The regular season’s Pick Six contest is done and dusted, and now Pick the Playoffs can begin. This week, go for Houston, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Green Bay

For NFL teams, the playoffs represent the culmination of months of hard graft. But here on the Guardian sport blog, they simply represent a fresh start. Our regular season Pick Six contest is at an end, but now it is time for the Pick the Playoffs to begin.

First, though, we must crown our regular season champion. In past years, this has often been a close-run thing, but this time it was not at all; castigers has led the way for weeks and held off one final late push from the chasing pack to finish two points clear in first place. Let’s have everyone on their feet to whoop, holler, and applaud. And maybe leave a nice congratulatory message in the comments section below.

And then, when you’re done there, you can get on with making your picks for the Wild Card round. I’ll post the final Pick Six standings down there shortly as well.

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans (Saturday 4.35pm ET/9.35pm GMT)

A rookie quarterback, making his starting debut in a road playoff game against the stingiest defense in the league. What could possibly go wrong? The Raiders confirmed on Wednesday that fourth-round pick Connor Cook would be behind center for their visit to Houston, with both of the team’s top two signal-callers – Derek Carr and Matt McGloin – out injured.

Cook did show some promise after entering week 17’s game against Denver off the bench, and could turn out to be a more effective player than Brock Osweiler – himself only back in the Texans’ starting lineup because the man who replaced him, Tom Savage, is out with a concussion. But Houston should at least be able to run the ball against an Oakland defense that made Justin Forsett look like Terrell Davis last weekend. I doubt the Raiders will enjoy similar success against opponents who give up fewer than 100 yards per game on the ground.

Texans to win

Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks (Saturday 8.15pm ET/Sunday 1.15am GMT)

You know the outlook must be bleak when even your hometown media see no chance of a victory. The Detroit Free Press put the Lions’ chances of beating Seattle at less than 0.01%, and that is hardly the most damning figure available. Jim Caldwell’s team are 0-5 against opponents who made the playoffs this season, 0-4 in outdoor games and 0-3 since Matthew Stafford dislocated his middle finger.

This is not the most impressive version of the Seahawks that we have seen in recent years, with a 3-3 record over the past six weeks and an offense that has been held under 10 points on three separate occasions. An injury to Earl Thomas has significantly diminished their defense, even if he does say so himself.

Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) Of course it would be different.. we would have a first round bye I guarantee you that. https://t.co/mTS3ITnw01

But they have never lost a home playoff game with Russell Wilson at quarterback. I cannot envisage this being the first.

Seahawks to win

Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday 1.05pm ET/6.05pm GMT)

The oddsmakers in Las Vegas have this pegged as the most uneven matchup of Wild Card weekend – with Pittsburgh a 10-point favourite. I’m not convinced the gulf will be that wide – Miami did beat these same opponents in week six, after all – but I’m not bold enough to call for an upset here, either.

Many things have changed since that October matchup. The Dolphins have lost center Mike Pouncey – who helped pave the way for Jay Ajayi’s 204-yard day – as well as safeties Reshad Jones and Isa Abdul-Quddus – each of whom intercepted Ben Roethlisberger – to season-ending injuries. At time of writing it remains unclear whether their own starting quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, will be ready to go. The Steelers, by contrast, are just about as healthy as they have been all season.

Steelers to win

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday 4.40pm ET/9.40pm GMT)

In both 2007-08 and 2011-12, the Giants crept into the postseason as unfancied underdogs but finished up by upsetting heavily-favoured New England teams in the Super Bowl. On each occasion, their path to a title went through Green Bay. With the Patriots once again looking unstoppable in the AFC, plenty of commentators have already pointed to this matchup and asked whether the same story could play out a third time.

It is far from unthinkable. The Packers’ secondary is a mess, with Quinten Collins entering into the NFL’s concussion protocol and fellow cornerback Makinton Dorleant placed on injured reserve following injuries sustained in the week 17 win over Detroit. They are running out of bodies to cover Odell Beckham Jr with, but even if the Giants can exploit these weaknesses, can they truly keep up with Aaron Rodgers? He has now thrown for 15 scores and no interceptions over the past six games. The only teams that have beaten Green Bay since week three have all put at least 30 points on the board.

Packers to win