The NFL season has been reduced from 516-regular season games to 11-postseason games. From 32 NFL teams competing, to now just 12. The NFC portion of the 2019 playoffs will kickoff with a couple of intriguing wild-card contests.

Vikings @ Saints

The 3rd-seeded New Orleans Saints look to defend their home-field against the 6th-seeded Minnesota Vikings. This match-up is the first of the Sunday NFC wild-card double-header that will kick off at 11am mountain-time.

The Saints open up as a 8-point favorite (Action Network) with the o/u set at 49.5.

This match-up features two veteran quarterbacks that both play their home games in dome stadiums. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, has a bad reputation of not performing well in big games, so a win in New Orleans could help shake that stigma. Cousins is winless in his career ATS against teams that finished with ten or more wins. The Saints finished with 13 wins this season and are tough to play at home with the New Orleans crowd noise. Since September 29th, the Saints have the best record ATS this season at 11-3. The Saints come into this game with a 6-2 home record and the Vikings come to New Orleans posting a 4-4 road record.

The Saints have historically been tough at home and their roster is filled with extreme talent. Alvin Kamara is a very capable running back that can take advantage of any mismatch on the opposing defense. The Vikings linebacking core verse Alvin Kamara may be the key match-up of the game in the running and passing game. If head coach Sean Payton can scheme up concepts to get Kamara isolated one-on-one in the open field, it could result in a big day for the Saints offense. Saints wide-receiver Michael Thomas is also a very dangerous weapon as he set the NFL record for receptions this season with 149. Marvin Harrison Sr. was the previous record holder at 143-receptions in 2002.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has eight games with 300-passing yards or more in the playoffs which ranks 3rd all time. Entering the postseason, Brees is on fire with 15 touchdown passes and no interceptions in his last four games of the regular season. Brees missed significant time earlier this season with a thumb injury that required surgery. Back-up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater kept the ship steady, throwing for 1384 yards and nine touchdowns in just six starts.

The Saints offense remain among the most explosive in the entire NFL, ranking 4th in points per game, 9th in total yards and 7th in passing yardage. The Vikings offense also has explosive capabilities averaging 25.4 points per game which is good enough for 8th in the NFL, also a rushing offense that features Dalvin Cook. As a team they run for 133.3 yards per game which is 6th best in the NFL. The biggest discrepancy as far as team stats is on the defensive side, where the Saints rank 4th giving up just 91.3 rushing yards per game, while the Vikings sit at 13th giving up 108-yards rushing per game.

Injuries

Saints

Eli Apple– is out with a Ankle injury.

Vikings

Mackensie Alexander– is out with a knee injury.

Ifeadi Odenigbo– is questionable with a hamstring strain.

Mike Hughes– is out with a a neck injury.

Seahawks @ Eagles

The Seahawks, Eagles match-up is highly controversial due to the NFL playoff-seeding format. The Eagles are hosting Seattle after finishing the regular season with only a 9-7 record. The Seahawks earned an 11-5 record but still have to travel and play in a hostile environment in Philadelphia. Although it’s unfortunate the Seahawks have to play a road playoff game after having a better record than their opponent, they are tied for the best road record in the NFL at 7-1. Situations like this, could result in a rule change in the near future.

The Seahawks open up as -1.5 favorites on the road. The o/u is set at 45. (Action Network)

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is coming off a MVP caliber regular season, passing for over 4000-yards and 31-touchdown passes and a career low five interceptions. The 8-year pro was named to the second team All-Pro team in 2019.

Seahawks rookie wide-receiver DK Metcalf was a pleasant surprise for Wilson and the Seahawks offense, as he clocked in 58-receptions for over 900-yards and seven touchdown catches. Before the season, Doug Baldwin announced his retirement from football and the Seahawks were in desperate need of another playmaking threat alongside Tyler Lockett. DK Metcalf stepped to the plate and exceeded many expectations.

Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles barely snuck in the playoffs as they won the NFC East division with a 9-7 record. Although the Eagles record wasn’t elite, Wentz performed like a elite quarterback. After having a couple of seasons dealing with injury, Wentz was able to start all 16 games this season for the first time since his rookie year. Wentz also threw for over 4000-yards and 27-touchdowns passes and just seven interceptions. Carson Wentz joined an elite group of quarterbacks having three straight seasons of at least 20-touchdowns and seven or fewer interceptions. That club consists of the above-mentioned Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Wentz attempted over 600-passing attempts this season and only had seven interceptions, a very impressive statistic. Carson Wentz is making his NFL playoff debut.

This game should be very close and could come down to which quarterback performs better. Both quarterbacks have championship pedigree and both defenses play a physical brand of football.

The Philadelphia Eagles may be missing multiple starters on their offensive line in Brandon Brooks (out) and Lane Johnson (questionable). Both players are staples of that offensive line and team as a whole.

Jadeveon Clowney and the Seahawks pass rush must get pressure on Carson Wentz if they want to succeed, the absence of Brooks and Johnson give Clowney the best opportunity for success. The Seahawks pass rush was terrible this season, ranking second to last in sacks at only 28.

Under the current playoff format (since 1990), a 9-7 or worse team has hosted an 11-5 or better team eight times in the wild-card round. The home team went 6-2 in those games (6-1-1 ATS) despite being the underdog in six of those games. Philadelphia is also 5-0 outright as a playoff home underdog in the Super Bowl era, winning all but one game by at least 13 points. (ESPN)

Injuries

Eagles

Lane Johnson– is out with a ankle injury.

Nelson Aghlor– is out with a knee injury.

Brandon Brooks– is out with a shoulder injury.

Seahawks

Mychal Kendricks-is out with a knee injury.

Jaron Brown- is questionable with a knee injury.

Mike Iupati– is questionable with a neck injury.

Duane Brown– is out with a knee injury.

Ethan Pocic– is out with a core muscle injury

Malik Turner– is out with a concussion