A capsule preview of Sunday's NFL wild card games by World-Herald NFL editor John Rodino. Predictions not related to point spreads.
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AFC Wild Card
Bills (9-7) at Jaguars (10-6)
12:05 p.m. • CBS • 1620 AM
JAGUARS’ DEFENSE A TALL ORDER
Lowdown: This game could hinge on the running backs. Rookie Leonard Fournette had ankle and thigh troubles but is in good shape to help carry Jacksonville, which likes to pound it and rely on defense. LeSean McCoy, with a bad ankle, IS Buffalo’s offense — 1,138 yards rushing; he also leads the Bills in receptions. Mike Tolbert and Marcus Murphy — 73 carries combined — back up McCoy. It’s a tough matchup either way against the Jaguars’ AFC-leading defense, which is solid from front (sack artist Calais Campbell) to back (A.J. Bouye leads a talented secondary). The quarterbacks had to be looking over their shoulders. Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor was benched for a game in November. The Jags’ Blake Bortles improved, but rumors have several potential free agents replacing him next season.
Line: Jaguars by 8-1/2
Prediction: Jaguars 22-16
NFC Wild Card
Panthers (11-5) at Saints (11-5)
3:40 p.m. • Fox • 1620 AM
DIVISION RIVALS MEET IN ROUND 3
Lowdown: New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has a Super Bowl ring, but the Saints haven’t been in the postseason since 2013. Carolina is back in the playoffs after a 6-10 slide in 2016, a season after a Super Bowl appearance. QB Cam Newton can be electrifying, but has been inconsistent in big games. The Saints swept their NFC South rival Panthers in the regular season. The Saints’ defense has improved with big years from end Cameron Jordan and rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Linebacker Luke Kuechly leads the seventh-ranked Carolina defense. New Orleans has a 1-2 running back punch of Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara. Kamara and Panthers rookie back Christian McCaffrey also make an impact catching the ball.
Line: Saints by 7
Prediction: Saints 27-24
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Sam Koch, Baltimore Ravens
Koch made the play that essentially sealed the victory for Baltimore. With a 34-29 lead and 11 seconds remaining, Koch received the snap on fourth down in his own end zone and took an intentional safety that left San Francisco with only four seconds on the ensuing safety punt. The 49ers weren't able to score, and the Ravens won, 34-31.
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Carl Nicks and Scott Shanle, New Orleans Saints; Cody Glenn, Indianapolis Colts
Both Shanle (linebacker) and Nicks (left guard) started for the Super Bowl-winning Saints. Shanle recorded six tackles and defended a pair of passes. Nicks and the Saints' offensive line surrendered one sack and paved the way for 51 rushing yards. Glenn played primarily on special teams for the Colts but did not record any stats.
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Ralph Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Brown recorded one tackle in the loss to Pittsburgh, but he almost saved the victory for Arizona. Ben Roethlisberger's game-winning touchdown throw to Santonio Holmes went just over Brown's fingertips.