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We move a step closer to Super Bowl 60 with four Divisional Round games coming up – and if this week brings anything like the drama from Wildcard Weekend, it will be quite the treat.

The battle for the Lombardi Trophy is as wide open as it has been in years, and nobody would be surprised by any of the remaining eight sides going on to taste glory in Santa Clara next month.

But who will emerge victorious this weekend as the number one seeds enter the fray?

We have our panel of experts to try to pick the winners, including Radio 5 Live’s Rob Staton, BBC Sport journalist Paul Higham and our special guest, former NFL coach Phil McGeoghan.

All times GMT and AFC/NFC seedings in brackets

Saturday, 17 January

Sunday, 18 January

Rob Staton: Bills

I’ve just got a sense that Josh Allen might will his team to victory again. This is his big opportunity this season so can he take advantage?

Phil McGeoghan: Broncos

My wife’s from Buffalo and we met when I was coaching for the Buffalo Bills, but I’ve spent most of my career in Bronco land. So I’m not going to say it out loud. She gets a little fired up, but that’s who we’re going for in this house (Broncos), but that’s only in the basement. So I’m subterranean Phil. I can’t wait to see what happens, but I’m going to be doing it well below ground, cheering as quietly as possible for the Denver Broncos.

Mike White: Broncos

The way this season has unfolded it seems like the door has been left wide open on the AFC side for Josh Allen and the Bills to finally end their wait not only for a return to the big game but also for their first Lombardi success.

However, I’m finding it hard to look past the Broncos who had the advantage of the bye week, have a dominant defence, know about winning games in comeback mode and aren’t banged up the way Buffalo are – especially at the wide receiver position. I’ll take Denver to progress but in a close one by three points or less.

Paul Higham: Broncos

Denver won the last Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium (the venue for Super Bowl 60 next month) a decade ago, which was also their last play-off win – while it’s the only stadium in the league Josh Allen has yet to play in, so there’s a hint of destiny about both sides.

Allen got his first road play-off win last week, Buffalo’s first since 1993, but he got beat up in Jacksonville, has a depleted bunch of receivers, and if James Cook again struggles against Denver’s rush defence even Superman himself may just have too much to overcome by himself.

Rob Staton: Seahawks

You’ve got to give Kyle Shanahan and his team a tonne of credit for what they’ve achieved amid an injury crisis, but realistically this might be a game too far.

Mike White: Seahawks

This feels like a game too far for the Niners against a highly talented Seattle who boast a stingy defence whilst San Fran are battered, bruised and without big-name, big-game players such as George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

Sam Darnold has an injury designation going into this but is expected to play. Once upon a time, that would’ve been a boost for any of Seattle’s opponents, but the post-New York Jets Darnold is a different proposition and the one-time former 49ers backup will lead them to the NFC title game. Seahawks by 10.

Phil McGeoghan: Niners

Very interesting game. The 49ers are decimated by injuries, but the best predictor of future events is past events. They’ve found a way to overcome injuries for quite some time so that means culture has now taken over and it’s a winning culture. You don’t forget how to win.

Paul Higham: Seahawks

Sam Darnold led the league in turnovers and has an injury, so Seattle will hope to win this with their improving ground game, which averaged 140 yards a game over the last eight weeks, against San Francisco’s ailing rush defence heading in the opposite direction.

The pass rush is another decider – the Niners ranked last in sacks and second-last in quarterback pressures as their pass rush unit is basically all out injured. Seattle, meanwhile, get consistent pressure and dominated two weeks ago having upped their blitz rate.

Rob Staton: Patriots

The Texans’ defence is legit and can win them any game, but Drake Maye’s mobility and playmaking is the perfect counter. Pats get it done.

Phil McGeoghan: Patriots

The Texans have changed games, ruined games, so you must have a protection plan for the Houston Texans. They will ruin your weekend. In my mind, though, just looking at the way Drake Maye is playing at this particular point and the way that they’re just kind of moving, I think it’s the Patriots, right?

I am from Boston. So I think if I go home and I don’t say the Patriots, I might be in the ‘harbour’ or something. So I will say I think it’s going to be the Patriots.

Mike White: Patriots

This is likely to be a tight affair with very few points in the game. The Patriots offence matching up against that forceful Texans defence feels like the match-up to keep an eye on. And with CJ Stroud set to be without his best receiving option in Nico Collins (concussion), Houston’s chances just reduced considerably.

Mike Vrabel’s already a strong coach of the season candidate, and returning the Patriots back to their once-familiar surroundings of the AFC Championship game will only enhance those credentials. Pats take it by six.

Paul Higham: Texans

Houston’s first road play-off win last week was a statement win for this terrifying defence, but the Pats have won a league-leading eight straight Divisional games.

Rob Staton: Bears

There’s just a bit of magic about the Bears at the moment and the Rams have not played their best football in weeks. Soldier Field will be rocking and I think Chicago make it to the NFC Championship.

Mike White: Rams

The Chicago Bears’ renaissance has been nothing short of remarkable and Ben Johnson deserves a tonne of credit for it. As does Caleb Williams who’s defied a lot of the (justified) rookie season critics in his second year.

That said, this is a Rams team that many have been crowning as the champions-elect for weeks and not without good reason. Whether it’s offensive guru Sean McVay, the experience and MVP qualities of Matthew Stafford or the magic hands of Puka Nacua, they have all the ingredients for another Super Bowl run. The predicted Arctic conditions might be somewhat of a leveller but still taking the Rams by four.

Phil McGeoghan: Rams

I am such a fan of Sean McVay. His mind, the way it works, his gameplans, also his humour. His willingness to be open. All these things matter in football.

Because of his personality and how he is with the players, he admires his guys. He doesn’t pretend Davante Adams isn’t one of the best to ever do it. He doesn’t pretend he’s not in awe of Matthew Stafford when he makes one of his no-look throws. That stuff really builds culture.

That’s why they’ve won Super Bowls, that’s why people don’t leave there unless they get promoted and get better jobs, because McVay is such a good man and he’s a brilliant, brilliant offensive mind so I’m picking Sean McVay and the Rams for those reasons.

Paul Higham: Bears

Only four quarterbacks have thrown for 140-plus yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a play-off win in the past 20 years – and two of them collide at Soldier Field.

So this genuinely could be decided by whether Matthew Stafford or Caleb Williams, who have combined for 29 fourth-quarter touchdowns this season, has the ball last after both earned thrilling late wins last week.

When Pep Guardiola steps out at Old Trafford for the 198th Manchester derby on Saturday, he will be taking on a sixth different United boss as he approaches a decade in charge at City.

Michael Carrick is the latest man in the Manchester United hotseat, with this his first game since joining as interim head coach after the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

As chaos continues to reign for United, there remains a calmness and serenity on the blue half of the Manchester divide.

Guardiola and his troops will be aiming to collect a league double that will keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title, while Carrick will be hoping to snatch local bragging rights in an otherwise calamitous campaign.

Last season was a rare blip for City as they failed to win a major trophy, but they are back to near their best – and Guardiola has hailed the “spirit” in his rejuvenated side who are battling on all four fronts and on a 13-game unbeaten run.

Asked what has been the most important factor in his longevity, Guardiola said: “Results, results. If you don’t win, you are sacked.

“We won a lot, that’s why I am sitting here. There is no other secret. [At City] they are more patient maybe. It defines the club.

“Another club last season, I would not be here any more. They were patient, maybe with what we did in the past. We had three months that was really poor.

In the past 10 years, United have cycled through ‘the Special One’ Jose Mourinho, the vibe of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the interim reign of Ralf Rangnick, the tactician Erik ten Hag and the young hope in Amorim.

All have come in and been seen off by Guardiola, who joined City in July 2016.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Darren Fletcher have also been in post for short caretaker spells, while former Red Devils midfielder Carrick takes charge for a second time as United turn to nostalgia once more in order to try to salvage a season that will end without silverware.

Knocked out at the first hurdle in both domestic cups, United are 17 points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal – and a top-five finish to return to the Champions League would be classed as some sort of success.

But as United struggle to regain an identity, City’s slick operation rolls on.

The latest iteration of Guardiola’s squad look like pushing the Gunners all the way in the top flight, and the sides could also meet in the Carabao Cup final.

Guardiola refreshed both his squad and staff in the summer – but the playing style and mantra have remained the same since the ‘tiki-taka’ days at Barcelona.

With 58.6% possession this season, City have the second-highest average in that metric behind only Liverpool. They have also had more touches of the ball and more attempted take-ons of opponents than any other side, according to statistics website FBref.

United may also be fearful of hosting a Guardiola side who are the top scorers in the division this season with 45 goals – and mercilessly put 10 past League One team Exeter City in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Guardiola will not only go down as the most successful manager in City’s history but as one of the greatest of all time given his previous exploits at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, winning abundant domestic and international trophies.

The Spaniard has enjoyed a healthy working relationship with the City hierarchy, particularly former sporting director Txiki Begiristain, who left in the summer, and the “perfect replacement” in Hugo Viana.

He has been heavily backed in the transfer market, with the recent £62.5m signing of forward Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth taking Guardiola’s spending at City past the £2bn mark.

The club are close to bolstering their squad even further after agreeing a deal in principle to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this month for £20m.

Since taking charge in July 2016, Guardiola’s net spend of about £957m is the third highest in England behind United’s £1.17bn – with little to show for it – and Arsenal’s £963m.

Guardiola’s spending, though, has been matched by his success, delivering 18 trophies including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups and the holy grail of the Champions League in 2023.

According to Transfermarkt, the 54-year-old – he turns 55 on Sunday – is the highest-spending manager in history having splashed £2.24bn on new players across his career, followed by old rival Mourinho with £1.72bn and Carlo Ancelotti on £1.56bn.

United have not managed to finish above their Manchester rivals in the league in the Guardiola era, with two second places behind City the closest they have been.

City beat United in the 2023 FA Cup final, en route to claiming the Treble, but Ten Hag’s side gained revenge by stunning Guardiola’s men at Wembley a year later.

Guardiola has faced United 26 times in all competitions as City boss, achieving 14 victories (including a penalty shootout win in the 2024 Community Shield).

No United manager has a winning record against him, with Solskjaer (four wins and four defeats) and Amorim (one win and one defeat) the only Red Devils bosses who do not have a losing record against the Spaniard.

“It is what it is,” Guardiola said of the rivalry. “I cannot control what United have done. You know from day one, the opinion I have for United.

“I don’t know what happened because I am not there.”

However, Guardiola’s league record against United might provide some hope to Red Devils fans.

Of teams he has faced five or more times, Guardiola holds a points-per-game rate of 1.74 against United, faring worse only against Tottenham (1.42) and Liverpool (1.32).

Defeat on Saturday would no doubt dent City’s title hopes, but it would give little reason for panic at Etihad Stadium.