Ty's 2021 NFL Playoff Preview

Much to my surprise, and thank you for the heads up RD, the NFL playoffs start tomorrow.

I will not give the league credit, there were far too many problems, but they did get through a full 16 game regular season. I don't know how, I don't know how many players actually got COVID, and I was stunned at how they handled everything. But hey, they did it, and tomorrow, 14 teams have their eyes on winning the Super Bowl. They added two more teams in each conference this year, which, whatever. I guess it means more money. But MLB did this first, then the NBA had the play in tournament in the bubble, so the NFL is just copying stuff that has already been done. With all this being said, I will do a prediction column as I am want to do, and give you my pick for Super Bowl champ.

I'll start with the AFC.

In the AFC the Chiefs are the 1 seed, and they are the only team with a bye. They may also be the best team in the NFL. They also have the best QB, and that goes a long, long way. The Chiefs are going to go far.

In the 2-7 matchup we have the Bills and Colts. This won't be anywhere close to as bad the last time the Bills were in the playoffs, when they got beat by the Jaguars, 10-7. This should be a good game. Buffalo is much better than I thought offensively, and they have a solid defense. The Colts are a solid team, but they needed help to get in, and they barely made it. They do have a defense that may slow down Buffalo, but not enough to win. I have Buffalo pulling away in the third, and winning with ease.

In the 3-6 game we have the Steelers and Browns. I dislike both these teams. I think both are highly overrated. I think both are much worse than their records. This is a true toss up to me. Pittsburgh is playing at home, but after starting 11-0, they have really stumbled. The Browns are in the playoffs for the first time in a while, but they are still the Browns. I'm going with the Steelers because Mike Tomlin is a proven winner, and he will not let the Browns beat his team at home.

The 4-5 is the best game in this round, featuring Baltimore and Tennessee. Both teams are sharp. Both teams love to run the ball. Both teams play good defense. They are as evenly matched as it comes. But, Baltimore has past playoff woes, and the Titans have Derrick Henry. As much as I want the Ravens to win, and boy are they on fire right now, I just don't think they will be able to stop Henry, and I think the Titans will control tempo, control clock and grind out a close win.

This means that the Chiefs and Bills and Titans and Steelers would face off in the second round. The Bills have had a great year. That all stops here. The Chiefs can exploit their defense. The Chiefs defense will make enough plays to help. They will win, and probably going away. As for the Steelers and Titans, the Titans will win, they will win by a lot and they will show everyone how overrated the Steelers truly are. I wouldn't be shocked to see Derrick Henry go for 200 plus yards and a few scores.

This means we would have the same AFC title game as last year, but it won't go down like last year. The Chiefs are on the verge of a dynasty, and they will make an easy trip to their second straight Super Bowl.

Now for the NFC.

The Packers are the one seed, and they have been shockingly solid this year. They get the bye week.

The 2-7 matchup is the Saints and Bears. The Saints are really, really good on offense, and after having no healthy running backs, they are all back, and that means Alvin Kamara is back. This also seems like Drew Brees' last run, and while I may disagree with his politics, the dude is a very, very good QB. The Bears backed into the playoffs, they are being led by Mitch Trubisky and the defense is nowhere near as good as last year. They are going to get demoralized in this game, especially with it being in New Orleans. I could honestly see the Saints putting up 50.

The 3-6 match up is between divisional opponents, the Seahawks and Rams. The Rams are not the same team from two years ago when they made a run to the Super Bowl. They are more predictable and not nearly as good. The Seahawks started strong, then kind of faltered. They are awesome offensively, but not very good at all defensively. The Rams will make it closer than it should be, but Russell Wilson is way, way, way better than Jared Goff, and he will lead the Seahawks to a win.

This 4-5 matchup is so much worse than the AFC. Washington, at 7-9 overall, faces off against the Tom Brady led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs may not have Mike Evans, but it doesn't matter. Washington is mediocre, plays in a terrible division, and they will get blown out. Tampa, while not great, is much better than Washington, especially offensively.

So that leaves us in round two with the Packers playing the Saints and the Seahawks facing the Bucs. The Seahawks and Buccaneers game is one of those games where I do not want to root for either team, I do not care who wins and I will not watch one second of it. Going off the season, I will pick Tampa. Russell Wilson is younger, and frankly, better than Tom Brady right now. But he has no help defensively, and Bruce Arians is a better coach, at the moment, than Pete Carroll. Tampa will find a way to make it to the NFC title game.

I do have a personal stake in the other game, obviously. I want the Packers to win. They should win. The Saints are not good in cold weather stadiums, and it will be freezing in Green Bay. Green Bay has struggled on run defense, but has been okay in passing defense. I also think Green Bay will be able to run and pass on New Orleans. Aaron Rodgers is having an MVP type season, and for as much flak as I gave Matt LaFleur, he has done a solid job getting the best out of his players. Combine that with the Saints struggles outside their dome, I think the Packers will win this game.

So we have Green Bay and Tampa in the NFC title game. Green Bay better win this damn game. They are better at every level, and Tom Brady has come out and said he is glad to not be playing in cold weather anymore. They will have to go to Green Bay, and Green Bay is the better team. Of course I am going with the Packers.

That means I have Kansas City and Green Bay in the Super Bowl. A rematch of Super Bowl 1. As much as I'd like to pick my team, the Chiefs are better, younger, better coached and have a dynasty. The Chiefs will win. It may be close for a bit, but Patrick Mahomes will find a way, as he always does, and he will bring a second straight Super Bowl to Kansas City. Get ready to see the Chiefs as much as we saw the Patriots, because that is what is going to happen.

There is my NFL playoff preview. Hopefully no one gets COVID, and good luck to all the teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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