2014 NFL Wild Card Playoff Picks
The first round of the 2014 NFL Playoffs is bound to be intense. Ndamukong Suh’s suspension was lifted on Wednesday, giving the Detroit Lions all of their key players for a huge showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. That makes picking what was already probably a toss up even more difficult, while NFL bettors are also going to have a tough time picking a winner between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in an insane divisional clash.
There could be enough numbers and logic to sort through the mess and help us get the picks right, though. Let’s take a look at each matchup and see how we should be picking during wild card weekend:
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers
Arizona walks into Carolina as the better team on the surface with an 11-5 record, but questions at quarterback and running back actually have the Panthers (-6.5) in favor. That makes enough sense with the Panthers and home and coming in red hot with four straight wins. More specifically, Carolina destroyed the Saints in New Orleans a few weeks back and stole the NFC South by crushing the Falcons in Atlanta. Now back in their own stadium and going up against Ryan Lindley, it’s awfully hard not to love the Panthers. In fact, we’re taking them. Carolina looks like the safe bet straight up, while the points even make some sense. Arizona could have a chance if their defense comes in and lights it up, but Carolina’s defense has been just as good lately – if not better.
Pick: Panthers 24, Cardinals 13
Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers and Ravens split their 2014 season series, with both teams earning a blowout win over the other. In what used to be intense defensive battles, this wild card playoff game could be anything but. Joe Flacco has largely played well in both contests, but he and his Ravens have been rather suspect away from home at times over the past two years. Le’Veon Bell could play a huge hand in this game, and he might not even end up suiting up for it. Pittsburgh’s awesome running back hurt his knee in the week 17 season finale and could be limited or out this week. If that’s the case, an elite Baltimore defense might have the leg up. Then again, the Ravens haven’t been elite against the pass, and Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown pack a serious one-two punch. If the Steelers can get anything out of Bell, I like them by a narrow margin at home. This game probably won’t be a defensive battle, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be close. Pittsburgh comes in as -3 favorite and that could make using the spread with any confidence almost impossible.
Pick: Steelers 24, Ravens 21
Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts
The Colts demolished the Bengals 27- on Indianapolis earlier in the year, so naturally they have to feel pretty good about hosting Andy Dalton and co. this weekend. Cincy’s defense has been nasty over the last three weeks, but putting the clamps on Andrew Luck and the Colts is easier said than done on the road. Of course, even if the Bengals show up and shut Luck down, there’s still the concern about Andy Dalton still being unable to take that next step. Add in a concussion to wide receiver A.J. Green, and the writing could be on the wall that Dalton is in for another rough playoff loss. The Colts enter this one as -3.5 favorites and I think they can hold that down at home.
Pick: Colts 31, Bengals 17
Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
Ndamukong Suh will take the field this weekend, which is worth mentioning considering just a day ago he wasn’t going to (suspension). In the blink of an eye, the Lions go from severely undermanned to the stout run defense and pass rush they’ve been all year. That’s bad news for the ‘Boys, who surely plan on steamrolling Detroit at home with DeMarco Murray. Suh is going to be a problem, but this one really comes down to who you have less faith in – Dallas or Detroit, and Tony Romo or Matthew Stafford. While the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 2009, Detroit hasn’t won one for even longer. They’ve also been awful against good teams on the road, with Matthew Stafford going an astonishing 0-16 against winning teams away from home in his career. Is that going to magically change in a massive playoff game? It’s doubtful. This game is probably controlled by Dallas at Jerry World, but there clearly is potential for this to blow open into a ferocious shootout. Even if that happens, I still like Dallas – just not by the -6.5 line they’re getting.
Pick: Cowboys 33, Lions 30
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