FanPost

Preseason NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC

1. Bills

The Bills were a very talented team last year, and were one bad overtime rule away from making the AFC Championship. Considering they greatly improved their weaknesses this offseason, paired with the fact that they have the easiest schedule in terms of rest, and I think they could earn the #1 seed this year.

2. Bengals

I feel like the Bengals are really a boom-or-bust team this year. If Burrow returns to full strength after his surgery, their O-line plays up to their potential, and their CBs don't get roasted as badly as they did in the Super Bowl, then they could easily win their division with a high seed. However, if any one of those things go wrong, or if they can't overcome their 3rd hardest strength of schedule, then they could just as easily lose their division, and then miss out on the playoffs altogether.

3. Chiefs

I could easily see a team like the Chargers or Broncos win the AFC West due to their offseason additions, but I'm going to give the edge to the Chiefs since they still have best head coach-quarterback pairing in the division. However, since they lost some quality players in the offseason like Hill and Mathieu, and have the 5th-hardest strength of schedule to go along with playing in a now stacked division, I do think we should expect some regression.

4. Colts

The Colts should be favored to make the playoffs since they have a good coach and a very talented, balanced roster that would be considered a Super Bowl contender if Andrew Luck didn't retire. Matt Ryan isn't in his prime anymore, but he should be an upgrade over Wentz, so perhaps they'll finally get quality quarterback play this year. They should definitely win the division since the Titans only got worse this offseason while the rest of the division still sucks, and since they have the easiest strength of schedule in the AFC, I could even see them getting as high as the #2 seed.

5. Broncos

Similar to the Colts, the Broncos have had a talented squad for a while now, and the only thing they've been missing has been a QB. Now that they have Russell Wilson, they should definitely be capable of making the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, they still play in a division with Patrick Mahomes, so winning the AFC West will be difficult. However, they still have the talent to be a Wild Card contender, and with an average strength of schedule, I could see them getting as high as the 5th or 6th seed here.

6. Chargers

The Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the AFC, especially after their offseason acquisitions, but unfortunately for them they still play in the stacked AFC West, and have the 10th-hardest strength of schedule. With that being said, I still think they have enough talent to finally get Herbert to the playoffs.

7. Ravens

The Ravens did lose their best WR in Hollywood Brown to the Cardinals, but their offense relies more on their RBs and TEs anyway, and they have one of the easiest schedules in the AFC, so I could see them sneaking into one of the last Wild Card spots. Keep in mind that the Ravens dealt with a lot of injuries to their star players last year, including their QB, and still just barely missed out on the playoffs. It also doesn't hurt that Jackson will most likely play well in his contract year, and as always, the Ravens had another very solid offseason. It should be noted that I originally had the Dolphins winning one of these spots, and I could easily see them doing so, but I just simply don't trust Tua to capitalize on his team's new talent.

NFC

1. Buccaneers

You hate to see it, but it does look like the Bucs are in a great position not only to win the division, but also to earn the #1 seed. They have practically the same team that is only a year removed from winning the Super Bowl, and I'm sure they'll be extra motivated to win another with this most likely being Tom Brady's final season. Having the fourth-hardest strength of schedule won't make things easy for them, but they have enough talent to compensate.

2. Eagles

The Eagles were good enough last year to barely make the playoffs, and considering they have one of the easiest strengths of schedule in the NFL, paired with the fact that they had a tremendous offseason, and I could see them earning a higher seed this time around. In fact, since the Cowboys only got worse this offseason, while the Eagles improved tremendously, I could even see them winning the division. They definitely have the talent to earn a top 3 seed, but a lot will depend on how Hurts develops for them.

3. Packers

The Packers were lucky to convince Aaron Rodgers to come back, since as long as they have him they should always be considered a threat to make the playoffs. While they do have the talent to win their division again, it will be difficult for them to repeat as the #1 seed with all of their offseason losses. However, having one of the easiest strengths of schedule in the NFC, as well as a talented team overall, should help them compensate in order to earn another high seed.

4. Rams

The Rams still have a very talented team, so they should be able to win their division again, but considering they have the hardest strength of schedule in the NFL, and had some tough offseason losses, it will be difficult for them to earn a higher seed than this.

5. Cowboys

The Cowboys lost a good amount of talent this offseason, but they're still a good team that made the playoffs last year, and they have the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, so I think they should be able to earn one of the top Wild Card spots.

6. Vikings

The Vikings have had the talent of a playoff contender for years now, but they've failed to capitalize on that talent due to Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins holding them back. While they're unfortunately still stuck with Cousins, they finally moved on from Zimmer, so they should expect some improvement. They also have one of the easier strengths of schedule in the NFC, so they should be considered a Wild Card contender.

7. 49ers

I consider myself to be a big believer in Lance, but I do think he still needs some more development before he's ready to have a Mahomes-esque impact on the 49ers, and having to play the 5th hardest strength of schedule won't help. Even with that being said, the 49ers have more than enough talent to carry Lance to the playoffs, similar to how the Eagles did so with Hurts last year, so i could see them sneaking into one of the last Wild Card spots.

Wild Card Round

Bengals-Ravens

For whatever reason, the Ravens play much better in the playoffs when they're on the road and are underdogs, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them get the upset win here. With that being said, the Bengals are the better team on paper, and the Ravens don't have the receiving talent to take advantage of the Bengals' weak passing defense, so Burrow should get them the win here.

Chiefs-Chargers

A division match-up in the playoffs is always tough to predict, especially since both teams are very evenly matched, but I'll give the edge to the Chiefs since they have the better QB and more experienced coach.

Colts-Broncos

This a very even game between two balanced and talented teams, but I'm going to give the edge to the Broncos since Russell Wilson was able to beat the Colts last year even when he was on a much worse Seahawks team.

Eagles-49ers

This game is very tough to predict, since they both feature very talented teams that could be help back by their developing QBs. Hurts does have more playoff experience than Lance, but it's only by one blow-out loss, while the 49ers' coach has a lot more experience than the Eagles' coach. So as long as Lance doesn't have a rookie meltdown, I could see them getting the win here.

Packers-Vikings

The Vikings have been one of the few divisional rivals of the Packers that have been able to beat Rodgers, but it is important to note that all of these wins occured under Zimmer. So even though they have the talent to get the upset win here, I just don't see them being able to beat Rodgers in Lambeau.

Rams-Cowboys

The Rams are the better team on paper, and are at home, so I see them getting the win here.

Divisional Round

Bills-Broncos

It would be exciting to watch a match-up between two of the best QBs in the game, but unfortunately for Wilson, the Bills simply have too much talent to lose this one at home here.

Bengals-Chiefs

Another playoff rematch between Burrow and Mahomes seems quite fitting, and even though the Bengals swept the Chiefs last year, I think the Chiefs learned enough from those losses to get the revenge win here.

Buccaneers-49ers

The 49ers have the talent to get the upset win here, but I highly doubt that Lance, in his second ever playoff appearance, would be able to outduel Brady.

Packers-Rams

Like I said before, as long as the Packers have Rodgers, they'll always be a threat to win a Super Bowl. Unfortunately for them, their offseason losses will have to catch up to them eventually, and it will most likely happen against a more talented team. So even though the Packers are at home, I don't think they have enough experience at WR for them to be able to beat the talented Rams here.

Conference Championship Round

Bills-Chiefs

If this game is anything like last year's playoff matchup between these two teams, then we're in for a show. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, I don't see them winning the rematch, since the Bills are at home, and are the more talented team on paper.

Buccaneers-Rams

These teams are very evenly matched, but I'm giving the edge to the Buccaneers since they're at home, and will be motivated to win a ring for Brady.

Super Bowl

Buccaneers-Bills

This would be a very fitting Super Bowl for many reasons. The first is that if the Bills win their first Super Bowl, it will be very fitting that they do so against their old arch-nemesis in Brady. The second is that if they lose yet another Super Bowl, it will be even more fitting that it was against Brady. While I would love to see Brady add another Super Bowl loss to his resume, I just don't see it happening. Once he's in the Super Bowl, Brady rarely ever loses, and when he does it's never to young superstar quarterbacks like Allen or Mahomes, it's to average ones like Eli Manning and Nick Foles. So unfortunately for the Bills, their Super Bowl curse continues with yet another loss, only this time it's at the hands of their most hated rival.

The content of these posts are those of the user/fan making the post only