The 2018 NFL has wrapped and the playoffs are underway with Wild Card weekend kicking off on Saturday, January 5th. Multiple rematches take place in round one of the playoffs make the 2019 Wild Card round the most exciting in years.
The Colts and division rival Texans meet in the first game of Wild Card weekend. The two teams split the season series in an AFC South decided by one game.
Indianapolis possesses the higher powered offense averaging the fifth most points in the NFL. The Texans finished in the middle of the offensive pack but have one of the best receivers in all football, DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins did not drop a pass in a season where he caught 115 passes and finished fourth in touchdowns with 11.
Houston responds to Indianapolis offense with the 12th ranked defense, placing just behind the Colts 11th ranked unit.
The Cowboys host the Seahawks in the late game on Saturday in a battle of top ten rushing offenses. Dallas relied on Ezekiel Elliot to carry the majority of the load by asking him to run the ball over 300 times-40 times more than any other running back.
Seattle used a trio of backs to finished the season as the number one rushing team in the NFL. Chris Carson, emerging as the feature back totaled 1,151 yards, while former 49ers castaway Mike Davis and rookie Rashaad Penny combined for 933 yards.
Saturday is the offenses day to shine while Sunday gives way to some of the NFL's top defenses-three to be exact.
The Chicago Bears' number three ranked defense defends Solder Field against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The now Nick Foles led Eagles, look like an entirely new team averaging nearly 29 points per game and have scored 24 or more points in three straight games for the first time this season.
Chicago will counter with a defense ranking first in total takeaways with 36 including a league-leading 27 interceptions according to ESPN.com.
The NFL's number one ranked defense will also defend their home-field on Sunday as the Los Angeles Chargers travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens against the Chargers in a rematch of the week 16 match-up that cost Los Angeles a chance at the AFC West division title.
Having played each other just two weeks ago, the animosity and let down must still be fresh in the eyes the Chargers. A record of 12-4 and being forced to play in the Wild Card is not where quarterback Philip Rivers and NFL fans expected Los Angeles to finish.
The week 16 matchup saw Ravens' rookie Lamar Jackson set a career high in passing yards with 204 but was held to 39 yards on the ground including a fumble-not impressive stats for a victory.
The key to the game was and will be for the Wild Card meeting, the Ravens number ranked defense. Baltimore's offense does just enough to get by and eats the clock allowing their defense to constrict opposing offenses to a league-leading 17.9 points a game.
The Ravens defense held the Chargers offenses to just 10 points the last time two met, and Philip Rivers looked like he had never played the quarterback position prior to their first match-up. Rivers threw two interceptions and was held to 181 yards while being outplayed by a quarterback, who had not thrown for over 200 yards in his career up to that point.
Los Angeles was embarrassed in week 16 and will seek revenge by knocking Baltimore out of the playoffs.
The likelihood Rivers plays like a third-stringer again is zero to none and expect head coach Anthony Lynn to pull out all the stops in his first playoff appearance.
Boasting the number nine defense and the 11th ranked offense with a veteran quarterback has many experts leaning towards a Chargers victory. Los Angeles is the smart pick, especially with their eyes set on revenge but the Ravens' ninth-ranked offense and number two rushing attack can defeat any team.
The Ravens also have a home-field advantage-a pivotal upper hand for a team that is undefeated at home since Jackson took over as a starter.
Both teams possess star power, top 11 offenses and top ten defenses. A game physical revenge game for the Chargers and a proving point game for the Ravens could end with a game-winning field goal or a last-second finish.
Los Angeles and Baltimore will take hit after hit but both will continue to fight in what should be the most gladiator-type game in the 2019 NFL playoffs.
Verdict:
The Chargers are desperate and behind early-season MVP candidate, Philip Rivers will advance to the AFC Divisional round to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Los Angeles' offense includes a top ten quarterback (Philip Rivers), running back (Melvin Gordon) and wide receiver (Keenan Allen) and a top ten red zone threat in the 6 foot 7 inch Mike Williams.
It is only a matter of time before one of Los Angeles' elite offenses weapons makes an impact.
Baltimore's elite defense and rushing attack could slow down any Chargers momentum and stall any drive. Expect a slow-moving game with very little scoring and a possible last-second finish.
Both teams have a point to prove. The Chargers and Philip Rivers want to change the moniker of a one and done and the Ravens and Lamar Jackson want to prove every draft analyst that said he would be a better fit as a running back or receiver.
Although young and fun to watch, the Ravens offense lacks veteran playoff presence giving the edge to the Los Angeles Chargers and their revenge driven playoff campaign.
FINAL SCORE: Chargers 24, Ravens 20
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND PREDICTIONS:
Colts vs. Texans: Texans 34, Colts 31
Seahawks vs. Cowboys: Cowboys 27, Seahawks 24
Eagles vs. Bears: Bears 29, Eagles 27
preview photo credited to SkySports.com
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