The NFL's wild card round is full of interesting stories. The biggest ones are:
stormy weather
When the Weather Channel covers the NFL, you can expect some weird weather.
The Dolphins' loss to the Bills in Week 18 is monumental. Instead of hosting the game in sunny Florida, they will have to travel to frigid Kansas City, where record low temperatures are expected on Saturday.
Temperatures at kickoff are expected to be near freezing, with winds well below freezing.
That would be close to the 1967 Ice Bowl in Green Bay between the Packers and Cowboys, which had wind chills of -13 degrees and -48 degrees.
It's also expected to be the coldest game the Dolphins have ever played.
Conversely, Miami, where the game would have been played had the Dolphins won in Week 18, is expected to be in the 70s.
The Bills, who won in Week 18, host the Steelers on Sunday and will be exposed to what has become Highmark Stadium's trademark weather.
Heavy snow is expected during the game.
Although not as cold as Kansas City, wind chills can still dip below freezing.
Old faces, new places
Multiple teams will be playing against old friends.
It's most prevalent during the Lions-Rams game in Detroit. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford won a Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams after being traded to the Lions, playing his first playoff game since 2017 and his first home playoff game since 1993 against his old team. do.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff was traded from the Rams to Detroit in 2021 and was on the other end of a blockbuster deal.
Goff led the Rams to the Super Bowl in the 2018 season, but they lost to the Patriots.
Now they will go head to head for elimination.
Elsewhere, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will host Green Bay in Dallas against the former Packers team he led to a Super Bowl championship.
There is also uncertainty about McCarthy's job security, with quality candidates such as Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, and Pete Carroll currently on the open market and available, as well as McCarthy. In his case, there's also highly respected defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. I'm sure I'll be underperforming again.
Eagles in turmoil
Philadelphia is a great example of how quickly things can change in the NFL.
After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles lost five of their last six games.
The lowest point came in Week 18, when the team lost 27-10 to the Giants. The Eagles started with a full roster of starters, but ended up with only reserve players.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts hurt his right hand during the game and pitched fully in Friday's practice for the first time since the injury.
WR AJ Brown also injured his knee in the game and has not practiced since missing Friday's practice.
Brown also apparently deleted all Eagles content from his Instagram account on Friday and deactivated his X account.
The Eagles' defense fell apart down the stretch, and they replaced play-calling duties from Sean Desai with Matt Patricia, but the results were poor.
However, receiver DeVonta Smith, who missed the Week 18 loss with an ankle injury, has practiced fully and is expected to play.
Questions about injuries
There are plenty of injury uncertainties beyond the Eagles.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, a second-round draft pick who had an outstanding rookie season, is doubtful to play in the team's game against the Rams.
Laporta suffered a knee hyperextension and a bone bruise during his team's Week 18 win over the Vikings.
Star Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt will miss the game against the Bills due to a sprained MCL in his knee.
Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle), receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and safety Jevon Holland (knee) are all questionable for the matchup against the Chiefs.
The Dolphins scored just 14 points against the Bills in Week 18 without Mostert and Waddle, and Holland is an integral part of the defense.
dysfunctional chief
The Chiefs lost five of their last 10 games in the second half of the season, and were far from the reigning champions.
Travis Kelce, who took the league by storm with his romance with Taylor Swift, struggled down the stretch like nearly every pass catcher on the Chiefs.
Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was clearly frustrated and was seen angrily yelling at both referees and teammates as his team fell behind.
However, if you bet on Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, do so at your own risk.
