NFL 2017 Playoffs Wild Card Round

NFL Playoffs

Wild Card Weekend

My Thoughts and Predictions

 

AFC Playoffs

 

Opening Round

 

#5 Oakland Raiders at #4 Houston Texans

 

The Raiders defense should be stronger than the Texans offense.  But there are questions about the Raiders offense now that the top QB is injured.  The Texans defense has shown the ability to carry a game.  This game needs to be won by the Texans defense, who need to hope that their offense will help somewhat keep the game manageable.  The fact that this game is in Houston is also a big advantage for the Texans.  Vegas doesn't seem to agree with this assessment.  They have the Raiders wining by 3 1/2.  Both teams, says Vegas, have a 66-1 chance of still being in Houston for the Super Bowl.

 

Raiders advance to next round...

 

#6 Miami Dolphins at #3 Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Both teams have been streaky throughout the year.  Pittsburgh is a tough place to play at any time, but in December and January that is even more true.  The Dolphins will not lay down without a fight in this game.  But in the end it seems that the Steelers have an advantage.  Vegas seems to think the Steelers have even more of an advantage than I see myself.  They predict the Steelers will win by 10.  Vegas gives the Steelers an 8-1 chance of being in Super Bowl; 66-1 for Miami.

 

Steelers advance to next round...

 

 

 

Second Round

 

#5 Oakland Raiders at #1 New England Patriots

 

Patriots advance to Championship...

New England gets a pretty easy win

 

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers at #2 Kansas City Chiefs

 

Steelers advance to Championship...

Pittsburgh outlasts the Chiefs in a hard-fought battle in KC, taking the lead late in game

 

 

 

Championship Round

 

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers at #1 New England Patriots

 

Steelers win AFC Championship...

Pittsburgh can run the ball.  Run defense is an issue with New England.  The Steelers exploit that weakness and make their best defense the ability to keep Brady on the sideline with long drives, which also keeps their defense rested.

 

 

 

 

 

NFC Playoffs

***

Opening Round

 

 #6 Detroit Lions at #3 Seattle Seahawks

Seattle can not take this game lightly.  There are plenty of reasons why it would be tempting.  Among them are things like Detroit squeaking into the playoffs in the last week and being a dome team on the road playing outdoors in January.  There is also that 12th man crowd in Seattle that makes the Hawks Nest louder than some domes.  Every advantage seems to go in favor of Seattle.  The Seahawks must play as if there is a chance they might not win, and the Lions need to igorne everything and believe they can and will win.  Both scenarios of approaches seem to be likely.  I give the advantage to Seattle.  And yet I am aware that usually at least one of the four road teams on Wild Card Weekend pull out a victory away from Home Sweet Home.  Vegas doesn't seem to have such concerns.  They predict a Seahawk win by a margin of 8 points.  Vegas also gives Seattle a 14-1 odds of a Super Bowl appearance; Detroit a 66-1 chance.

 

Seahawks advance to next round...

 

#5 New York Giants at #4 Green Bay Packers 

 This is truly a toss up.  On each side of the match the question is "What team will show up?"  Closely behind that will be a matter of who can best adjust at halftime to who shows up on the other side of the ball.  My gut tells me the Giants look stronger in the first half but the Packers adjust better at halftime and play stronger in the second half.  That makes me question which final quarter Eli will show up.  In the playoffs especially he can be special.  But he has also shown the ability to throw games away near the end of games.  So far a slight advantage seems to go to Green Bay, but it is only slight in spite of the fact that this game is in Lambeau.  Vegas is at odds with me on this.  They tip the scale in the other direction and say Giants by 4 1/2.  That said Vegas gives the Pack a 7-1 chance of a Super Bowl appearance; 14-1 for Big Blue.

 

Packers advance to next round...

 

 

 

Second Round

 

#3 Seattle Seahawks at #2 Atlanta Falcons

 

Falcons advance to Championship...

Seattle is not same team on road;

Atlanta doesn't do it with style in this game, but manages to do just enough

 

#4 Green Bay Packers at #1 Dallas Cowboys

 

Cowboys advance to Championship...

Dallas should win fairly easily

 

 

 

Championship Round

 

#2 Atlanta Falcons at #1 Dallas Cowboys

 

Cowboys win NFC Championship...

Atlanta simply is a weaker team all around.

It pains me to make this prediction as the only team

I dislike more than Dallas is New England.

 

 

 

 

 

Super Bowl LI

NFC Champions Dallas Cowboys versus AFC Champions Pittsburgh Steelers

 

 This is anything but a neutral-site game for the Dallas Cowboys.  The only way that Big D could have a bigger advantage is if this game were in Jerry's Jungle in Dallas.  Since the game is still in the Lone Star State, this is more or less a home game.  Remember what Dallas did in Pittsburgh.  This is in Texas.  That said I really hate to say this... 

 

Your Super Bowl Champions shall be...

 

The Dallas Cowboys