2018-19 NFL Playoff Predictions
- Aaron Silcoff
- Jan 2, 2019
- 5 min read
Finally it's every football fans favorite time of year... The NFL playoffs. Today I will predict and preview every game from Wild-Card Weekend to Super Bowl LIII taking place February 3rd in Atlanta, Georgia.
Saturday, January 5th:
AFC Wild-Card
If you had told me after week 4 when both of these teams had a record of 1-3 I wouldn't have believed you.
The Texans after starting the season 0-3, The Texans finished the season winning 11 of their last 13 games and at one point even winning nine games in a row. Who broke that streak you ask? Well, it was Andrew Luck and his surging Indianapolis Colts who after starting 1-5, have won 9 of their last 10 games. Andrew Luck is finally healthy and will for sure be named NFL Comeback Player Of The Year.
The Texans defense has been awful in December and their offensive line is the worst in the post-season. The Colts defense is great at rushing the quarterback and their defensive unit is one of the biggest sunrises this NFL season.
The Colts right now are simply the hotter team with a better quarterback. I also truly believe they are the more complete team, which will propel them to go into Houston and book a trip to Kansas City for the divisional round.
Prediction: Colts 27, Texans 23
NFC Wild-Card
In my opinion this is easily the most intriguing match-up of the weekend. We get to see two overachieving teams who did not have much expectation going into 2018 battle each other for the second time this season (Seattle won first match-up 24-13 in week 3).
This game will be decided in the time of possession game. The Seahawks have been the best at that all season with their #1 rushing attack. I believe the Seahawks run the heck out of the football on offense and on defense they find a way to make Dak Prescott beat them by throwing the ball which will not end well for Dallas.
Prediction: Seahawks 26, Cowboys 24
Sunday, January 6th:
AFC Wild-Card
#5 Los Angeles Chargers (12-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
These teams met just two weeks ago in week 16, where the Ravens went into Los Angeles and beat the red-hot Chargers 22-10.
Even though Lamar Jackson has proved to be tough to stop in the run game, for the first time in his career we get to see how a team responds to already playing him in the same season. I believe the Chargers top-10 defense does a good job containing Lamar and the Ravens run game. I also believe the Chargers offense forces the Ravens to play from behind, which will lead to Lamar having to throw the football to his below-average receivers.
Prediction: Chargers 25, Ravens 17
NFC Wild-Card
What is it with Nick Foles? After the Eagles week 14 loss to the Cowboys all hope was lost for their playoff chances. Then Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending injury for the second straight year. Nick Foles and the Eagles went into Los Angeles in week 15 on Sunday Night and shocked the Rams and ever since that game the defending champs have been on a roll.
Even though the Bears defense is elite, they do most of their work in the front seven and I believe the Eagles offensive line will not stop but will slow down Khalil Mack with double and triple teams. Saint. Nick will spread the ball around the field and I do not yet trust Mitch Trubisky, I see the Eagles pass rush makes the young quarterback uncomfortable, I see Brandon Graham forcing a fumble late once again to propel the defending champs to a victory.
Prediction: Eagles 16, Bears 13
Saturday, January 12th
AFC Divisional
This would be a great offensive match-up. I would not be shocked at all if Luck and the Colts went into Arrowhead and beat the Chiefs, but Andy Reid is almost unstoppable coming off a bye and I believe Patrick Mahomes has more weapons on his offense which will lead to the Chiefs squeaking by the Colts.
Prediction: Chiefs 35, Colts 31
NFC Divisional
The Rams I believe are the most vulnerable team with a bye and in this game it will show. It is tough to beat a team three times in a season, especially with that team having the better quarterback. The Seahawks offensive line will struggle to contain Aaron Donald, but I still believe in Russell Wilson more than Jarred Goff. The Seahawks go into Los Angeles and finally beat the Rams.
Prediction: Seahawks 30, Rams 28
Sunday, January 13th
AFC Divisional
If the Chargers can go into Baltimore and handle the physical style of the Ravens, they can go into Foxboro and beat the Patriots. But I do not bet against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at home. The Patriots defense is slowly coming along and the Patriots do have a great run game, and that will keep Phillip Rivers on the sideline for most of the night.
Prediction: Patriots 28, Chargers 27
NFC Divisional
This is where the Nick Foles magic dies. I just don't think anyone is going into New Orleans in the playoffs and taking out Drew Brees and Sean Payton who are 5-0 together at home in playoffs. the Saints offense is too lethal at home and with their defense improving every week the Saints get the win and it won't even be close.
Prediction: Saints 38, Eagles 21
Sunday, January 20th
AFC Championship
In week six when these teams played on Sunday Night it was a great game where the Patriots won 43-40. This time the Chiefs offense out-scores the Patriots offense and Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid carry the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in a thriller.
Prediction: Chiefs 38, Patriots 33
NFC Championship
Once again I don't believe anyone is going into New Orleans and beating Drew Brees and Saints. I believe Russell Wilson is the only quarterback that can go into New Orleans and duel with Drew Brees but I do not like his odds. The Saints will win and head to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Saints 31, Seahawks 21
Super Bowl LIII
AFC Champion: Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) Vs NFC Champion: New Orleans Saints (13-3)
This Super Bowl would be the greatest offensive Super Bowl of all time. Drew Brees against the NFL's future in Patrick Mahomes. This game once again will be decided in the run game, the Saints two back combo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram will be too much for the Chiefs awful defense. With the Chiefs no longer having Kareem Hunt and the Saints have the NFL's #1 rushing defense, The Chiefs will struggle running the ball, which I believe to either one or two Chiefs turnovers. The Saints will leave Atlanta with a Super Bowl Championship for the second time in the Brees-Payton era, where Brees also wins his second Super Bowl MVP.
Prediction: Saints 40, Chiefs 34
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