finish 12-4 and clinch the AFC North for the second season in a row. Cincinnati is one of the few teams going into the playoffs with little to no notable injuries this season, which means they don't have to worry about rushing to get guys ready for Sunday. The only thing we have to assume that can get in their way here is if they look past Baltimore and don't prepare for them well enough, which is pretty unlikely now that they know what it takes to get to the promised land. Because of these reasons, we have Cincinnati advancing pretty easily.
Written by Adam Kerr
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