The NFL season has reached the business end and this weekend 12 teams will compete in the Wild Card Round as the NFL playoffs begin.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions have progressed to the divisional round after racking up 15-2 records respectively in the regular season, but the rest will now be battling to get their form right as they look to make it to t he Super Bowl in February to be crowned world champions.
We’ll take a look at all six matchups in the Wild Card round and provide you with our best free NFL betting picks to try and earn you some cash while you enjoy the action on the field.
| NFL WILD CARD ROUND 2025 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | -160 | -160 | -160 |
| Houston Texans | +140 | +138 | +135 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +425 | +425 | +360 |
| Baltimore Ravens | -530 | -550 | -500 |
| Denver Broncos | +395 | +390 | +340 |
| Buffalo Bills | -485 | -500 | -460 |
| Green Bay Packers | +205 | +200 | +200 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -235 | -235 | -240 |
| Washington Commanders | +157 | +155 | +160 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -177 | -180 | -185 |
| Minnesota Vikings | -137 | -135 | -135 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +117 | +115 | +115 |
Learn more about how to bet on the NFL Playoffs here.
The Texans come into this game having won the AFC South for a second consecutive season, but they also lost two of their last three games in the regular season.
On the other hand the Chargers are on an upward trajectory under Jim Harbaugh after finishing as the No.5 seed and there is a great chance for him to get a win in the post-season for the first time. But the points are where the value is best for this game.
Los Angeles have got the highest scoring defense in the entire NFL this season with just 17.7 points allowed per game on average, while overall the team has averaged 23.6 points scored per game. Houston alternatively are managing 21.9 points scored and allowed per game this season.
The numbers suggest a low-scoring game, so take the Under at -110 for the best value.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
The Ravens have had a hit and miss season, but quarterback Lamar Jackson is the man who probably deserves the MVP award above anyone else after his performances.
Baltimore’s success lays squarely on his shoulders but he comes into this game in sensational form after recently becoming the first player ever to pass for 4,000+ yards and run for 900+ yards in a single season. He also is the first player in NFL history to throw 40 touchdown passes with less than five interceptions in the campaign.
He’ll be brimming with confidence in this, and will be coming up against a Steelers team who have lost each of their last four games and have zero momentum. The two teams met just before Christmas with the Ravens thrashing them 34-17 in week 16, so a similar outcome can be expected. Take Baltimore against-the-spread.
The only man who could possibly stop Jackson winning the MVP award this season is Josh Allen, who helped the Bills to the AFC East title for a fifth consecutive campaign.
They did that with a sensational variety of weapons on offense, becoming the first team in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and rushing touchdowns in a season. The Broncos know they will have a super tough game having made the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Denver have got the third best defense in the NFL this season, allowing just 18.3 points per game on average but they are averaging just 25 points scored per game. Buffalo will be on fire and considering they haven’t lost a home game all season and are in a win-or-go-home situation, expect them to come out firing. Take the Bills at -8.
Philadelphia are without a doubt the best team in the Wild Card round after accumulating a 14-3 record in the regular season, while racking up the number one defense across the league in the process.
Saquon Barkley has had a fine season and when the two teams met way back in week 1 he had a top performance to help the Eagles to victory. Green Bay have had a solid season themselves and have got the fifth-best offensive unit when it comes to yards-per-game, while also scoring an average of 27.1 points-per-game – narrowly behind the Eagles’ 27.2 ppg.
This will be a competitive game but after having the luxury of resting players in the season finale, Philadelphia will be fresh and the home-field advantage will help too. Take a home win on the moneyline in a competitive game.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
There is almost always a shock result on a weekend of NFL action, and we see an upset coming in this game. Tampa won the NFC South for a fourth consecutive season while the Commanders are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but there’s more to this game than meets the eye.
These two teams met in Week 1 and while the Bucs got the win, Jayden Daniels has since developed into the consensus Offensive Rookie of the Year and will be a totally different puzzle to solve this time around.
If he plays to his best and Marshon Lattimore recovers from a hamstring problem to play, there is great scope for an underdog win here.
The Vikings have had a top season with a 14-3 record, but both of these teams lack the star power that makes fans look at them as potential contenders to go all the way.
They also were on a nine-game winning run before defeat in Week 18 so will be confident, while the Rams also got a win over them back in week 8 when the teams met earlier in the season.
That game saw 50 points scored and the Rams have seen seven games this season surpass the 47 points mark, while the Vikings have also seen seven games this season hit the mark for the Over to land here. Stylistically they match up well and in a win-or-go-home situation expect both sides to attack, meaning lots of points. Back the Over.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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