With the regular season now in the rearview, odds on the NFL playoffs have finally arrived. We kick things off with Wild Card weekend, which takes place on January 15 and 16, and includes six primetime matchups for us all to wager on.
Though the 2022 NFL Wild Card playoffs are bigger than any one game, we have our eye on the Arizona Cardinals' upset potential against the Los Angeles Rams. These two teams were neck and neck all season, and linemakers have made an interesting choice on the favorite.
Let's get started by taking a look at all the latest betting odds on the NFL for Wild Card Weekend, courtesy of the folks over at Bovada:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -400 | +320 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Cincinnati Bengals | -260 | +220 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Buffalo Bills | -192 | +167 | New England Patriots |
| Dallas Cowboys | -158 | +138 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Kansas City Chiefs | -725 | +545 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Los Angeles Rams | -193 | +168 | Arizona Cardinals |
All of these NFL Wild Card betting odds are accurate as of Tuesday, January 11. If you're making your NFL playoff picks anytime thereafter, you'll want to double-check and make sure they haven't changed, as all NFL odds are subject to shift right up until opening kickoff.
In advance of the 2022 NFL Wild Card playoffs, be sure to read our reviews on the top online sportsbooks, which can help you spot some of the best NFL betting sites to use.
2022 NFL Wild Card Playoff Predictions
On top of Cardinals vs. Rams betting picks, we have NFL Wild Card Playoff predictions for each of the five other games. And based on the current landscape, we suggest you prepare yourselves for at least a couple of Wild Card upsets.
Cardinals Snag Upset Over Rams
Give credit to the Rams. They really ratcheted up their passing attack this season. They rank fifth in yards through the air per game, better equipping them to make playoff noise.
Still, the Cardinals boast one of the most well-rounded offenses in the entire league. Quarterback Kyler Murray remains a dual threat as both a passer and scrambler out of the pocket. Arizona struggled to close the regular season, but they're healthier and explosive enough to complete this upset.
OSB Prediction: Arizona Cardinals (+168)
Don't Underestimate Raiders vs. Bengals
The Bengals shocked a lot of people with their defense this season. Cracking their front seven is truly difficult, and they have the juice to break up big plays in the secondary.
At the same time, there's just something about the Raiders. They stayed in the playoff hunt despite a litany of injuries and off-field drama, and their offense appears to be rounding into form when it matters most.
OSB Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders (+220)
Bills Expose Rebuilding Patriots
Though the Patriots earned a lot of fans for the way they rebounded from a slow start and nearly secured another AFC East title, the fact of the matter is, they're still in the early stages of a rebuild.
Indeed, New England's defense is as good as it gets. But the offense has started to stall out under rookie quarterback Mac jones. We expect Josh Allen and company in Buffalo to make quicker work of the Patriots, much as they did during their second matchup of the regular season.
OSB Prediction: Buffalo Bills (-192)
San Francisco Dispatches Dallas
Few teams in the NFL are as turbulent as the 49ers. You seemingly don't know what you're getting from their offense on a game-to-game basis.
Lately, though, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has pieced together enough big plays and limited his mistakes enough to turn San Francisco into a might-be Super Bowl contender. It'll be difficult to pick up the victory on the road, but Dallas' defense remains inviting to opposing offenses.
OSB Prediction: San Francisco 49ers (+138)
Chiefs Hand a Beatdown to Pittsburgh
Once upon a time, we were worried about the Chiefs. But we aren't anymore.
Since dropping below .500 earlier this season, Kansas City has been on an absolute tear, replete with one of the best defenses in the league. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes seemingly back to the height of his powers, we can't envision Pittsburgh doing enough to sneak out a win on the road.
OSB Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (-725)
Tampa Bay Slaughters Philadelphia
Some are getting concerned about the Bucs given how they closed the regular season. Their offense dipped a little bit, and their main talent on the defensive end remains on the younger side.
This is a non-issue for us. We are always going to trust a Tom Brady-led offense in early NFL playoff games—particularly ones that come against an Eagles offense that isn't built to shine on this postseason stage.
OSB Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-400)
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your NFL betting:
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