I have just finished doing ESPNs “Playoff Machine.” It tells you who will make the playoffs based on your projections for the remaining games of the season, and I recommend you do it after you read this. In Week 11, I made some inaccurate predictions for the playoffs. My bracket is shown above, as is the final division standings. So, based on that, I make my updated playoff prediction.
AFC
Wild Card
Baltimore at Tennessee
The Titans would host this game, and that will be the difference. The Ravens don’t have the star power(or quarterback) to beat the Titans on the road. Baltimore will make it a competitive game, but in the end, they’ll find themselves outmatched.
Final Score: 31-21, Titans.
Jaguars at Chargers
Look at the Jags when they played Arizona. They have such an easy schedule that they can’t beat a team that’s legitimately good. The Chargers lost four straight to start the year, and if I’m right, they’ll be 10-2 in their last twelve heading into this game. This’ll be close, and these two teams will battle it out till the end.
Final Score: 20-18, Chargers
Divisional Round
Titans at Patriots
The Patriots are a better team. It’s as simple as that. The Titans are inexperienced, and Mariota is nowhere near Tom Brady.
Final Score: 27-14, Patriots
Chargers at Steelers
LA’s defense is inconsistent. And Phillip Rivers wasn’t that good against Jacksonville. The Chargers are young, and the Steelers have a lot of offensive firepower. Even without Ryan Shazier, the Steelers will pull away.
Final Score: 28-17, Steelers
Conference Championship
Patriots at Steelers
This will be a classic Patriots-Steelers game. The teams will duke it out at Heinz Field to earn a berth in Super Bowl 52. Tom Brady will get bottled up(to some degree), but the Steelers offense should string together a few good drives against the 28th ranked defense. If they could score touchdowns in the red zone, that could be the finisher.
Final Score: 20-16, Steelers
NFC
Wild Card
Packers at Eagles
The Packers. Aaron Rodgers will lead them to an upset at Lincoln Financial Field. Carson Wentz will be flummoxed, and Green Bay will get it’s offense going.
Final Score: 28-13, Packers
Seahawks at Rams
Sean McVay’s debut season will end at the hands of Russell Wilson. Seattle simply has more experience than the Rams. In a few years, LA will contend for a super bowl, but it won’t happen yet.
Final Score: 23-13, Seahawks
Divisional Round
Packers at Vikings
Minnesota will play well, and we’ll see a close slugfest. This could come down to a last play field goal, or a lucky bounce could determine a winner. I hope this game happens.
Final Score: 38-34, Packers
Seahawks at Saints
Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram will carry the Saints to another victory. Wilson has been great, but the Saints have looked better. It’ll be close, but New Orleans should pull away late.
Final Score: 24-20, Saints
Conference Championship
Packers at Saints
In the end, Green Bay’s poor defense will once again be their undoing in the Conference Championship game. Ingram and Kamara will run all over them, and go to Minneapolis.
Final Score: 34-21, Saints
Super Bowl LII
Saints vs Steelers
The Saints will run the ball, but the Steelers offense should click as well. It will be high scoring with many stars, and this could be a last-possession game.
Final Score: 34-30, Steelers
Glad to see the Packers back in the mix!
I agree that Week 15’s Pats-Steelers game will be an AFC Championship preview. But will the Steelers sweep both games? Not sure about that.
If it cannot be the Giants, I like these predictions. No Eagles, no Patriots, no Dallas.