Richard Sherman’s NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Playoff football is different. Seeds don’t matter. Records don’t matter. What matters is matchups, execution, and whether you can handle the moment when everything tightens up. This Wild Card slate is loaded with games people are overlooking because the spreads look off or the narratives feel settled. I don’t see it that way. I see pressure, experience, and scheme clashes everywhere.

Let’s get into it game by game.

49ers (+4.5) at Eagles

This is the matchup people pretended they didn’t want – but deep down, everyone did. There’s real history here. There’s real tension here. I remember that NFC Championship game when Brock Purdy went down early and suddenly everything changed. Both teams remember it too.

Philadelphia has one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. That’s not debatable. But talent doesn’t automatically equal production, and lately, that offense has looked like a Ferrari shell with a Corolla engine. The explosiveness that used to define them just hasn’t been there. Long scoring droughts. Conservative play calling. Weapons like AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert didn’t suddenly forget how to play football – something changed.

The Eagles’ defense is still the backbone of this team. But if Brock Purdy has time, Kyle Shanahan will find matchups to attack. That secondary has good young players, but there are places to stress them. And if the 49ers can block the interior, I like their chances.

On the other side, San Francisco’s defense bent against Seattle but held when it mattered. That’s playoff football. Hold them out of the end zone. Make the stops when it counts. This game won’t be easy for either side, and I don’t see it as a true heavyweight-versus-underdog situation at all.

Rams at Panthers (+11)

This is one of the most disrespected games of the weekend. A 10.5-point spread in a matchup where Carolina already beat the Rams? That’s wild.

The Panthers controlled the first game. They dominated time of possession. They ran the ball. They forced turnovers. And now they’re at home with nothing to lose. That matters. It’s hard to convince grown men that a team they already beat is suddenly going to come in and blow them out.

Bryce Young doesn’t need to throw for 300 yards. He needs to manage the game, avoid turnovers, and trust his receivers when the Rams’ safeties play shallow. You have to take shots against this defense. You have to trust your guys’ ball skills. And if Carolina controls the clock again, they give themselves a real chance.

Now, let’s be clear – the Rams are the better team. Matthew Stafford is still elite. But they’re 5-4 on the road, and they made mistakes in the first meeting. If those mistakes show up again, this game is far closer than Vegas wants you to believe.

Packers at Bears (+1)

This one comes down to quarterbacks and turnovers. That’s it.

Jordan Love has a beautiful arm, and Green Bay can move the ball on Chicago. They’ve proven that already. But every time they’ve gotten in trouble against the Bears, it’s been self-inflicted – turnovers at the worst possible moments.

Chicago’s defense is opportunistic. If they get their hands on the football, the entire tone of the game changes. On the other side, Caleb Williams has to play beyond his years. This is his first playoff moment, and at some point, he’s going to have to push the ball down the field and trust his guys.

The Bears need to run the ball, control time of possession, and keep this from becoming a shootout. If they do that, they can win. And based on consistency throughout the season, I lean Chicago in a tight one.

Bills (-1) at Jaguars

If you’re Jacksonville, this is probably the one matchup you didn’t want. Buffalo has the most playoff experience in the AFC field, and Josh Allen plays his best football when everything is on the line.

The Jaguars are hot. Eight wins in a row. Trevor Lawrence has taken a step, especially with his legs in the red zone. This offense can score, and Buffalo’s defense hasn’t been dominant all season.

But playoff Josh Allen is different. He’s not conservative. He’s not sliding early. He’s taking yards however he can get them. James Cook gives them balance. And Allen rarely gives teams free possessions in January.

This feels like a chess match that comes down to a walk-off kick. I trust the experience. I trust the urgency. Buffalo finds a way.

Chargers at Patriots (-4)

This is about belief and leadership.

The Patriots are playing for something bigger than individual stats. You can feel it. Mike Vrabel has this locker room completely bought in. Guys are playing above their pedigree. They’re playing confident, fast, and connected.

Drake Maye has been one of the most accurate deep passers in the league. He’s elevated the talent around him. Defensively, New England doesn’t rely on stars – they rely on effort, discipline, and trust.

The Chargers have talent. Derwin James. Khalil Mack. Justin Herbert playing through injury. But it’s hard to go into Foxborough in the playoffs and come out alive, especially against a team that believes this is their year.

I like New England to take care of business.

Texans (-3.5) at Steelers

This might be the worst possible matchup for Pittsburgh.

Houston’s defense is relentless. The pass rush is real. The secondary is deep, physical, and complete. Aaron Rodgers is going to feel this one whether the ball comes out or not.

Pittsburgh has heart. Mike Tomlin deserves endless respect for getting them here. But C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and that Texans defense are built for this moment. If Houston gets even average offensive production, their defense will do the rest.

I see Houston controlling this game and winning by a touchdown.