Previewing NFL's wild-card weekend
With the Bears watching from home for the eighth time in nine seasons, the NFL playoffs begin this weekend with the wild-card round. In an interesting quirk, all four home teams are underdogs.
SATURDAY
Chiefs (11-5) at Texans (9-7), 3:35 p.m., ESPN
Line: Chiefs by 3 ½.
By the numbers: Texans defense includes eight former first-round draft picks. … Chiefs offense was 29th in sacks allowed; Texans defense was No. 3 in sacks. … The Chiefs, who lost at home to the Bears, 18-17 in Week 5, started 1-5 but have won 10 straight, the NFL's longest winning streak.
Players to watch: Texans DE J.J. Watt led the NFL with 17½ sacks. … Chiefs rookie CB Marcus Peters tied for the NFL lead with 8 interceptions, led the league with 280 interception-return yards and had 26 pass breakups. … Chiefs expect premier pass-rushing LB Justin Houston (knee) back for the first time since Week 12.
The pick: Texans 23, Chiefs 21.
Steelers (10-6) at Bengals (11-5), 7:15 p.m., CBS
Line: Steelers by 3.
By the numbers: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 6 interceptions in the past three games. … Steelers WR Antonio Brown (136 catches, 1,834 yards, 10 touchdowns) averages 11 catches and 145 yards per game with Roethlisberger at QB. … Bengals have lost seven straight playoff games.
Players to watch: Bengals inexperienced, second-year QB A.J. McCarron, who has started just three games, is expected to make it four as No. 1 QB Andy Dalton (broken thumb) is not ready to return. McCarron's passer rating in those three games is 100.1 … The Steelers will start RB Fitzgerald Toussaint if DeAngelo Williams (ankle) can't go. Toussaint had just 24 yards on 12 carries last week after Williams was injured.
The pick: Steelers 24, Bengals 20
SUNDAY
Seahawks (10-6) at Vikings (11-5), noon, NBC
Line: Seahawks by 5.
By the numbers: The Seahawks destroyed the Vikings 38-7 five weeks ago but three of the Vikings best defensive players were out with injuries: DL Linval Joseph, LB Anthony Barr and S Harrison Smith. … The predicted high temperature on game day is 1, with a low of minus-9.
Players to watch: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who led the NFL with a 110.1 passer rating, has 24 TD passes and 1, yes 1, interception in his last seven games. In six of those games, his passer rating was over 123. … The Vikings are 7-0 when Adrian Peterson rushes for 100 yards or more. A.P. led the league with 327 carries and 1,485 yards and tied for the lead with 11 rushing TDs.
The pick: Seahawks 27, Vikings 16
Packers (10-6) at Washington (9-7), 3:30 p.m., FOX
Line: Packers by 1.
By the numbers: Washington QB Kirk Cousins has a 101.6 passer rating, 9.3 points higher than Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who has the highest career passer rating in NFL history. … Packers have lost six of their last 10 games. … Washington defense has 14 sacks in past three games.
Players to watch: Washington TE Jordan Reed, who trashed the Bears' secondary for 9 catches and 120 yards in Game 13, had 87 catches for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns. … Packers QB Rodgers hasn't thrown more than 2 TD passes in eight straight games, the longest slump of his career. He also has 8 turnovers in last six games and has been sacked 13 times in past two games.
The pick: Washington 27, Packers 23
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