<p>The gruelling 18-week NFL regular season is in the books.&nbsp; However - whilst 18 teams are on their way to their preferred holiday destinations, 14 NFL franchises are about to pursue the Holy Grail.</p> <p>The Lombardi Trophy is once again up for grabs, and someone is about to make history.</p> <p>We kick things off with Wildcard Weekend, where the value of winning your division comes to the fore. Just ask Carolina, who host the Rams despite having won four less games on the season than LA.</p> <p>For the latest analysis, news, odds, and betting tips ahead of Wildcard Weekend check out my NFL Wildcard Weekend Preview and Predictions below, or follow me <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/feed/profile/view/56/ist_ambassador_deeplink_action">on the feed</a> and see them there!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, January 11, 8:30am AEDT – Bank of America Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As mentioned in the preamble, the Rams won four more games than Carolina across the season and you will not find anyone with any objectivity suggesting the Panthers are the better team.</p> <p>Having said that, just six weeks ago, LA went down to Carolina and were beaten 31-28 by these same Panthers.</p> <p>Bryce Young threw for 206 yards and three scores whilst the Panthers also ran the ball 40 times for 164 yards.</p> <p>Matthew Stafford was unlike the MVP he has been for most of the remainder of the season, throwing two picks and losing a fumble.</p> <p>The markets tell us Los Angeles are the heavy favourite, but the line has moved toward Carolina, especially early on when markets dropped.</p> <p>The Rams are not quite at their rampaging best, but I think they’ll do more than enough to walk away with a Wildcard win on the road.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/los-angeles-rams-at-carolina-panthers-9997775">Rams 30 – 24 Panthers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> &nbsp;Panthers +10.5 and Kyren Williams 60+ rush yards.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, January 11, 12:00pm AEDT – Soldier Field</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>An NFC North showdown, this is a clash we’ve seen twice this season.</p> <p>Both games went down not too long ago, with almost nothing separating the two squads. The season series was tied 1-1 with Green Bay scoring 44 points across the two games and the Bears scoring 43.</p> <p>Jordan Love’s back half of the season has been stop-start and his health and productivity will be key to any type of Packers success.</p> <p>Coach Ben Johnson was fuming with his Bears last week, who struggled to do anything offensively against a beaten-up Lions D.</p> <p>In the cold, this looks like a real slog with the odd splash play potentially deciding this thing, like it did in Chicago when Caleb Williams found DJ Moore for the walk-off overtime TD.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/green-bay-packers-at-chicago-bears-9997751">Bears 21 – 20 Packers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> -46.5 total points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Monday, January 12, 5:00am AEDT – EverBank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Pre-season pickers would’ve had this matchup in Buffalo and as one way traffic.</p> <p>But 18 weeks into an NFL season and we can see that this Jacksonville squad is the real deal, whilst the Bills are potent, probably have the league’s best player and have been there before but definitely do have some weaknesses the Jags can pick at.</p> <p>Jacksonville was the regular season’s No. 1 defence against the run. Buffalo was the regular season’s No. 1 rushing attack. You see where I’m going here.</p> <p>Slowing down James Cook and Josh Allen might decide this football game.</p> <p>On the opposite side of the ball, I wonder whether Travis Etienne Jr and Trevor Lawrence can have some success against Buffalo’s #28 run defence…&nbsp;</p> <p>Jacksonville deserves to be favourites here, but the market is getting behind Josh Allen. I’m taking him on. The best team defeats the best player!</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/buffalo-bills-at-jacksonville-jaguars-9997749">Jaguars 27 – 24 Bills.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Jaguars win and Trevor Lawrance 20+ rush yards.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Monday, January 12, 8:30am AEDT – Lincoln Financial Field</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Fans and pundits were critical of Nick Sirianni for resting his starters and thus bumping into San Francisco on Wildcard Weekend.</p> <p>Reality is, there’s no easy path to where the Eagles wish to get back to, so the Niners it is.</p> <p>San Fran’s week 18 clash with Seattle was physical and we know about all the injuries they’ve sustained across the season on both sides of the ball. Most bodies have recovered on the O, but the D has been left in tatters.</p> <p>The passing defence for the 49ers is really vulnerable, ranking only #25 across the season for yards per game allowed.</p> <p>We know Jalen Hurts is not a pure passer, but he has weapons in AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert - something he can expose the Niners with.</p> <p>The Seahawks did an amazing job containing Christian McCaffrey last week and in his only meeting with Philly as a 49er, he managed 133 total yards and a TD.</p> <p>Brock Purdy’s overall health is a watch, too. I’ll just leave that there.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/san-francisco-49ers-at-philadelphia-eagles-9997757">Eagles 26 – 23 San Fran.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> &nbsp;AJ Brown 70+ receiving yards.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Monday, January 12, 12:00pm AEDT – Gillette Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A combined 25 and 9 for these two powerful squads sees us set up for a proper playoff fiesta.</p> <p>Mike Vrabel and Jim Harbaugh are throwback coaches in an era where trickery, going for it on 4th down and all-out aerial attack seems to be the only way.</p> <p>Harbaugh, in particular, embraces the run game and a staunch defence whilst also making a hero out of his QB Justin Herbert.</p> <p>Drake Maye will either be MVP or runner-up to Matt Stafford, which is an impressive leap considering where he is at in his career, aged 23.</p> <p>He also has a nice duo at RB he can lean into where needed. Rhamondre Stevenson posted 131 yards and 2 TD on just seven carries (which is a disgrace for Miami defenders) and rookie TreVeyon Henderson had a pair of touchdowns on the ground, too.</p> <p>Unlike many warm weather teams, these Chargers enjoy getting down and dirty in the elements but on the home deck, I’ll take New England - just.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/los-angeles-chargers-at-new-england-patriots-9997748">Patriots 24 – 22 Chargers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> &nbsp;Justin Herbert 25+ rush yards.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Houston Texans @ Pittsburgh Steelers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Tuesday, January 13, 12:00pm AEDT – Acrisure Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Steelers won an all-time classic on home soil against Baltimore to earn one more game on home soil.</p> <p>This time, though, a much fiercer opponent arrives ready to take down 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers and co.</p> <p>Houston ended its season winning nine on the spin, despite some injuries to key personnel on both sides of the ball. Defensively, only maybe Jacksonville and Denver can argue their cases as better all-round products.</p> <p>Offensively, CJ Stroud has regained some of that rookie groove he had in his maiden campaign.</p> <p>The Pittsburgh faithful will be out in force and even with DK Metcalf adding a deep threat, Houston feels like the better team from top to bottom.</p> <p><strong>Head-to-head prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/houston-texans-at-pittsburgh-steelers-9997750">Texans 24 – 17 Steelers.</a></p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Woody Marks 60+ rush yards.&nbsp;</p>