Meaningful January football is upon us, which means it is time to dust off the Serby Crystal Ball to divine The Road to Super Bowl LIV in Miami:

Bills 21, Texans 17: J.J. Watt’s return from a two-month absence will provide an emotional lift, but Deshaun Watson lacks a running game and will be facing an elite defense with top cornerback Tre’Davious White (no TDs allowed) containing wondrous DeAndre Hopkins, while WR Will Fuller (groin) is no sure thing. Watson vows he won’t shy away from White. Romeo Crennel’s defense is vulnerable against the pass, and Josh Allen can use his legs when he isn’t targeting John Brown and Cole Beasley.

Patriots 23, Titans 20: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady’s first wild-card appearance since 2009, and bet against them at your own peril. The Pats are in great shape health-wise. Belichick will build a wall around big, bad rushing champion Derrick Henry and make Ryan Tannehill — 0-6 versus the Pats as Dolphins QB — beat him. Breakout rookie WR A.J. Brown and WR Corey Davis are dangerous, but elite CB Stephon Gilmore and an experienced secondary will be waiting in ambush. Brady should beware CB Adoree Jackson and S Kevin Byard. The Titans plan on rattling Brady. A Belichick revenge game against former pupil Mike Vrabel for a 34-10 whipping in Nashville last season.

Saints 30, Vikings 21: Can’t deny Drew Brees and can’t guard Mike… Michael Thomas. RB Alvin Kamara catches 81 passes every year. Sean Payton and the city of New Awlins crave payback for last year’s NFC Championship game injustice…not to mention the 2018 Minneapolis Miracle — Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs — that sent the Vikes to the NFC Championship game. RB Latavius Murray scores against his former team. RB Dalvin Cook is back and healthy, but Demario Davis flies around, and do you trust Kirk Cousins to win The Big One?

Seahawks 24, Eagles 20: The Eagles are battle-tested after their pressurized division-title run, but G Brandon Brooks was placed on IR and TE Zach Ertz, who was 12-91-1 TD in the 17-9 loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 24, is banged up. Carson Wentz, who will be making his first playoff start, is on a roll and has elevated the replacement skill players around him. Marshawn Lynch can’t possibly be vintage Beast Mode, but Russell Wilson is 4-0 versus Eagles. He’ll find a way to win.

49ers 26, Seahawks 21: The Defense Wins Championships crowd will point to the Patriots’ 13-3 Super Bowl win over the Rams, and Kyle Shanahan and DC Robert Saleh have a championship defensive line fueled by No. 2 draft pick DE Nick Bosa. Wilson will be asked to carry the load, and hope that Jimmy Garoppolo has the yips, although Jimmy GQ was efficient in the season-finale win over the ‘Hawks and can ride RB Raheem Mostert, TE George Kittle and rookie Deebo Samuel, who had 13 catches for 214 yards in two games against Seattle.

Ravens 27, Bills 20: A terrific coaching matchup pits OC Greg Roman versus Sean McDermott and DC Leslie Frazier, but MVP Lamar Jackson is on another planet. Allen’s passing game will struggle again against CBs Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey. He was 17-for-39 for 146 yards in a 24-17 loss in Buffalo last month, and will need a big game from rookie RB Devin Singletary.

Chiefs 27, Patriots 21: A sea of red at Arrowhead will be stoked for a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game heartbreak, 37-31 in OT. No Gronk this time, no way Brady throws for 348 yards this time, no way Tyreek Hill catches only one pass…he was 6-62 in KC’s 23-16 win last month in Foxborough. Belichick will concentrate on slowing TE Travis Kelce and disguising coverages, but Patrick Mahomes will do enough Patrick Mahomes things.

Saints 27, Packers 24: Brees isn’t the same quarterback on the road and it is hunting season for Za’Darius Smith (13.5 sacks). Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur enter their first playoff game together and will need a big game from RB Aaron Jones with CB Marshon Lattimore slowing WR Davante Adams. Will Lutz wins it with a field goal at the end.

Chiefs 32, Ravens 29: A dream shootout between Jackson and Mahomes captivates the nation, one jaw-dropping play after another. A bomb to Hollywood Brown…countered by an electrifying YAC by Hill…an ankle-breaking run by Jackson…a no-look missile from Mahomes to Kelce. Last one with the ball wins. Mahomes is last one with the ball. And Harrison Butker boots the field goal that wins it as time expires.

Saints 33, 49ers 30: A rematch of the Niners’ scintillating 48-46 win last month at the Superdome, which ended with a 30-yard Robbie Gould FG as time expired. Don’t expect Garoppolo to throw four TDs this time in the biggest game of his life, and don’t expect Emmanuel Sanders to throw a 35-yard TD pass to Mostert. Payton doesn’t fear the consequences of a riverboat gambling coaching move in the big game and so beware Taysom Hill. Lutz boots Payton and Brees back to the Super Bowl, and the Mardi Gras starts early in and around Bourbon Street now that justice has prevailed at last.

The Saints strike first when Janoris (Jackrabbit) Jenkins, with teammate Eli Apple in the men’s room, baits Mahomes into a Pick 6 and lifts up his jersey to reveal a t-shirt emblazoned with FORGETTLEMAN. Chiefs safety Tyrann Matthieu, LSU’s old Honey Badger whose first NFL interception came against Brees, counters with a Pick 6 of his own. But then Mahomes and Brees engage in a shootout pitting Thomas against Tyreek Hill and Kelce against Jared Cook. A brief spasm of defense — Terrell Suggs sacks Brees and Cam Jordan sacks Mahomes — is forgotten when Taysom Hill takes a shotgun snap and throws a 10-yard TD pass to Brees to win it.