The beginning of the new year signals the arrival of the highly anticipated NFL playoffs, where the final 14 teams are locked in a high-stakes sprint to the Super Bowl. Now, the focus shifts to the select few capable of winning the NFL’s 60th Lombardi trophy in February.
Super Bowl Champion
Seattle Seahawks
Riding a seven game win streak to end the regular season and winning 11 of their last 12 games, the one-seeded Seahawks are one of the hottest NFL teams entering the playoffs. With a roster consisting of arguably the best defense in football along with a more than capable offense, the Seahawks are one of the favorites to win it all.
The team is centered around its defense, a unit that has been compared with the famous “Legion of Boom” that carried the Seahawks to multiple Super Bowl appearances in the past decade. This season, they surrendered the least number of points per game in all of football while also being top five in yards allowed. With star defensive linemen in Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence, and dynamic players in the secondary with Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori, this defensive unit truly has zero weak links.
The Seahawks are not carried entirely by their defense, however, as their offense ranked third in points per game and top 10 in yards per game. With Offensive Player of the Year favorite wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, steady quarterback Sam Darnold and the dynamic speed and power duo Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet in the backfield, the Seahawks’ offense is equipped to compete with the rest of the NFL’s elite defenses.
Seattle has proven that they can beat the best teams, with signature wins over the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, all of which are current playoff teams with 12 or more wins. Although many football fans have concerns about Darnold’s ability to deliver in important games, he has led the Seahawks to victories in some massive games this year against great defenses..
After winning 14 games in an incredible season, the Seahawks have claimed the number one seed in the NFC, home field advantage throughout their road to the Super Bowl and a first-round bye. Seahawks fans, also known as the “12s,” are notorious for being some of the most disruptive fans in football. They can influence the game itself, which is why home field advantage is so crucial.
The Seahawks have defied all expectations under defensive mastermind head coach Mike MacDonald, who is currently in his second year after missing the playoffs last year. With a generational defensive unit along with a talented offensive group, the Seahawks have what it takes to win their second Lombardi trophy in franchise history this year.
Who makes it from the AFC?
Houston Texans
The Texans are the hottest team in the NFL, winning nine in a row to end their regular season. After starting the season off 2-4, the Texans have not looked back. With one of the best defenses in the NFL, Houston has a clear path to the Super Bowl in a wide open American Football Conference.
The Texans’ defense, highlighted by defensive linemen Will Anderson Jr. and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., ranks number two in the NFL in points and yards allowed per game. This defensive unit also ranked third in takeaways and top 10 in sacks.
With a defense as intimidating as the Texans’, even average offensive play will get the job done—which is exactly what Houston’s offense has done this year, ranking about league average in yards and points scored per game. Playmakers such as quarterback CJ Stroud and wide receiver Nico Collins put up solid campaigns and led the offense down the stretch.
Tough wins against three AFC playoff teams,the Jaguars, Bills and Chargers, demonstrate the Texans’ ability to perform against premier teams.
The Texans will go on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round, and in an AFC conference where no team stands out at the top, the Texans have the opportunity to win the Super Bowl this year with their elite defense.
Dark Horse Team
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars, coming off of an unimpressive four win season last year, have bursted onto the scene this season with first year head coach Liam Coen leading the way, racking up 13 wins and an AFC South title. A strong balance of explosive offense and stout defense has led to Jacksonville’s success, especially with the Jaguars winning their last eight games.
Because most of their success has come after a slow start and a lack of belief that they can continue their streak, the Jaguars only have the eighth best odds to win the Super Bowl this year out of 14 teams. I think the Jaguars have a better chance of winning than many people expect.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has led the offense throughout their long eight-game win streak, throwing 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions while also accumulating four rushing touchdowns. During these eight games, the Jaguars lead the NFL in nearly every offensive stat, tallying an astonishing 33.6 points per game and 31 offensive touchdowns.
During this stretch, not only did the offense dominate, but the defense excelled as well. Their defensive unit tallied an NFL-best 18 takeaways and finished top three in points allowed per game. During these final eight games, the Jaguars were the most complete team in the NFL, and they should be able to ride this wave throughout the postseason.
Victories against premier opponents such as the Texans, Broncos and 49ers have cemented the Jaguars’ ability to compete in tough games. With a dangerous offense and solid defense, the Jaguars will have a better chance than many expect to claim the Lombardi trophy this year.
Most likely to be one and done
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers, champions of the National Football Conference South division, sneak into the playoffs with an 8-9 record and slot in as the number four seed in the NFC. Clinching a postseason berth for the first time since 2017 and winning their division for the first time since 2015, the Panthers look to take advantage of this golden opportunity.
As the third team in the last decade to make the playoffs with a winning percentage below .500, the odds are not in Carolina’s favor. On top of that, the Panthers are matched up against the 12-win Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs, a team with arguably the most explosive offense in the NFL and a strong defense.
The Panthers, meanwhile, rank in the bottom five of the NFL in offensive yards and points per game, along with a league average defense. With the Panthers’ unimpressive numbers and their talent disadvantage, the Rams are likely to overpower and dominate the Panthers in the Wild Card Round. Although the Panthers shockingly upset the Rams in Week 13 of the regular season, it is unlikely that the Rams will lose to an inferior team twice in a row.
Just because there is a large talent gap between the two teams does not mean that the Panthers do not have a chance. Carolina has been quite scrappy against good teams this year, with quality victories over the Green Bay Packers and the Rams. They also hold home field advantage for their first game, which is crucial for the Panthers, as their solid 5-3 record at home is a major improvement from an unimpressive 3-6 record on the road.
Other predictions:
The Chicago Bears get upset in the wild card round
Coming off of a disappointing five-win season last year, the 11-win, NFC North champion Chicago Bears have exceeded any expectations the team had for this season. Under rookie head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears’ explosive offense has prospered; Johnson has discovered the recipe for success.
As the number two seed, the Bears will play host to their division rival Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. Although the Packers’ roster has been decimated by injury, most notably their superstar defensive lineman Micah Parsons, they still have a talented roster who is capable of beating anyone, especially under established head coach Matt LaFleur.
Although the Packers and the Bears split in their season series, the Bears needed a miraculous comeback to sneak past the Packers in their victory, a common strategy that they used this season that is not sustainable, especially against more talented rosters in the playoffs. Additionally, Chicago had a point differential of+26 throughout the season, one of the lowest of any playoff team, further demonstrating that they have needed luck and tight comebacks to win many of their games.
The Bears also head into the playoffs with a couple of tough losses to end the season, where their defense faltered against proven offenses. During the regular season, their defense was bottom 10 in the NFL in nearly every major defensive statistic, an issue that could come back to haunt the Bears against more explosive offenses.
Especially since the two teams are division rivals, the Packers will head to Soldier Field in Chicago motivated and ready to play, and they will have a good chance of pulling off an upset against the number two seed Bears.
Josh Allen’s disappointing postseason career continues
Despite consistently being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL alongside a talented team, Josh Allen has never appeared in a Super Bowl throughout his eight year career. His main kryptonite has been the Kansas City Chiefs, where Allen is a career 0-4 against them in the playoffs, including two heartbreaking AFC Championship game losses. This year, however, the Chiefs did not qualify for the playoffs, meaning that Allen has arguably the best chance in his tenure with the Bills to make a feature in the Super Bowl.
The difference between this year and previous years is the talent surrounding Allen. Compared to prior years, Buffalo’s defense is pretty lackluster, ranking around league average in points and yards allowed per game. In addition, Allen, the MVP award winner from last year, has not had as great of a season this year, which can be partially attributed to the lack of playmakers he has on offense. Besides Allen and top running back James Cook, the Bills’ offense lacks the star power that other elite teams in the NFL have.
In the first round, they will travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars, who won eight games to end the regular season, clinching the AFC South title. Buffalo’s mediocre defense and some offensive inconsistencies could give them some issues, especially versus formidable AFC teams such as the Jaguars.
