2016 Free NFL Playoff Picks and Predictions: NFC Wild-Card Round Expert Picks

2016 Free NFL Playoff Picks and Predictions: NFC Wild-Card Round Expert Picks: Another NFL regular season is in the books, and while many teams are already turning their attention to the offseason, there are 12 teams about to begin their quest to reach the Super Bowl. The action kicks off this weekend with four wild-card games. In the NFC, the two-time defending conference champion Seattle Seahawks will be in action against the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings. Also out of the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers will go on the road to face the NFC East champion Washington Redskins, who managed to go from the cellar of the division last year to the top just a season later. Somewhat surprisingly, the road teams are both favored, and with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at both the NFC wild-card playoff matchups on tap for this weekend.

2016 Free NFL Playoff Picks and Predictions: NFC Wild-Card Round Expert Picks

No. 6 Seattle Seahawks at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings

While regular season results don’t always carry over into the postseason, it is hard to ignore the 38-7 beatdown the Seahawks put on the Vikings back in Week 13 in Minnesota. In that game, Seattle’s top-ranked run defense had no issues slowing down the NFL’s leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, holding him to 18 yards on eight carries. In the same game, Seattle QB Russell Wilson shredded a normally solid Minnesota secondary, completing 21 of his 27 pass attempts for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

Granted, there is more at stake this time around, but not much has changed from a matchup standpoint from the last time these two teams met. The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season, so they are fully capable of taking away Peterson and making QB Teddy Bridgewater have to beat them. Bridgewater doesn’t have many big games, and the chances of him having one against one of the league’s best secondaries are slim. Throw in the fact that Wilson and the Seattle offense are firing on all cylinders, and the Vikings will have their work cut out for them simply to keep the finals score respectable.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks (-5) Cover the Spread

No. 5 Green Bay Packers at No. 4 Washington Redskins

At first glance, this matchup seems like a no-brainer. After all, the Packers have a former MVP under center in Aaron Rodgers while the Redskins have Kirk Cousins. However, these two teams are heading in opposite directions heading into the playoffs. Washington and Cousins have been an offensive machine down the stretch, rallying to win the abysmal NFC East. Meanwhile, the Packers seem to be undergoing an identity crisis, and their normally unstoppable offense has sputtered.

Over the second half of the year, Cousins leads the NFL in completion percentage, and during the same stretch, Rodgers ranks dead last in the category. Perhaps more importantly, Cousins has 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions at home all season, and the Washington defense has been significantly better at home. Yes, Rodgers is always capable of having a big game, but right now, his offensive line can’t keep him upright, his banged-up receiving corps can’t beat man-to-man coverage, and RB Eddie Lacy can’t get going. Rodgers might be the best player on the field in this one, but a Redskins bunch oozing with confidence and playing their best football is going to be the better team.

Prediction: Washington Redskins (+1) Cover the Spread

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