Mid-Season 2018-19 NFL Playoff Predictions

Well we are past the mid-way point of the NFL season, and week by week the playoff picture becomes clearer. Before every seed is set I will predict the seeds in both conferences, and predict the 2018-19 NFL Playoffs round-by-round with scores for each match-up, up until we reach Super Bowl LIII In Atlanta, Georgia at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3rd, 2019.

AFC Playoff Picture Going Into Week 11:

AFC Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2-1)

3. New England Patriots (7-3)

4. Houston Texans (6-3)

AFC Wildcards

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-2)

6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

NFC Playoff Picture Going Into Week 11:

NFC Division Leaders

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-1)

2. New Orleans Saints (8-1)

3. Chicago Bears (6-3)

4. Washington Redskins (6-3)

NFC Wildcards

5. Carolina Panthers (6-3)

6. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1)

Aaron Silcoff's Projected Playoff Seeds After Week 17.

Projected AFC Playoff Seeds

AFC Projected Division Winners

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

2. New England Patriots (12-4)

3. Houston Texans (11-5)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5-1)

AFC Projected Wildcards

5. Los Angeles Chargers (12-4)

6. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7)

Just Missed The Cut

Tennessee Titans (9-7)

Miami Dolphins (8-8)

NFC Projected Playoff Seeds

NFC Projected Division Winners

1. New Orleans Saints (14-2)

2. Los Angeles Rams (14-2)

3. Green Bay Packers (10-5-1)

4. Washington Redskins (10-6)

NFC Projected Wildcards

5. Carolina Panthers (12-4)

6. Minnesota Vikings (10-5-1)

Just Missed The Cut

Chicago Bears (10-6)

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

Dallas Cowboys (8-8)

Now onto to the games!!!

AFC Wild Card Round

No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at No. 3 Houston Texans (11-5)

Both teams return to the postseason after missing the cut last season.

After the starting season 0-3 Deshaun Watson and the Texans have been on a roll as they are on a six-game win, to have a current record of 6-3. While, Deshaun Watson is starting to regain his rookie form after tearing his ACL last season. Deandre Hopkins has also had another terrific season, and it feels like we see a highlight reel catch from #10 every week.

The Bengals, unlike the Texans, started the season on a roll with a record of 4-1, but have since come down to earth with a current record of 5-4.

In this game, I will have to go with the Texans simply because we all know we cannot trust Andy Dalton, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals in the post-season, and until they finally win a playoff game, I just cannot roll with them, especially on the road against a team like the Texans

Another reason I am picking the Texans is that I am not worried about Deshaun Watson making his first NFL playoff appearance. I am comfortable going with Watson under pressure based on the way he performed for Clemson against Alabama in the 2016 and 2017 National Championship Games (Which in 2017 he led the Tigers to victory).

Prediction: Texans 28, Bengals 17

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers

Two quarterbacks from the 2004 NFL draft face off when Big Ben and the Steelers take on the Phillip Rivers and the Chargers.

The Steelers season has been filled with drama prior to week one, because of Le'Veon Bell's holdout, Bell ended up not returning to the Steelers before the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign their contracts. I believe this game will show James Conner and the Steelers how much they miss Le'Veon and the Steelers season ends early in the post-season.

The Chargers have quietly been the NFL's most underrated team this season without Joey Bosa all season long. Phillip Rivers is arguably having the best season of his career and is an MVP candidate.

The reason I would go with the Chargers is simple, they are the better football team and the Steelers have been full of drama all year long, and here it will once again show.

Prediction: Chargers 31, Steelers 28

NFC Wild Card Round

No. 6 Minnesota Vikings (10-5-1) at No. 3 Green Bay Packers (10-5-1)

In an NFC North battle, we see Aaron Rodgers return to the playoffs after being sidelined last season with a collarbone injury. While the Vikings look to build on their post-season success from last year with their new quarterback Kirk Cousins.

In this match-up, I will have to go with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, even though I believe the Vikings are the better football team. Rodgers at Lambeau in the playoffs is a man on a different level and I do not believe Kirk Cousins is the man can go into Aaron Rodgers house and beat the Pack.

Prediction: Packers 26, Vikings 24

No. 5 Carolina Panthers (12-4) at No. 4 Washington Redskins (10-6)

This a rematch of week six where the Redskins beat the Panthers 23-17, in Washington.

In this rematch, I will have to go with Cam Newton and the Panthers. Newton has excelled with OC Norv Turner and is playing his best football since his MVP season in 2015, where the Panthers lost in Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos.

Also, I just am not sold on the Redskins with Alex Smith. Smith does not have a great playoff history and I do not believe he will make the timely throws to lead his team to victory.

Prediction: Panthers 28, Redskins 21

AFC Divisional Round

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (12-4) at No.1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

This game will be a shootout, so expect fireworks between these two AFC West rivals. The Chiefs have been the best team in the AFC all year and I believe Patrick Mahomes is on his way to league MVP. The Chargers will keep this game close but Kansas City's offense will prove to be too much and they will move onto the AFC Title Game.

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Chargers 30

No. 3 Houston Texans (11-5) at No. 2 New England Patriots (12-4)

I honestly believe this needs no explanation. Sure the Texans have been great in the second half of the season, and the Patriots have looked shaky at times, but I do not believe they will be good enough to go into Foxborough and beat Tom Brady and The Patriots in a close battle.

Prediction: Patriots 28, Texans 24

NFC Divisional Round

No. 5 Carolina Panthers (12-4) at No. 1 New Orleans Saints (14-2)

This will be a thrilling NFC South match-up and playoff rematch from last year, but it will have the same outcome as last year. The Saints offense will prove to be too much for the Panthers, and Drew Brees will out-duel Cam Newton to protect home-field.

Prediction: Saints 36, Panthers 27

No. 3 Green Bay Packers (10-5-1) at No. 2 Los Angeles Rams (14-2)

This game will be similar to their week eight game, and the Rams once again will prevail. Both quarterbacks will eat up the opposing defense. But, I believe this game will come down to the Rams having Todd Gurley and Packers not.

Prediction: Rams 34, Packers 30

AFC Championship

No. 2 New England Patriots (12-4) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

This will finally be the passing of the torch in the AFC. The Patriots did beat the Chiefs in Week Six, but I believe Patrick Mahomes, will get his revenge and Andy Reid's offense will out-score Tom Brady and the Patriots, to reach the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Patriots 34

NFC Championship

No. 2 Los Angeles Rams (14-2) at No. 1 New Orleans Saints (14-2)

I am not sold on the Rams as they have really only played below average teams all year, besides the Saints who they lost to in Week Nine 45-35. The Superdome is a very tough place to play and I believe it will be too tough for the Rams.

So, unlike the AFC title game, I believe the older quarterback beats the younger quarterback and the Saints put the Rams in place, and move onto the Super Bowl in a shootout.

Prediction: Saints 39, Rams 35

Super Bowl LIII

AFC Champion: Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) Vs NFC Champion: New Orleans Saints (14-2)

A Saints vs. Chiefs Super Bowl match-up showcases two of the top three offenses in the NFL, featuring a former Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees against the NFL's future face Patrick Mahomes. I believe the Saints two back combo of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram will prove to be too much for the Chiefs defense, has the Saints will lead time of possession and will leave Atlanta hoisting Lombardi.

Prediction: Saints 38, Chiefs 34

Written By Aaron Silcoff