Our football staff has locked in picks for all three of Sunday's playoff games for our NFL predictions for the Wild Card Round on January 11.
First, we'll target Bills vs. Jaguars in the early window, followed by picks for 49ers vs. Eagles later in the afternoon, and then we'll wrap things up with a prediction for Chargers vs. Patriots in the night game.
Let's dive into our expert NFL picks and best bets for Wild Card Sunday.
NFL Predictions & Picks — Wild Card Sunday
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 1:00 p.m. | |
  | 4:30 p.m. | |
  | 8:15 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NFL Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Bills vs Jaguars Moneyline Pick
The Bills have one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL, ranking 31st in rush EPA allowed.
Travis Etienne is poised to take advantage of this mismatch, setting up Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars' passing game.
Led by Josh Allen, the Bills offense was strong once again this season, but their strength of schedule comes in at 29th, indicating that this success could be a product of an easy schedule.
Jacksonville ranks 5th in EPA allowed on defense, with a particular strength against the pass.
The AFC South champions should take this one at home and move on to the Divisional Round.
Pick: Jaguars Moneyline (-115)
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49ers vs Eagles Total Prediction
By Dylan Wilkerson
Both of these teams play at a slow pace. The 49ers average 67 offensive snaps per game; the Eagles average 63.7 offensive snaps per game.
Both defenses are also strong in high-leverage situations. They both allow touchdowns on around 53% of red-zone trips, and both allow under 2.2 points per drive, placing them in the top half of the NFL for both of those statistics.
The Eagles and Niners both rank near the top of Action Network's luck rankings, indicating that scoring regression may be inbound for both squads.
This should be a low-scoring NFC affair.
Pick: Under 44.5 (-110)
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Chargers vs Patriots Spread Pick
By Dylan Wilkerson
The Patriots have had a hilariously easy schedule this season, while the Chargers have had the 16th-ranked schedule.
The Chargers have also had the benefit of being a well-rested team, while the Patriots played their starters in their Week 18 matchup against the Dolphins.
The Chargers defense has a leg up in this matchup. They rank 6th in EPA/play allowed, 7th in dropback EPA allowed, and 4th in rush EPA allowed.
The Charger' defense should be able to get stops in this game, and I trust their offense to move the ball, with their starters being the beneficiaries of essentially a bye week.
Pick: Chargers +3.5 (-110)
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