NFC Super Wild Card Weekend predictions: Cowboys, Eagles headed in opposite directions, thriller in Detroit

NFC Super Wild Card Weekend predictions: Cowboys, Eagles headed in opposite directions, thriller in Detroit

Is it too late for the Eagles to get back to how they were in 2022?

Are we in for another heartbreaking postseason for the Lions?

Will Mike McCarthy’s tenure as the Cowboys’ head coach end on Sunday?

Just a handful of the queries we have going into Super Wild Card Weekend are listed above.

These are our picks for the NFC games this weekend.

No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (12-5) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (9-8) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET

As the Cowboys begin their postseason run,

McCarthy faces his old team and may be coaching for his job.

The key to this game will be Dallas’s ability to pressure Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

In terms of pass-rush win-rate, the Cowboys top ESPN’s rankings,

while the Packers rank second in terms of pass-block win-rate.

Pro Football Focus data shows that Love experienced one of

the lowest percentages of pressure in the NFL (30.2 percent);

of those pressures, just 15.2 percent resulted in a sack.

Dak Prescott, the quarterback for the Cowboys, had a fantastic season.

He finished third in passing yards (4,516) and led the league in pass completions (410) and passing touchdowns (36).

After recording a league-high 135 receptions for 1,749 yards in his greatest season as a professional,

wide receiver CeeDee Lamb Jaire Alexander,

a standout cornerback for the Packers, had limited practice time on

Wednesday due to an ankle injury and was not present on Thursday.

Prescott will probably be able to exploit Green Bay’s defence in the absence of a healthy Alexander.

PREDICTION: Cowboys, 31–23

No. 3 Detroit Lions (12-5) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET

Los Angeles, who have gone 7-1 since Week 11, is perhaps the hottest team in the NFC.

Matthew Stafford, the quarterback for the Rams, returns to Detroit.

In the meantime, the Lions’ defence has struggled in the final three games of the season,

giving up more than 300 passing yards in two of them against Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens.

Stafford is a far more formidable opponent.

PFF reports that cornerback Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs,

who have combined to allow 107 receptions, 1,491 yards,

and 12 touchdowns with just four interceptions this season,

present a favourable matchup for rookie wide out Puka Nacua and seasoned Cooper Kupp.

The Rams veterans will be making the big plays in the closing minutes of what looks to be

the highest-scoring game of wild-card weekend.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff should have success targeting wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

PREDICTION: Rams, 34–31

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET

The Eagles appear to be under the mistaken impression that they may make a run for

the Super Bowl if the club that started the season with a 10-1 record shows up in

the playoffs rather than the 1-5 squad that finished the regular season.

But then, neither was that initial version a contender.

While the Bucs almost blew the NFC South with a dismal 9-0 victory against the Panthers in Week 18,

wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should have little trouble

against one of the poorest secondaries in the league.

Philly’s defence has been an issue all season.

Regarding the supporters’ pessimistic view of the team’s prospects of making the playoffs,

Eagles edge Brandon Graham stated earlier this week,

“I understand y’all frustration, but y’all ain’t in that building.”

Access to the Eagles’ practice facilities is not necessary to determine that they are not a title contender.

This season, the Eagles have been skating on thin ice; on Monday night, it breaks.

PREDICTION: Buccaneers, 23–20

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