Drew Brees and the Saints are among the hottest teams in the NFL.
AFC Pittsburgh Steelers 8-2 New England Patriots 8-2 Jacksonville Jaguars 7-3 Kansas City Chiefs 6-4 Tennessee Titans 6-4
Baltimore Ravens 5-5
NFC Philadelphia Eagles 9-1 Minnesota Vikings 9-2 New Orleans Saints 8-2 Los Angeles Rams 7-3 Carolina Panthers 7-3
Atlanta Falcons 6-4
A couple small changes from 2 weeks ago. The Bills and Cowboys are knocked out of the playoffs in this scenario, and the Vikings are now the 2 seed. The Falcons and Ravens crawled their way back and have made it into the playoff bracket.
So just like last week, we’re going to take a look at the teams that could possibly make a push into the playoffs. For the AFC there’s a whole load of teams that could make a late push. Including the Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Bengals, Texans, Chargers, and Raiders. That’s just how bad the AFC is this year. Of course, all those teams are fighting to make it in over the Ravens. In my opinion, the only teams that I think could possibly squeeze in if the cards fall in their favor are the Chargers or Raiders. However I don’t think either scenario is likely, and the current 6 AFC teams in the playoffs are probably what we’ll see.
On the NFC side, it really comes down to the Lions and Seahawks. Both teams fighting to make a push against the Falcons. The Seahawks have a very difficult schedule and need some serious help if they’re going to make it. After this week the Lions have a much easier schedule after the Vikings this week and have a serious chance to get in over the Falcons.
Projected Playoffs
Week 1 AFC: New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers get Bye 6. Baltimore Ravens at 3. Jacksonville Jaguars This has to be the worst possible matchup for the Ravens. They still have a very bad offense, and they’ll be going against a killer defense in Jacksonville. It will be a low scoring affair but Jacksonville takes this one pretty easily.
Winner: Jacksonville
5. Tennessee Titans at 4. Kansas City Chiefs Both of these teams just don’t seem that good right now. It may be recency bias, but the Titans could have a serious chance of upsetting the Chiefs. The Chiefs look like a completely different team right now, and not in a good way. It’ll be ugly but I’ll take the Chiefs to just barely win this one
Winner: Chiefs
Week 1 NFC: Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings get Bye 6. Atlanta Falcons at 3. New Orleans Saints The Vikings have the tiebreaker after this week, so the Saints have to play a week one game against a tough Falcons team. The Falcons are starting to turn things around, but it might not be enough against the Saints team that is just plain unbeatable right now.
Winner: Saints
5. Carolina Panthers at 4. Los Angeles Rams If this was last week I think I’d take the Rams easily, but they just took a beating to a team with a great defense. I think the Panthers have a pretty good defense, obviously not as good as the Vikings, but it is still pretty comparable. If we get the good version of Cam then I think we’ll see an upset in round 1.
Winner: Panthers
Week 2 AFC: 4. Kansas City Chiefs at 1. Pittsburgh Steelers The Chiefs narrowly get by the Titans last round, but the same will not be said against the Steelers at home. The Steelers can be streaky, but the Chiefs are in a pretty bad slide right now. It’s just too hard to see a scenario where the Steelers don’t win this game.
Winner: Steelers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars at 2. New England Patriots Same matchup as last week, and it ends just the same. The Jaguars defense is amazing, but they just don’t have the offense to back them up. With a competent quarterback, Jacksonville could be dangerous, but they just don’t have that yet.
Winner: Patriots
Week 2 NFC: 5. Carolina Panthers at 1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are still just too good right now and even though the Panthers have been playing great football, I just don’t think they win this game. We would need a monumental collapse from Carson Wentz, and the MVP frontrunner is just not going to let that happen.
Winner: Eagles
3. New Orleans Saints at 2. Minnesota Vikings
This is the prime time playoff matchup I really want to see. I feel like these two teams are head to head right behind the Eagles. I think I give the defensive edge to the Vikings, but the offensive edge goes to the Saints. The big deciding factor to me in this one comes down to if Case Keenum can keep up this run he’s been on. Something just tells me he can’t do it so I’ll take the Saints in what will probably be one of the best games of the season.
Winner: Saints
AFC Conference Championship: 2. New England Patriots at 1. Pittsburgh Steelers Slightly different change from last week. Instead of the Chiefs, we get the Steelers against the Pats in this one. Definitely an offensive shootout brewing, but the Steelers have been too streaky for me to feel confident in them. I’ll take the Patriots to advance once again.
Winner: Patriots
NFC Conference Championship: 3. New Orleans Saints at 1. Philadelphia Eagles I think one of the biggest factors for a team come playoff time is coaching. In this matchup, its Payton vs Pedersen and I don’t know how well that bodes for the Eagles. He’s been great so far in the regular season but come playoff time you can’t make any mistakes and I think this one comes down to one small mistake by the lesser coach in this one. New Orleans is on to the super bowl.
Winner: Saints
Super Bowl: New England Patriots vs New Orleans Saints
Bit different super bowl from last time and this one could be even more exciting. This new look Saints run-first offense proves to be too much for the Patriots in the first quarter as they cruise to a 10-0 lead. However, the Patriots offense is no joke either and they pick apart the Saints heading into the 2nd quarter to make it 10-7.
The feeling out period is done in the second and touchdowns start coming in left and right as the two defenses start to show some holes. Going into the half Wil Lutz kicks a last-second field goal to make it 21-20 Patriots.
Both these coaches and quarterbacks have been in a super bowl before, and know exactly what is on the line. Coming into the 3rd quarter the Patriots are held to a quick field goal, followed by a touchdown by the Saints to put them back in the lead 27-24. The Saints have been able to get it done on the ground thus far, but towards the end of the 3rd, we see Drew Brees start to take over, but is still held to just a field goal.
Going into the fourth quarter we see the lead 30-24 in favor of the Saints. After the Patriots are shut down on 3rd down near midfield we see a very crafty fake punt that leads to a Patriots score. After a few back and forth possessions, we have the Patriots in the lead 31-30. The Saints are driving with minutes left on the clock when it comes down to a crucial third down. Brees drops back, pressure in his face, and dumps it off to Kamara who just doesn’t get the first down. The game comes down to the leg of Wil Lutz with a 50+ yard field goal. The ball is snapped and Lutz kicks the ball just wide right, as it grazes the upright. The Patriots end up running down the clock and win yet another super bowl 31-30.
If the Season Ended Today Super Bowl Champions are the New England Patriots!
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- If The Season Ended Today
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