2025 NFL Wild Card Weekend Odds: Again Underdog Jaguars, Chargers

[ad_1] I can not consider a greater approach to finish the primary full week of the brand new 12 months than by watching soccer, soccer after which extra soccer.

I am telling you, these NFL Wild Card matchups might get very fascinating. In actual fact, I am even offered on a pair underdogs to drag the upsets.

Try what I am on this weekend.

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No. 5 Rams @ No. 4 Panthers

I feel the Rams will possible win this sport by round 10 factors, nevertheless it's too dangerous to take them to cowl.

It’s an NFL playoff sport and 10 factors is manner an excessive amount of. So I’m enjoying their back-up operating again Blake Corum's Over dashing prop.

One angle I usually look towards once I imagine a staff will win by double digits is the back-up operating again to eclipse his dashing quantity due to the sport script.

A staff with a lead will run the ball extra usually, particularly late within the sport. There are different alternatives for backup backs to achieve yards on third down and on the finish of lengthy drives that assist their dashing prop go over the quantity.

It is also useful that the Rams use Corum extensively, even when they aren’t profitable massive in a matchup. After the Rams' bye week, his manufacturing picked up. Within the Rams' final 10 video games, Corum has gotten at the least 10 carries in six of these contests and no fewer than six in any sport. He’s gone over 43 yards in seven of these 10 contests, together with 81 yards in opposition to the Panthers six weeks in the past.

I imagine the Rams will management the road of scrimmage and use Corum to assist them try this.

PICK: Blake Corum Over 43.5 dashing yards

No. 6 Payments @ No. 3 Jaguars

The improper staff is favored on this sport and I'll gladly again the Jaguars on this one.

This can be a Josh Allen tax, the place books have shaded this quantity towards the Payments due to him.

Buffalo undoubtedly is on this sport due to Allen, however he’s additionally obtained the advantage of the very best dashing assault within the NFL. The Jaguars have the No. 1 dashing protection within the league and if the Payments can't run the soccer, they're in bother.

Moreover, the Payments haven't got the receivers or passing sport to attain a bunch of factors in opposition to among the finest defenses within the league. Josh Allen might want to make some wild YOLO performs to maintain them within the sport.

Jacksonville, alternatively, has the very best level differential since Week 11. That is because of the protection enjoying properly however extra importantly, quarterback Trevor Lawrence stopped doing dumb stuff. It felt like a few times a sport, you had been left questioning if Lawrence even knew the right way to play the place.

All of that's gone now.

He’s lower down on his turnovers and he’s been extra environment friendly. He’s letting offense come to him and he’s additionally been utilizing his legs extra usually. Lawrence is tied for the NFL lead in dashing touchdowns from the QB place since Week 11.

Again to the Payments.

They've a poor protection and it exhibits most frequently in defending the run. Their protection ranks thirty first in dashing DVOA and the Jaguars haven't any situation utilizing the run sport as their offense. Travis Etienne had 260 rushes for the Jaguars and averaged 4.3 yards per carry. The Jags have a transparent benefit with their dashing assault.

Finally, I like this Jaguars staff proper now. Their dashing protection can shut down the Payments' James Cook dinner and power all the things to be about Buffalo's passing sport. The Jags' dashing assault can put on down that poor Payments' run protection.

Lawrence can proceed to take the photographs when they're out there, however in any other case, he can simply play the sport as designed.

Give me the Jaguars.

PICK: Jaguars (+1.5) to lose by fewer than 1.5 factors or win outright

No. 7 Chargers @ No. 2 Patriots

I'm fading the New England Patriots all the postseason.

They’ve had a unbelievable season in Mike Vrabel's first 12 months. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is firmly within the MVP dialogue and the Pats secured the AFC East crown and the second seed for the playoffs.

You possibly can solely play the schedule in entrance of you and the Patriots gained these video games. Nonetheless, it’s the best schedule of any playoff staff since 1999.

The opponent-against-win proportion was .380% which is tremendous low. They ended up enjoying a bunch of groups with backup quarterbacks as properly. The Patriots beat a single staff with a profitable file and went simply 1-2 in opposition to groups over .500.

Relying on the place you rank the Payments within the hierarchy, this Chargers staff is both the first- or second-best staff the Patriots have performed all season. And that might be problematic for this younger Pats squad.

The Chargers protection ranks first in opponent passer score and they're additionally good in opposition to the run. We all know Bolts' QB Justin Herbert is a magnet for strain. However second within the NFL in probably the most pressures confronted is Drake Maye. He’s been unbelievable in opposition to strain this 12 months, so let's credit score him for that. However playoff strain in opposition to the Chargers' move protection hits a tad in a different way than the Jets.

L.A.'s offensive line is a multitude and anybody who’s watched soccer all season has seen it. The Chargers' tackles have been out a lot of the season and their heart is terrible. It’s not scenario for Justin Herbert. Nonetheless, I don't assume the Patriots' line of defense poses as many points as different teams who've terrorized the Chargers, and PFF grades the Patriots' move rush as 18th.

Harbaugh will deal with operating the ball and maintaining Herbert out of clear passing conditions.

I do imagine the Patriots are stay to lose this sport, however I'll accept taking the Chargers with the factors.

PICK: Chargers (+3.5) to lose by fewer than 3.5 factors or win outright

Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 totally different groups. He began at proper deal with for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior 12 months. Observe him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.

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