NFL predictions: Wild Card weekend

The 17-week NFL regular season is over. Time to get real with the playoffs beginning with Wild Card Weekend.

Here are one man's predictions for this weekend's games.

Saturday

HOUSTON (-3) over Oakland -- Two teams with QB issues. Raiders lost Derek Carr for the season with a broken leg in Week 16. The Texans benched Brock Osweiler for Tom Savage on Sunday, but Savage suffered a concussion in the game. Who will start? Doesn't matter. The deciding factor here will be Houston's defense -- tops in the NFL at 301.3 ypg. TEXANS 24, Raiders  17

SEATTLE (-7 1/2) over Detroit -- OK, so Seattle might not be quite at the level of their recent Super Bowl teams, but they still have the fifth-ranked defense. Plus, this game offers a clean slate beginning in their raucous house. It doesn't hurt that Detroit is riding a three-game losing streak. SEAHAWKS 31, Lions 17


Sunday

PITTSBURGH (-10) over Miami -- Ben Roethlisberger & Co. weren't guaranteed to be in the playoffs until beating Baltimore in Week 16, but they figure to be a tough out now that they're in. Kudos to the Dolphins for reaching the playoffs in Year 1 under Adam Gaze. I think this game will be competitive, but Steelers will prevail with temps expected in the high 20s. STEELERS 27, Dolphins 16

GREEN BAY (-4) over NY Giants -- Aaron Rodgers won't relax when facing the Giants' D, but New York's offense, a disappointing enigma most of the season, will cost the Giants here. Temperatures expected to be in the teens on Sunday. PACKERS 21, Giants 13

I hate going all chalk and all home, but what can ya do ... except be wrong? LOL