The Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions have regarded all season like they have been on a collision course for Super Bowl LIX. And naturally, the Chiefs would first need to beat the Buffalo Bills in what would absolutely be an epic AFC Championship Sport.
It is what many predicted earlier than the beginning of the common season. It is what all the NFL world appears to be anticipating.
Yawn.
When’s the final time the NFL playoffs unfolded precisely as everybody anticipated? When’s the final time the most effective groups within the common season ended up within the Tremendous Bowl? When’s the final time the postseason was fully predictable? (Observe: Please pay no consideration to 2022).
It is higher to disregard the “chalk” predictions, as a result of no person actually desires that. What makes the NFL playoffs so thrilling is once we anticipate the surprising. It is the upstart groups making runs that basically carry the thrills. The stunning stars, the stunning performs, the mighty underdogs — that is what makes the playoffs nice.
So with that in thoughts, put the chalk again within the field and prepare for the surprises — like these 5 daring predictions for the NFL playoffs that I assure will come true:
1. Regime Change
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will NOT attain the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months.
That is solely occurred as soon as within the final 5 years, however it may occur once more. This could be probably the most susceptible 15-2 group in NFL historical past. They’ve been taking part in with fireplace all season lengthy. The truth that 11 of their 15 wins have been by one rating or much less reveals you ways shut they have been to being 4-13 as an alternative. I imply they do not also have a Professional Bowl quarterback anymore.
They’re fortunate they’re within the AFC and did not need to reside in, say, the NFC North this season. However the AFC playoffs are nonetheless going to offer some difficulties for them. The chances are that they’re going to get to the AFC Championship Sport since they solely want one measly win to get there. However that is the place their reign will finish. They’re going to seemingly face the Baltimore Ravens or the Buffalo Payments. Both of them is able to placing an finish to the Chiefs Dynasty as soon as and for all.
Or no less than till subsequent 12 months.
2. Midnight in Minnesota
It is becoming that the Minnesota Vikings‘ first playoff recreation will finish proper round midnight (Jap time, no less than) on Monday as a result of that is when Sam Darnold’s Cinderella season will finish and he’ll flip again right into a pumpkin. The Vikings might need gone 14-3 this season and made a run on the prime seed within the NFC, however they will lose their first-round recreation in Los Angeles towards the Rams.
The seeds have been planted on Sunday night time in Detroit when Darnold, in arguably the most important spot of his profession, had his worst recreation since his well-known “seeing ghosts” recreation again when he was with the Jets. He accomplished 43.9 p.c of his passes and actually, if his receivers hadn’t saved bailing him out, that proportion would have been within the 30s.
Rams coach Sean McVay goes to verify his defensive coordinator, Chris Shula, goes to high school on that movie and finds a solution to preserve the ghost-blitzes coming. Darnold is having a tremendous season — an MVP-caliber 12 months — however he did not all of a sudden flip into Patrick Mahomes (pre-2024 Mahomes, I imply). He is nonetheless a restricted quarterback. And in an enormous recreation — his first-ever playoff recreation as a starter — we’re all going to see why.
3. A Command Efficiency
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will lead the Commanders to the franchise’s first playoff win in 19 years.
It is often a fairly protected wager to select towards rookie quarterbacks within the NFL playoffs. They do not usually fare effectively or go very far. The truth is, solely 5 have ever led a group to a convention championship, and none have ever even reached a Tremendous Bowl as a starter. Daniels seemingly will not be the primary within the Tremendous Bowl, however do not rule out that convention championship recreation.
On the very least, he’ll proceed his excellent common season with a stellar efficiency in a win in Tampa on Sunday night time. Bucs coach Todd Bowles is understood for inventive defensive schemes that may confound younger quarterbacks, however Daniels has actually grown past that. He is not solely nice at making the appropriate reads, however he is been good at improvising outdoors of the pocket. He’s already one of many 5 greatest two-way quarterbacks within the recreation.
That’ll be adequate for no less than one win. And do not be stunned if he provides the Lions fairly a scare within the divisional spherical, too.
4a. Payments are at all times due
When the Buffalo Payments lose — and they’ll lose — it will likely be in excruciating style. Sooner or later late within the recreation, their followers will see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. Victory will appear to be of their grasp. They could even look forward and see a transparent path to that elusive championship. After which both a gust of wind will blow their game-winning subject objective just a bit bit large, or their opponent will discover a solution to go 99 yards in 14 seconds for a game-winning landing, or possibly …
… You realize what? This occurs to the Payments on a regular basis. Everybody in Western New York expects it. And I stated no “chalk” predictions, so let me strive No. 4 once more.
4b. Harbaugh Bowl, 2.0
Did you benefit from the first Harbaugh Bowl again in Tremendous Bowl XLVII? Did you be taught all the things you ever wished to learn about their prolonged household again then? Properly, it has been 11 years and numerous these tales have been overshadowed by the blackout within the Superdome that night time, so it is most likely about time all of us get a refresher course on the First Household of Soccer (coaches division).
John’s Ravens and Jim’s Chargers (wait, possibly it is reversed? … no, that is appropriate) will meet within the AFC Championship recreation. It will not be simple. John’s Ravens should win a divisional recreation on the street in Buffalo and Jim’s Chargers should knock off the two-time defending champion Chiefs in Kansas Metropolis. However they’ll, as a result of who’s acquired it higher than the Harbaughs? That is proper. No one.
The Ravens even have a group completely constructed to win in Buffalo, with a punishing run recreation that can even work within the snow. The Chargers have the harder activity, however whereas they misplaced twice to the Chiefs this season, each have been one-score video games — 17-10 and 19-17. There is no doubt the third time can be a allure.
As for which Harbaugh will come out on prime … Properly, John did win that Tremendous Bowl and household bragging rights a few years in the past.
5. Like I informed you again in the summertime … Eagles-Ravens in LIX.
I wasn’t improper then, and I am not improper now. Tremendous Bowl LIX will function the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles, with the Ravens profitable, 27-24.
After the Ravens beat the Chargers within the AFC Championship Sport and the Eagles beat the Lions within the NFC Championship Sport, New Orleans will prepare for groups led by the 2 greatest operating backs in soccer. And after a 12 months of debate about the true value of running backs and whether it’s smart to pay them, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry will take heart stage.
The truth is, they’ll even dominate the sport. They’re going to mix for greater than 400 yards and 4 dashing touchdowns. The Ravens will even shut out the sport with a nine-minute, clock-guzzling drive crammed with nothing however Henry runs. When it is over, Henry could have extra dashing yards than Lamar Jackson could have passing yards, however Jackson will nonetheless win the MVP as a result of everyone knows that may be a quarterback award.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Day by day Information. Observe him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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