Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Rams
Prior to this season, the Wild Card contest featuring the No. 3 and No. 6 seed in each conference was between the highest division winner that did not receive a first-round bye and the last team in the playoffs. With the NFL extending to 14 playoff teams this year, that’s no longer the case.
The first NFC match-up of the Wild Card weekend will be on Saturday at 4:40 p.m. ET. The game will feature division rivals as the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Rams visit the No. 3 seed Seattle Seahawks.
These teams went 1-1 against each other this season with both wins coming at their respective home fields. Seattle won the NFC West at 12-4 and will come in as a 4.5-point favorite. The Rams finished 10-6.
The final match-up of this weekend will also be a division rivalry. At 8:15 p.m. ET on Sunday night, third-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Cleveland Browns. As was the case with the NFC match-up, the teams split the two meetings this year with each winning at home.
The No. 6 seed Browns won 24-22 in Week 17 to finish 11-5 and snap the NFL’s longest playoff drought. At 12-4, the Steelers are currently a 5-point favorite.
Cleveland Browns
For the first time in a long time, the Cleveland Browns have made the playoffs. Prior to this season, the last time Cleveland made the playoffs came in 2002. That was the year that the NFL switched from six to eight divisions.
Browns’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)
Chicago Bears, 9-7
New Orleans Saints, 13-5
Seattle Seahawks, 6-13
Washington Football Team, 34-12-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-4
Green Bay Packers, 7-13
Los Angeles Rams, 11-13
Kansas City Chiefs, 11-13
Pittsburgh Steelers, 59-77-1
Buffalo Bills, 13-9
Baltimore Ravens, 11-33
Tennessee Titans, 36-32
Indianapolis Colts 18-17
Pittsburgh Steelers
For the first time since 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made the playoffs. Pittsburgh was the No. 2 seed that season, but lost in the Divisional round to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 45-42 shootout.
Steelers’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)
Chicago Bears, 7-19-1
New Orleans Saints, 7-9
Seattle Seahawks, 9-10
Washington Football Team, 33-43
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-2
Green Bay Packers, 16-19
Los Angeles Rams, 8-5
Buffalo Bills, 16-11
Kansas City Chiefs, 23-12
Tennessee Titans, 47-32
Baltimore Ravens, 3-6
Cleveland Browns, 77-59-1
Indianapolis Colts, 26-6
Seattle Seahawks
For the first time since 2016, the Seattle Seahawks have won the NFC West. This will be their ninth playoff appearance since 2010.
Seahawks’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)
Chicago Bears, 11-7
Green Bay Packers, 9-14
New Orleans Saints, 8-8
Washington Football Team, 9-12
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-5
Indianapolis Colts, 5-7
Los Angeles Rams, 25-21
Kansas City Chiefs 19-33
Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-9
Buffalo Bills, 8-6
Baltimore Ravens, 3-3
Tennessee Titans, 10-7
Cleveland Browns, 13-6
Los Angeles Rams
For the first time since 2018, the Los Angeles Rams have made the playoffs. It is the just third time since 2005.
Rams’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)
Chicago Bears, 37-53-3
Green Bay Packers, 46-45-2
New Orleans Saints, 42-33
Washington Football Team, 12-24-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 15-9-2
Indianapolis Colts, 19-23-1
Seattle Seahawks, 20-25
Kansas City Chiefs, 5-7
Pittsburgh Steelers, 15-9
Buffalo Bills, 5-8
Baltimore Ravens, 2-5
Tennessee Titans, 7-5
Cleveland Browns, 12-9