2023 NFL Playoffs: Predictions for NFL Wild Card weekend
By Grant Tuttle
The Kansas City faithful will be watching football this weekend as they anxiously await their divisional-round matchup. Who wins this weekend? We discuss.
There is truly no better weekend in the calendar year than the first one of the NFL playoffs. Wild Card weekend has brought some of the biggest upsets, closest games, and blood-pressure-raising events in NFL history. Whether it be the “Music City Miracle” or the dramatic comeback victory that Andrew Luck maneuvered against the Chiefs, we all have memories of excitement and heartbreak from this part of the football season. We should expect more of the same in 2023.
Luckily, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a chance to break our hearts this weekend, and will instead wait to see who they will match up with next week. Because Kansas City is the one seed, they will await the lowest remaining seed in the AFC, who they will host at Arrowhead.
Who could they play? How will each game end up? We discuss each matchup this weekend in chronological order and make our predictions.
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (Fox) Saturday, 3:30 pm
While the 49ers are heavily favored to win this one as the No. 2 seed in the NFC, there are reasons to believe that this game may be closer than advertised. This will be a showdown of excellent coaching, good skill position players, and mediocre quarterback play.
If anyone would have said at the beginning of the season that the Wild Card Round would feature starting quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Geno Smith, they would have been laughed out of the room. Yet, here we are. The Seahawks have an explosive group of weapons and the 49ers have even more offensive firepower.
While many are picking this to be a blowout in San Francisco’s favor, it needs to be stated that the 49ers are capable of producing really bad games. For proof, turn to Week 17, when the 49ers narrowly escaped the Las Vegas Raiders led by Jarrett Stidham. While they beat Seattle twice this season, it is never easy to beat a team three times.
The Bottom Line
I expect the 49ers to win the game. However, they will get the Seahawks’ very best effort and it will be one of the best games of the weekend. Look for Geno Smith to find DK Metcalf early and often if they can’t get the rushing attack going. On the flip side, expect Kyle Shanahan to reach “in his bag” in terms of play calling. Christian McCaffrey may have an enormous game. This one will come down to who turns the ball over.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Seahawks 24