The NFL playoffs start this weekend — here's a quick primer on every matchup

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The contenders for Super Bowl LIX (that's 59 for non-Romans) have been narrowed to 14 teams as the NFL playoffs get set to kick off this weekend. While defending-champion Kansas City (the No. 1 seed in the AFC) and the Detroit Lions (tops in the NFC) enjoy a bye, here's a quick look at the six first-round matchups, which all feature a division champion hosting a wild card.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) — Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET

The Texans were a hot Super Bowl pick coming into the season. But Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud plateaued while two of his three star receivers, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, suffered season-ending injuries and Nico Collins missed five games. Houston still won the soft AFC South, but now they're a 2.5-point underdog at home against the wild-card Chargers.

The Bolts hope their reputation as playoff chokers (remember when they blew a 27-point lead to lose to Jacksonville a couple years ago?) will be washed away by new coach Jim Harbaugh. The former 49ers and University of Michigan boss worked his magic again to turn around a 5-12 team.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Baltimore Ravens (12-5) — Saturday at 8 p.m. ET

We've been conditioned to view this matchup as a classic AFC North slugfest, and some of the ingredients are here with sack master T.J. Watt leading a tough Pittsburgh defence and bruising runner Derrick Henry powering division-rival Baltimore's ground attack. But this game is in the hands of Lamar Jackson, the dazzling Ravens quarterback who won his second MVP award last year and then took it to another level, throwing 41 touchdown passes with just four interceptions while also rushing for 915 yards and four TDs.

Though they'll be without injured Pro Bowl receiver Zay Flowers, AFC North champion Baltimore is favoured by 9.5 — the biggest spread of the week.

Denver Broncos (10-7) at Buffalo Bills (13-4) — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET

This was supposed to be a regrouping year for the Bills after they traded away an unhappy Stefon Diggs and let a bunch of other key veterans go for salary-cap reasons. Instead, Buffalo improved by two wins, captured its fifth straight AFC East title and grabbed the No. 2 seed in the conference. How? Josh Allen. The marvellous dual-threat QB accounted for 41 touchdowns — 28 passing, 12 rushing and even one receiving, which came on a play where he also threw the TD pass. Sounds impossible, but the big man pulled off superhuman feats all season without the aid of a true go-to receiver. That's why he's favoured to win his first MVP over Jackson, despite trailing the Raven in most of the big stat categories. 

Allen and the Bills are favoured by 8.5. But they'll have to be careful with the Broncos, who made the playoffs for the first time in nine years with one of the best defences in the league and a surprisingly effective rookie QB in Bo Nix.

Green Bay Packers (11-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) — Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET

With apologies to Derrick Henry, Philly's Saquon Barkley proved to be the free-agent signing of the year. The former Giant rushed for 2,005 yards and might have broken Eric Dickerson's decades-old single-season record if the Eagles hadn't rested him for the finale. Eagles star receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each missed four games and QB Jalen Hurts sat the last two with a concussion, but the Eagles still won the NFC East and the No. 2 seed. And now those guys appear to be healthy.

Green Bay did well to make the playoffs out of the vicious NFC North behind Detroit and Minnesota (combined record: 29-5), especially after QB Jordan Love suffered a knee injury in the first game of the season. Thankfully, he only missed two games and running back Josh Jacobs (another great free-agent pickup) came on strong at the end to finish with 15 rushing TDs. The Packers are a 4.5-point underdog to Philly, which beat them 34-29 in the season opener in Brazil.

Washington Commanders (12-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) — Sunday at 8 p.m. ET 

Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels looked like the second coming of Lamar Jackson, rushing for 891 yards (trailing only Jackson among QBs) while throwing 25 TD passes (just three fewer than Josh Allen) to lead Washington to a surprising wild-card spot. The presumptive Rookie of the Year should shine again in primetime against a fading Bucs defence that struggles against the pass.

Hats off to Tampa QB Baker Mayfield, who looked like a major bust until joining the Bucs last season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick (by the Browns, so can you blame him for failing?) tied Jackson for second in the league in passing touchdowns while placing third in yards and fourth in passer rating. Of course, it helps when you're throwing the ball to the great Mike Evans, who reached 1,000 yards receiving for the record-tying 11th straight time, and emerging rookie Jalen McMillan (seven TDs over the last five games). The NFC South champion Bucs are favoured by a field goal.

Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at Los Angeles Rams (10-7) — Monday at 8 p.m. ET

Speaking of apparent busts from the 2018 draft, Sam Darnold, who went two picks after Mayfield, looked cooked until finding the right home this season. Finally blessed with a good coach (Kevin O'Connell) and a great receiver (Justin Jefferson), he placed fifth in passing yards and touchdowns for surprising Minnesota.

That Vikings record is not a typo; 14-3 should get you a first-round bye, and for sure a home playoff game. But Minnesota dropped down to a wild card and has to hit the road for the first round after losing its final-week showdown against Detroit (15-2) for the top seed in the NFC.

While the Vikings have one of the top defences in the league, the NFC West champion Rams' crew is near the bottom. Luckily, L.A. can score in bunches with QB Matthew Stafford, star second-year receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams (see their 44-42 win over Buffalo). 

Oddsmakers have this game as close to a pick-em. Due to the ongoing wildfires in L.A., the NFL has a plan to move it to Arizona if necessary. 

In other NFL news today, the Las Vegas Raiders fired general manager Tom Telesco two days after axing head coach Antonio Pierce. Both men had just completed their first full season in their jobs for the Raiders, who finished 4-13.

In college football, the playoff semifinals begin tonight with No. 6 seed Penn State facing No. 7 Notre Dame. On Friday night, it's No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State. Both games kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.