The field is set for the 2025 NFL Playoffs, and we now know the matchups for the NFL Wild-Card Round.
We’ll take a look at the betting odds — via DraftKings Sportsbook — for Wild Card Weekend and mix in our analysis.
Saturday, January 12
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans; 4:30, CBS
Point Spread: Chargers -3
Moneyline: Chargers -155, Texans +130
Over/Under: 44.5
The Texans have looked very vulnerable for a long while now. After starting the season with a 5-1 record, Houston finished 10-7. The Texans last beat a playoff team in Week 5 (a 23-20 home win over the Buffalo Bills). On Christmas Day in Houston, the Texans were annihilated by the Baltimore Ravens, 31-2.
Additionally, quarterback C.J. Stroud saw statistical regression in his sophomore season, throwing 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while putting together an 87.0 passer rating. Compare that to his rookie campaign, in which he threw 23 touchdown passes and five interceptions to go with a 100.8 passer rating.
The Chargers, on the other hand, finished the season with an 11-6 record after starting 3-3. The Jim Harbaugh impact appears to be very real. Couple that with the excellent talents and efficiency of quarterback Justin Herbert (23 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 101.1 7 passer rating), and it makes for a dangerous Los Angeles team in January.
The Pick: Chargers -3
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens; 8, Prime Video
Point Spread: Ravens -9.5
Moneyline: Ravens -500, Steelers +380
Over/Under: 46.5
These teams are going in opposite directions.
The Steelers have lost four straight games, and their offense hasn’t scored more than 17 points in any of those games.
Baltimore has won four straight games and five of their last six contests (with the only loss being to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13). And in Week 16, the Ravens took down the Steelers 34-17 in Baltimore.
Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson has been sensational, with 41 touchdown passes, four interceptions, and a league-best 119.6 passer rating, to go with 915 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Russell Wilson has topped out at 217 passing yards over his last five games.
The Pick: Ravens -8.5
Sunday, January 13
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills; 1, CBS
Point Spread: Bills -8.5
Moneyline: Bills -440, Broncos +340
Over/Under: 47.5
The Broncos have been the biggest surprise in the AFC, but do they have the firepower to hang with the top teams in the playoffs? Excluding a 38-0 win over backup players on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, Denver’s only victory over a playoff team came in Week 3 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Led by NFL MVP favorite Josh Allen, Buffalo has its sights on finally making the leap and getting to the Super Bowl. The Bills are unbeaten at home this season.
The Pick: Bills -8.5
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles; 4:30, Fox
Point Spread: Eagles -4.5
Moneyline: Eagles -205, Packers +170
Over/Under: 46.5
This is a betting line that could see notable movement in either direction as the week goes on. That’s because the health of each team’s starting quarterback is in question.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been in concussion protocol after suffering a concussion in a Week 16 loss at the Washington Commanders. Packers quarterback Jordan Love left Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears due to an injury to his throwing arm.
At full health, the Eagles have as high of an upside as any team in the league. And the Packers are as dangerous as No. 7 seeds come.
These teams met in Week 1, with the Eagles winning 34-29 in Brazil.
The Pick: Eagles -205
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 4:30, NBC
Point Spread: Buccaneers -3
Moneyline: Buccaneers -175, Commanders +145
Over/Under: 50.5
The Commanders have put together an incredible 12-win season with a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Does the magic continue deep into January? That will be very tough. Washington has eight wins that were by one score, including the last four games. It’s difficult to sustain success that way for too long.
Tampa Bay is an intriguing sleeper in this postseason. While a 10-7 record doesn’t stand out entering the playoffs, the Bucs have road wins over the Detroit Lions and the Chargers, and they blew out the Eagles in Tampa Bay. Additionally, they beat the Commanders 37-20 in Week 1 (granted, it’s hard to put too much into a rookie quarterback debut, which it was for Daniels).
The Pick: Buccaneers -175
Monday, January 14
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams; 8, ESPN
Point Spread: Vikings -2.5
Moneyline: Vikings -135, Rams +114
Over/Under: 47.5
In a Sunday Night Football regular-season finale with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line, the Vikings were blown out by the Lions in Detroit, 31-9. Minnesota put together a remarkable 14-win season and is as well-coached as any team in the NFL, led by head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. However, it’s hard to trust Sam Darnold to make a deep playoff run until we see it with our own eyes.
Do Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have one more Super Bowl run in them? While it’s quite unlikely that the Rams win the whole thing, they’re at least very capable of making some noise. Los Angeles won Stafford’s last five starts of the season (he got the week off in the Rams’ 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday).
The Rams beat the Vikings 30-20 in Week 8 at SoFi Stadium.
The Pick: Rams +114
