Wild-Card Weekend
#4 Indianapolis Colts (11-5) vs. #5 Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
After a 9-0 start, the Chiefs have sunk back to Earth in recent weeks. Andy Reid and company have dropped five of their last seven, including a 23-7 loss at home to the Colts just two weeks ago. Kansas City are an awful 1-5 against postseason teams this year, with their only victory coming against the Michael Vick-led Eagles way back in Week 3.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, has excelled against tough opponents. Andrew Luck and company have defeated the 49ers and the Chiefs handily on the road, while beating the Seahawks and the Broncos at home. The Colts are capable of competing with any team on any given day.
For the Colts to get the victory, they need to stop Jamaal Charles. Charles tallied nearly 2,000 total yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Last time the two teams tangled, Charles racked up over 100 yards and averaged 8.2 yards a carry. However, Kansas City’s passing game couldn’t do anything, as Alex Smith was sacked five times. With Indy sending the NFL sack leader Robert Mathis off the edge, it may be another long day for Smith.
In the end, I expect Andrew Luck to find holes in an overrated Chiefs secondary, and I forecast the Colts claiming a close victory thanks to big day from Donald Browns against KC’s 26th-ranked rush defense.
Colts 26, Chiefs 20
#3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) vs. #6 New Orleans Saints (11-5)
With Nick Foles under center, the Eagles rebounded from a tough 3-5 first half to win seven of their final eight games. Foles played like an MVP candidate in the starting role, and Lesean McCoy paced the league’s best rushing attack. Philadelphia was also lights out at home, winning their final four home contests by an average of double-digits.
The Saints, on the other hand, struggled down the stretch after a 9-2 start. New Orleans’ struggles on the road are well-documented, and they won just one of their final six away contests. The Saints boast the league’s second-best passing attack, though, as well as a top two pass defense.
This game will come down to which team’s strength can better expose their opponent’s weakness. New Orleans feared passing attack will be matched up against an Eagles secondary that was statistically the worst in the NFL against the pass, and Philadelphia’s top rushing attack will face a Saints’ front that struggles defending the run. In the end, I expect the playoff experience of Drew Brees and Sean Payton to be the difference in a high-scoring, close affair.
Saints 30, Eagles 28
#3 Cincinnati Bengals (11-5) vs. #6 San Diego Chargers (9-7)
This game will come down to which Andy Dalton shows up on Sunday. Dalton’s inconsistency has plagued the Bengals at some points this season, but he had his best full season as a pro despite his roller coaster year. Dalton tossed for nearly 4,300 yards and 33 touchdowns. The TCU product also has a dream matchup against the Chargers, who rank 29th in the NFL against the pass.
San Diego comes in as one of the hottest teams in the league, despite possessing the worst record of the 12 teams in the dance. The Chargers have won five of their past six games, including victories over the Chiefs (twice) and Broncos. Their only loss in those games was a 17-10 home defeat against the Bengals.
If the Chargers are to pull off the upset, they need Philip Rivers to continue his resurgence. Rivers had perhaps the best season of his career in 2013 after two years of futility, and he likely would of taken home the MVP award if not for Peyton Manning’s historic year. Rivers has a tough matchup against the Bengals, though, who rank fifth in the league defending the pass.
Although Cincinnati looks like the better team on paper, I predict Philip Rivers to have a huge game and for Andy Dalton to be plagued by turnovers, leading San Diego to an unlikely playoff victory.
Chargers 27, Bengals 24
#4 Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) vs. #5 San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
The Packers limped into the playoffs following a tight victory against the Bears. With just eight wins, their presence in the postseason is unwarranted. However, with Aaron Rodgers back at the helm, they could be a serious contender if things fall their way. Regardless, Green Bay could not have a worse matchup on Wild-Card Weekend. The Packers have shown an inability to beat the 49ers in recent years, losing all three of their matchups since 2012.
Colin Kaepernick has dominated the Pack in his two outings against the team. In the playoffs last season, Kaepernick threw for 263 yards, ran for 181 yards, and tallied four total touchdowns, and in Week 1 of this year, Kaepernick tossed for 412 yards and three scores.
San Francisco’s passing attack has faded since Week 1, though. The team ranks 30th in the league in pass offense. However, the 49ers rank in the top seven in all other major categories, and they have won six straight games and ten of their last twelve. To put it simply, the Niners are the most dangerous team playing in Wild-Card Weekend.
Expect Aaron Rodgers to keep the Packers in it, but in a game that could be one of the coldest in the history of the NFL, Frank Gore and the 49ers’ rushing attack will have their way with a subpar Green Bay run defense and march on to the Divisional Round.
49ers 26, Packers, 17
Now, quick predictions for the rest of the postseason slate (full previews to come next week)
Divisional Round
#1 Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. #6 San Diego Chargers (9-7)
The Chargers may of beaten the Broncos in Denver earlier this year, but Peyton Manning should have his way with San Diego’s secondary on a cold day in Mile High.
Broncos 31, Chargers 23
#1 Seattle Seahawks (13-3) vs. #6 New Orleans Saints (11-5)
It won’t be the blowout like it was on Monday Night Football, but the Seahawks are a tougher team and are playing in a stadium they rarely falter in.
Seahawks 27, Saints 24
#2 New England Patriots (12-4) vs. #4 Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
The Patriots are more experienced and are playing in Foxborough, but Indianapolis will keep it close with their young talent and explosiveness. However, you have to take Brady and Belichick in this one.
Patriots 30, Colts 24
#2 Carolina Panthers (12-4) vs. #5 San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
In what will be one of the best playoff games in recent memory, the 49ers will eek out the road victory through their offense making one more big play than Cam Newton and company.
49ers 17, Panthers 16
Championship Round
#1 Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. #2 New England Patriots (12-4)
Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady in the AFC Championship. It doesn’t get any better than this. In what will be a back-and-forth contest, I expect Brady and company to emerge victorious thanks to one late mistake from Manning.
Patriots 34, Broncos 30
#1 Seattle Seahawks (13-3) vs. #5 San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
The best rivalry in the game today will be at the forefront of championship weekend. I think the 49ers will pull off the road upset by virtue of a strong defensive and rushing effort, and move on to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season.
49ers 23, Seahawks 20
Super Bowl
#2 New England Patriots (12-4) vs. #5 San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Two of the NFL’s finest franchises and the losers of the last two Super Bowls will meet in the first big game in the cold in NYC. Neither team will move the ball at will, but both will have their share of big plays. Eventually, Brady and company will emerge on top thanks to clutch plays from the Hall of Fame quarterback.
Patriots 27, 49ers 23
Beneath The Helmet 