The Loop NFL Picks: Wild Card Weekend

4 days ago 2

Packers at Bears (+1½)

Green Bay heads to Chicago as only the fourth team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. It will be a fierce battle between young coaches Matt LaFleur and Ben Johnson, with the winner advancing to the divisional round and the loser being replaced by John Harbaugh.
Pick: Bears by 10

Texans at Steelers (+3)

Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers really showed those haters last Sunday when the Steelers barely squeaked into the playoffs thanks to a missed Baltimore field goal on the final play. Folks generally become Rodgers haters whenever he opens his mouth.
Pick: Texans by 7

49ers at Eagles (-4½)

The Niners’ NFC West title hopes collapsed against Seattle because of the injury to all-world left tackle Trent Williams. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy wound up being sacked almost as easily last weekend as Nicolas Maduro.
Pick: Eagles by 7

Chargers at Patriots (-3½)

New England has raised eyebrows over plans to start two players who have been charged with domestic violence. That won’t matter Sunday, when the only person experiencing violence will be the barely protected Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Pick: Patriots by 7

Rams at Panthers (-10½)

Carolina backed into the playoffs as champion of the motley NFC South despite an 8-9 record. We’d make a crack about the Panthers actually being 6-7, but we don’t have any idea what that phrase means, either.
Pick: Rams by 17

Bills at Jaguars (+1½)

All the hot takers are saying this finally is Buffalo’s year because the AFC playoffs do not include Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow. Well, at about 3:30 p.m. CST on Sunday, the AFC playoffs will also not include Josh Allen.
Pick: Jaguars by 3

RECORD

Last week
8-8 straight up
7-9 vs. spread

Season
163-108-1 straight up (.601)
130-142 vs. spread (.478)

All-time (2003-26)
3982-2209-15 straight up (.643)
3041-3021-145 vs spread (.502)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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