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3-Wide: Which underdog will pull off an upset in the wild-card round?

Brace Hemmelgarn / USA TODAY Sports

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

What injury will have the biggest impact on the playoffs?

Jack Browne: The loss of Derek Carr should affect the AFC playoff picture more than any other, and by a considerable margin. Without him, the Raiders might squeeze past the unimpressive Texans and their own mess of a quarterback situation, but they'll go no further. While the Raiders were no lock to go on a deep postseason run even with Carr, they would have been a strong challenger to the New England Patriots. When the 2016 playoffs are finished, the biggest "what if" will be about Carr and the Raiders' lost potential.

Mitch Sanderson: Before losing Earl Thomas to a potentially career-threatening leg break, the Seahawks had played just one game in seven seasons without their star safety. Since then, the Seattle defense (the secondary, in particular) has looked totally different. Thomas covers more ground than any other defender in the league, and his absence can't be filled by anyone not named Ed Reed. The Legion of Boom doesn't exist without him.

Dan Wilkins: Rob Gronkowski's injury has become something of an afterthought given the way New England has continued to dominate without him. The Patriots will always have a chance to chase down a Super Bowl ring with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady leading the way, but there's reason to believe that the offense lacks the necessary firepower in this year's playoffs. Gronkowski, an all-time great at his position, is the rare tight end that's key to his team's vertical passing game. With opposing defenses being able to clamp down on short and intermediate routes, New England could have difficulty keeping up with other elite offenses, like that of the Steelers, in January.

Who is the best head coaching candidate on the market?

Sanderson: Experience, success, an impressive apprenticeship, innovation. Josh McDaniels has it all. The New England Patriots offensive coordinator is the best possible candidate for any head coaching position - except maybe in Denver. McDaniels' early flame-out with the Broncos taught him what not to do before he returned to Bill Belichick's side, continuing to learn from the best. Other candidates seem to be lacking either experience as head coach or success as a coordinator, but this 40-year-old strikes a solid balance.

Wilkins: Each of the coordinators earning consideration for a lead job require somewhat of a projection. NFL teams know exactly what they'd be getting with Tom Coughlin. The two-time Super Bowl champion, whose 12-year run with the Giants ended last offseason, appears to be in the mix for several jobs around the league. While he may not be a long-term option given he's now 70 years old, several teams should be interested in having him turn things around and groom a successor. The Jaguars should be first in line with sights set on a reunion.

Browne: If a team is looking for an offensive-minded head coach, they should look no further than Kyle Shanahan. The Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator has worked wonders this season, elevating the team to the second-ranked unit in the league, as well as making a potential MVP out of Matt Ryan. Kyle also understands the pressures and pitfalls of being an NFL head coach after watching his father, Mike Shanahan, lead various teams for 25 years. No coordinator is as prepared for the leap as Kyle.

Which underdog will pull off an upset in the wild-card round?

Wilkins: Aaron Rodgers continuing to play at this level could very well lead the Packers all the way to Houston. They'll be a popular pick to make such a run after heading into the playoffs as the NFL's hottest team, but let's not be so quick to mark down a win with the Giants rolling into town. New York has the pass-rushers to collapse the pocket and the cornerbacks to match up on the outside. And after finishing the regular season with the league's 31st-ranked pass defense, it's fair to wonder what Green Bay can do to slow down Odell Beckham Jr.

Browne: They might not have Carr, but the Raiders are still in with a good chance of pulling off an upset against the slightly favored Texans. Brock Osweiler's return to the Texans' starting lineup, just weeks after he was sent to the bench amid a chorus of cheers, should provide Oakland with a chance of winning this game on its defense alone. Connor Cook will have to make plays, but the high level of offensive talent around him should compensate enough for his inevitable rookie struggles, powering the Raiders to their first playoff win since the 2002 AFC Championship Game.

Sanderson: The Seahawks are missing some key pieces that the Lions could take advantage of. Without Earl Thomas to cover a third of the field, Matthew Stafford may have more room to work with, and he's been a master of the tight-game comeback. Seattle's offensive line is full of holes, while Detroit's pass rush has found a good mix of under-the-radar defensive linemen. The Lions have overcome the odds all season long, so one more game is completely doable.

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