Sunday 8 January 2017 17:29, UK
The NFL play-offs kick off this weekend with four Wild Card games spread over Saturday and Sunday.
The Oakland Raiders travel to Houston to take on the Texans before the Detroit Lions match up against the Seattle Seahawks.
On Sunday, the action continues as the Miami Dolphins go up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by a cold weather battle between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.
After Derek Carr's broken leg and Matt McGloin's shoulder injury, the Raiders will look to third string quarterback Connor Cook in Oakland's first play-off appearance since 2002. Should Cook start, he will become the first rookie QB in NFL history to make his debut start in the post-season.
To take the pressure off, the Raiders are expected to run the ball with Latavius Murray and Jalen Richard seeing plenty of action. In their last game against the Texans, it was the running backs who showed their versatility, totalling 199 yards as receivers, and they could be key to the success of the Oakland attack.
Houston have also had their own quarterback issues. Big-money signing Brock Osweiler will start, despite being dropped in week 15. Back-up Tom Savage suffered a concussion against the Tennessee Titans and was ruled out by head coach Bill O'Brien.
It is the Texans defence which is their strength, and a key to this game. Jadeaveon Clowney was selected for his first Pro Bowl this season, and will be tasked with unnerving the Raiders' rookie QB.
Oakland have their own playmakers on D, none more effective than Khalil Mack who is in contention to be Defensive Player of the Year. While many will be drawn to the limitations of the respective quarterbacks, this game is likely to be won on defence.
The Detroit Lions travel to Seattle looking for their first post-season win in 26 years. They have it all to do, and won't be buoyed by the fact that they are 0-5 against play-off teams in 2016.
Matthew Stafford showed MVP calibre form earlier in the season, but has just two performances where he has thrown for over 300 yards. Detroit should have cornerback Darius Slay at full health, which would provide a boost for the team's secondary and present an obvious match-up against Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin.
Seattle are far from the 'in-form' team, either. The team haven't won two consecutive games since week 11, and laboured to a 25-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their final game of the regular season.
Head coach Pete Carroll has missed the presence of safety Earl Thomas, and will also be without receiver Tyler Lockett, both of whom suffered broken legs towards the latter end of the season.
However, the Seahawks haven't lost a home play-off game since 2005, while Lions fans would have to go back 50 years for a road win in the post-season.
The last time these two sides met, Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns as Miami beat the Steelers 30-15. He will be hoping for a similar day on Sunday, when the Dolphins take part in their first play-off game since 2008.
Matt Moore is likely to continue at quarterback for Miami, as Ryan Tannehill works his way back from a knee injury that has kept him out of action since mid-December. Head coach Adam Gase has stated that he would play Tannehill with just a day of practice, but time is running out.
Pittsburgh chose to rest three key starters in week 17, as Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell sat out of the team's win over the Cleveland Browns. The offensive trio led the Steelers on a seven-game winning run that saw them clinch the AFC north, and fans will hope that they continue to roll.
Defensively, Ryan Shazier has become a leader with 87 tackles while Mike Mitchell and Artie Burns have improved the Steelers' backfield. They have struggled against the run this year, which could be an issue against Ajayi and the Dolphins' run-heavy attack.
However, Bell offers a versatile running option of his own, and if Roethlisberger can find his favourite receiver Brown, it could be a high-scoring affair from both sides.
Despite only punching their ticket to the play-offs in week 17, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers aren't simply looking to make up the numbers. Green Bay went on a six-game winning run, including a victory over the Lions in week 17 to clinch the NFC North.
The offensive line has improved throughout the year, as has the running game. Head coach Mike McCarthy added Christine Michael to the roster, and converted Ty Montgomery from wide receiver, which has ignited the rush following season-ending injuries to Eddie Lacy and Don Jackson.
Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams combined for 26 receiving touchdowns, but they still have flaws on defence. The Packers rank 31st against the pass, which could spell trouble against Odell Beckham Jr.
Fortuitously for Green Bay, it is passing that has been New York's problem. QB Eli Manning has had a disappointing season by his standards, ranking joint-fourth for interceptions thrown.
However, the two-time Super Bowl winner can be a completely different player in January, and has the weapons around him. As well as Beckham, rookie WR Sterling Shepard impressed, and the Giants' running game has been lifted due to the emergence of fifth round, first year Paul Perkins.
New York's defence is perhaps the best in the NFL and has been the backbone of the organisation's success this year. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been limited in practice but expects to play.
The Giants will be without defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who continues to miss time recovering from a core muscle injury, but otherwise boast a full defensive complement, which will look to put Rodgers under pressure from the first quarter.
This will be the finale of the Wild Card fixtures, and could be the game of the weekend.
You can watch all the NFL action from Wild Card weekend live on Sky Sports 1. Join Dara, Neil and Jeff on Saturday night from 9pm, and again on Sunday from 5:30pm.
