Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

ESPN Predicts Big Upset in Wild Card Round

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 5:50 PM ET

The 2024 NFL playoffs are almost here, and the schedule for Wild Card Weekend has been revealed.

The first three games of round one will be in the AFC, as the Houston Texans (No. 4 seed) face the Los Angeles Chargers (5), the Baltimore Ravens (3) battle the Pittsburgh Steelers (6) and the Buffalo Bills (2). host the Denver Broncos (7).

In the latter three contests of the Wild Card round (all NFC), the Philadelphia Eagles (2) battle the Green Bay Packers (7), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) host the Washington Commanders (6) and the Los Angeles Rams (4) take on the Minnesota Vikings (5).

Both the one seeds, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, will have a bye.

Before the playoffs begin, ESPN predicted the outcomes of a few games during Wild Card Weekend. One analyst has a major upset on the horizon, as Pamela Maldonado has the Rams taking down the Vikings.

"The Rams' defense is hitting its stride, allowing just two touchdowns in Weeks 15 through 17, with rookie Jared Verse anchoring the pass rush," Maldonado wrote. "Facing a Vikings offense led by Sam Darnold - who wilted under pressure against the Detroit Lions, enduring harassment on nearly half his dropbacks - this matchup tilts in the Rams' favor. Sean McVay brings a wealth of postseason savvy to the table. Expect the Rams to leverage defensive dominance and McVay's strategic edge to not only cover the +2.5 spread but possibly secure an outright win."

As it stands at the time of this article, the Vikings are only favored by 1.5 points (ESPN BET) over the Rams, whereas Maldonado's spread has Minnesota at -2.5.

The Vikings enter the postseason with a 14-3 record and have been one of the most surprising teams in the NFL. Sam Darnold has proven a capable quarterback in his first season with the team, and Justin Jefferson is one of the more dangerous wideouts in the league. But the 31-9 Week 18 loss to the Lions, a game where the No. 1 seed was on the line, may have steered people away from picking Minnesota to win.

Meanwhile, the Rams go into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league. Excluding the Week 18 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, where coach Sean McVay elected to bench his starters, Los Angeles had won its previous five games, including a victory over the Bills. It was also able to defeat Minnesota 30-20 earlier in the season.