A look at this weekend's first-round games.

AFC

No. 5 Cleveland (11-6) at No. 4 Houston (10-7), Saturday, 3:30 p.m., NBC

Joe Flacco has been one of the most interesting stories of the last half of the season, coming off his couch at 38 years old to quarterback the Browns into the postseason. Defense, though, with Myles Garrett and others, is the Browns calling card. It will be interesting to see what former Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz dials up for super rookie C.J. Stroud and the Texans, who have arrived as a contender way ahead of schedule.

It should be an entertaining game between two longtime doormat franchises who have suddenly risen to contention. Which dream stays alive and advances to the divisional round.

Prediction: Browns 23, Texans 20

No. 7 Steelers (10-7) at No. 2 Bills (11-6), Sunday, noon, CBS

The Steelers have done a remarkable job of keeping their streak of winning seasons alive and reaching the postseason this year after it looked like all was lost a month ago. Mason Rudolph (who knew?) has provided a charge for an offense that had been listless under both Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky.

But the Steelers don’t have the firepower to match up with Josh Allen and the Bills, who stole the AFC East title away from Miami with a late surge. Add in that T.J. Watt is likely out with injury, and the hill is that much steeper for the Steelers to climb.

Prediction: Bills 24, Steelers 16

No. 6 Dolphins (11-6) at No. 3 Chiefs (11-6), Saturday, 7 p.m., Peacock

The Tyreek Hill Bowl, as the mercurial speedster, now with the Dolphins, comes back to his former home to take on the Chiefs. Both these talented teams struggled down the stretch with the Chiefs lack of receivers and shaky offensive line daring to make Patrick Mahomes look mortal.

Miami, which was electric on offense through the early part of the season, faltered late, getting blown out by Baltimore in a game where they could have had the No. 1 seed, and then blowing the AFC East title with a home loss to Buffalo.

It feels like the Dolphins might have peaked too early this season, and the Chiefs, despite being uneven this season, should handle business at home.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 21

NFC

No. 7 Packers (9-8) at No. 2 Cowboys (12-5), 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Fox

The Cowboys have been pretenders for many years, often despite a strong regular-season record. This year’s team, though, has the defense capable of a deep playoff run, and an offense with explosive weapons like Cee Dee Lamb for Dak Prescott to throw to. Prescott cut out his knack last year of turning the ball over.

Jordan Love, after a slow start in his first year as a starter, came on at the end of the season and has the Packer playing with confidence. Green Bay will be a decided underdog, but the Packers have enough confidence and young talent to throw a scare into the Cowboys. But will it be enough to win on the road in the postseason?

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Packers 23

No. 6 Rams (10-7) at No. 3 Lions (12-5), Sunday, 7 p.m. NBC

The Matthew Stafford homecoming. The rebuilding Lions traded Stafford, their longtime quarterback, to the Rams, and he promptly won a Super Bowl there. In the meantime, the Lions completed their rebuild putting lots of nice pieces around Rams discard Jared Goff, who has enjoyed a resurgence in Detroit.

Stafford and the Rams have rookie receiver sensation Puka Nacua along with Cooper Kupp and the club has come on after most figured this to be a rebuilding year.

This one could be decided by which defense rises to the occasion and can make a big stop or force a turnover. Stafford could indeed have a big homecoming game against the Lions, but something tells me the moment won’t be too big for Dan Campbell’s club.

Prediction: Lions 26, Rams 21

No. 5 Eagles (11-6) at Bucs (9-8),

Monday, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Six weeks ago, it felt like the Eagles were on the fast track back to the Super Bowl after falling just short to the Chiefs in last year’s title game. Then, the struggles started, and they haven’t stopped with embarrassing losses to the Cardinals and Giants down the stretch that cost Philly the NFC East crown and relegated them to wild-card status.

They will travel to Tampa Bay, where a resurgent Baker Mayfield threw for more than 4,000 yards this season and quarterbacked the Bucs to the top of the lowly NFC South. That said, Mayfield has plenty of weapons to work with, and the Buccaneers are a dangerous team despite their record.

Can the Eagles recover in time to salvage something from their promising 10-1 start? The way these teams are playing now, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Prediction: Bucs 20, Eagles 14