NFL picks wild-card playoffs Steelers us

Wild-card weekend serves up three rematches out of the four games. Unfortunately, two of them have almost no relevance to their regular-season meetings. Thank the Great Quarterback Drought for that.What can anyone take from the Raiders win over the Texans with Derek Josh Sitton Jersey Carr out and the third quarterback in three weeks, Connor Cook, on deck? How do you evaluate the Dolphins-Steelers game when Matt Moore is starting Sunday, and when Ben Roethlisberger got hurt when they met before?Theres more to comb through for the Giants-Packers game in Green Bay on Sunday, while the Lions-Seahawksgame is a pretty clean slate while full of plenty of intriguing storylines itself.Dont let that Raiders-Texans opener put you to sleep and make you mi s it.MORE:Wild-card picks against spread Full 2017playoffs predictions(All times ET)Last week: 10-6Final regular-season total: 164-90-2Oakland Raiders (12-4) at Houston Texans (9-7)Saturday, 4:35 p.m., ESPNFor the record, the Raiders won that November game in Mexico City, but the Texans defense tops in the NFL in yardage for the season did hold the Derek Carr-led offense in check until the fourth quarter. Nobody should trust either offense, not Cooks nor Brock Osweilers. But if you had to trust one defense over the other, you have to trust the Texans, and not even think twice. Theyve won like this before.Texans, 23-16Detroit Lions (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1)Saturday, 8:15 p.m., NBCThe level of competition for the Lions jumped up fast at the end including this game, they got the Giants, Cowboys and now Seahawks on the road, and last week the Packers at home Devin Hester Jersey . The defense buckled in the last two, and thats going to be a big problem against Ru sell Wilson and Co. The Seahawks defense is going to get tested by Matthew Staffordin his third playoff trip (second under Jim Caldwell) andcoming off his best season overall. Shaking off the Seahawks home-field advantage will be his biggest challenge.Seahawks, 27-21Miami Dolphins (10-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5 Mark Sanchez Jersey )Sunday, 1:05 p.m., CBSNo one saw it coming when the 1-4 Dolphins waxed the Steelers, 30-15, in Miami; even fewer saw that jump-starting the 9-1 run that got them into the playoffs. But now, no Ryan Tannehill, and as good as their defense has played, the Steelers offense likely wont have to be all that dominant to outscore the Dolphins. Roethlisberger underwent knee surgery after their last meeting; now hes all healed upand rested, too, after getting last Sunday off. For the umpteenth postseason, beware Pittsburgh.Steelers, 29-20New York Giants (11-5) at Akiem Hicks Jersey Green Bay Packers (10-6)Sunday, 4:40 p.m., FoxWhen the Packers won,23-16,in Lambeau in prime time in Week 5, the notions were that the Packers and Aaron Rodgers were just cruising along, and the Giants were hurtling back to earth, torn to shreds internally by the mentally-unstable Odell Beckham Jr. NFL seasons are long and never consistent or predictable. With all the attention on the Packers "running the table,"the Giants come into this game just as dangerous, especially on defense. Over the final four weeks (excluding that inexplicable Thursday lo s in Philadelphia), they beat Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins and held them to a combined 23 points.Giants, 26-24