The NFL wild card games that played this past Saturday and Sunday have been fun; however, do not count your chickens before they hatch, there are still two match ups to go tonight 01/15/24 that will decide the divisional round schedule, in part due to the Steelers game at Buffalo was delayed due to the weather alerts and snowstorm. We have you covered on the Steelers v/s Bills and Eagles v/s Buccaneers with what you need to know, as our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys and bold predictions for both matchups.
ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for both games, and our FPI goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Analytics writer Seth Walder picks out the biggest X factors, Matt Bowen identifies key game-planning matchups to watch, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about the officiating.
Predictions:
Steelers running back Najee Harris will have his third consecutive game of at least 100 rushing yards. The Bills' rushing defense is arguably the toughest the Steelers have faced in at least a month, allowing opponents an average of 103 rushing yards per game in their past three contests. But Harris is on a roll with back-to-back games of 100-plus rushing yards. With the temperature expected to be below freezing, wind gusts of 50 miles per hour and possible light snow, the Steelers will lean heavily on their ground game. Sharing the backfield with Jaylen Warren, Harris had just 255 touches in the regular season, his fewest in his three-year NFL career, making him as fresh as possible for the playoffs.
Predictions:
Buccaneers running back Rachaad White will eclipse 125 all purpose yards. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles held Tampa Bay to 41 rushing yards. But the run defense has fallen off a cliff since then, yielding 142 yards per game on average over their past seven games. A banged-up Mayfield could lean on White in both the ground and short passing game.
