it is time. The 2022 NFL common season is over, and it is time to start the method of crowning a brand new champion. the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs And Philadelphia Eagles He earned first-round honors within the AFC and NFC, respectively. Will you assist them? It definitely did not assist Inexperienced Bay Packers And Tennessee Titans Final yr, each have been knocked out of the divisional spherical.
Which crew is able to run deep, and which crew will get upset early? Will Josh Alan make us consider it? Buffalo payments Future crew? Can Brock Purdy shock the NFL world with a Tremendous Bowl? Under, we’ll try to predict the complete NFL playoff arc, recreation by recreation. We’ll replace this each week as we go an increasing number of into the postseason. Let’s soar.
everyone NFL odds By way of Caesars Sportsbook.
Tremendous Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Featured recreation | San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
This will likely be a wet recreation, so Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and Kenneth Walker would be the predominant weapons within the assault. These division rivals, in fact, performed twice within the common season, and the 49ers received each video games. They defeated the Seahawks in Seattle by 8 factors, and at dwelling by 20 factors.
This yr was truly the primary time since 2011 that San Francisco swept Seattle. Since 1970, there have been 23 circumstances by which a crew performed 2-0 within the common season towards an opponent, then met for the third time within the playoffs. The crew that went 2-0 is 14-9 in that third assembly. The Seahawks entered the postseason by whipping their beak, and I would not take them for upsetting the 49ers within the first spherical.
Choose: Seahawks +10
Anticipated outcome: 49ers 17-13
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Featured recreation | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Here is a rematch from Week 3 of the common season, the place the Jaguars destroyed the Chargers in Los Angeles, 38-10. Austin Eckler had a season low in touchdowns, whereas Keenan Allen didn’t play. Final week, Brandon Staley, for some cause, performed his begin deep within the second half in a meaningless recreation towards a crew Denver Broncos, and noticed accidents to Mike Williams and Joey Bossa. I anticipate each of them to play this weekend, however too unhealthy Rashaun Slater will not be there.
I am not shocked the Chargers are favored on this matchup, however I’m going with the underdog. It was nearly bizarre to see them have a house benefit towards the Titans in Week 18. It additionally seems that the protection received the Jacksonville recreation when the offense wasn’t precisely urgent on all cylinders.
Choose: Jaguar +2.5
Anticipated outcome: Jaguars 27-20
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Featured recreation | Buffalo Payments vs. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is out. With out Twa, how would you select dolphins? These two groups cut up the season sequence, with the house crew profitable each recreation. Miami has misplaced 4 straight video games, every by at the very least 17 factors! It’s the first franchise in NFL historical past to lose 4 straight video games by 17 factors every.
Choose: Payments -13
Anticipated outcome: Payments 35-17
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Featured recreation | Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants
This match in all probability is not a ‘should watch’ recreation of Tremendous Wild Card Weekend, however I am glad it labored out that method. The Giants and Vikings gave us an entertaining recreation in Week 16, as Greg Joseph kicked a 61-yard area aim. Justin Jefferson and TJ Hawkinson exploded, and mixed for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that Adoree’ Jackson and Xavier McKinney missed that match. They’re within the high two on the crew in completion proportion allowed amongst defensive working backs this season.
I’ll take the anger out right here. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley have longed for this stage, and it have to be a little bit of a reduction to be enjoying with a crew you simply confronted just a few weeks in the past. Minnesota’s protection will make New York’s offense look higher than it does, because the Vikings protection ranks fifth within the lowest factors per recreation (25.1), yards per recreation (388.7) and yards per recreation (5.9) allowed this season.
Choose: Giants +3
Anticipated outcome: Giants 24-21
Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Featured recreation | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
It’s stated that Lamar Jackson You face an uphill battle to play on Sunday, so the Bengals will win this recreation. They’ve momentum, whereas crows don’t. Cincinnati simply defeated Baltimore, 27-16, final week. I take a Bengal to cowl the unfold too.
Choose: Bengals -8.5
Anticipated outcome: Bengals 28-13
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Featured recreation | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Tom Brady is 7-0 towards the Cowboys, whereas Dallas is 4-5 as a playoff favourite since 1996. Moreover, Brady is 7-3 when Vegas makes the error of being listed as a postseason underdog. Every little thing appears to be lining up in favor of the Buccaneers, however I am going to go together with whoever I feel is the higher crew.
Maybe the Buccaneers discovered one thing to assault with that win over Carolina Panthers In week 17, however I’ve extra confidence in Tony Pollard and Sir Lamb. Discover I did not say Dak Prescott, who completed the common season tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with Davis Mills regardless of lacking 5 video games.
I anticipate the Buccaneers to leap out to a 10-0 lead, earlier than the Cowboys take management of the second half and choose up the win. I completely perceive the shortage of religion within the Cowboys, however you may say the identical concerning the Buccaneers – even when that they had the best occasions as each quarterbacks.
Choose: Cowboys -2.5
Anticipated outcome: Cowboys 23-20
Partition tour
(4) Jacksonville Jaguars at (1) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Here is a rematch from November, when the Chiefs defeated the Jaguars, 27-17. Trevor Lawrence performed effectively with 259 passing yards and two touchdowns, however his protection struggled to carry off Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 331 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception. Congratulations to the Jaguars for making it this far, however I do not see them upsetting the AFC’s high seed down the highway.
Anticipated outcome: Chiefs 30-21
(3) Cincinnati Bengals at (2) Buffalo Payments
The final time these two groups performed, all of us witnessed the unlucky devastation of Hamlin. It seemed like we have been in for a terrific showdown earlier than this terrifying occasion occurred. Truthfully, this is perhaps slightly just like the Payments-Chiefs AFC matchup within the Divisional Spherical final yr.
Joe Borough will likely be 4-1 in his playoff profession if he makes it to the divisional spherical. The Bengals have already declared themselves a harmful playoff crew, going 4-0 ATS final postseason – they even lined the hole in dropping the Tremendous Bowl. Nevertheless, I feel their run towards the invoice ends right here. Buffalo has been a Tremendous Bowl favourite all yr, and Hamlin’s state of affairs definitely offers the Payments some further motivation. Buffalo will get a detailed win within the divisional spherical.
Anticipated outcome: Payments 28-24
(6) New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (1)
One other part, the postseason recreation. In December, the Eagles outscored the Giants by 26 factors, then Davis held Webb shut within the common season finale, dropping 22-16. Philly can be swinging, and Jalen Hurts would rating three complete factors for touchdowns. I would have an interest to see how common this recreation will get, however I am not going to take the Giants to beat the Eagles outright. There is a cause they swept the sequence this yr.
Anticipated outcome: Eagles 27-20
(5) Dallas Cowboys at (2) San Francisco 49ers
It is deja vu in a method, apart from this Cowboys-49ers recreation that is going to be performed in California. The important thing to this recreation for the 49ers is containing Ezekiel Elliott and Pollard. In final yr’s playoffs, the 2 fullbacks mixed for simply 45 yards. In a wierd method, I’ve extra religion on this Purdy offense than I do in Jimmy Garoppolo, as his chemistry with George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk continues to develop. Aiyuk is broad, underrated and arduous to include. Jerry Jones is enraged, as Purdy defeats Prescott.
Anticipated outcome: 49ers 23-21
Sunday championship
(2) San Francisco 49 at (1) Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 29, 3:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
Purdy’s choice to upset the Eagles in Philly will likely be a modern choose heading into the championship on Sunday. The 49ers protection would maintain Hurts, however in the long run, the Eagles would finish the sport within the fourth quarter, once more advancing to the Tremendous Bowl.
Anticipated outcome: Eagles 20-16
(2) Buffalo Payments at (1) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (impartial website)
Sunday, January 29, 6:40 p.m. ET (CBS)
Do not forget that this recreation will happen in a impartial location. Effectively, having each high seeds in each convention making the Ultimate 4 is unquestionably chalky, however right here we get the crunch once more. Mahomes threw two interceptions in a four-point loss towards Buffalo earlier this season, and I anticipate he threw two interceptions in a three-point loss within the AFC Championship Sport.
Devin Singletary rushed for 85 yards on 17 carries (5.0 yards per carry) towards the Chiefs earlier this season, serving to steadiness the offense, however all three touchdowns got here via the air. The Chiefs, then again, solely rushed for 68 yards, however Isiah Pacheco wasn’t a lot of part of the offense early within the season. I anticipate this rematch to be extra like an everyday season recreation than the January twenty third recreation final yr. There will not be a complete of 78 factors scored, as a result of Buffalo’s protection will likely be as much as the duty of containing Travis Kelce and the Chiefs’ extensive receivers. Tremendous Bowl payments.
Anticipated outcome: Payments 29-26
Tremendous Bowl LVII
(2) Buffalo Payments at (1) Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, February 12, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
In a method, it seems like we have been using this yr all yr. Within the first a part of the 2022 season, the Payments have been one of the best crew within the AFC, then the Eagles within the NFC. Opinions could have fluctuated after Allen’s elbow and Hurts’ shoulder harm, however cream rises to the highest, and that is what occurs right here.
Allen has performed for the Eagles solely as soon as in his profession, dropping 31-13 in 2019. The Philly working backs mixed for 3 touchdowns, whereas Allen threw for simply 169 yards and two touchdowns. This might be the Hurts’ first time enjoying for Buffalo.
So, what’s going to this recreation find yourself being? I anticipate a nasty first half to be adopted by a excessive scoring second half. This recreation goes into extra time, with Buffalo kicking a game-winning area aim on their second drive of the additional interval. The Payments fulfill the “Workforce Future” itemizing.
Anticipated outcome: Billings 33-30 in OT