NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Sunday predictions, betting preview and free picks

Free NFL picks, best bets and previews for the Super Wild Card Weekend Sunday games in the 2020 NFL season.

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 6.05pm Sunday

Best bet

Baltimore -3
2pts 5-6 general

Match preview

Revenge will be top of the agenda for the Baltimore Ravens when they travel to Tennessee after seeing their Super Bowl ambitions wrecked by the Titans last season.

The Ravens had stormed through the 2019-20 regular season, going 14-2, and were expected to brush aside the Titans at home, only to fall to a shock 28-12 defeat.

Tennessee also came out on top 30-24 in overtime when the teams met in a bad-tempered Week 11 affair, so there is no shortage of motivation for a Baltimore side who have reestablished their Super bowl credentials in recent weeks.

The Ravens bounced back from their loss to the Titans to win five of their final six matches as both teams ended the regular season 11-5.

The similarities between the sides don’t end there with both loving to run the football. Baltimore averaged a league-best 191.9 yards per game on the ground, while Titans running back Derrick Henry became only the eighth member of the 2,000-yard rushing club this season.

Both offences have caught fire overall down the stretch, with Tennessee scoring fewer than 30 points only once in their final six games.

However, the Titans have needed their offence to be that good due to their defence haemorrhaging points, struggling against both the pass and run. Baltimore’s defence is at the other end of the spectrum and they can make the difference in the Ravens’ revenge mission.

Team news

Baltimore

Baltimore have listed seven players as questionable for the game, although cornerback Marlon Humphrey, centre Patrick Mekari and linebacker Yannick Ngakoue are expected to play.

Tennessee
Tennessee have a clean bill of health with guard Rodger Saffold and wide receiver AJ Brown expected to play.

Key stats

• The Ravens have covered the handicap in their last six games.
• Tennessee have not covered the handicap in any of their last four home playoff games.
• The Titans have lost three of their last five home games.

Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints

Where to watch

Sky Sports NFL, 9.40pm Sunday

Best bet

Over 264.5 D Brees passing yards
1pt 5-6 bet365

Match preview

Chicago snuck into the playoffs by winning three of their final four games but they look outclassed by a New Orleans Saints side who mean business.

Resurgent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky helped the Bears go 8-8 as their offence found some form but the Saints were made the biggest favourites of Super Wildcard Weekend with good reason.

New Orleans went 12-4 as they wrapped up a fourth successive NFC South title and have been dominant on both sides of the ball with their defence ranked in the top five against the pass and the run, while their offence has averaged over 30 points per game.

That offence should get better too with Alvin Kamara cleared to play while star receiver Michael Thomas has returned to practice following an ankle injury. That will be music to the ears of quarterback Drew Brees, who has won his last five games against the Bears.

He threw for 280 yards and two TD passes in the Saints' 26-23 overtime win in Chicago in Week Eight, picking apart the vaunted Bears defence.

With his offensive arsenal restocked and the Bears potentially missing key defensive piece Roquan Smith, Brees looks set up for another big day.

Team news

Chicago

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and linebacker Roquan Smith are doubtful and cornerback Buster Skrine is out with concussion.

New Orleans

Running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray and safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have been cleared to play after being on the Covid-19 reserve list. Wide receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) could play but defensive end Trey Hendrickson and guard Nick Easton are out.

Key stats

• The Saints have failed to cover the handicap in their last four home playoff games.
• New Orleans have won the teams' last six meetings.
• The points total has gone over in five of Chicago's last six games.

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Sky Sports NFL, 1.15am Sunday night

Best bet

Under 47.5 points
1pt 20-21 Betfred

Match preview

Cleveland’s dream of playing their first playoff game for 18 years is threatening to turn into a nightmare due to injuries and Covid-19 issues.

The Browns' Kevin Stefanski will become the first head coach this season to miss a match after testing positive - special teams coach Mike Priefer will be in charge with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt calling the plays for the first time.

Key offensive lineman Joel Bitonio and safety Ronnie Harrison are among eight players on the Covid list and the Browns also have injury troubles with defensive end Olivier Vernon out.

The Browns did at least beat their AFC North rivals Pittsburgh 24-22 last week, although that game was much closer than it had any right to be given the Steelers were resting a large number of starters including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and defensive star TJ Watt.

Pittsburgh dominated when the teams met in Week Six, winning 38-7 as their defence gave Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield a day to forget during their 11-0 start to the season.

With holes in Cleveland’s offensive line, Pittsburgh’s top-rated pass rush has the ability to put the clamps on the Browns again, taking the pressure off their struggling offence.

Pittsburgh haven’t broken the 30-point barrier in seven straight games, with the total points line going under in the majority of those.

Cleveland’s injury-hit defence has tightened up since the start of the year, ending the regular season allowing an average of 22.1 points in their final nine matches, and they can limit the Steelers to keep the points total down despite all their absences.

Team news

Cleveland

Head coach Kevin Stefanski and eight players including guard Joel Bitonio are out due to Covid-19. Defensive end Olivier Vernon (Achilles) is out and seven players are listed as questionable due to injuries.

Pittsburgh

Tight end Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh can return from the Covid-19 reserve list but cornerback Joe Haden is out.

Key stats

• Pittsburgh have won 16 of their last 17 home matches against Cleveland.
• The Browns have not covered the handicap in 11 of their last 14 away games.
• Eleven of the last 17 meetings between Cleveland and Pittsburgh have gone under the total points line.

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