NFL Divisional Round Playoffs Predictions

Well Tennessee sure showed me, huh? Not really, the Chiefs are just chokers. Other than the TN/KC game for the title of being knocked out by New England, my bracket is still intact so let's go over the Divisional round matchups. I do actually have one revision from last week, which we'll get into.

5) Tennessee (10-7) at 1) New England (13-3)

I will eat something strange if New England loses this game. Despite New England's sketchy defense as of late, the Titans are not well positioned enough to take advantage of it, with Marcus Mariota at quarterback and a lack of consistently dangerous weapons at receiver. I fully expect old man Brady to pick the Titans' weak pass D apart and New England to coast to the AFC championship on his back.

Prediction: 31-14 New England

3) Jacksonville (11-6) at 2) Pittsburgh (13-3)

While Pittsburgh unquestionably has the much better team on paper, they are notorious for playing down to their competition and I expect this to be closer than it should be. Despite Jacksonville's front 7 clashing against Brown and Big Ben (Wednesdays at 9:30 on CBS) being the marquee matchup in the game, I'm really looking forward to seeing how Pittsburgh tries to contain Leonard Fournette. With Blake Bortles' suboptimal performance in the Wild Card round, expect the Steelers to blitz early and often, and a healthy amount of easy checkdown passes from Bortles in response. It will be largely on the Steelers'  linebacking corps to combat this flood of up the middle runs and short passes to the outside, and I expect them to contain it  relatively well. In classic Pittsburgh fashion, I expect them to play poorly for 2 and a half quarters then turn on the jets and win fairly handily. God the AFC sucks.

Prediction: 23-13 Pittsburgh

6) Atlanta (11-6) at 1) Philadelphia (13-3)

The Falcons look really good, and the Eagles have looked significantly less good since the injury of their Messiah. Nick Foles is one of the better backups in the league, and I expect a decent performance from him, but Matt Ryan has capable weapons in Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, and Davonta Freeman. It will be on the Eagles' secondary to contain them and  keep Foles in the game, but that is a fairly tall order against a team of veterans getting hot at the right time. The Falcons D has proven their mettle the last couple weeks, and they should be able to hold the Eagles' fairly inexperienced offense led by a backup out to prove himself. This game will be close, but in the end without their field general the Eagles' don't quite have the tools or leadership to pull it out.

Prediction: 27-23 Atlanta

4) New Orleans (12-5) at 2) Minnesota (13-3)

This is the matchup I'm most looking forward to this weekend, with two well rounded teams squaring up for a showdown at the Super Bowl venue. While New Orleans does have Drew Brees, and he is still great, this is a different team that plays hard nosed football up front with a stout defense and two running backs capable of carrying a game on their combined backs in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Minnesota was a bit of a surprise this season, with Case Keenum rising to the occasion of a starting role, and with the help of breakout receiver Adam Thielen, has proven himself as a competent NFL quarterback. However, Minnesota's identity of rooted in it's defense, specifically it's linebacking, which was one of the best in the league this season. I expect this to be a scrappy game with whoever can convert a two minute drill at the end of the game to pull it out. While Case Keenum has had a good season, it's very difficult to compete with Drew Brees in the clutch, and for that reason I give New Orleans a slight advantage. Despite that, this game could easily go either way, and I think the winner of this game is likely the winner of the NFC.

Prediction: 34-31 New Orleans

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