NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Sunday - Buffalo And The Burrow

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-13)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

The Miami Dolphins are in the playoffs because the New York Jets are worse. That 11-6 final score in last week's season finale between the two teams was not truly indicative of how horrendous that game was. Miami clinched a playoff spot, though. 

With the news that Tua Tagovailoa is listed out for Sunday, Skylar Thompson is expected to start as quarterback for Miami. He threw for 152 yards last week against the Jets. The Buffalo defense can be stingy. The Bills yield a mere 17.9 points per game with a Top 5 defense that expects to give Miami’s line lots of problems. 

This Dolphins team is not the same without Tagovailoa. Worse, Buffalo is a different team with an even greater sense of purpose now. The Bills want to make an emphatic statement and send a message to Cincinnati and Kansas City. Some pundits feel this game is more like a tune-up for the “real playoffs.”

Buffalo’s second-ranked offense going against one of the worst secondaries in the league is almost not fair. The weather appears it will not be an issue on Sunday either. Josh Allen expects to have a big Sunday.

See where the number comes in on the Over. It was 43.5, but it might shift. Buffalo might score fewer points, but chances are it scores 30+. This first game could be a blowout.

Our Pick is to take the Buffalo Bills laying 13. 

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (-3)

Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings probably never expected to be here, but they are on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota won the NFC North, while teams like Detroit and Green Bay fell well short. New York got a spot in the playoffs mostly off their 7-2 start. Daniel Jones and Kirk Cousins sure feel like a recipe full of unknowns. 

Minnesota and Cousins have not played great against better teams. That is not a surprise. Daniel Jones and primetime situations often do not mix. Their previous meeting was a 27-24 affair, with Jones throwing a questionable interception that tipped the game's balance. 

This Vikings team possesses more weapons for Cousins. Justin Jefferson is an all-world receiver (more than 1,800 yards receiving), and Dalvin Cook ran for almost 1,200 yards. New York’s defense held Minnesota to 353 yards passing and 83 on the ground. It lost the turnover battle by two and the game. 

Again, the Giants must hold on to the ball to have any chance of winning here and create a few opportunities of their own. New York played catch-up throughout the first meeting, and this game could get away from it quickly if Minnesota scores early again. 

Can Saquon Barkley be that X-factor here? He touched the ball 22 times, but that number needs to approach 30 for New York to win. Minnesota flirted with disaster last time and needed a last-second 61-yard field goal. It may be a fraction less close this time around.

Our Pick is to take Minnesota laying three points and the Over at 48. 

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-8)

Sunday 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC

Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati

Again, how does one approach this game? These two teams just played each other last week. Does Lamar Jackson play? He didn't practice Wednesday and looks increasingly doubtful for Sunday. Tyler Huntley has tendinitis in his throwing shoulder and may not be 100% by game time. 

At least the Ravens got to the playoffs. Given the injury to Jackson and how their receiving corps has looked, it is impressive what Baltimore has managed. Can the Ravens keep this game competitive on Sunday? That may be up to the pass defense and if they can coax a few mistakes out of Joe Burrow. 

Cincinnati was held to 55 yards rushing and 207 net yards passing in Week 18. This was a home game. Now, did the Bengals lay back once the game hit halftime? The defense did not, as they forced four turnovers and even figured in the scoring once. 

Baltimore looks too banged up to make a game of this. One would love to see a competitive primetime contest. However, Cincinnati was 12-4 ATS and hit 12 of 14 to end the season. Expect it to cover Sunday evening by a whisker.

Our Pick is to take the Cincinnati laying eight points.

All of our numbers are from DraftKings and BetMGM. Good luck this weekend!