2017 NFL Playoff Preview
The NFL Season ended on Sunday and the final playoff spots were decided. Some teams can’t believe they got here while others are disappointed by their seeding, but nonetheless every team has a shot at the Super Bowl and only one can win it.
Wild Card weekend
Titans @ Chiefs
Pick: Chiefs 17-10
The Titans and Chiefs are two teams that had to have a little luck to make it here at the end of the year. The Titans required a few losses by other teams and were able to scrape by with a few key wins and the Chiefs looked completely lost as a team until they defeated the Chargers in a Saturday Night Showdown a couple weeks ago. These two teams make for some of the more underwhelming offenses going into playoffs with the Titans having won multiple games this season while only scoring field goals and the Chiefs occasionally struggling to motivate Alex Smith. The Chiefs are also notoriously bad at scoring at home with their last elimination coming with just 16 points scored. The Chiefs should be able to pull out a win over the Titans, but this will likely be a low scoring affair.
Falcons @ Rams
Pick: Rams 28-16
The Rams were able to completely turn their team around under young head coach Sean McVay with our pick for Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year on his squad. The offense is firing on all cylinders and a defense that has put up some fantastic performances this season. The Atlanta Falcons are 5-5 against teams with a winning record and their offense has struggled at times. Just about every single strong defense they’ve faced has held them south of 17 points and the Rams are certainly a strong team on that side of the ball.
Bills @ Jaguars
Pick: Jaguars 34-13
The Jaguars are a hungry and the Bills aren’t ready for the playoffs since they just barely scraped by to play in this game. The Jags have been on the right side of a series of blowouts this season and they will likely engineer another this Sunday morning as they outmatch the Bills in every single category.
Panthers @ Saints
Pick: Saints 31-17
The Saints have a rare opportunity to go 3-0 against a divisional opponent and with the performances that Carolina has had in this matchup this season it is fairly likely. The two headed monster in the backfield, the insanely talented Michael Thomas, and of course the field general that is Drew Brees. The Saints have a chance to make a Super Bowl run just as much as any other team in the NFC while the Panthers have been blown out by teams like the Bears and only managed to put up 10 points against the Falcons.
DIVISIONAL rOUND
jAGUARS @ sTEELERS
Pick: Steelers 23-20
This matchup came earlier this year while the Steelers were still attempting to find their footing during the regular season and the Steelers only loss since has come against the Patriots due to a terrible last minute call. The Jaguars did blow out the Steelers, but they’ve proven that this year that they are just as likely to be beat by a terrible team. It is difficult to retain momentum throughout the playoffs especially going from home to the road and a team like the Jags live off of momentum. This game will likely go down to the last minutes and Chris Boswell has proven himself as one of the more clutch players in recent NFL history so the Steelers will likely take this one.
RAMS @ Vikings
Pick: Rams 28-24
This will likely be the most entertaining game of the week. Sean McVay’s creative offense is a strong match for the stifling defense that Zimmer will be fielding in this matchup and the other direction of the ball will be just as good. The dynamics of the Rams will likely make the big difference. This is another game that will come down to the wire and you can expect that the Rams will win this one in the final moments.
CHiefs @ Patriots
Pick: Patriots 28-14
The Patriots were embarrassed by the Chiefs in Week 1 at home and Bill Belichick will not allow this to happen again. The Patriots will be going out for blood and they will likely find it. The Chiefs are not going to be able to keep up with the Patriots one simply hopes it doesn’t become too much of a blood bath.
Saints @ Eagles
Pick: Saints 24-10
The Eagles are wounded birds with the loss of touchdown passing leader Carson Wentz and the Saints have been on a roll. The Eagles won’t be able to get their game going against the shutdown Saints defense and their front 7 isn’t athletic enough to keep up with the one-two punch of Ingram and Kamara. This should be a game controlled by Sean Payton and it’ll easily move the Saints to the Championship game.
CHAMPionship week
Steelers @ Patriots
Pick: Steelers 35-31
The Steelers outplayed the Patriots handedly at home but due to a terrible last minute call their victory was taken away and the Steelers are understandably going to bring their best game. Antonio Brown missed most of the game in their last matchup, but there is no way that he will miss this one and considering how the Steelers willed their way through the Patriots defense there will only be more trouble for them in this matchup. A return of Joe Haden will bring more strength to a defense that was struggling against the Tom Brady attack. The Steelers shouldn’t have trouble, but with Brady’s abilities it should come down to the wire.
Saints @ Rams
Pick: Saints 42-35
This should be a high scoring affair with lots of exciting plays throughout. The Rams will eventually fall due mostly to inexperience and the aforementioned unstoppable duo of Kamara and Ingram.
Super Bowl LII
Saints @ Steelers
Pick: Steelers 27-24
While this game will take place in Minnesota in an even numbered Super Bowl the AFC team is technically the home team and this could end up as one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory. With a pair of gunslinging quarterbacks in Roethlisberger and Brees, three of the best running backs the NFL has to offer, and Antonio Brown. The Steelers offensive power will likely be the decider in this game as the Saints young defense is certainly their achilles heel as it stands now. Nonetheless this game should round off the NFL season with an exciting matchup that will come down to the last moments with the Steelers coming out on top.
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