I am back after about a week off, but I am going to make my divisional round playoff predictions down below. I went 6 for 6 on my predictions from last week and I will be keeping my same predictions for my picks this week, but I will be putting a little more into each prediction. Comment down below what you think is going to happen this weekend.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans
I said in my original prediction that the Bengals would win this game and I am sticking to that prediction for this weekend. The Titans will be getting Derrick Henry back, but he might be a little shaky coming off his injury and they might try and limit how much they run him. The Titans have also had a bye week which could have slowed their momentum going into the playoffs while the Bengals got a win under their belt last week and now have that momentum going into this game. I think that the Bengals will hold Henry under 100 yards and Burrow will throw for over 300 yards in the win. Bengals win, 31-23.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers
This is the matchup that the Packers and Packers' fans did not want to see. The 49ers have always found a way to beat the Packers in the playoffs in recent years and they might be able to do it again this year. I think that it might affect the 49ers that this is going to be in Green Bay where it is going to be cold, but I think this game is close to a toss-up. Again, my original prediction for this matchup was the Packers so I will be sticking with that pick. Aaron Rodgers will not have his best game, but they will find a way to win this game. Packers win, 27-26.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I have the Rams winning this because I think their defense will cause problems for Brady and their offense is getting scarier again. The Rams dismantled the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round and now they get to face the Buccaneers who they already beat earlier in the year. This should be a fun game and I believe that it will come down to the last drive, but I believe that the Rams just have a better team at the moment which will get them the win. Rams win, 30-27.
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
This game has already happened this year too. The Bills pretty easily won the first matchup between these two and I believe that they will win this one as well. The Bills have been playing some of their best football as of late and I think that it will continue through this game. I think this will be another close game like all the rest, but I think that the Bills will win by more than two scores. I have a feeling that Josh Allen and the Bills want revenge for what the Chiefs did to them last January. Bills win, 34-24.
I was at the Colts vs. Jaguars game on Sunday where people saw the Colts choke away a chance at the playoffs. One of the hottest teams in the NFL only had to beat the 2-14 Jaguars to make the playoffs. Everybody thought that the Jaguars werer going to lose even the Jaguars fans. Fans dressed up as clowns after the Jaguars decided to keep their GM for another season and I even had fans come up to me and said to not embarrass them too bad (since I am a Colts fan). It ended up being the other way around, the Colts were completely embarrassed and they are now a laughing stock and have a lot of questions going into the offseason. I did not even know how to comprehend us losing and had a long car ride back home that night. I think we might need to second guess Carson Wentz as our quarterback if he does not get off to a good start next season. There is no reason why we should have lost that game but the Jaguars played a great game and they might have their future quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.
The NFL regular season has concluded and 14 teams remain fight for the Super Bowl. Down below, I am going to make some predictions for the postseason and who is going to win it all. Comment down below who you think will be playing in the Super Bowl and who will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February.
NFC Wild Card
2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 7 Philadelphia Eagles
The Buccaneers have not been playing their best football as of late but they should still be able to get the win over the Eagles like they did in the regular season. I like the Buccaneers, 31-18.
3 Dallas Cowboys vs. 6 San Francisco 49ers
The Cowboys have owned the NFC East this season but they have not played up to their expectations playing against teams outside of the division. The 49ers have been playing good football as of late and they could be a team that no one wants to see in the playoffs. I am predicting a 49ers upset, 23-17.
4 Los Angeles Rams vs. 5 Arizona Cardinals
It feels like the Cardinals are this season's version of what the Steelers were last season. They started off hot and have gone sort of cold as of late. They did have their injuries, but this is still not the same team that we saw in the first half of the season. The Rams have not been playing great football either but I believe that Stafford will get the job done as the Rams win, 34-21
AFC Wild Card
2 Kansas City Chiefs vs. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers
This is laughable that this is even a playoff matchup. The Chiefs absolutely destroyed the Steelers a few weeks ago and now get to play them again. The Steelers are going to need everything to go right for them to win this game. The Steelers are the worst team in these playoffs and it is not even close. I am predicting a big Chiefs win, 35-13.
3 Buffalo Bills vs. 6 New England Patriots
The Bills and Patriots split their season series this year and the Bills one the game with the more favorable conditions. Who knows what Sunday will bring but I believe that the Bills have more talent and will win this game, 30-20.
4 Cincinnati Bengals vs. 5 Oakland Raiders
This will be the best game on Wild Card Weekend. The Raiders have overcome all kinds of adversity this season and have made the playoffs against all odds. The Bengals are looking to win their first playoff game in forever and I believe they will get it, 29-27
NFC Divisional Round
1 Green Bay Packers vs. 6 San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have been kryptonite for the Packers in the playoffs in the past but I believe that if this matchup happens, it will be a different story. The Packers have been great and they should at least make it to the NFC Championship with a win, 32-23.
2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 4 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams and Buccaneers have already played this year and I believe that this game will be the same outcome. The Rams can definitely win this game and I believe that they will win, 27-20
AFC Divisional Round
1 Tennessee Titans vs. 4 Cincinnati Bengals
The Titans will more than likely have Derrick Henry for this game but I do not think that will be enough for Joe Burrow and the Bengals. I really like this Bengals team and I believe they can make a run in these playoffs. They will win this one, 31-24
2 Kansas City Chiefs vs 3 Buffalo Bills
This would be another rematch from the regular season and I think the Bills would win this matchup again. This game will be closer than the regular season but the Bills will win, 28-26.
NFC Championship Game
1 Green Bay Packers vs. 4 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams and Packers have also played during the regular season with the Packers winning that game. The one difference in this game is that it is the NFC Championship game and the Packers always seem to choke. I am going to take the Rams just because of that sole reason, 33-30
AFC Championship Game
3 Buffalo Bills vs. 4 Cincinnati Bengals
This one might surprise a lot of people but I believe the Super Bowl will be the battle of the 4 seeds. The Bengals are going win this close game by a score of 31-28.
Super Bowl
4 Los Angeles Rams vs. 4 Cincinnati Bengals
I believe that Matthew Stafford can lead the Rams to a Super Bowl. He has not played his best as of late but if he can get in a groove, I believe the Rams can be hoisting the Lombardi in February. Rams win this one, 23-20
In this series, I am going to be rating quarterbacks by determining if they are underrated, overrated, or properly rated. I will be starting with the NFC South first so comment down below what division I should do next. Some teams will have multiple quarterbacks depending on how much playing time they got this year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady
This is a hard one to determine because people think highly of Tom Brady but it may be too high. He has been great this year but he has had one of the best offensive lines and he has so many weapons around him. I am going to say that he is slightly overrated just because if you give the offensive line to other quarterbacks, they can excel better than they are currently. Tom Brady is a great player and has been for many years now, but I do not rate him as high as other people rate him.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan has been a good quarterback throughout his career and he has started to see signs of regression the past few years. He has led the Falcons to playoff appearances and even a Super Bowl (trying hard not to make a 28-3 joke). I do not think that people are that high on him and the way he is playing right now, that makes him properly rated. He has not been that special this year but I know he could still thrive in the right situation. That Super Bowl may continue to haunt him the rest of his life because I do not think he will make it back to one.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton
Cam Newton was a good quarterback a few years ago, but he has just seemed to lose his spark. I know his offensive line is horrible, but he did not look that great in New England last year either. I think people still believe that he can be his old self but I do not see it. He has made some spectacular plays at times this season but it has all been with his legs. I am going to say that he is overrated at this point in his career after he has gone through multiple injuries that have probably affected the way he has played. He is just not the same as he was in his MVP season and people still look at him as that guy which he is not anymore.
Carolina Panthers: P.J. Walker
P.J. Walker has seen very little playing time this season but he has not looked good when he has taken the field. He does not look like how he played in the XFL where he was the MVP while tearing it up with the Houston Roughnecks. I know that was a step down from the NFl but you should still see that spark a little in the NFL but it is not there. He has only thrown two touchdowns and eight interceptions in the last two seasons. People do not think that highly of Walker so that is why I am going to say he is properly rated. It is hard playing behind an offensive line that does not block.
Carolina Panthers: Sam Darnold
Another hard one to determine because Sam Darnold has been up and down this year. He started off the year great leading the Panthers to a 3-0 start but that quickly went downhill. He played good in those first three games leading Panthers' fans to think that they might have found their next quarterback of the future. Again, with all three of the Panthers' quarterbacks, it is hard to play behind a horrible offensive line. I think Darnold does have the talent to be a starting quarterback in this league and not too many people agree with that so I am going to say he is slightly underrated.
New Orleans Saints: Jameis Winston
I am just going to start off by saying Winston is underrated. Winston was good this year before his injury and only threw three interceptions. I think people remember him as the guy who threw 30 interceptions but that is going to happen when you are not in the right system and playing from behind all the time. I think once he gets back from injury and if the Saints give him another year, he will be a top 15 quarterback. He had the Saints sitting at a 5-2 record and now they have gone downhill without him. He can be a leader for this team and be a good quarterback.
New Orleans Saints: Trevor Siemian
Trevor Siemian was the first quarterback to step in for the injured Winston and he played well. He did not lead the Saints to wins but that is not entirely his fault. I watched a few of his games and he was throwing the ball well and he had some great throws mixed in. Some people might not even know who he is but he is a solid quarterback that can be a borderline starter in the NFL. If not a starter, he is a really good backup that can step in and make plays for your team. That is why I am going to say he is underrated because most people think he is not good at all but that is not true.
New Orleans Saints: Taysom Hill
Taysom Hill is properly rated because no one thinks he is the greatest or completely horrible which is exactly right. He is a good player that can win games for the Saints when their starter is out which is happening right now with Jameis Winston out because of injury. Taysom Hill is a great option for a backup quarterback but he is not a great option for a starter.
Last week, we saw fans fall at FedEx Field after a barrier broke and they almost landed on Jalen Hurts, who is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. This has made me think of what teams in sports need new stadiums because their current one is just a dumpster fire. Comment down below what teams you think need a new stadium.
1. Washington Football Team- FedEx Field
This is an obvious one and probably the worst stadium on this list. I was able to visit FedEx field recently and it is not a great stadium whatsoever. They have had sewage dumped on fans earlier this season and they had fans almost fall on Jalen Hurts this past weekend. The outside of the stadium has visible rust and that is not a good look for the team. One positive of this stadium is that there is parking all around the stadium which some teams do not have but that does not make up for the negatives that the stadium has.
2. Oakland Athletics- RingCentral Coliseum
Oakland does not want to build any of their teams a stadium. They have already lost the Warriors and Raiders to new cities and now the Athletics could be next if a new baseball stadium is not built. RingCentral Coliseum used to be home to the Raiders as well and that is why there are huge foul territories for the Athletics. This stadium is completely outdated and the city of Oakland needs to make the right decision and build a stadium for the Athletics before they have no professional sports teams.
3. Tampa Bay Rays- Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field started out as just a shell when it was built and when Tampa Bay received a team, they built the inside of it. The stadium is just dull and has no charm in it because of this. It kind of looks like they built the stadium and just built a dome around it. Fly balls have even hit the catwalks on the roof which has caused some unusual plays because the ball is still technically in play. There have been rumors of the Rays possibly playing half their games in Tampa and half of them in Montreal which would be a bizarre scenario. If Tampa Bay can just build a brand new stadium, it could save the Rays from moving or playing half of their season in Montreal.
4. Buffalo Bills- Highmark Stadium
This is the best stadium so far on the list and it makes this list because of how old and plain it is. The Bills fanbase is one of the most passionate in all of sports and they deserve a nice stadium to cheer on the Bills. Highmark Stadium is one of the oldest in the NFL and Buffalo needs to help out to build the Bills a new stadium. There has already been rumors about the possibility of the Bills moving to Austin, Texas so the pressure is already on to get a new stadium built.
I believe that these four teams are next in line for a new stadium and they could be getting one in the next few years. What other teams deserve a new stadium? Comment down below and vote in the poll that is linked!
https://poll-maker.com/poll4099066xe3257EFa-128
Down below are some of my predictions for week 18 of the NFL season this weekend. Comment down below some of your own predictions.
1. Indianapolis Colts get the 6th Seed in the AFC
The Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014 but that should change this weekend. All the Colts have to do this weekend is win and they are in the playoffs and they are playing a Jaguars team that just lost by 40 to the Patriots. If the Colts end up losing this game, they do not deserve to be in the playoffs at all. I predict a Colts win, 31-10.
2. Los Angeles Chargers get the 7th Seed in the AFC
The Chargers play the Raiders this weekend and whoever wins that game will make the playoffs. I think that the Chargers have more weapons on offense and that will be the determining factor in this game. It will be another disappointing end to the Raiders season after starting the season hot and ending it cold for yet another season.
3. Saints will get the final NFC spot
Currently, the Saints are on the outside looking in but they have a good chance of finding their way in after this weekend. All they have to do is win and the 49ers to lose. The 49ers have to play a good Rams team and the Saints have to play a bad Falcons team so it is in the Saints favor to get in the playoffs. I do not see the Saints making it far in the playoffs, however, and I feel like the 49ers could possibly win in the first round if they found their way in.
4. Texans give the Titans all they can handle
The Texans have already beaten the Titans once this year and they play again this weekend. The Titans get the 1 seed in the AFC if they win so it is a huge game for them. The Texans have nothing to really play for except for bragging rights but that does not mean they will not play hard. If Derrick Henry comes back for the Titans this week then I am predicting the Titans will win but if he does not, then I believe that the Texans will have a good shot at pulling off the upset once again.
5. Bears, Vikings, and Panthers will all fire their coach shortly after the game on Sunday
With the Jaguars already firing Urban Meyer this year, I believe that these three teams will move on from their coach after Sunday's games. There might be more coaches fired but I believe that these three coaches are sure locks to get fired. Matt Nagy has completely destroyed the Bears after being alright his first couple years. Mike Zimmer has so much talent on the Vikings and has failed to make the playoffs. Matt Rhule is making the Panthers a mess and I do not think that David Tepper will stand it much longer.
Down below are my predictions for who will be starting for each NFL team. Some teams are easy to predict, but other teams have questions on who will be their starting quarterback.
Arizona Cardinals- Kyler Murray
Atlanta Falcons- Matt Ryan
Baltimore Ravens- Lamar Jackson
Buffalo Bills- Josh Allen
Carolina Panthers- Matt Corral
Chicago Bears- Justin Fields
Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow
Cleveland Browns- Jimmy Garappolo
Denver Broncos- Aaron Rodgers
Detroit Lions- Jared Goff
Green Bay Packers- Jordan Love
Houston Texans- Davis Mills
Indianapolis Colts- Carson Wentz
Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence
Kansas City Chiefs- Patrick Mahomes
Las Vegas Raiders- Derek Carr
Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Rams- Matthew Stafford
Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa
Minnesota Vikings- Kirk Cousins
New England Patriots- Mac Jones
New Orleans Saints- Jameis Winston
New York Giants- Daniel Jones
New York Jets- Zach Wilson
Philadelphia Eagles- Jalen Hurts
Pittsburgh Steelers- Deshaun Watson
San Francisco 49ers- Trey Lance
Seattle Seahawks- Russell Wilson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Tom Brady
Tennessee Titans- Ryan Tannehill
Washington Football Team- Kenny Pickett