NFL Playoff Wildcard Predictions: AFC Edition

Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans 

• This matchup is an intriguing one, to say the least. You have a potent offense against a defense that is legitimately a threat. Deshaun Watson and his arsenal of weapons including Hopkins, Stills, and Fuller are a dangerous matchup for any team. You throw in a complementary running game with Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson Jr. you got an offense that can score at will when fully healthy. On the flip side, you have a defense that has shown to have some of the best pass defense in the league led by Tre’Davious White who leads the league in interceptions this year with six. You mix in a front seven that can stop the run and rush the passer with the best of them and we got a real battle of offense versus defense. Unfortunately, this is not the real key to winning, the key to winning is whose opposite strength can win over the matchup. If it was up to me, I would bet money on the Houston defense holding off the Bills offense. Josh Allen might have a few good throws and runs, but for the most part, the offense will get stalled. 

My Prediction: Bills 17, Texans 28

Tennessee Titans vs New England Patriots

• Here we go again with another former coach/player of Belichick versus the man himself. These matchups aren’t always so fun for Belichick of recent. In the last two years, he has lost three games of that variety. Even with the recent track record, Belichick in the playoffs is a different animal on its own. He is known for taking away the one thing you do best, in the Titans cases, it’s the running game. Derrick Henry versus a very stout rush defense should be the main matchup, while the secondary one is just as important, the Patriots offense versus the Titans defense. The Pats offense has struggled all year and of late, they have been surviving off of gadget plays and trick plays. The Titans defense has been an under the radar defense when it comes to stops and turnovers. I can see it now, a defensive battle that comes down to who can make the most key plays in the end. My money is always going to be on the Patriots unless they face the Ravens or the Giants. Those two teams just seem to know how to stop the Patriots in the playoffs.  

My Prediction: Titans 20, Patriots 24

-By: Darren Baxton

Writer/Interviewer

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

Week 14 NFL Power Ranking Top 10; 6-10

6. Seahawks ↓ 2

An ugly loss to a division rival. This team has been riding high on the success of the main man himself Russell Wilson. Yet, when he can’t keep the team in it and the running game isn’t working then this team will lose. This is not the same team as it was when they won the Super bowl in 2012. They haven’t been able to show the same dominance they once have. This defense isn’t a pushover because they still can cause turnovers as evident by the pick-six from Quandre Diggs. Yet the pass rush is consistently no existent when needed and they allow rusher to get yards whenever they need. I still consider this to be one of the best teams because the rushing attack and Russell Wilson can’t be stopped like this too often, but the defense needs to step it up more consistent if they plan on making a deep run in the NFC playoff picture.

7. Vikings ↑ 3

A win makes everything better. This win was a good way to get the momentum back for this squad. The defense that had been showing cracks in the armor of late sealed them up against a third-string quarterback that was pretty good on this first outing. They finished the game with five sacks and two interceptions for the rookie QB. Pro bowler Danielle Hunter led the charge with three sacks and the safety tandem of Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith picked off Blough. Dalvin Cook got back to his scoring ways with a rushing touchdown and Kirk Cousins continued his pretty good season with another score. If this team can keep it up, then this team can make noise throughout the playoffs.

8. Patriots ↓ 1

“O’ how the mighty have fallen.” This is the best way to sum up the past two weeks for the Patriots. It was clear early on this year there were issues with this team but winning solves all woes. It can even make you think, “This is just how the patriots are. They can start off slow but get it together when it’s needed for their title run again.” Unless you are talking about this year’s teams. No Gronk, no consistent running game, and no other receiver than Julian Edelman and you have an offense that is flat. Points are becoming harder to come by for this team if not for a top 5 defense and special teams that capitalize on the smallest of miscues this year. Even this past week, the defense and special teams held the game close but couldn’t get enough from an offense that has no identity and no real playmakers for one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. They still have their 10 wins on the year and can still win the division again for the 11th time in a row, but this team needs help, BAD.

9. Titans ↑ 3

Tan-ne-hill! Tan-ne-hill! That is what most Titans fans are screaming right now. They are 5-1 with him as the starting QB and rolling right through teams. Tannehill’s dominant play has him and this whole team playing inspired football. You have Derrick Henry running over everything in his way with four straights 100-yard rushing games. Tannehill now has the league lead in passer rating over the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, and Lamar Jackson. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions in his last 7 starts. Not only has the offense upped their play, but the defense has been getting sacks and causing turnovers leading to touchdowns. The special teams have even gotten in on the action with three field goals blocking in the last five weeks. If they win the AFC South and win two of their next three games, this team is the second scariest team to enter the playoffs.

10. Bills ↓ 2

This past loss was a hard one to swallow for a Bills team that seemed to be surging and playing some of their best football of late. Josh Allen looked inaccurate most of the day and the only saving grace was the performance of Devin Singletary on offense who single-handedly tried to keep this offense in position to make plays. On the other hand, this defense may have given up three scores through the air but was stifling the Lamar Jackson lead offense majority of the game. The made the Baltimore offense punt seven times, which is the most in any game all year long that they have done so. Jackson made his normal highlight play, but for the most part, was contained by a disciplined and aggressive Bills defense. They even managed to pick him up, which hasn’t been done in over 181 of his last passing attempts. They just came up against a team that was better today, but they are still a fearsome squad for any left on their schedule.

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/Podcaster