Matchups
Raiders at Texans
Brennan Scarlett is Stanford's lone representative in the first NFL playoff game of the year when Oakland travels to face Houston on Saturday. Scarlett, who helped the Cardinal go 12-2 in his only season on The Farm (2015), was signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston prior to training camp. After a stint on injured reserve, Scarlett returned to appear in Week 15 and 17, playing 51 defensive snaps in the Texans' regular season finale.
Lions at Seahawks
Detroit travels to Seattle on Saturday in a matchup which includes three former Cardinal who have established themselves as NFL mainstays – Johnson Bademosi, Doug Baldwin and Richard Sherman. Regarded as one of the top special teamers in the nation, Bademosi signed a lucrative two-year, $4.5 million contract ($2.9 million guaranteed) with Detroit last summer. According to Pro Football Focus, Detroit's special teams rank fourth in the NFL in efficiency rating, thanks in large part to Bademosi.
On the other side of the ball, Baldwin and Sherman are headed to their fifth consecutive NFC playoff as teammates in Seattle, winning Super Bowl XLVIII in New York. Baldwin tied the franchise record for receptions (94) this season, adding seven receiving touchdowns. Sherman was his ever-dominant self as well, holding quarterbacks to a 63.8 passer rating when targeted.
Dolphins at Steelers
Michael Thomas helped Miami reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008, earning his third straight Pro Football Focus All-Pro nod on special teams in the process. Thomas led the league in special teams tackles (19) while playing 49 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He is expected to play a lot this weekend after starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus was placed on injured reserve.
David DeCastro also earned standout recognition in the form of his second trip to the Pro Bowl, as voted on by his peers. On Friday morning, it was announced that DeCastro had also made the AP All-Pro team for the second straight year. Pittsburgh wisely gave DeCastro a five-year, $50 million extension last offseason, and he has been a valuable part of the Steelers' outstanding offensive line. As a unit, the offensive line ranks second in the league in pass protection and seventh in run blocking, per Pro Football Focus.
New York Giants at Packers
Three former Cardinal – Blake Martinez, Ty Montgomery and Kyle Murphy – are set to battle with two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, whose 11-5 Giants travel to Lambeau Field this weekend. Martinez has battled injury to finish his rookie season with 64 tackles, 26 run stops and one sack. Montgomery started the season as a receiver but became the Packers' lead tailback by season's end, leading the league in yards after contact (5.1) and elusive rating (116.4), according to Pro Football Focus. Murphy only appeared on eight snaps in three games, remaining behind veterans David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga.
Wild Card Weekend Schedule
| Date | Time (PT)/TV Network | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Jan. 7 | 1:35 p.m./ESPN | Raiders at Texans (Brennan Scarlett) |
| Saturday, Jan. 7 | 5:15 p.m./NBC | Lions (Johnson Bademosi) at Seahawks (Doug Baldwin, Richard Sherman) |
| Sunday, Jan. 8 | 10:05 a.m./CBS | Dolphins (Michael Thomas) at Steelers (David DeCastro) |
| Sunday, Jan. 8 | 1:40 p.m./FOX | Giants at Packers (Blake Martinez, Ty Montgomery, Kyle Murphy) |