The NFL postseason is almost here, which means it’s time to start looking at potential playoff matchups. While every single playoff game offers the inherit thrill of a single-elimination matchup, these five games would be the most interesting.
Before we begin, a quick disclaimer. This list isn’t necessarily a list of games that are likely to occur, but rather a compilation of the best possible playoff matchups. If it’s mathematically possible for a game to occur in the Wild Card round, then it was fair game for this list.
5 Best Playoff Matchups In the Wild Card Round, Ranked
5. Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Let’s start off this list of playoff matchups with two young teams with equally promising quarterbacks. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t quite lived up to his billing as a prospect , and his recent run of injuries has further damaged his image. However, when healthy, he’s still one of the better quarterbacks in the game. C.J. Stroud, meanwhile, was cruising to Rookie of the Year honors before sustaining a concussion.
Assuming both players are back to full health, this has a chance to be one of the best playoff matchups of Wild Card weekend. Everybody loves a clash of division rivals, especially when it could signal the start of a decade-long battle for dominance.
4. Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Speaking of divisional matchups, who doesn’t like it when two of the best offenses face off in what should be a high-stakes shootout? After a bumpy start to the season, the Bills are back in the postseason picture and that’s bad news for the rest of the NFL. The Dolphins, meanwhile, are the most explosive offense in football and should remain competitive even without Jaylen Waddle. There’s a lot of bad blood between these two teams, and both would love to end the other’s season.
3. Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
There is a strong case to be made that Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are the two best quarterbacks in football, and their teams aren’t too bad either. While the Kansas City offense hasn’t been its same unstoppable self, the defense is playing better than ever. These are two evenly-matched teams, and this compelling duel is made all the better after the controversial ending to their regular season battle. Buffalo wants to prove their win wasn’t a fluke, while Mahomes and company will want revenge for that offsides penalty.
2. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
This is another one of the less likely playoff matchups out there, but if the football gods are just, they’ll find a way to make this happen. After spending an eternity searching for an answer at quarterback, the Browns finally found their savior in Joe Flacco. Ok, that might be overselling it, but there is no denying that Flacco is playing well enough to guide this team on a deep postseason run. Flacco’s story is fun enough, but to have him face off against his former team en route to another Super Bowl run would be incredible. The Ravens know how dangerous Flacco can be in January, and every snap would be must-see TV.
1. Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions
The NFL scriptwriters hate the Detroit Lions. For the first time since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the Lions are set to host a playoff game. Unfortunately for them, they’ll probably be hosting longtime Lion Matthew Stafford. Back in 2021, the Lions traded Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and some draft picks. The deal worked out for both sides, as Stafford won a Super Bowl while Detroit brought out the best in Goff. However, could Stafford himself keep Detroit’s postseason winning drought alive for yet another season?
Main Photo: David Butler – USA Today Sports
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