Pro Picks: Texans, Ravens, Bills, Eagles, Bucs and Vikings will advance to the next round

The NFL’s wild-card weekend features divisional rivals facing off, two NFC rematches from Week 1 and the Harbaugh brothers coaching on the same day.

Jim Harbaugh leads the Chargers against the Texans in the season’s first playoff game on Saturday afternoon. Then it’s John Harbaugh’s Ravens against Mike Tomlin’s Steelers in the nightcap.

Sean Payton has the Broncos in the playoffs for the first time in nine years. But they’ve got a tough matchup on the road against the Bills on Sunday afternoon.

Next the Packers visit the Eagles in a rematch from the season opener in Brazil. Philadelphia won that one, 34-29.

The Commanders take on the Buccaneers in another rematch from the first weekend of the season to wrap up the tripleheader on Sunday. Tampa Bay opened with a 37-20 win against Washington.

Sean McVay and the Rams host Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings on Monday night in the last wild-card game. O’Connell served as offensive coordinator on McVay’s staff in 2020-21 before going to Minnesota.

The spreads for the three NFC games are under 4 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The AFC has the two largest spreads.

Line: Chargers minus 3

Justin Herbert’s only playoff game ended with the Chargers blowing a 27-0 lead against the Jaguars in the wild-card round two years ago. He’s got a different cast around him featuring rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey and a run game led by J.K. Dobbins.

The Texans are limping into the playoffs after losing two in a row to the Chiefs and Ravens before the backups ended the season with a win. C.J. Stroud and the offense are missing top receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell so Houston will rely more on Joe Mixon running the ball.

Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans led the Texans to a playoff win last year and edge rusher Will Anderson’s return should boost the defense.

The Chargers are an NFL-best 12-5 against the spread, including 7-2 on the road. Houston is 7-8-2 ATS, including 1-5 as an underdog and 0-2 straight up as a home underdog.

All the odds favor Los Angeles.

UPSET SPECIAL: TEXANS: 23-21

Line: Ravens minus 9 1/2

Russell Wilson and the Steelers are skidding into the playoffs after losing four straight games to end the season. Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game in eight years and this will be a major challenge as the Steelers are the biggest underdog of the weekend going against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens.

But Pittsburgh has been a tough opponent for Jackson throughout this rivalry. He beat the Steelers for just the second time in six starts in Week 16.

T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen and the rest of Pittsburgh’s stout defense have to find a way to slow down Jackson and Henry.

The Ravens were the first team in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 3,000. But Baltimore might be without Pro Bowl wideout Zay Flowers because of a knee injury.

The Steelers need a big game from Wilson throwing to George Pickens and Najee Harris running to stay in the game.

RAVENS: 27-20

Line: Bills minus 9

Josh Allen has been on a mission since the start of the season. Buffalo’s franchise quarterback is determined to erase playoff failures and he’s stepped up without a star-studded supporting cast. James Cook ran for 1,009 yards and wide receiver Khalil Shakir had a breakout season. They’ll go against a fierce defense featuring cornerback Patrick Surtain II, defensive tackle Zach Allen and edge rusher Nik Bonitto.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had an impressive season, but he’s got a tough task going against a defense that’s made life rough on first-year signal-callers under coach Sean McDermott. The Bills are 9-4 against rookie QBs with McDermott and have allowed just seven touchdown passes and 17 interceptions in those games.

BILLS: 26-19

Line: Eagles minus 4 1/2

Jalen Hurts hasn’t played in three weeks and Saquon Barkley and other starters rested the final game. The Eagles have to shake off the rust against one of the most formidable No. 7 seeds since the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2020. No. 2 seeds are 7-1 in these matchups, but the Packers were the only seventh seed to win, beating Dallas 48-32 last year.

Barkley, who ran for 2,005 yards in 16 games to lead the league’s No. 2 run offense, will be facing a strong run defense. Green Bay allowed just 99.4 yards per game on the ground.

Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Packers’ offense faces the league’s No. 1 defense. The Eagles gave up the fewest total yards and second-fewest points at 17.8 per game. Green Bay’s defense is missing top cornerback Jaire Alexander.

The Packers were 2-0 against the spread this season as a road underdog. The Eagles were 11-6 ATS.

BEST BET: EAGLES: 26-20

Line: Buccaneers minus 3

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers aren’t satisfied just getting to the playoffs after winning a fourth straight NFC South title. Mayfield, Mike Evans, Bucky Irving and the rest of Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense are going to have to score a lot of points because the defense is depleted.

Todd Bowles has a track record of success against rookie quarterbacks and the Buccaneers held Jayden Daniels in check in his first NFL game. He’s come a long way since his debut and led an impressive turnaround in Washington along with coach Dan Quinn.

The Commanders are seeking their first playoff win since beating Tampa Bay in the 2006 playoffs.

The No. 6 seed Buccaneers were 3-2 ATS as a home favorite this season. The No. 3 seed Commanders were 2-2-1 ATS as a road underdog.

BUCCANEERS: 27-26

Line: Vikings minus 1

Struggles inside the red zone cost Sam Darnold and the Vikings against the Lions in a showdown for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Instead of a bye, Minnesota hits the road and is a favorite in this 4-5 matchup.

Matthew Stafford led the Rams to a 30-20 victory over the Vikings on a Thursday night in Week 8. He threw four touchdown passes and benefited from the return of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp from injuries. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores should have Minnesota’s defense ready for the rematch. The Vikings are reeling from giving up 31 points against Detroit.

The Rams are 4-2 ATS as home underdogs. The Vikings are 3-2 ATS as road favorites.

VIKINGS: 25-22

Last week: Straight up: 11-5. Against spread: 7-9.

Regular season: Straight up: 192-80. Against spread: 144-124-4.

Prime-time: Straight up: 44-14. Against spread: 31-26-1.

Best Bet: Straight up: 11-7. Against spread: 10-8.

Upset Special: Straight up: 9-9. Against spread: 9-9.

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws against the Detroit Lions under pressure during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates his touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) smiles while coming out of the game during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) running with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Graphic looks at the NFL’s wild card weekend and predicts the winners.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud runs off the field after an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The Texans won 23-14. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Gaza's Health Ministry said Thursday that more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, with no end in sight to the 15-month conflict.

The ministry said a total of 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded. It has said women and children make up more than half the fatalities, but does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for their deaths because it says the militants operate in residential areas.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are now packed into sprawling tent camps along the coast with limited access to food and other essentials. Israel has also repeatedly struck what it claims are militants hiding in shelters and hospitals, often killing women and children.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead.

In Lebanon, the parliament voted Thursday to elect the country’s army commander, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, filling a more than two-year-long presidential vacuum.

The vote came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking international assistance for reconstruction.

Here's the latest:

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament voted Thursday to elect the country’s army commander, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, filling a more than two-year-long presidential vacuum.

The session was the legislature’s 13th attempt to elect a successor to former President Michel Aoun — no relation to the army commander — whose term ended in October 2022.

The vote came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking international assistance for reconstruction.

Aoun was widely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States and Saudi Arabia, whose assistance Lebanon will need to ensure that Israel withdraws its forces from southern Lebanon as stipulated in the agreement and to fund the post-war rebuilding.

More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Thursday. The ministry said a total of 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded.

It has said women and children make up more than half the fatalities, but did not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. It says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants operate in residential areas. Israel has also repeatedly struck what it claims are militants hiding in shelters and hospitals, often killing women and children.

On Thursday, dozens of people took part in funeral prayers outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah for people killed in Israeli strikes the day before.

In the hospital morgue, a man could be seen kneeling and bidding farewell to a relative before slamming a refrigerator door in an outburst of grief.

Palestinian health officials said Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in Gaza on Wednesday, including three infants — among them a 1-week-old baby — and two women.

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s interior affairs minister says a total of 52,622 refugees have returned to Syria from Turkey in the first month following Bashar Assad’s removal from power on Dec. 8.

Speaking at the Cilvegozu border crossing between Turkey and Syria on Thursday, Ali Yerlikaya said that more than 40,000 Syrians had returned with family members while some 11,000 individuals crossed into Syria alone.

“The voluntary, safe, honorable and regular returns have started to increase,” Yerlikaya said.

Turkey has hosted the largest number of Syrian refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 — more than 3.8 million at its peak in 2022.

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has further tightened restrictions on media coverage of the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip amid mounting concerns that soldiers could face legal action abroad.

The restrictions announced late Wednesday mainly apply to media interviews, and include a requirement that soldiers holding the rank of colonel or below only be filmed from behind and identified by their first initial. Those ranked brigadier general or above can be identified, but must receive prior guidelines.

Any filming in combat zones also must be approved by the military’s legal department.

Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering Gaza outside of embeds organized by the military.

The military recently warned soldiers against posting on social media after legal action over alleged war crimes was initiated against a soldier who was visiting Brazil.

Israel says it is operating in accordance with international law in Gaza and makes every effort to avoid harming civilians. But soldiers have posted dozens of photos and videos that appear to show them rummaging through homes and burning or blowing up residential buildings.

The military says it investigates and punishes any violations of military conduct. It says Hamas has built extensive military infrastructure in civilian areas, necessitating the demolition of buildings.

The army says it is working on additional guidelines for soldiers on what they can post to social media.

NEW YORK — Family members of Americans being held hostage in Gaza are planning to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month.

Representatives for the family members said they plan to meet with officials in the incoming Trump administration and members of Congress to urge them to prioritize the safe return of the hostages.

Seven Americans are among the dozens of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Trump has sent his incoming special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to Qatar this week for additional talks to work on their release. The Republican president-elect has threatened Hamas by warning that “All hell will break out” if the hostages aren't released.

Israeli soldiers attend the funeral of 1st Sgt. Matityahu Ya'akov Perel, who was killed in a battle in the Gaza Strip, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Palestinian women look at a damaged residential building following an overnight Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Members of the Bedouin community, part of Israel's Palestinian minority who have Israeli citizenship, attend the funeral of Yosef Al Zaydani in Rahat, southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 after the Israeli military said his body of was recovered in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Kareem Al-Dabaji mourns his brother Anas Al-Dabaji, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit an apartment in Deir Al-Balah, at Al-Aqsa Hospital morgue in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Lebanese lawmakers count the votes after casting their ballots to elect a new president, at the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, right, casts his vote to elect a new president, at the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Lebanese Parliament media office via AP)

Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Members of the Bedouin community, part of Israel's Palestinian minority who have Israeli citizenship, attend the funeral of Yosef Al Zaydani in Rahat, southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 after the Israeli military said his body of was recovered in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Members of the Bedouin community, part of Israel's Palestinian minority who have Israeli citizenship, attend the funeral of Yosef Al Zaydani in Rahat, southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 after the Israeli military said his body of was recovered in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

A Palestinian looks at a damaged residential building following an overnight Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinians look at a damaged residential building following an overnight Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)