NFL Wild Card Weekend Odds – Opening Betting Lines & Spread for All Games

Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY SportsMatthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are 3.5-road underdogs as they face his old team the Detroit Lions in NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff actionThe Cleveland Browns are 2.5-point road favorites at the Houston TexansAll of the opening NFL Wild Card odds are listed below

Playing their first home playoff game since 1993, will the Detroit Lions be haunted by ghosts of postseasons past as they host the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend?

In the opening NFL Wild Card odds, the Rams, who are led by former Lions QB Matthew Stafford, are coming to Detroit as 3.5-point underdogs. It’s one of a number of intriguing matchups set for the opening NFL playoff round.

The Cleveland Browns who, along with the Lions, are the only two NFL teams to be eligible to go to every Super Bowl that have never played in a Super Bowl game, have opened as 2-point road favorites as they travel to face the AFC South-champion Houston Texans.

Oddsmakers are anticipating that both South winners will be heading south on Wild Card Weekend. The NFC South-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2.5-point home underdogs facing the reigning NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Let’s take a look at all the opening betting lines for the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend slate.

NFL Wild Card Weekend Odds

Among the Wild Card Weekend games, the NFL odds are showing that the shortest spread is assigned to the Cleveland vs Houston game, with the Browns as a 2-point away pick. The Buffalo Bills, who rallied from a three-game decifit to win the AFC East for the fourth straight season and claim the #2 seed in the AFC, are the biggest favorite. Buffalo is the 9.5-point home chalk over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Odds as of Jan. 7 at DraftKings Sportsbook. 

The highest total is 51.5 points assigned to the Rams vs Lions game. At the other end of the spectrum, it’s the Bills vs the Steelers (42.5 points) that is displaying the smallest total.

The San Francisco 49ers, enjoying a bye this week after earning the NFC’s top seed, are favorites in the Super Bowl odds at +225.

Browns vs Texans Early Odds & Predictions

It’s the old pro against the overwhelming favorite in the NFL OROY odds as QB Joe Flacco leads the Browns into Houston to face former Ohio State QB CJ Stroud and the upstart Texans.

CJ Stroud to all of the Ohio State fans that go to the Texans vs Browns playoff game 🫡 pic.twitter.com/D25VhLInNe

— Drive The Lane (@DriveTheLanePod) January 7, 2024

Flacco is 4-1 straight up since being rescued from the recycle bin to take over as Cleveland starter. He’s thrown for 13 TDs in that span.

There’s very recent history to draw upon in this matchup. In Week 16, Cleveland went into Houston and whipped the Texans 36-22. Stroud missed the game, though. He was in concussion protocol. Flacco threw for three TDs and 368 yards in that victory.

Pick: Browns -2 (-110)

Super Bowl 59 Odds for 2025: 49ers Open as Favorites, But Chiefs Are Close SecondRead More

Opening Packers vs Cowboys Odds & Predictions

The last time the Packers faced the Cowboys in the 2016 NFL playoffs, it was also at AT&T Stadium and Dallas coach Mike McCarthy was in charge of the winning side. Thing is, back then, McCarthy was coaching Green Bay.

Dallas has proven to be a home-field juggernaut this season. The Cowboys are 8-0 straight up and 6-2 against the spread at home this season. Dallas scored 30 points in all but one of those home victories. Going back to last season, they’ve won 16 straight at home.

In Jordan Love’s first full season as QB1, the Packers went 6-2 SU over the last eight games to grab the final NFC playoff spot. Dallas is just 1-2 ATS over the past three home games. The Cowboys will win here, but don’t be shocked if Green Bay covers.

Pick: Packers +7.5 (-110)

Expected Wild Card Weekend Line Movement

If you know that Erik Kramer was the last QB to guide Detroit to an NFL playoff victory, give yourself a cookie. But until Jared Goff takes his first snap of this game, the QB who’s been at the helm for the last three Lions playoff games was Stafford.

It’s going to be fascinating watching the NFL public betting splits unfold on this Lions vs Rams matchup. Knowing the Lions and their history of playoff failure – they’ve won once in the NFL postseason since winnng the 1957 NFL Championship Game – the thought of their old QB coming to town and putting an end to the team’s best season in three decades is going to give Detroit fans sleepless nights.

It’s happening… 🍿

Jared Goff vs. Matthew Stafford

Rams vs. Lions in the Wild Card pic.twitter.com/9hLbmCAWpu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 8, 2024

But how will it affect the betting line? Beyond the obvious storyline, the Rams have also been among the NFL’s best teams and most potent offenses down the stretch of the regular season. And the Lions defense has proven susceptible to being cut wide open by teams with elite passing attacks like the Rams possess.

Pick: Rams +3.5 (-110)