This is the second story of a two-part series covering the 2025 NFL Wild Card Weekend. Read NFC predictions here.
NFL Wild Card weekend only comes once a year, so before the semester starts, let’s bask in all its glory, and preview each of the weekend’s matchups.
Up next, is AFC’s side of the bracket.
No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7)
The last time the Denver Broncos were in Buffalo, the Bills were on the end of a crushing last second defeat off a game winning field goal. In the playoffs last season versus the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills had a chance to amend the loss against Denver by kicking a clutch field goal themselves. However, what they got was an all too synonymous scene of a clutch kick going “wide right,” leading to their loss.
So once again, Buffalo plays yet another home playoff game after a heartbreaking end to last season’s playoff run, but this time without veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, whom Buffalo traded to the Houston Texans in the offseason. After one full season without, maybe the Bills are better off.
Bill’s quarterback Josh Allen’s personal development through training camp translated to the regular season, as the 28-year-old is a frontrunner for this year’s MVP. While his stats don’t measure up to the likes of Baltimore Raven’s Lamar Jackson the argument can be made that without Allen, the Bills would more than likely be on the outside looking in. Paired with Digg’s departure was the exit of receiver Gabe Davis, and despite losing two key players on offense, Allen led Buffalo to scoring 30+ in eight games, tying the NFL record for the longest streak with said point tally.
Denver has the tough task of shutting Allen down through the air, and the ground. That’s going to be tough when considering the stamina that Allen has shown he carries, just think about the absurd stat line he put up against the Rams scoring three passing touchdowns AND three rushing touchdowns.
Here’s the silver lining for the Broncos, the Bills defense at times is atrocious. The Ravens in week four put up 35 points against them, the Rams 44, and the Lions 42.
If Denver hopes to pull off the upset, they’ll have to keep Allen off the field and rely on their rookie quarterback Bo Nix. To be fair, the Broncos do have the league’s seventh best defense, so it isn’t that far off a shot to say Denver has a chance to pull off this weekend’s biggest upset.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills
The Broncos are too young, and Josh Allen has the attitude and confidence to go all the way. Nix is a good quarterback, he’s thrown for four more touchdowns than Daniels (29 total), but sometimes he lacks poise and looks too much like a rookie in my opinion. Don’t be surprised though if the Broncos keep it close–similar to the Colts when they faced of the Bills in 2021–but don’t expect them to have enough to beat the Bills in Buffalo of all places.
No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) vs. No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
The Ravens went from losing their season opener because tight-end Isaiah Likely’s toe from being a little too big, to closing their season on a four-game win streak to claim the AFC North crown.
As for the Steelers season is pretty much the opposite. Pittsburg had a strong start under quarterback Justin Fields and kept the momentum going when Russel Wilson came back from injury and was chosen for the starting role by head coach Mike Tomlin. By mid-December, the Steelers were 10-3, and in control of the division, and that’s when the unravel began.
The Steelers played three games in 11 days, and lost all of them, including one beatdown at the hands of the Ravens. So, while Baltimore comes into their matchup with their heads high after blowing out the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers are scrambling to adjust after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in primetime.
Baltimore’s divisional championship was clinched on the backs of MVP candidate, Lamar Jackson, and all-pro runner Derrick Henry. Jackson leads quarterbacks in rushing yards with a little over 900, he’s tied with Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff for the second most touchdowns thrown at 41, and most importantly he’s only thrown four interceptions, which is second best in the NFL.
Jacksons near perfect play hasn’t cooled Derrick Henry’s rushing dominance. After leaving the Tennessee Titans in the offseason and signing with Baltimore, Henry didn’t miss a beat rushing for 1,921 yards–second best only behind the league leader Barkley–and 16 touchdowns, putting Henry in a three-way tie for most rushing touchdowns this season.
The Steelers have been all right against the run, giving up only a little under 100 rushing yards per game. Russel Wilson has been solid with 16 touchdowns and only throwing five interceptions and running back Najee Harris gained over 1,000 yards this season, but it’s nothing all too special like Baltimore.
Wilson’s performances haven’t been bad, but they’re not great. He misses targets, stalls on drives, and has a track record for in house drama.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens
This one’s easy. The Steelers have just simply flamed out, and unluckily for them, they’re catching the Ravens when they’re red hot with a want for vengeance after last year’s AFC Championship loss at home to the Chiefs.
No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Last year’s Offensive Rookie Of the Year (OROY) C.J. Stroud returns to the playoffs, but this time around the Texans look more fortunate to be in a weak division rather than host to a rising superstar.
Don’t let the record tell a different story, this season Houston has been plagued by Stroud’s sophomore slump. Stroud this year through for less yards, less touchdowns, and more interceptions–seven more, to be exact. Now the blame shouldn’t fully go on Stroud, because his offensive line has also significantly regressed. Stroud went from being sacked 38 times last season eighth worst in the league,to being sacked 52 times this season, now second most in the league.
A quarterback can’t operate under those conditions, and coming to town is a defense that accounts for the league’s seventh most sacks at 46. Stroud also lacks a strong receiver core, as Stefon Diggs has spent most of this season on injured reserve after tearing his ACL.
The Houston Texan offense is not strong, but the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense is, being first in the league for the fewest points given up per game. Maybe the offense isn’t flashy, but they commit minimal mistakes and get the job done.
With the addition of former Michigan, and college national champion winning head coach, Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers’ offense has been good at staying consistent and safe. Quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown only three interceptions, the fewest in the league. Altogether Los Angeles has only committed nine turnovers, which is the lowest in their franchise history, and third lowest in NFL history.
In the Chargers’ final three games, they put up 34 or more points, finding their offensive groove at the right time. Meanwhile Houston lost to the likes of the Chiefs, gave their fans coal at home on Christmas day versus the Ravens, and barely squeaked past the Titans, who hold the number one pick in this year’s draft.
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers
Last time the Chargers were in the playoffs, they blew a 27-0 lead, but that won’t happen again with Jim Harbaugh at the reins. I believe this will be a defensive takeover, and Stroud will struggle to find options, that’s if he’s given time to throw.
Undoubtedly the biggest challenge for the AFC is having to run through the home of the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion, the Chiefs. Some squads, like the Bills have put years into trying to be Kansas City. While others, like the Broncos, may just simply be happy getting past the first round.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is the multimedia editor for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected].
