The NFL playoff bracket is set, with the AFC schedules set to begin on Saturday afternoon when the Browns (7) travel to Houston to face the Texans (2) on NBC.
Philadelphia will close out the opening weekend with a return trip to Tampa Bay, where they face the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium for the second time this season.
Green Bay will travel to Dallas on Sunday afternoon, while Matthew Stafford will return to Detroit as a leader of the Rams to face Jared Goff and the No. 3 seeded Lions.
With the NFL postseason set to begin, we’re previewing the biggest weakness or concern for each NFC Wild Card team.
NFC Super Wild Card Weekend Schedule
Sunday, Jan. 14
NFC: 4:30 p.m. 7 Green Bay at 2 Dallas (FOX, FOX Deportes)
NFC: 8:00 p.m. 6 Los Angeles Rams at 3 Detroit (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
Monday, Jan. 15
NFC: 8:00 p.m.
5 Philadelphia at 4 Tampa Bay (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+,ESPN2/ESPN+ ManningCast, ESPN Deportes)
#7 Seed: Green Bay Packers
Biggest Weakness: Run defense
According to PFF, the Green Bay defense has allowed 47 explosive runs and 77 missed tackles on such plays. The Packers allowed more than 2.9 rushing yards after contact per attempt during the regular season.
This season, Green Bay allowed four running backs to rush for 100 or more rushing yards in a matchup, while the 128.3 rushing yards the Packers allowed per game was 28th best in the NFL.
#6 seed: Los Angeles Rams
Biggest Weakness: Pass defense
The Rams allowed 231.1 passing yards per game during the regular season, the 20th best in the NFL and allowed five opposing signal-callers to log 300+ yards or more.
#5 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
Biggest weakness: Third down defense
According to PFF, the Eagles have had the sixth-most plays run against them because of their inability to get off the field on third and fourth downs. Philadelphia has allowed a 48.1% conversion rate and 20 touchdowns on such downs, ranking last in both categories.
Philadelphia’s defense allowed a third down conversion rate of 46% on third and 10+ yards to go in the last four weeks of the regular season, the worst in the NFL, per Inside Edge.
#4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest Weakness: Rushing attack
Tampa’s stout passing offense will give Philadelphia problems, but the Buccaneers are the worst rushing team in the NFL heading into the postseason.
The Buccaneers finished the regular season ranked last in the NFL in total rushing yards and yards per carry.
Talented running back Richard White was tied for second in the NFL with 272 carries but finished 14th in rushing yards while not reaching the 1,000-yard plateau on the ground.
#3 seed: Detroit Lions
Biggest weakness: Pass defense
The Lions’ defense allowed an average of 314.8 passing yards in their past four games, and Matthew Stafford loves to target the middle of the field with play-action concepts.
Over his past three games, Stafford has a QBR of 88.3 on play-action throws, completing 21 of 25 passes for 307 yards.
#2 seed: Dallas Cowboys
Biggest weakness: Run defense
Dallas is the ultimate front-runner, and Dak Prescott and company are almost unbeatable when they have a lead.
If you can get a lead on the Cowboys’ defense, all bets are off, and things can get interesting.
In three of Dallas’ five losses this season, the Cowboys have allowed at least 170 yards rushing. In their most recent loss, a 31-10 beatdown at the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, the Cowboys surrendered 266 rushing yards, the most under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn since 2021.
