With the last week of the NFL regular season coming up next weekend, I want to do my playoff predictions THIS week rather than next, because next week I will be doing a full season review and comparison to my predicitions at the start of the year.
So how I will be doing this is by listing the projected seeds of both conferences and then the few teams still in the hunt, and then say my predictions for each game that will occur after. I will list the current records and then in brackets, my final projected record of the teams.
AFC
1st Seed: Kansas City Chiefs, 11-4 (12-4)
2nd Seed: New England Patriots, 10-5 (11-5)
3rd Seed: Houston Texans, 10-5 (11-5)
4th Seed: Baltimore Ravens, 9-6 (10-6)
5th Seed: Los Angeles Chargers, 11-4 (12-4)
6th Seed: Indianapolis Colts, 9-6 (9-7)
In the Hunt:
Tennessee Titans, 9-6 (10-6)
Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-6-1 (9-6-1)
NFC
1st Seed: New Orleans Saints, 13-2 (14-2)
2nd Seed: Los Angeles Rams, 12-3 (13-3)
3rd Seed: Chicago Bears, 11-4 (12-4)
4th Seed: DallASS Cowboys, 9-6 (9-7)
5th Seed: Seattle Seahawks, 9-6 (10-6)
6th Seed: Minnesota Vikings, 8-6-1 (8-7-1)
In the Hunt:
Philadelphia Eagles, 8-7 (9-7)
Wild Card Round:
For the AFC, I say Colts lose their last game to the Titans, giving the Titans the final wild card spot. The Steelers may win, but are unable to clinch playoffs with the Ravens also winning.
AFC
Titans vs. Texans- Titans 28, Texans 31
I say this game is close throughout and the Texans seal the deal with a late field goal to secure the victory, possibly in last seconds of the fourth or into overtime.
Chargers vs. Ravens- Chargers 38, Ravens 24\
A much less close game compared to the Titans-Texans due to a Ravens team still finding their groove with a new quarterback compared to a team that really deserves the playoff bye compared to the Patriots.
NFC
In the last week of the year, I don't see the Vikings beating the Bears, and I don't see the Eagles losing to a team with a quarterback who has won a total of ONE NFL game.
Also if the Eagles get into the playoffs, I must warn you all with three words: BIG. DICK. NICK.
Eagles vs. Bears- Eagles 24, Bears 21
I see this being a close game, much like the Titans-Texans game, but with more sloppy play throughout from both sides. With a mixture of a strong offense over the last few weeks from Philly and one of the scariest D-Lines in the NFL mixed with a sloppy and tired defense from Philly and a messy offense from Chicago, I see this being either a shitshow or a hell of a game.
Seahawks vs. Cowboys- Seahawks 41, Dallas 17
I don't see this being a close contest at all. The Seahawks have been solid as of late, and Dallas has been sloppy and have been really gifted wins this season. No one in the NFC East REALLY deserves a spot in the playoffs this year (YES, including the Eagles, even if I hate to say it). Also the Cowboys have won two playoff games in the last 21 years. Oof.
Divisonal Round:
AFC
Chargers vs. Chiefs- Chargers 41, Chiefs 35
This will easily be one of the games of the YEAR. Two of the best teams in the NFL gunning for that conference championship shot. The chiefs will start out strong, then "FULL REID MODE" will go into effect, and the chiefs will buckle and fail in the second half.
Texans vs. Patriots- Texans 21, Patriots 38
I don't have much to say here is that no team may have nice things in the playoffs against the Patriots until the Super Bowl. No nice things.
NFC
Eagles vs. Saints- Eagles 21, Saints 48
Even with Big Dick Nick, the Eagles stand no chance to such an opponent. The Saints are in a class of their own this season, with Kamara and Brees playing incredibly, and just an overall really good team. Brees will tear the Eagles battered secondary apart and it WON'T be pretty.
Seahwaks vs. Rams- Seahawks 24, Rams 31
This will be a good game, but I feel the Rams will come out on top somehow. I feel like the game could go either way, depending on how Wilson and Goff play.
Conference Championship:
I'll cut out the divisions at this point, since there's only two games.
Chargers vs. Patriots- Chargers 34, Patriots 28
By technicality, the Patriots will have home-field advantage here, but I feel the Chargers will prevail since they haven't really had home-field advantage all season long. It will be close, but so sweet to 31 fan bases in the NFL.
Rams vs. Saints- Rams 35, Saints 42
A fun game to watch, close throughout until Brees pulls something out of his ass to win New Orleans the game and a ticket to the Super Bowl.
SUPER BOWL 53
Chargers vs. Saints- Chargers 17, Saints 24
A low scoring affair, both defenses will have really good showings and it will come down to the final drive. I feel this could go either way, but I'm leaning towards a Saints victory in my heart. It would be nice to see Brees win it and ride off in the sunset.
What are your predictions?