Gun to head...who is meeting at Sofi in 2 1/2 months?
I'm going Bucs vs. Chiefs...TB12 vs. Mahomes. That'd be a fun matchup. I still think Tampa is the best team in football, regardless of AZ being the top dog right now in the NFC. And it looks like Chief is rounding into form. The Pats have the better record, but I'd take KC over NE if it came down to that.
AFC, no idea. Might go Chiefs, for lack of a better option. Everyone seems week to week.
Bills-Bucs
The Browns are 6-6 and 3 of their wins were against the Texans, Bears and Lions. They're 2-4 against teams with winning records.
AZ maybe, but not Cleveland.
Watch out for SF who as they get healthy can really make some noise.
AZ is a good team but something about Murray screams comes up short- I thank you .
I am going to go with:
Green Bay vs Buffalo..
In the NFC I like the Packers, Bucs and think the Rams can be a problem in the playoffs.
So any of these 3 teams for each conference, but to answer the OP question, my prediction right now would be:
Packers vs Patriots
Wondering how the Kingsbury situation affects their play down the stretch. I think AZ is the only team that could beat GB, simply because they can get homefield.
I think the Bills get back on track and have so much talent, esp at the QB position.
Packers and Buccaneers (Rams seem to be fading and I don't see the Cards)
Patriots and Chiefs (Ravens & Titans, meh)
Packers v Patriots is my guess at this point
Yep.
The hype will be nauseating.
Brady vs Belichick.
Brady vs Jones.
Legend vs GOAT.
Animosity.
Jealousy.
And 402 other takes.
Has a rookie QB ever started their first year and went to the Super Bowl?
Bills vs. Chiefs is what I think will decide the AFC. But the Bills are inconsistent and the Chiefs have been sleepwalking. The Pats/Colts/Ravens all feel like threats. The Bengals aren't too far behind if at all.
Very wide open year. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is the year Lamar delivers in the playoffs, and carries the Ravens into the SB. I also think the Packers get lucky and avoid the Bucs in the NFC, leading to Rodgers/GB getting to the big game.
Packers over Ravens in the SB
Matchups do play a big part in all of this.
I would definitely have liked Tennessee over KC if they had Henry. Cleveland has been unreliable. Buffalo a bit up and down, but I like the upside.
Indianapolis very solid all around, could be surprise team. Chargers always a bit of a boom/bust team. Same with Raiders.
Chiefs we'll have to see what happens......they weren't as bad as we thought they were and are very unlikely as good as they were their last 2 seasons.
Patriots my big question is about Mac Jones. People overhyping him a bit. We'll see what happens in January.
Ravens will come down to Lamar. Just don't see him as next level in playoffs.
Bengals look interesting, certainly, but need to overcome some snakebit demons (that 2015 wildcard loss against Pittsburgh was brutal).
In the NFC, it really does feel like matchups mean more than the AFC.
The Bucs oddly do not play well against WFT, but do well against the Packers....but not against the Rams. Bucs versus Arizona is a real toss up, as I don't think there are any recent games to go by.
The Packers seem to fare well against anyone in the NFC except TB and historically SF. Lambeau winter home field advantage isn't what it used to be IMO, I guess since the Packers are more of a passing team than running.
Dallas is interesting for the first time in quite a long time, even more than 2016 I think. I think they would be underdogs to most in the conference except Minnesota and SF (at least if SF is playing at home.....Jerry Jones has won in the Bay Area going back to Aikman era).
I think Minnesota and SF if fully healthy represent the scariest "tough outs" in the NFC, however, Minnesota's lack of pedigree (along with Cousins' lack of big time wins) limits them. The 49ers big concern I have is an over reliance on ball control offense. It has worked in the past, but the modern NFL wants to see big time passing/passers win SBs, so I would actually be shocked to see them win the SB this year even though I put money on them. Kyle would need to dial up 4 dominant ball control games in a row......big ask of anyone.
You need the shiny QB face to win bowls now. Unfortunate for Mahomes, the GOAT took over at Tampa, because a Tannehill or Cousins playing for Tampa could have done enough to win that game but likely wouldn't have.
I have a feeling the Bills fix their issues and make it for the AFC. And they play the Arizona in the SB.
That's the matchup that I'm hoping to see, too.
But what I think we'll see is Rams vs. Chiefs.
I may be giving too much credit to what I expect Von Miller to be able to give them down the stretch, but I do think he and Floyd can make a huge impact coming off the edge with Donald up the middle, and with Ramsey patrolling the secondary, that can result in turnovers as well as sacks.
But it might turn out to be more sizzle than steak.