We're back for the most important time of the year - NFL PLAYOFFS!!
Corey and I will give our entire playoffs predictions below. Check out who we think will be meeting at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on February 7th.
NFC Wildcard Round
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team
Shawn: The Bucs' path to a home field Super Bowl starts in DC. Although I love how Alex Smith and their defense brought the Footballers this far, they just don't have the firepower to get past Brady and the Bucs. Tommy is just too good in January and he's never had a supporting cast like this before.
Bucs win 27 - 16
Corey: Washington’s defense should be able to keep this from being too much of a blowout, but the Bucs are far too talented to have their season ended by a 7-9 team. Alex Smith’s comeback was one of the best stories in sports this year, but his season ends here at the hands of Tom Brady and the best WR corps in the league.
Bucs win 26 - 14
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Shawn: These division rivals met in Seattle just a few weeks ago, when the Seahawks defense dominated the entire game during a 20-9 victory. Looking at the Seahawks' win margins this season makes it really hard to trust them to win a lot of playoff games. But we can never count Russ out, especially against a team that's getting cold at the wrong time.
Seahawks win 23 - 17
Corey: My upset pick of the week has the luckiest team in football finally running out of luck and falling to the superior team. It could come down to whether Goff is healthy enough to play, but I still like their defense and collection of skill players better than Seattle’s. McVay will find a way to beat a team that nearly lost to SF's practice squad last week.
Rams win 23 - 22
Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints
Shawn: Although I'm a huge TruBearsky fan, I'm having a hard time picturing a scenario where the Bears put up 20+ points on this Saints defense. It looks like Thomas AND Kamara will be playing on Sunday as well. I don't trust Drew Brees as far as he can't throw, but any of the Saints three QBs would be able to pull out a win out against Chicago.
Saints win 24 - 13
Corey: Hopefully the Saints learned their lesson from last year and don’t look past their first round opponent this time. Their offense has been heating up the past few weeks, and could turn it up even more now that Michael Thomas is returning. I don’t see the Bears moving the ball much in what should be the most lopsided victory of the weekend.
Saints win 31 - 12
AFC Wildcard Round
Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills
Shawn: Diggs and Beasley are both questionable for their first round matchup. Even without Josh Allen's top two targets, the Bills should still be able to handle the Colts pretty easily. It could very well be the John Brown, Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie show this weekend. If Diggs does end up playing, I predict that Buffalo wins by at least two touchdowns.
Bills win 31 - 18
Corey: The Bills were arguably the most dominant team in football over the final 6 weeks of the season, while the Colts faced their share of ups and downs. But how many times have we seen the hottest team in the league come into the playoffs as popular favorites, only to get bounced in the first round (like the Saints last season)? I still like them to win, but it could be a lot closer than people think.
Bills win 27 - 24
Cleveland Brown @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Shawn: The Browns will be without Pro Bowl Guard Joel Bitonio, WR KhaDarel Hodge, and Coach of the Year candidate Kevin Stefanski due to testing positive for Covid. Losing one of the best coaches in the entire league is a HUGE blow to Cleveland. Also, last time the Browns traveled to Pittsburgh back in October, the Steelers dominated the entire game in an easy 38-7 victory. The margin of victory won't be as large this time, but I see the Steelers still winning comfortably as Big Ben throws for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Steelers win 30 - 20
Corey: The Steelers began to get cold at the worst possible time late in the season, but managed to bounce back in Week 16 against Indy before wisely resting their key players in Week 17. I’m still not convinced the Browns are ready to step up in big games, and they proved it again last week by narrowly squeaking by Pittsburgh’s backups in a must-win game. Combine that with the COVID mess they’re currently in, and this one might not be much of a contest.
Steelers win 28 - 17
Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens
Shawn: Game of the weekend! We all remember what happened last year when these two teams met in the playoffs. This year, however, brings an entirely new narrative. Instead of Tennessee traveling to Baltimore as a double digit underdog, the Titans are hosting the playoff matchup this year as just a 3 point underdog. A month ago I was predicting that the Titans would make the Super Bowl, but their defense has failed to come together down the stretch. Although I'll be cheering for the Titans because Mike Vrabel is my favorite Coach, the Ravens are just too hot right now.
Ravens win 33 - 30
Corey: Titans games always seem to be among the most entertaining games each weekend, and this one should be no different. Vrabel vs Harbaugh has become one of the fiercest coaching rivalries in football, so this matchup promises to have a few fireworks in store. Ryan TanneThrill will hit AJ Brown for a game-winning TD in the final minute and hold off Lamar Jackson one last time to secure the victory.
Titans win 28 - 27
NFC Divisional Round
Shawn:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers
Brady vs Rodgers. Get used to this headline, because that's all you're going to hear about during the week leading up to this matchup. And yes, the game will live up to the hype. I expect both QBs to be slinging the ball no matter how cold and/or snowy it might be in Green Bay.
Remember when the Packers used their first 3 draft picks on a 3rd string QB, 3rd string RB, and TE? Well you're about to hear a lot more about it once the Packers go one-and-done in the playoffs. The amount of offensive talent surrounding Brady compared to Rodgers will be the deciding factor.
Bucs win 34 - 31
Seattle Seahawks @ New Orleans Saints
The Saints defense is the real deal! Even though Russell Wilson has one of the best WR combos in the league, Metcalf and Lockett will still be somewhat bottled up by this secondary. Kamara and Thomas will carry the team on offense, as long as Drew can muster up enough strength to throw it more than 10 yards.
Saints win 24 - 16
Corey:
LA Rams @ Green Bay Packers
The Rams defense should do a pretty good job of containing the top QB-WR combo of 2020 for most of the game, but you know it’ll only be a matter of time before Rodgers and Adams take over in the 4th and lead the Cheeseheads back to the NFC Championship. On the other side, it’s hard to trust Goff to lead his team to consecutive road wins against top competition, so their season ends here.
Packers win 23 - 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
The league gets its dream matchup with Tompa Bay facing off against Drew Orleans in a battle of over-the-hill, future HOFers. The Saints embarrassed the Bucs twice this season, but Brady gets his revenge and leads his team to a thrilling victory in the closing minutes in what could end up being the final game of Brees’s career.
Bucs win 34 - 31
AFC Divisional Round
Shawn:
Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
Lamar vs Mahomes?! What a cool matchup of the new era QB. This might go down as the best game of the entire playoffs. The Ravens will almost double the Chiefs in time of possession, but the score will continue to go back and forth. Ravens will run the ball and chew up around five minutes per drive. After they score, the Chiefs' drive will consist of a couple big plays that take up two or three minutes total. The Ravens will be leading in the 4th quarter until Kansas City puts together yet another outstanding comeback. Chiefs will force overtime and carry their momentum over for a game-winning touchdown on the opening drive.
Chiefs win 36 - 30 OT
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen just has so much time to throw and rarely makes any mistakes. The pass protection from the Bills Oline, TEs, Singletary and Moss is outstanding. If you wonder why the Bills Tight Ends and Running Backs don't put up monster numbers, it's because they're typically pass blocking. That gives Allen all day to throw the ball to Diggs, Beasley, Brown, Davis, McKenzie, insert other WR here.
The Steelers also have an extremely talented team this year, but I don't think they can match up with the hottest team in the league. Buffalo is coming into this game with a seven game win streak, which included a 26-15 victory over Pittsburgh a month prior.
Bills win 33 - 27
Corey:
Tennessee Titans @ Kansas City Chiefs
A rematch of last year’s AFC Championship pits two of the top offenses in the league against each other, and neither disappoints in what turns out to be the highest-scoring game of the playoffs. The Chiefs once again get the better of the Titans, but this time it comes down to the last minute. Mahomes outduels TanneThrill in an instant classic.
Chiefs win 41 - 38
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
This one has the feel of a classic playoff battle from the 90s as Mike Tomlin brings his team to Western New York to try and avenge their loss from the previous month. However, Josh Allen continues his amazing run, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for two more as the Bills get back to the AFC Championship for the first time since 1994.
Bills win 35 - 24
NFC Championship
Shawn:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
The true NFC Championship was last week in Green Bay. Whoever wins the Green Bay/Tampa Bay game should be able to beat New Orleans as well. With Mike Evans hopefully healthy, I believe that Brady and these weapons are too hot to be stopped in New Orleans. The Saints defense is excellent, but I don't think that the Saints' offense can keep up with RoJo, Godwin and others.
Bucs win 26 - 20
Corey:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers
We’re treated to another matchup of future HOF quarterbacks as two of the best signal callers of their era face off in frigid Lambeau Field. The Packers have a chance to erase the memories of the thrashing they took in last year’s NFC Championship at the hands of the 49ers, this time using the cold weather to their advantage and winning in convincing fashion.
Packers win 31 - 20
AFC Championship
Shawn:
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are the new Patriots. Get used to seeing Kansas City in the AFC Championship game year after year moving forward. As for the Bills, they’re coming into this game looking unbeatable. While the Chiefs have been sneaking by teams with close victories, the Bills are absolutely dominating their opponents.
I believe that LB Tremaine Edmunds and Safety Jordan Poyer will be able to contain Travis Kelce and CB Tre’Davious White will also be able to put a stop to Tyreek Hill’s explosive plays. Along with putting consistent pressure on Mahomes, this is the recipe for "stopping" the Chiefs’ offense.
Bills win 34 - 31
Corey:
The matchup we’ve been waiting for all season comes true as the top two teams in the NFL square off in what turns out to be a conference title game for the ages. The Bills struggled to defend TEs in 2020, which could spell trouble against the best receiving TE in the game. KC proved in last year’s postseason that no lead is safe against them, so expect them to find a way to win no matter how well Buffalo plays.
Chiefs win 37-34
Super Bowl
Shawn:
Buffalo Bills vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A team gets to play a home game in the Super Bowl for the first time ever and the Bills make the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1993 season. With the extra week of preparations and rest, I believe that both defenses will be fired up and ready to show out. LB Devin White and the rest of the Bucs defense will slow down the Bills run game, while the Bills defensive backs will slow down the Bucs passing game.
The game will go back and forth and there will be a lot of field goal opportunities in this defensive battle. Rookie Kicker Tyler Bass will make a clutch 50 yarder at the end of the game.
Bills win 26 - 23
Corey:
Kansas City Chiefs vs Green Bay Packers
From a fan’s standpoint, this is the best possible Super Bowl matchup possible. Aaron Rodgers may be the MVP of the 2020 season, but Patrick Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL. The Packers have an improved defense and the firepower to keep up in this game, but I just don’t see how anyone is going to beat the combination of Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid. The Chiefs become the first team to repeat in 16 years.
Chiefs win 30 - 27
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