The NFL wild-card round is full of intriguing storylines. Here are the biggest:
Wild weather
You know there’s going to be some whacky weather when the Weather Channel is writing about the NFL.
The Dolphins’ Week 18 loss to the Bills is proving monumental, as instead of hosting a game in sunny Florida, they have to travel to frigid Kansas City in what is expected to be record-breaking low temperatures on Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to be near zero at kickoff, with wind chills well below zero.
It would bring it close to the 1967 Ice Bowl between the Packers and Cowboys in Green Bay, which hit minus-13 degrees and minus-48 wind chill.
It’s also expected to be the coldest game the Dolphins have ever played.
Conversely, it’s expected to be in the 70s in Miami, where the Dolphins would have been playing if they had won in Week 18.
The Bills, with their Week 18 win, get to host the Steelers on Sunday and will be in weather that’s become trademark for Highmark Stadium.
Heavy snowfall is expected during the game.
Though it won’t be as cold as Kansas City, wind chills could still fall below zero.
Old faces, new places
Multiple teams will be facing old friends.
It’s most prevalent in the Lions’ clash against the Rams in Detroit. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who won a Super Bowl his first season with the Rams after being traded by the Lions, faces his old team as they play in their first playoff game since 2017 and first home playoff game since 1993.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff was on the other side of that blockbuster deal in 2021, traded from the Rams to Detroit.
Goff led the Rams to the Super Bowl in the 2018 season, but fell to the Patriots.
Now, they go head-to-head with elimination on the line.
Elsewhere, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy goes against his former Packers side, who he led to a Super Bowl title, as Dallas hosts Green Bay.
There is uncertainty around McCarthy’s job security as well, and there are ample high-quality candidates — namely Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll — now on the open market and available, as well as highly-respected defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, if McCarthy were to underachieve again.
Eagles in turmoil
Philadelphia is a prime example of just how quickly things can change in the NFL.
After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles finished losing five of their last six games.
It hit a low point during the team’s 27-10 loss to the Giants in Week 18, which the Eagles began with their full starters playing but finished with their backups in.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts hurt his right hand in the game, and threw Friday for the first time since the injury as a full participant in practice.
WR A.J. Brown also injured his knee in the game, and has yet to practice since, missing Friday’s practice.
Brown also appeared to delete all Eagles content from his Instagram account and deactivate his X account on Friday.
The Eagles’ defense collapsed down the stretch, and prompted a switch of play-calling duties from Sean Desai to Matt Patricia — with poor results.
Receiver DeVonta Smith, who missed the Week 18 loss with an ankle injury, has practiced fully and is expected to play, however.
Injury questions
There are plenty of injury uncertainties beyond the Eagles.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who had a standout rookie season after being drafted in the second round, is questionable to play in the team’s clash against the Rams.
LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and bone bruise in the team’s Week 18 win over the Vikings.
Star Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt will miss the game against the Bills with an MCL sprain in his knee.
Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle), receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and safety Jevon Holland (knee) are all questionable for the team’s clash against the Chiefs.
The Dolphins managed just 14 points in their Week 18 loss to the Bills without Mostert and Waddle, and Holland is an integral part of the defense.
Dysfunctional Chiefs
The Chiefs looked far from the reigning champions the second half of the season, losing five of their last 10 games.
Travis Kelce, whose romance with Taylor Swift has taken the league by storm, struggled down the stretch, as did nearly every Chiefs pass-catcher.
Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has clearly been frustrated, and has been seen angrily yelling at both referees and teammates amid the team’s slide.
But bet against Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid at your own risk.