Sports 1140 KHTK’s Super Wild Card Weekend Picks & Predictions

Jan 14, 2022, 8:56 AM | Updated: 11:18 pm

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to a play...

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Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Are you ready for some Wild Card football?

At long last, the NFL postseason has arrived. 18 weeks and 17 games are in the books and the real deal kicks off on Saturday morning–the first of three days filled with win-or-go-home implications.

Sports 1140 KHTK’s staff made their picks and shared some bold predictions for all of the upcoming drama:

The 2021 #NFLPlayoffs are set! pic.twitter.com/Bv3d34ALBL
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2022

Nick Cattles

Raiders vs Bengals: Bengals in a tight one – Too much Burrow & Chase for that Vegas secondary

Patriots vs Bills: Bills – The Patriots have looked ROUGH over the last month…In no good conscious could I pick them over the Bills at this moment. Even though, it wouldn’t surprise me.

Eagles vs Buccaneers: Bucs…Next.

49ers vs Cowboys: The 49ers in an upset. I like the 49ers D-Line vs Zeke & the Dallas run game. I think the 49ers can run the ball vs Dallas’ defense & control the clock. Jimmy G–Don’t turn it over!

Steelers vs Chiefs: Chiefs…Next.

Cardinals vs Rams: Rams – More talent & have played better lately, aside from having to deal w/ San Francisco.

Carmichael Dave

Raiders vs Bengals: I might be rooting for the Raiders more than I ever have. They’ve been through so much, but they got to the tournament anyway. Derek Carr gets to his first ever playoff game, but Burrow and Chase and Higgins and Mixon all get paid too.

Raiders play their butts off, but ultimately Cincy wins.

Bengals 31, Raiders 24

Patriots vs Bills: Bills is right. Buffalo and Belichick. The Pats looked like a bona fide contender, but have sputtered recently. Here’s the deal: Buffalo is synonymous with playoff futility, whereas Belichick is associated with playoff mastery.

I’m an idiot for picking against him, but Buffalo is just better on paper and they’re at home.

Bills 28, Patriots 17

Eagles vs Buccaneers: ROFLMAOBBQ. Bucs 38, Eagles 10

49ers vs Cowboys: A lotttttttt of history here, but you pretty much have to be 40 or better to really remember experiencing it.

My Niners seem to be the trendy pick here, but I just don’t see it. I hope I’m wrong, but I think the Cowboys are better in almost every facet of the game. The Dallas receivers vs the 49er secondary should be enough of an edge by itself.

Yes if SF can do a few of their patented 8-minute run it down their throat drives and keep Dak and Co off the field, an upset can happen. But I think Dallas just has too many advantages.

Boy do I hope I’m wrong, if for no other reason so I don’t have to see drunk shmedium-wearing Emmitt Smith jersey guy on my timeline yammering.

Dallas 31, SF 17

Steelers vs Chiefs: Never underestimate the power of former champions playing in a win or play bingo at the old folks home- unless it’s Ben and the Steelers.

Any given Sunday and all, but this is the Chiefs at Arrowhead in the playoffs.

Edwards-Helaire won’t Edwards-Bethere due to injury, but Williams is the better all-around back anyway.

Chiefs 41, Steelers 14

Cardinals vs Rams: It’s too bad these two have to play in the first round. They split during the season, each team winning on the road.

The Rams should be the pick here, but I just don’t trust Matt Stafford. I think he throws a crucial pick in an otherwise tight game. That’s the difference.

Cards 24, Rams 21

Jason Ross

Raiders vs Bengals: The Raiders beat everyone in the AFC North this season BUT the Cincinnati Bengals. Saturday they will lose to the Bengals for a second time. We think of Burrow and Chase but Joe Mixon will be a problem for the Silver and Black. Bengals win at home.

Patriots vs Bills: Bills edge the Patriots in a frigid classic. The Bills fans will have to freeze for longer because Buffalo will need OT to prevail. Bills win at home in overtime.

Eagles vs Buccaneers: It is really difficult to repeat in the NFL. The Super Bowl Champions will find that out this week. I am not predicting an upset, but I am predicting a much closer game than most people think. The Antonio Brown story, the injuries and the quest to repeat will all lead to a close game but I will not pick against Brady at home in the first round. Buccs in a narrow win.

49ers vs Cowboys: The entirety of this game revolves around which team can play it in their style. As much as the Cowboys want to let it loose and score a bunch of points the Niners want to control the line of scrimmage and the clock and beat you up. I think the 49ers can get to their style easier than Dallas so give me the 49ers. Ground and pound, with play action mixed in and SF wins in Dallas.

Steelers vs Chiefs: They played a few weeks ago and it got away from Pittsburgh. I picture more of the same on Sunday. Kansas City and Mahomes will be too much for Pittsburgh. Chiefs by double digits.

Cardinals vs Rams: Two teams with so much knowledge of one another. They split the games during the season and the Rams come in as a slight favorite at home. I am going with the Cardinals in this one. Rams with a bit more overall high level talent but I have a feeling the Kyler Murray is going to really shine in his first ever playoff game. Give me Arizona in a close one.

Jay Johnson

Raiders vs Bengals: A battle between two first time playoff competing quarterbacks, in which I favor the Bengals Joe Burrow. The Bengals get the win for the second time this season against the Raiders behind Burrow and the better defense in my mind!

Patriots vs Bills: These two teams split their season series with each winning on the others home field. This game will be played in Orchard Park and I believe the real Buffalo Bills defense and their team leader Josh Allen will play their best football of the year now that it’s playoff time. Allen will make a few plays with his legs that prove valuable to his team’s efforts to win in terrible weather conditions.

Eagles vs Buccaneers: If “The Goat” Tom Brady is in attendance and in uniform then I’m riding with him! Give me the Bucs behind Brady’s 350 passing yards and at least two touchdowns.

49ers vs Cowboys: Bang Bang 9er gang, need I say more! 49ers in a low scoring game.

Steelers vs Chiefs: Probably the closest thing to a mismatch you will ever see in the playoffs. Najee Harris hasn’t practiced all week for the Steelers and I can’t see how Pittsburgh can even score enough to keep up with the Chiefs even with a weak KC defensive unit. Chiefs by 10+

Cardinals vs Rams: I favor Kyler Murray at QB, I think Sean McVay is the better coach slightly, I would take the Cardinals offense if I had to choose and I tend to lean towards the LA Rams defensively; You get the picture. Heading into Monday this game is as balanced as it can be in my mind, with that being said, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals win on the final drive of the game.

Chris Watkins

Raiders vs Bengals: This game could swing if the Vegas D-Line is able to get pressure on Burrow like they did to Herbert last week, however I think the Bengals offense just has too many weapons. Bengals in a high scoring affair.

Patriots vs Bills: A tale of two teams. The Pats have looked bad to close out the season and the Bills are currently on a 4-game win streak that includes a revenge game victory in New England. I’m going with Buffalo in a nail-biter.

Eagles vs Buccaneers: Biggest blowout of the week IMO. The Eagles snuck into the playoffs with an easy end of season schedule. Their best win this year is probably the 40-29 victory against the Saints, who were starting Trevor Siemian at QB. There is no way Tom Brady will accept another postseason defeat to the Eagles. Bucs by 20+

49ers vs Cowboys: This will be a shoot-out. I don’t really have a good feel for which versions of these two teams we will see. Will Dak be able to torch the 49ers secondary? Will San Francisco get a clutch performance out of Jimmy G? How many different ways can Shannahan figure out how to give Deebo the ball? To me, these are the questions that will determine the outcome of this classic NFL match-up. I’m going with Dallas, but I don’t feel very confident in that pick.

Steelers vs Chiefs: Big Ben is washed. I don’t see how the Steelers offense will be able to keep up with the ridiculously potent Kansas City offense. I think the Chiefs take this one comfortably.

Cardinals vs Rams: Arizona has really cooled off since their incredible start to the season. In an inner- divisional matchup between two of the youngest offensive minded coaches in the league we should expect A LOT of points. At the end of the day though, I think the Rams have too much talent on their roster on both sides of the ball to not pull this one out.

Scott Marsh

Raiders vs Bengals: Bengals by 4 – The Raiders amazing 4 game win streak to get in the playoffs ends with too much Burrow to Chase in Cincinatti.

Patriots vs Bills: Buffalo by 10 – Even Belichick will not be able to stop Kyle Allen this time and Mac Jones will not put enough points on the board to counter

Eagles vs Buccaneers: Bucs by 6 – do you really expect me to go against Tom Brady in a wild card game?

49ers vs Cowboys: 49ers by 3 – Dallas has been inconsistent the whole year and the Niners take that second half from LA straight to Dallas and get a close W

Steelers vs Chiefs: Chiefs by 14… Amazing last couple games for Big Ben to extend his career into the playoffs but no chance against Mahomes and Kelce in Arrowhead

Cardinals vs Rams: Rams by 2 – A battle of two teams who are playing like they don’t belong in the playoffs, I’ll stick with the Rams because they were my Super Bowl selection from the beginning and they are at home.