With the end of 2017 brings 2018 and all of its sport-filled events. This includes the College Football Playoffs, the Winter Olympics, the World Series, the NBA draft, and of course, the NFL playoffs. 20 team are disappointed the season is over but 12 teams are ecstatic. Now begins the real journey: a brutal slate of games used to determine the best squad in the game. So who will emerge victoriously? That is exactly what we will try and determine here. Let's get started.
Wild-Card Round:
#5 Tennessee Titans at. #4 Kansas City Chiefs
How the Titans win: The Chiefs secondary is problematic thanks to the injury to star safety Eric Berry and Darrelle Revis no longer the elite cornerback he used to be. If Mariota, who has admittedly really struggled at throwing the ball this season, can find a way to get it to guys like Delanie Walker, Corey Davis, and Rishard Matthews, they could turn those passes into big plays and scores. The Titans will also need their underrated defense to contain Kansas City's big-time playmakers such as Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce.
How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs offense should be able to overpower and outplay the mismatched Titans defense. Sure, Kevin Byard will be a problem, but the run game should thrive. The Chiefs will also need their elite special teams unit to dominate that aspect of the game.
The Pick: Kansas City- at this stage in the playoffs, the game can simply come down to who has more momentum from the regular season. KC easily has that edge since Tennessee dropped three of their last four.
#6 Buffalo Bills at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars
How the Bills win: The Bills don't have as great of a defensive front as they used to, but it's still a talented group. If Jerry Hughes and his teammates can put pressure on Blake Bortles and force him to make poor decisions, then they can shut down the Jags' passing game and force them to become one-dimensional.
How the Jaguars win: The Jaguars have the best defense in football and should make life miserable for Tyrod Taylor et al. It's also a safe bet to assume Leonard Fournette will be able to rack up big rushing yards and possibly a few big plays.
The Pick: Jacksonville- the Jags are simply a much better team than Buffalo. Besides, who's to say coach Sean McDermott doesn't put Nathan Peterman in halfway through the game?
#6 Atlanta Falcons at #3 Los Angeles Rams
How the Falcons win: Matt Ryan will need to play more like the MVP he was two years ago than the disappointment he was this year. If he can elude the dangerous Rams' pass-rushers and find Julio Jones and Mo Sanu, the Falcons will be able to keep the Rams on their toes and make big plays.
How the Rams win: Andrew Whitworth and the Rams' O-line will need to contain the likes of Adrian Clayborn to give Jared Goff enough time to find the open man. That should also open lanes for stud back Todd Gurley.
The Pick: Los Angeles -the Rams may be less experienced than Atlanta but their offense should run circles around the Falcons suspect D.
#5 Carolina Panthers at #4 New Orleans Saints
How the Panthers win: Coach Ron Rivera has seemed puzzled this year as to how to best use rookie back Christian McCaffrey, but the former Cardinal could be instrumental here. He can be used in all sorts of schemes and could give the Saints fits. That could open up the field for Carolina.
How the Saints win: Marshon Lattimore could shut down Devin Funchess and take away Cam Newton's best weapon. If that happens, the Panthers will have to rely on a run game that hasn't been very effective this year.
The Pick: New Orleans- Drew Brees has plenty of big-game experience and should play at an elite level here. Plus, it's hard to bet against a team that has both Mark Ingram AND Alvin Kamara.
Divisional Round:
#4 Kansas City Chiefs at #1 New England Patriots
How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs wallopped the Pats back in Week 1 and might feel similarly inspired. Kareem Hunt is talented enough to outmaneuver any scheme DC Matt Patricia may cook up and Alex Smith could return to his early-season MVP form.
How the Patriots win: New England's defense is a lot better now than it was back in Week 1. That unit has the talent to keep Smith, Kelce, etc. in check as they run over Kansas City's defense. Plus, they have Tom Brady. I heard he's pretty good.
The Pick: New England- when the Chiefs won in Week 1, they had safety Eric Berry, a player they are now without. It's hard to overstate the impact that Berry's absence has had on this team.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #2 Pitsburgh Steelers
How the Jaguars win: With Ryan Shazier on the sidelines, Pittsburgh has a much less formidable defense. Sure, they still have guys like T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, but Shazier is the heart and soul of that defense. His absence will make things easier for both Leonard Fournette and Blake Bortles. The Steelers also have a suspect secondary that Bortles should be able to exploit. Both Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook have emerged in recent weeks as viable targets for the former UCF star.
How the Steelers win: Pittsburgh's biggest advantage here is that they are at home, meaning they get home Ben. Even if Antonio Brown doesn't play, Big Ben should have a great game here. Besides, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant are both excellent receivers.
The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Jaguars will have to leave sunny Florida and play in a possibly snowy Heinz field. While the Steelers are used to playing in those brutal conditions, the Jags are not. Star running back Leonard Fournette even admitted a few weeks back that he was nervous about playing in the snow.
#4 New Orleans Saints at #1 Philadelphia Eagles
How the Saints win: Carson Wentz was playing like an MVP when he went down a few weeks ago. His absence gives the Saints' defense the edge in this matchup. Nick Foles doesn't have the experience Drew Brees does.
How the Eagles win: Nick Foles has been up and down this season but if he has an up game, the Eagles offense will be tough to stop. Even if he doesn't play very well, the four-headed run monster of guys like Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement might be too much for the Saints to deal with.
The Pick: New Orleans- if Nick Foles was playing a lesser defense than I would take the Eagles, but Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and the rest of the Saints D should feast on Foles.
#3 Los Angeles Rams at #2 Minnesota Vikings
How the Rams win: Todd Gurley has been absolutely unreal this season. Go back and watch him take on the Seahawks a few weeks ago for further proof. The Vikings might have a great defense, but even they might struggle to contain Gurley.
How the Vikings win: With the possibility that the Vikings become the first ever home Super Bowl team in history, the home crowd here should be absolutely ravenous. That kind of electric atmosphere along might be all the Vikings need to win.
The Pick: Minnesota- Stefon Diggs might be the key here, as he has quietly amassed some stellar stats over the last few weeks. If he has another good game, along with the Vikings running backs, that might push the Vikings over the edge.
Conference Championships:
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 New England Patriots
How the Steelers win: AB is expected to be back for this game, and it always helps to have the best receiver in the game. The Patriots simply don't have anyone who can cover Brown. Even if they double-team him, that will leave Smith-Schuster and Bryant open.
How the Patriots win: There's a reason Tom Brady is the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He's managed to win big game after big game even when he doesn't have the best targets. It's always hard betting against him.
The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Patriots may have won the head-to-head match a few weeks ago, but that may have been due to just bad officiating. I'm going with the upset here.
#4 New Orleans Saints at #2 Minnesota Vikings
How the Saints win: The Saints have the league's best running-back duo with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. They have been both absolutely unstoppable this year and should do the same here. The Saints will also need Drew Brees to have a big game here. He's been a lot quieter this year, thanks to the improved run game, but he's still one of the best in the game.
How the Vikings win: Case Keenum might now be Drew Brees, but he's still pretty damn good. If he can connect with guys like Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph, it might be hard to slow down the Vikings offense.
The Pick: New Orleans- I'm going with another upset here. If Dalvin Cook had not torn his ACL, then I might have to pick Minnesota, but neither Jerrick McKinnon nor Latavious Murray are at his level.
Super Bowl: New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
How the Saints win: The absence of Ryan Shazier will really hurt the Steelers here. It will give more running room for Ingram and Kamara while taking some pressure off Drew Brees. Furthermore, rookie Marshon Lattimore might be one of the few guys in the league who can actually cover Antonio Brown.
How the Steelers win: Big Ben is 2-1 in Super Bowls and has a proven track record in big games. Besides, his trio of Brown, Smith-Schuster, and Bryant might be the best receiver trio in the NFL. He also has arguably the best RB in Le'Veon Bell.
The Pick: New Orleans- this should be an excellent game that comes down to the wire. I just have to go with the team who I think is more complete and ready to win. MVP: Drew Brees
Thanks for reading everyone.
Wild-Card Round:
#5 Tennessee Titans at. #4 Kansas City Chiefs
How the Titans win: The Chiefs secondary is problematic thanks to the injury to star safety Eric Berry and Darrelle Revis no longer the elite cornerback he used to be. If Mariota, who has admittedly really struggled at throwing the ball this season, can find a way to get it to guys like Delanie Walker, Corey Davis, and Rishard Matthews, they could turn those passes into big plays and scores. The Titans will also need their underrated defense to contain Kansas City's big-time playmakers such as Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce.
How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs offense should be able to overpower and outplay the mismatched Titans defense. Sure, Kevin Byard will be a problem, but the run game should thrive. The Chiefs will also need their elite special teams unit to dominate that aspect of the game.
The Pick: Kansas City- at this stage in the playoffs, the game can simply come down to who has more momentum from the regular season. KC easily has that edge since Tennessee dropped three of their last four.
#6 Buffalo Bills at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars
How the Bills win: The Bills don't have as great of a defensive front as they used to, but it's still a talented group. If Jerry Hughes and his teammates can put pressure on Blake Bortles and force him to make poor decisions, then they can shut down the Jags' passing game and force them to become one-dimensional.
How the Jaguars win: The Jaguars have the best defense in football and should make life miserable for Tyrod Taylor et al. It's also a safe bet to assume Leonard Fournette will be able to rack up big rushing yards and possibly a few big plays.
The Pick: Jacksonville- the Jags are simply a much better team than Buffalo. Besides, who's to say coach Sean McDermott doesn't put Nathan Peterman in halfway through the game?
#6 Atlanta Falcons at #3 Los Angeles Rams
How the Falcons win: Matt Ryan will need to play more like the MVP he was two years ago than the disappointment he was this year. If he can elude the dangerous Rams' pass-rushers and find Julio Jones and Mo Sanu, the Falcons will be able to keep the Rams on their toes and make big plays.
How the Rams win: Andrew Whitworth and the Rams' O-line will need to contain the likes of Adrian Clayborn to give Jared Goff enough time to find the open man. That should also open lanes for stud back Todd Gurley.
The Pick: Los Angeles -the Rams may be less experienced than Atlanta but their offense should run circles around the Falcons suspect D.
#5 Carolina Panthers at #4 New Orleans Saints
How the Panthers win: Coach Ron Rivera has seemed puzzled this year as to how to best use rookie back Christian McCaffrey, but the former Cardinal could be instrumental here. He can be used in all sorts of schemes and could give the Saints fits. That could open up the field for Carolina.
How the Saints win: Marshon Lattimore could shut down Devin Funchess and take away Cam Newton's best weapon. If that happens, the Panthers will have to rely on a run game that hasn't been very effective this year.
The Pick: New Orleans- Drew Brees has plenty of big-game experience and should play at an elite level here. Plus, it's hard to bet against a team that has both Mark Ingram AND Alvin Kamara.
Divisional Round:
#4 Kansas City Chiefs at #1 New England Patriots
How the Chiefs win: The Chiefs wallopped the Pats back in Week 1 and might feel similarly inspired. Kareem Hunt is talented enough to outmaneuver any scheme DC Matt Patricia may cook up and Alex Smith could return to his early-season MVP form.
How the Patriots win: New England's defense is a lot better now than it was back in Week 1. That unit has the talent to keep Smith, Kelce, etc. in check as they run over Kansas City's defense. Plus, they have Tom Brady. I heard he's pretty good.
The Pick: New England- when the Chiefs won in Week 1, they had safety Eric Berry, a player they are now without. It's hard to overstate the impact that Berry's absence has had on this team.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars at #2 Pitsburgh Steelers
How the Jaguars win: With Ryan Shazier on the sidelines, Pittsburgh has a much less formidable defense. Sure, they still have guys like T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, but Shazier is the heart and soul of that defense. His absence will make things easier for both Leonard Fournette and Blake Bortles. The Steelers also have a suspect secondary that Bortles should be able to exploit. Both Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook have emerged in recent weeks as viable targets for the former UCF star.
How the Steelers win: Pittsburgh's biggest advantage here is that they are at home, meaning they get home Ben. Even if Antonio Brown doesn't play, Big Ben should have a great game here. Besides, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant are both excellent receivers.
The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Jaguars will have to leave sunny Florida and play in a possibly snowy Heinz field. While the Steelers are used to playing in those brutal conditions, the Jags are not. Star running back Leonard Fournette even admitted a few weeks back that he was nervous about playing in the snow.
#4 New Orleans Saints at #1 Philadelphia Eagles
How the Saints win: Carson Wentz was playing like an MVP when he went down a few weeks ago. His absence gives the Saints' defense the edge in this matchup. Nick Foles doesn't have the experience Drew Brees does.
How the Eagles win: Nick Foles has been up and down this season but if he has an up game, the Eagles offense will be tough to stop. Even if he doesn't play very well, the four-headed run monster of guys like Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement might be too much for the Saints to deal with.
The Pick: New Orleans- if Nick Foles was playing a lesser defense than I would take the Eagles, but Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and the rest of the Saints D should feast on Foles.
#3 Los Angeles Rams at #2 Minnesota Vikings
How the Rams win: Todd Gurley has been absolutely unreal this season. Go back and watch him take on the Seahawks a few weeks ago for further proof. The Vikings might have a great defense, but even they might struggle to contain Gurley.
How the Vikings win: With the possibility that the Vikings become the first ever home Super Bowl team in history, the home crowd here should be absolutely ravenous. That kind of electric atmosphere along might be all the Vikings need to win.
The Pick: Minnesota- Stefon Diggs might be the key here, as he has quietly amassed some stellar stats over the last few weeks. If he has another good game, along with the Vikings running backs, that might push the Vikings over the edge.
Conference Championships:
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 New England Patriots
How the Steelers win: AB is expected to be back for this game, and it always helps to have the best receiver in the game. The Patriots simply don't have anyone who can cover Brown. Even if they double-team him, that will leave Smith-Schuster and Bryant open.
How the Patriots win: There's a reason Tom Brady is the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He's managed to win big game after big game even when he doesn't have the best targets. It's always hard betting against him.
The Pick: Pittsburgh- the Patriots may have won the head-to-head match a few weeks ago, but that may have been due to just bad officiating. I'm going with the upset here.
#4 New Orleans Saints at #2 Minnesota Vikings
How the Saints win: The Saints have the league's best running-back duo with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. They have been both absolutely unstoppable this year and should do the same here. The Saints will also need Drew Brees to have a big game here. He's been a lot quieter this year, thanks to the improved run game, but he's still one of the best in the game.
How the Vikings win: Case Keenum might now be Drew Brees, but he's still pretty damn good. If he can connect with guys like Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph, it might be hard to slow down the Vikings offense.
The Pick: New Orleans- I'm going with another upset here. If Dalvin Cook had not torn his ACL, then I might have to pick Minnesota, but neither Jerrick McKinnon nor Latavious Murray are at his level.
Super Bowl: New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
How the Saints win: The absence of Ryan Shazier will really hurt the Steelers here. It will give more running room for Ingram and Kamara while taking some pressure off Drew Brees. Furthermore, rookie Marshon Lattimore might be one of the few guys in the league who can actually cover Antonio Brown.
How the Steelers win: Big Ben is 2-1 in Super Bowls and has a proven track record in big games. Besides, his trio of Brown, Smith-Schuster, and Bryant might be the best receiver trio in the NFL. He also has arguably the best RB in Le'Veon Bell.
The Pick: New Orleans- this should be an excellent game that comes down to the wire. I just have to go with the team who I think is more complete and ready to win. MVP: Drew Brees
Thanks for reading everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment