Start your path to the Super Bowl in the NFL: everything you need to know for the playoffs

Starting this Saturday, life-and-death matches will begin with the Wild Card round and We give you the best preview and everything you need to know To enjoy the play-offs of the 2023-24 season. Let’s remember that the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers did not compete in this first round, they were the winners of their respective conferences and earned the ‘bye’.

American Conference

Cleveland Browns (#5) vs Houston Texans (#4): Saturday 22:30 CET

The 2023-24 NFL playoffs will begin with a generational clash between two quarterbacks who shook up the league this season — each for different reasons. Joe Flacco became the great architect of the reborn Browns Up to four quarterbacks came onto the field throughout the year. At 38 years old and already looking like semi-retirement, the Ohioans hired his services midway through the course, and the results were second to none: five wins in six games and reaching the playoffs, which seemed impossible after Deshaun Watson’s injury. People from Cleveland He’s top 3 defensively in the contest (1st in passing allowed) and the guy who should win the next Defensive Player of the Year is Myles Garrett.

Texans A team that seemed dead last season and came to the table thanks to their good work in the offices, became the big discovery of the season. Quarterback CJ Stroud had one of the best rookie campaigns ever (4,107 passing yards and 23 touchdowns). he even prefers pools for MVP. The development of youngsters such as Nico Collins, Will Anderson Jr and Tank Dell, who will be away from the team due to injury, and the wisdom of Demeco Ryans, who made his debut as head coach this year, make Houston dream of being in the league. sections.

Miami Dolphins (#6) vs Kansas City Chiefs (#3): early morning 2pm CET Saturday to Sunday

An earthquake coming to Arrowhead? in Kansas, Reigning now-legendary Super Bowl champions Patrick Mahomes At the controls, they face one of the toughest tests since their NFL love affair began in 2019. The Chiefs signed the deal. Worst offensive year of the Mahomes era: 15th in points per game and 16th in TDs per contest is a receiver room worthy of the worst, and Travis Kelce is far from his best. They were one of the best defenses this season, but… Will it be enough to stop the most explosive attack?

dolphinsDespite the ‘trigger’ of the last few days, they offer one of the best designed offenses in the league, the 2nd most scoring offense (496) and Tu’s passer-receiver pairing.Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are unstoppable on the deep play. HC Mike McDaniel added a ground threat to the team headlined by Mostert and Achane, and few teams can stop Miami. on fireBut the losses on defense raise doubts: Pro Bowlers Xavien Howard and Bradley Chubb will not be shortchanged, and the linebacker position is plagued by injuries.

Buffalo Bills (#2) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (#7): Sunday, 19:00 CET

This is one of the most unequal matchups on the wild card tour. Bills have had an up-and-down season – with the firing of the offensive coordinator – but they manage to make the playoffs. They have won the last five matches and have been in sixth place for over a month.. Josh Allen is the league’s top scoring QB (44) and has a goal to break the curse and take Buffalo to the Super Bowl. The race is – finally – working with James Cook and defensively, they look to have an excellent version following the loss of Matt Milano (Linebacker and captain) in the middle of the year.

On the other side of the coin, despite everything, Steelers, Despite a disappointing season, they managed to qualify for the play-offs. As usual the attack doesn’t work (28th in points per game.) – with the near-convict Kenny Pickett – and the defensive unit pulling the wagon is the sixth-best unit in points received. HighMark Stadium is expected to be very cold in Pittsburgh. TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, star edge rushers and safeties, will not be short-dressed. It looks very difficult.

National Conference

Green Bay Packers (#7) vs Dallas Cowboys (#2): Sunday 22:30 CET

Another emotional match. Mike McCarthy, head coach cowboysHe will take on the Packers, the Arlington team he managed from 2006 to 2018 and made Super Bowl XLV champions, but everything is different now.. The Dallasites finished first in total points and fifth in points scored. They are a team that has won 16 in a row at home and has elite talent in all the ‘premium’ positions, and now they have added to this their – always questionable – confidence. Dak PrescottA point guard who is playing his best season since entering the league and has solved his turnover problems. 36 TDs and 9 interceptions they support it. In front of you is a team that has nothing to lose.

The Packers became the youngest team in history to make the playoffs. Jordan Love is “in his element,” assuring him he will be the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers. Joe Barry’s defense has been disappointing, but offensive players like Aaron Jones, Reed or Watson could give the Texans trouble. Reaching this Wild Card is already a reward for those from Green Bay, but that doesn’t take it away.The desire to break the dreams of ‘Team America’.

Detroit Lions (#3) vs Los Angeles Rams (#6): From early Sunday morning until 2:00 AM (CET) on Monday

Can the prodigal sons overcome their past? Jared Goff The player, who was selected with the first pick in the 2017 Rams Draft, will face the team that transferred him to its team a few years later. Lions To sign Matthew Stafford, The quarterback who led Angelenos to the Super Bowl in his first year in 2022. Both sides won and now ‘reborn’ Goff takes the reins of historic Lions – Division winner for the first time since 1993 – predominant in offensive impulses. They ranked 5th in points per game and 3rd in yards and points per game. The offensive line in Detroit is working wonders and offensive players like Gibbs or players like St Brown and Laporta on the wings can be torn apart at any time.

Coaches, this is the NFL’s fabulous Cinderella. Nobody cared about them due to injuries and an aging roster, but Sean McVay showed once again why he is one of the most talented minds on the bench. Stafford is at an outstanding level and has two valuable players in Puka Nacua (WR) and Kyren Williams (RB). In their first and second years, they broke all the rules and became among the best in the competition. They have issues defensively in coverage, but if Aaron Donald and his teammates can hold their own defensively and stay in the game, Angelenos can pull off the ‘upset’ on Michigan. These Rams already know what it’s like to win and experience on big stages can be decisive.

Philadelphia Eagles (#5) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (#4): Early morning 02:00 CET from Monday to Tuesday

Clash of dynamics in Tampa. Eagles just one step away from winning the Super Bowl Less than a year ago, they began to fade as the weeks went by. After starting the season 10-1, Philadelphia five of the last six The commits feature one of the worst defenses in the competition. After winning in 2022, they finished second in TDs received and fifth in total yards in 2023. The summer departures of the two coordinators had an impact on the city of brotherly love; Here the attack also became increasingly stronger. A.J. Brown disappeared in DecembernJalen Hurts Beyond his physical issues, we didn’t see him at the MVP level he was last year.

There is a lot of doubt in the team’s ability to reach the play-offs. Where to visit the dentist in Florida. We are waiting at Raymond James Stadium pirates, who won the league title on the final day and entered the game with enough courage to knock out the current runners-up. Neither of the two parcels of the field stands out particularly, but Mayfield-Evans in attack and leadership Winfield Jr. The defense, one of the best in the league, could have a great day and surprise.