NFC Playoff Predictions and Seedings

Current Seeding

1. San Francisco 49ers 12-3 X

2. Green Bay Packers 12-3 Y

3. New Orleans Saints 12-3 Y

4. Philadelphia Eagles 8-7 

5. Seattle Seahawks 11-4 X

6. Minnesota Vikings10-4 X

In the Hunt:

• Dallas Cowboys

Seeding Predictions

1. San Francisco 49ers 13-3 

2. Green Bay Packers 13-3

3. New Orleans Saints 13-3

4. Philadelphia Eagles 9-7

5. Seattle Seahawks 11-5

6. Minnesota Vikings 11-5

Who’s coming out: New Orleans Saints 13-3

My choice coming out of the NFC this year is the Saints. The favorite to come out is the 49ers for now. Yet I got a feeling that the Saints will make their past misfortunes into motivation for these upcoming playoffs. They have shown some flaws in their game but seem to be peaking on all fronts at the right time. Their game against the 49ers is the game I see being the rematch in the championship round. The last time it was down to who had the ball last. This time I expect the Saints defense to hold better and the 49ers defense to falter. The offense is too explosive to be stopped either. The 49ers and Packers are great competition in getting out but have too many flaws. The 49ers still get questionable play from their defense and their quarterback. While the Packers have improved over the last few games on defense, the offense relies on Adams too much in the passing game. Then if they get down early, they lose out on their most impactful player in Aaron Jones on the ground. The Eagles won’t get past the wild card round, they only made it due to the weak NFC East division. The Seahawks even with magical Russell Wilson just have too many injuries on offense and a defense that is too suspect to make noise in the playoffs. The point that highlights that the most are the fact they are about to sign Marshawn Lynch in week 17 and he will most likely start for them. The Vikings are the lone wildcard in the situation that can surprise someone and make it to the championship round. They won’t get past there due to their quarterback being who he is, solid but not the needed push over the top. It would even be more difficult with their top weapon in Dalvin Cook just coming back from injury and not knowing how healthy he will be. While the real thing that will kill them is the offensive line play which was shown versus the Packers. 

Z- Clinched division and home-field advantage

Y- Clinched division

X- Clinched Playoffs

-By: Darren Braxton

AFC Playoff Predictions and Seeding

Current playoff Seeding

1. Ravens 13-2 Z

2. New England Patriots 12-3 Y

3. Kansas City Chiefs 11-4 Y

4. Houston Texans 10-5 Y

5. Buffalo Bills 10-5 X

6. Tennessee Titans 8-7 

In the Hunt 

• Pittsburgh Steelers 8-7

• Oakland Raiders 7-8

• Indianapolis Colts 7-8

Seeding predictions

1. Ravens 14-2

2. New England Patriots 13-3

3. Kansas City Chiefs 12-4

4. Houston Texans 10-6

5. Buffalo Bills 11-5

6. Tennessee Titans 9-7

Who’s Coming out: Ravens 14-2

My choice to come out of the AFC this year is the Ravens. It may be the popular and current favorite pick to come out, yet the Ravens have one of the most complete teams in the playoffs. They have the frontrunner for MVP in Lamar Jackson. He has made a club all on his own by passing for more than 3,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards. He also has 43 total touchdowns which are more than 20 teams in the league. You add that to a dense that hasn’t allowed more than 21 points since week 5 and you got a recipe for success. Their closest real competition is the Kansas City Chiefs who gave the Ravens one of their two losses. Patrick Mahomes is playing lights out again along with a defense that currently is playing like a legitimate contender. The rush defense has been solid, and the defense hasn’t allowed more than 17 since week 12. The Patriots could sneak in the champions, but I don’t see them beat either team I just mentioned prior. Their offense isn’t scaring anyone, and that defense has shown to be vulnerable at teams against half the teams in the playoffs now. The Bills, Texans, and Titans have a small chance to come out, but they all have more issues than the prior teams and don’t look to advance too far in the playoffs. 

Z- Clinched division and home-field advantage

Y- Clinched division

X- Clinched playoff spot

-By: Darren Braxton

Divisional Drama: Who’s in and Who’s Out (AFC)

AFC North

Even though the Ravens ran away with this division thanks to MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson, there is still playoff implications for the others. If you would tell me that the Steelers would lose their QB, WR, RB, AND backup QB and still be 8-5, I would call you crazy. Well, I am calling you crazy, because they are 8-5, thanks to a top defense and quality coaching by Mike Tomlin, who has my vote for Coach of the Year. Pittsburgh is in the driver’s seat with an 8-5 record, but will have a tough test this weekend, as they take on the Buffalo Bills. The team right behind them is the Cleveland Browns. Sitting at 6-7, it is not likely they get into the postseason, but if they win out and get some help from Pittsburgh and the AFC South, Baker’s bunch may find a way to sneak in. 

AFC South

The AFC South is shaping out to be a two-team race with the Colts falling to 6-7 after being 6-4. The Houston Texans have been consistently inconsistent this year. For example, they dominate New England, and the very next week lose to a young Broncos team with a quarterback playing in his second career game. Houston is very unpredictable, and they have an extremely hot team right next to them; the Tennessee Titans. Ever since the Titans moved on from Marcus Mariota and handed the keys to Ryan Tannehill, the Titans are arguably one of the best teams in the AFC. Since Week 7, Tannehill’s first start, Tennessee is 6-1, and winning in dominant fashion. While the quarterback play has been a drastic change, this team is still going to win games from their defense, and that monster in the backfield named Derrick Henry, who is second to only Nick Chubb in rushing yards this season. These two teams will meet twice out of the last three games, and the results of the head-to-head matchups will basically show the fate of who wins this division.

AFC East

A division nobody thought would be close. Even though the New England Patriots are in the lead for their division, the Buffalo Bills are breathing down their necks, only a game behind New England with a record of 9-4. Even though they play each other one more time, the Bills would have to finish a game better than New England due to tiebreakers, and the Pats play Cincinnati and Miami. Consider the AFC East crown staying in Boston, but teams should fear the Bills come playoff time.

AFC West

Besides a little teaser by the Oakland Raiders, the AFC West was a runaway for the Kansas City Chiefs. Pat Mahomes and crew are playing for a chance at a first-round bye, and they have the tiebreaker against both New England and Baltimore, so things may get interesting down the stretch. As for the rest of the division, Denver is showing some encouraging signs with Drew Lock winning his first two starts. As for Oakland and Los Angeles, a quarterback change may be on the way real soon as they are looking to get over the hump.

-By: Richie Dordas