The 2018 NFL regular season is officially in the books and it is now time for the playoffs to begin! Six teams from each conference will duke it out over the next three weeks to determine who will represent the NFC and AFC at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on February 3rd.
In this post I'm going to make all of my playoff predictions right up to who is going to take home the Lombardi trophy. Last season I had the Saints beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl and I probably would have been right if it wasn't for the crazy Minneapolis Miracle. You'll have to forgive me for that one, I mean c'mon who could have predicted anything going right for the Vikings in the playoffs.
I feel less confident about my predictions this year because this weekend alone we have three games that could easily go either way. And one that is a virtual lock. Bye, Eagles, Bye. Anyway let's dive in.
Wild Card Weekend
AFC
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
The Texans and the Colts have already played each other twice this season since they both reside in the AFC South. Each team won on the road by three points. Both teams had abysmal starts to the regular season before turning on the jets and cruising into the playoffs.
This is a tough one. Indy has the veteran QB in Andrew Luck who lit up Houston in both meetings and WR T.Y. Hilton regularly burns the Texans in Houston. But I can't pull the trigger on the Colts. The Texans are at home and better rested after finishing the season with an easy matchup against the Jags. The Colts had to play on the road last Sunday night and travel again this week. Close game, but home field advantage will decide this one. Texans 27 Colts 24.
San Diego Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens traveled to L.A. two weeks ago and beat the Chargers 22-10 in the only meeting between the two teams this season. The Chargers home field situation is ridiculous, they have no advantage and tend to play better on the road. The Chargers went 7-1 on the road this year with big wins in Pittsburgh and Kansas City.
The Ravens have an excellent defense and will prevent the Chargers from putting up a big score, but in the end I think the Chargers score enough to win. Ravens rookie QB Lamar Jackson has been explosive running the ball, but his passing game is still weak and the Ravens offense is very one-dimensional. The Chargers have seen him once and will adjust accordingly. Chargers 21 Ravens 16.
NFC
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys traveled to Seattle all the way back in week three and lost 24-13. But this is a much different Dallas team since acquiring WR Amari Cooper and moving rookie LB Leighton Vander Esch into the starting line-up. Plus the Seahawks defensive hero in that game was Earl Thomas and he is on injured reserve.
The Cowboys were 7-1 at home this year, including their big win over the Saints. The key for Dallas is turnovers. When they hang onto the ball they win and they generally hang onto the ball at home. Russell Wilson is dangerous and the Seahawks are battle-tested, but I like the Cowboys in this one. You knew I would. Cowboys 27 Seahawks 21.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
These teams didn't meet this season so this is the one brand new matchup on Wild Card Weekend. It'll probably be ugly. The Bears defense is superb, the Eagles have Nick Foles at QB. I think he used all his magic up. The Eagles are beat up on offense and will struggle to score. They are even more beat up on defense and will be unable to contain the Bears running game. Winning the turnover battle by a large margin is their only prayer in this one. With the way the Bears force turnovers, I can't see that happening. Bears 28 Eagles 10.
Division Round Weekend
AFC
Houston Texans at New England Patriots
The Texans reward for beating the Colts will be a trip to Foxborough. Congratulations! Houston opened up the 2018 season by losing on the road 27-20 to the Patriots. The Texans have come a long way since that game, the Patriots look like a shell of their former selves. Do I smell an upset? Nope.
The Texans are going to have a battle on their hands with Indy while the Patriots rest and prepare. In case you didn't know, Belichick knows how to prepare. The bye-week gives the Patriots the edge. Patriots 31 Texans 24.
San Diego Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Boy, this would be a good one. The teams split their regular season meetings with the Chiefs winning 38-28 in L.A. and the Chargers coming out on top 29-28 in Kansas City. The Chiefs have the advantage with a bye while the Chargers have to slug it out with Baltimore.
The Chiefs were making a mockery of the AFC before losing RB Kareem Hunt. They have been mediocre since. Plus the Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid have a long and storied history of blowing it in the playoffs. So do the Chargers, but I'm giving the advantage to old gunslinger Philip Rivers in this one. The Chiefs defense is awful and the Chargers will tear them up. Mahomes should play well, but not well enough to overcome that stinky defense. Chargers 38 Chiefs 34.
NFC
Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints
The Cowboys reward for beating the Seahawks will be a trip to New Orleans. Good Grief. The Cowboys defense completely shut down the Saints offense in Dallas, but I can't realistically see that happening again. Especially not in the Superdome, where Drew Brees always puts up big numbers.
The Cowboys have struggled on the road all season long. The Saints were 6-1 at home before not even trying to win against the Panthers. It could get ugly, but I hope it doesn't. Saints 28 Cowboys 17.
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams
The Rams traveled to freezing Chicago early in December and got mauled by the Bears 15-6. This time they get to play in warm weather at Los Angeles. Will it help? I don't think so.
The game plan to beat the Rams is simple, contain RB Todd Gurley and make QB Jared Goff beat you. Easier said than done, but the Bears are the # 1 defense for a reason. In their first meeting they held Gurley to 28 rushing yards and picked Goff off 4 times. I don't think they will repeat that performance, but I still don't think the Rams will score a lot of points. The Rams defense hasn't been nearly as good this year. They rely on Aaron Donald too much and the Bears can help take him out of the game by running the ball.
Turnovers will be the key. The Bears will need to force a few to aid their offense and I think they will. Bears 17 Rams 13.
Conference Championship Weekend
AFC
San Diego Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
Dear Lord no, the Patriots at home for another AFC championship game? I'm going to be sick. Can anyone in the AFC stop this madness?
I might be losing my mind, but I think the Chargers can. Hell they have to win at Baltimore and Kansas City to get here. Winning three road games to make the Super Bowl is a tall task, but it has been done before several times. The Charges have a balanced offense that can attack the Patriots in different ways. The Pats rely on stopping an opposing team's top weapon. If they concentrate on Rivers, Gordon can run the ball right down their throats. Take out Gordon and old man Rivers can light them up. These aren't the same ole Patriots. Chargers 27 Patriots 24.
NFC
Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints
The classic battle of top offense vs. top defense. Defense wins championships right? Not this year.
I don't expect the Saints to run wild, but they are going to score some points. Brees has too many weapons to work with and this team scores points at home. The Saints defense has been much improved this season and I think they can handle rookie QB Mitch Trubisky. The Bears will need to force multiple turnovers to have a shot. The wily veteran Brees won't fall into that trap. Saints 21 Bears 10.
Super Bowl LIII
New Orleans Saints vs. San Diego Los Angeles Chargers
This is a Super Bowl I would truly enjoy watching because I don't care which team wins. Much better than having to watch the Philadelphia-New England game last year when I hoped the ground would open up and swallow both teams.
Drew Brees vs. Philip Rivers, the man who replaced him in San Diego so many years ago. That's the story the networks will be beating us over the head with leading up to this game.
The teams are pretty evenly matched. Chargers have an edge on defense, Saints have a smaller edge on offense. Flip a coin? No. The game is in Atlanta so it will be under the dome. Drew Brees loves playing in Domes. Saints 34 Chargers 28.
So there you have it, my 2019 NFL playoff predictions. Can you take them to the bank? Hell No! I'm lousy at picking games. For proof read @thebull's post on his Pigskin Pickem Contest Final Results. Boy did I stink that up. I could very easily get three games wrong this weekend. Sorry Eagles fans, we all know the Bears are going to win.
Comment below and let me know what you think. Did I get some right at least? Am I out of my mind? Maybe I should have just said screw it and went with Dallas all the way? Never mind, I'm not that nuts.
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