Port Jeff NY, Greetings and Happy New Year! Today’s talking points are all pigskin. NFL pigskin, to be specific: NFL Week 18 and Playoff Predictions
NFL Week 18
Heading into Sunday, the majority of the playoff teams are set. All that’s left to decide is the seeding in the NFC and the seventh and final seed in the AFC. As much as I’d love to see Joe Burrow and the Bengals find their way into the postseason, I just don’t see the Broncos losing as ten point favorites to the Chiefs – who will be resting all of their starters.
Lions/Vikings
This could be the game of the year Sunday night in Detroit. The Lions have had an incredible year but have been devastated with injuries specifically on the defensive side of the ball. I expect a lot of points in this matchup and it wouldn’t shock me if the first to 40 in this game wins it. For Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell has done an incredible job with Sam Darnold who has played at an MVP level all season long. While I do trust the Vikings defense to actually get a stop in a big spot in this game, I just can’t pick against the Lions. This is their year. It wouldn’t feel right for them to come up short and not get the number one seed after dominating all year long. I’ll take the Lions 41-38 to win the North and capture home field advantage throughout.
Playoff Predictions
AFC
(2) Bills over (7) Broncos/Dolphins/Bengals
Regardless of who captures the 7th seed, I think Buffalo at home in the cold is too much to handle for any of these teams. They advance easily.
(3) Ravens over (6) Steelers/Chargers
I expect Jim Harbaugh to play his guys in week 18 and for the Chargers to defeat the Raiders, setting up a third meeting between the Steelers and the Ravens. I truly can’t stand watching the Steelers. Their success is almost entirely predicated on luck, whether that be fumbled punts or kickoffs, untimely turnovers by the other team, or Russell Wilson chucking up a deep ball that George Pickens miraculously comes down with. I don’t buy Pittsburgh for a second, I think Baltimore rolls here.
(5) Chargers over (4) Texans
The Texans are an absolute mess. I’m not sure what’s happened to CJ Stroud but he’s regressed at a truly alarming rate. The O-Line is a disaster and they’ve been decimated by injuries at the WR position. I think the Chargers are flat out the better team and win comfortably.
NFC
(2) Eagles over (7) Packers
This is really a brutal draw for the Packers who can win 12 games this year and finish third in their division. The Eagles are peaking at just the right time, the defense has been dominant in the second half of the year, Saquon Barkley has been a monster in his first year in Philly, and Jalen Hurts will return to full health. As unfair as it is to Green Bay, the Eagles are too much to overcome.
(3) Buccaneers over (6) Commanders
I’m going to pencil the Bucs into the three seed with a win over New Orleans to clinch the South and I’ll the Rams a loss in week 18 with them resting all their starters. This would be a really fun matchup with a ton of points. Jaden Daniels has had a remarkable rookie year, however Washington has been one of the luckiest teams in football. If not for a Hail Mary TD against Chicago and Jalen Hurts getting injured mid game, they’d be fighting for a playoff spot. For the Bucs, this offense is electric. The Baker Mayfield revival has continued into year two in Tampa as no one in football has thrown more TDs then Baker. On top of the stellar passing game, rookie Bucky Irving has added an explosive dimension to this offense it didn’t have last year I think Tampa is a real threat in the NFC and any team having to go against this offense should be on high alert.
(5) Vikings over (4) Rams
Sean McVay has done a very good job the last two years in rebuilding this roster and making the Rams a playoff team again. This Rams offense hasn’t looked great in the second half of the year as they’ve struggled to score points. It’s the defense that’s been surprisingly very good. While I do trust McVay and Stafford to keep this a competitive game the whole way, however I think the Vikings are a class above and advance here.
