The NFL playoffs have arrived.
Six intriguing opening-round matchups will take place over the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend, which kicks off on Saturday afternoon and wraps up with a Monday night primetime showcase.
As has been the case all season long, I’m here to take an early look at the slate and find us some early-week value bets.
Here are the current NFL playoff odds and lines for Wild Card Weekend.
NFL Wild Card Odds & Lines
NFL Wild Card odds are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless otherwise noted and are current as of Monday, Jan. 9, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Be sure to keep tabs on all of our current NFL odds leading into the NFL Playoffs.
NFL Wild Card Games
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (Jan. 14, 4:35 p.m.)
Seahawks +10.5 (-110) @ 49ers -10.5 (-110)
The Seahawks will be hoping the third time’s the charm when they visit their NFC West rivals on Saturday afternoon. Seattle dropped both meetings against San Francisco during the regular season, including a Week 15 Thursday night showcase in which 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made his first NFL road start in a 21-13 victory.
Purdy has filled in seamlessly for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, throwing multiple touchdown passes in each of his starts this season. He has plenty of talented weapons to work with, including a rejuvenated George Kittle, and Kyle Shanahan‘s schemes should carve open some running lanes for Christian McCaffrey against this mediocre Seattle defense.
Meanwhile, San Francisco’s unit has had little trouble slowing down Geno Smith and company, allowing just 20 total points to Seattle over two games. The 49ers should win this game comfortably, but laying 10 points feels like a lot.
I’d prefer the Under at 42 or above instead.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars (Jan. 14, 8:15 p.m.)
Chargers -1.5 (-110) @ Jaguars +1.5 (-110)
Two promising young quarterbacks will be making their first career postseason starts when Justin Herbert and the Chargers visit Trevor Lawrence and the AFC South champion Jaguars.
I’m leaning toward the home team here, as Jacksonville has been trending up over the second half of the year and has a coaching advantage with former Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson.
Los Angeles also now has some unnecessary injury concerns, as wideout Mike Williams (back) and top pass-rusher Joey Bosa (groin) were banged up in a meaningless Week 18 loss to the Broncos. If those lead to a first-round exit, the pressure will heat up on head coach Brandon Staley.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (Jan. 15, 1:05 p.m.)
Dolphins +11 (-110) @ Bills -11 (-110)
The Bills and Dolphins split their season series, with both teams winning at home and each contest being decided by three points or fewer. However, Miami played those games with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa under center.
This spread represents the uncertainty surrounding the Dolphins’ quarterback situation, as Tagovailoa (concussion) and Teddy Bridgewater (finger) missed the season finale, leaving rookie third-stringer Skylar Thompson to run the offense.
While Miami has elite weapons in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, this offense loses its luster if the quarterback can’t get them the football. Getting an experienced veteran in Bridgewater back could help, but the Dolphins don’t have much of a chance to win without Tagovailoa.
If he doesn’t return from his third concussion of the season, I like Buffalo to win big.
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (Jan. 15, 4:40 p.m.)
Giants +3 (-120) @ Vikings -3 (+100)
The NFC North champion Vikings will host the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of a Christmas Eve showdown, won 27-24 by Minnesota on its home field. Greg Joseph was the hero that day, connecting on a game-winning 61-yard field goal as time expired.
Still, Giants head coach Brian Daboll will have liked what he saw from his team, which outgained Minnesota 445-353 and had plenty of success moving the ball through the air with Daniel Jones. The key for New York will be avoiding critical mistakes as a pair of turnovers and a blocked punt ultimately swung the game in Minnesota’s direction.
The Vikings specialize in playing one-possession games, so this should be one of the more exciting games on the slate, but I’m backing the Giants to find a way to slow down Justin Jefferson and keep this game close again.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (Jan. 15, 8:15 p.m.)
Ravens +6.5 (-105) @ Bengals -6.5 (-115)
These AFC North rivals just played each other in Cincinnati this past week and the Bengals emerged with a 27-16 victory over the Ravens to secure home field in this game. However, that matchup isn’t likely to tell us much about how the postseason rematch will play out.
Baltimore rested a handful of offensive players for that Week 18 showdown, including tight end Mark Andrews and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, who could be in line to start if Lamar Jackson (knee) isn’t able to suit up. The former MVP hasn’t practiced in over a month, but his return hasn’t been ruled out yet.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals were one of the league’s top teams against the spread (12-4) this season, but I’d lean toward Baltimore here in what should be a low-scoring game. Ideally, I’d want the Ravens at +7, though.
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jan. 16, 8:15 p.m.)
Cowboys -3 (-105) @ Buccaneers +3 (-115)
I’m not sure the NFL is saving the best for last in this instance, but there will be plenty of intrigue when Tom Brady and the NFC South champion Buccaneers host Dak Prescott and the Cowboys.
Dallas has been by far the better team over the course of the campaign, but its struggles of late are particularly concerning. Prescott has had issues with turnovers and the first-team offense mustered just six points against a Washington squad playing for nothing in Week 18.
To make matters worse, this isn’t exactly a good matchup for the Cowboys as Tampa Bay’s defense excels against the run, so Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott could be limited. That was the case when these two teams met in Week 1, as Dallas managed just three points and 244 total yards.
Yes, Prescott left that game with a broken finger, but Cooper Rush didn’t see a snap until the final six minutes of Tampa Bay’s 19-3 victory. Since I can’t really trust either offense, I like the Under at 45.5 points here, but would lean toward the home team at +3 or better.
