It’s time to get Wild.

As in Wild Card Weekend. And yes, New England Patriots fans, you’re on the sidelines no longer.

It’s not quite a miracle that the Patriots are playing, simply because a lot of us thought they’d win maybe nine games to be in the playoff hunt. But 14-3 and a No. 2 seed? Home field for the first two rounds, potentially, and even more if Denver gets eliminated next week.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. How times have changed since the Chargers came to Gillette since late December 2024 with the Patriots non-competitive 40-7 losers. See how things can change?

“Excited to get the opportunity to play home playoff games,” Patriots QB Drake Maye said. “That’s what we starred at the beginning of the season of things we want to do here and goals we want to accomplish, and we’ve got our chance an opportunity right here.”

Other than the loss to the Bills when they could have clinched the AFC East at home, the Patriots haven’t missed too many opportunities. The real question is how will they handle the postseason? We say fine, even though with an average age of 26 the Patriots are the fourth youngest team in the league. That’s helped them to where they are now.

Vrabel talked Friday of how he made the playoffs as a Steelers rookie but then they missed out the next three seasons.

“I remind you not to take things for granted, and that its not like that every year in the National Football League,” he said.

“Just need everybody at their best on Sunday at 8:15. That’s what the challenge is, to prepare and then obviously enjoy continue to enjoy what we do in preparation and the execution. But everybody just has to be a little bit bettr in the details and focused on things in their job.”

Here’s what we think will happen: Houston and Jacksonville will win, so the Jags come to Gillette, a 50-50 game, and the Texans will upset Denver. A chance for an NE-Houston AFC title game here at Gillette

With all that in mind, here are your Wild Card Weekend picks after a .658 regular season winning percentage:

PATRIOTS 30, CHARGES 17

It may not even be that close. Yes, the Chargers are a good team, well coached by Harbaugh. But they come in with their quarterback ailing with a broken non-throwing hand, and one of their best backs, Omarion Hampton, listed as questionable with a bad ankle. Plus, Justin Herbert has 15 turnovers this year. The Chargers will turn the ball over, you can be sure. And that’s a killer.

Advantage Patriots. We simply think it just won’t be that close unless the Patriots turn the ball over.

JAGUARS 27, BILLS 24

An old fashioned shootout, but Buffalo has been playing with fire all year. Jacksonville has been superb since late October. They haven’t lost since bowing to the Rams on Oct. 19, a second straight loss with anoher at the hands of the Seahawks on Oct. 12.

They came out of that fine, and everyone took notice when they beat the Broncos in Denver a few weeks ago. Buffalo stinks against the run, keep an eye on Jags backs Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten. Bye bye Bills.

TEXANS 17, STEELERS 10

Offense will be hard to find in this one. That Houston defense is incredible, and it will give Aaron Rodgers fits. The Steelers lucked out to make it this far, but against that Texans defense, their luck runs out on Monday night.

RAMS 40, PANTHERS 14

Please. The Rams will be fully ready for this, and so what if they’re playing outside in Carolina. The most talented team in the playoffs against the least talented. It won’t be close.

PACKERS 27, BEARS 20

Oh an old fashioned NFL playoff matchup, so much history involved. Green Bay is beat up, but we’re still not convinced the Bears are ready for prime time, as well as Caleb Williams has improved and Ben Johnson has got everyone believing. They should. Just not in this one, because the Packers realize it’s time to finally show up. Interesting fact: The last time the Bears beat the Packers in the playoffs was Dec.14, 1941 – one week after Pearl Harbor.

EAGLES 24, NINERS 21

This should be a classic matchup. The Eagles have had so much negativity around them, how will they respond? The Niners couldn’t keep up with the Seahawks, and the Eagles won’t want to give up their title at home. Too many injuries on San Francisco, which was hoping for home field through the Super Bowl and blew it. Plus, something just says Philly has enough for one playoff win when everyone is down on Jalen Hurts. That’s when he plays his best.

LAST WEEK: 6-1

FINAL REGULAR SEASON: 83-43

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).