Photo Courtesy of Stacy Revere / Getty Images
AFC WILD CARD
2. Kansas City Chiefs (34) vs. 7. Pittsburgh Steelers (16)
As we saw in Week 17, the Steelers do not match up well with the Chiefs, and the Chiefs are better than them in every facet. The Chiefs started the season slow but are back up to speed on both sides of the ball and should not have a difficult time with the Steelers.
3. Buffalo Bills (20) vs. 6. New England Patriots (17)
This will be the third time these teams see each other this season, which means it will be a game of adjustments. Considering the familiarity of these teams, I expect it to be a tough, physical game that will not contain too many points. The Patriots will likely try to go run-heavy on offense and do their best to stop superstar quarterback Josh Allen. The game will be close, but the Bills will play well enough on both sides of the ball to squeeze out a win.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (28) vs. 5. Las Vegas Raiders (24)
The Bengals offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and should continue that momentum heading into the postseason. In their Week 11 matchup with the raiders, Joe Mixon had a huge day on the ground, and as of late, the passing attack is one of the best in the league. If the Raiders want to win this game, Derek Carr will have to have a big day on offense and Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue will have to create pressure consistently. The Raiders will be competitive and keep it close, but it will not be enough to win.
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
1. Tennessee Titans (24) vs. 4. Cincinnati Bengals (21)
The Titans have had a strange season but ended up earning the #1 seed. With Derrick Henry likely coming back, that will help the offense get back to the way they like to play, which is through the run game with their workhorse back. Their defense is playing well and will be A good test for the Bengals offense. This Titans will win a close one in the end.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (26) vs. 3. Buffalo Bills (29)
This is a great matchup of teams and young, superstar quarterbacks that we will see many times for years to come. The Bills got the best of the Chiefs in their 38-20, week 5 win. Both offenses can put up tons of points, but both teams also have solid defenses that have played well this season. This matchup could come down to which quarterback plays better. The Bills depend on Josh Allen heavily in the pass and run game, and he should continue to play well into the playoffs and propel the Bills to win a close game over the talented Chiefs.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Tennessee Titans (23) VS. 3. Buffalo Bills (24)
Derrick Henry and the Titans rushing attack will not be easy for the Bills to stop, but they are led by a great defensive head coach in Sean McDermott who will do everything he can to make the adjustments to stop the run. If the Bills are able to stop the run well enough, they will have a better chance at winning the game. The Titans defense has played well at times, but the Bills offense should be able to play well enough to squeeze by the #1 seed Titans in a tightly contested matchup.
NFC WILD CARD
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (37) vs. 7. Philadelphia Eagles (21)
The Eagles offense has a great run game and could help them potentially be competitive early in this game, but Tampa Bay’s roster is too good and will eventually be too much for them to handle. The Bucs offense should not have much of a problem with the Eagles defense and should be scoring early and force the Eagles to adjust their game plan. The Bucs should not have a hard time coming out of this one with a win.
3. Dallas Cowboys (21) vs. San Francisco 49ers (27)
The 49ers love to play through their physical run game on offense and that should be their game plan heading into the playoffs. If Jimmy Garoppolo can play efficiently and avoid turnovers, the offense will be able to produce points. The Cowboys started off the season hot, but over the second half of the season they have been up and down. Their run defense will have to step up if they want to stop the 49ers, but their offense has the ability to be explosive and keep this game close. This matchup could come down to the wire, and I have the 49ers pulling off the upset.
4. Los Angeles Rams (30) vs. Arizona Cardinals (23)
Both of these teams started hot but ended the season on shaky terms. Both teams have star players that shine but struggle with depth and putting it all together at times. In their third matchup this season, I believe the Rams will win because they are the better team. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey make it difficult for the Cardinals to game plan, and the offense has an elite passing attack, including Matt Stafford, Odell Beckham Jr., and potential OPOY Cooper Kupp. Stafford must avoid bad turnovers if they want to win this game. As for the Cardinals, JJ Watt returning will help, but that may not be enough. The game should be close, but the Rams should come out with the win.
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
1. Green Bay Packers (23) vs. 6. San Francisco 49ers (20)
The Packers had the best record in the NFL and were arguably the best team all season, but the 49ers pose a tough challenge for them. As good as the Packers are and as much as their defense has improved, their run defense still has lapses at times, and the 49ers will use that to their advantage. The Packers defense has improved enough to contain the run game enough and the pass defense has played well this year and could force Jimmy Garoppolo to make a mistake. The Packers offense has the MVP, Aaron Rodgers, which gives them a major advantage. Lambeau Field in January is a tough place to play, but the 49ers play style should keep them competitive in this one, although the Packers offense should play well enough to earn a spot in the NFC Championship game.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30) vs. 4. Los Angeles Rams (25)
The Rams got the best of the Buccaneers in week 3, but that is now far in the past. The Bucs were not able to establish the run in the first matchup, but in this potential matchup, that will definitely be a big aspect in their game plan. The Bucs pass defense also got lit up in the first matchup, but they are now healthy again and should have a better approach. Overall, the Bucs are the more complete team and should make the adjustments to win.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Green Bay Packers (33) vs. 2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)
A rematch of the last year’s NFC Championship game, in which the Packers were not able to take advantage of many opportunities they had to win and ultimately lost to the Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers. This year, they will learn from their mistakes. The Packers and Buccaneers are the two best teams in the NFC and matchup well, and this game will likely come down to who can make less crucial mistakes and avoid turnovers. This game will be competitive and down to the wire, with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers redeeming themselves from last season and pulling off a big win.
SUPER BOWL
1. Green Bay Packers (34) vs. 3. Buffalo Bills (28)
The season of destiny for the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Heading into the season there was a great deal of uncertainty with Aaron Rodgers and his future (which there still could be) and the team came out flat in their 38-3, week 1 loss to the Saints, which left many fans worried. Since then, the team has turned it around immensely. The Packers and Bills both have elite quarterbacks, which should make this potential matchup a fun one to watch. Both defenses have the ability to play very well, but the high-powered offenses will be a touch matchup for both sides. Ultimately, the Packers experience will prevail, and they will outlast the Bills to become Super Bowl Champions.