What a busy, and at times tense, week 16 it has been. The Steelers are looking to see their way out of the playoffs, the Eagles still have a slim chance to make it, and the Titans and Colts are going to play an all or nothing game to see who makes it in. In this article, I will be making my predictions for which teams will end up in certain playoff seeds, and how they got there.
AFC
1 seed – Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs play the horrid Oakland Raiders in week seventeen, with a win clinching the first seed. Sure the team hasn’t been looking as good since the loss of RB Kareem Hunt, but it is tough, even impossible, to see them not ensure home field advantage throughout this postseason. The Chiefs will surely enjoy their first round bye, in addition to Arrowhead being the centerpiece of the AFC playoff picture.
2 seed – New England Patriots
After the Houston Texans’ defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in week 16, the Patriots have pretty much solidified the two seed in the AFC playoffs. Tom Brady and Co. will be adding this first round bye to their list of many first round byes in the past, and are hoping that this is the season they can add another banner in Foxborough.
3 seed – Houston Texans
The first of our wild card teams is the up and coming Houston Texans. After starting 0-3, the Texans won 9 straight to put themselves in prime position for a playoff spot and Super Bowl contention. What is the more interesting about this year’s three seed, is that they are guaranteed to play a team in their division in the wild card (either the Colts or Titans will be the six seed), to which I will later reveal who I think it will be.
4 seed – Baltimore Ravens
Due to their win over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Steelers loss to the Saints in week 16, the Ravens are looking to be their division champions. One could argue that they are currently the hottest team in the entire league, with both a defense and running game that is becoming more and more difficult to contain. They need either a win over the Cleveland Browns, or a Steelers loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in week 17 to sure up their playoff spot and divisional championship. I am almost certain that despite Cleveland’s best efforts, they will succumb to Baltimore’s defense and will lose a close one. Expect the Ravens to be a scary dark horse in this year’s AFC postseason.
5 seed – Los Angeles Chargers
After their loss to the Ravens in week 16, they have been dropped from the three seed to the five seed. The good news is that they have already clinched their position in this year’s playoffs and with either a win or a loss this next week, will stay at the five seed, if the rest of my predictions hold. The bad news is that it is looking likely that they will face Baltimore for the second time in two weeks in their wild card game. This time, the game will be most likely played in Baltimore rather than L.A., which will make it even more difficult to win, but we will focus more on that when I do the wild card prediction post.
6 seed – Tennessee Titans
In one of my more bold takes, I see the Tennessee Titans outlasting the Indianapolis Colts in their win or go home week 17 matchup. The Titans will be playing this game at home, with an emerging run game that includes RB Derrick Henry who has been in great form as of late (to use a soccer term). The only real question mark for Tennessee is whether or not QB Marcus Mariota will be healthy enough to play this game. I would imagine that the competitive nature of Mariota will kick in, and force him to play regardless of injury. In making this prediction, I am not underestimating the Colts by any stretch. This Indy team is more than capable of winning this game, but I feel as if the homefield advantage and sense of revenge on the part of the Titans will be too much to overcome.
NFC
1 seed – New Orleans Saints
With their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 16, the Saints have clinched the first seed in the NFC playoffs. Even with a loss in week 17, due to resting starters, New Orleans can happily enjoy an additional week off and homefield advantage throughout the games leading up to a potential Super Bowl bid.
2 seed – Los Angeles Rams
Assuming they win their week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, the L.A. Rams would be the only team in the league to finish with an undefeated in conference record. They have been dominant in both facets of the game throughout the season, and will be looking to use their bye week for rest and to think of strategy for their Divisional Round game.
3 seed – Chicago Bears
After massive offseason moves to improve both the defense and offense. Chicago has had an incredible season. The development of Mitch Trubisky has been good thus far, but is still looking to improve with the playoffs looming ahead. This Bears defense has been arguably the best in the NFL, and will be arguably the toughest test any QB will have to face in the playoffs. Even with a playoff spot solidified, it’ll be strange to think the Bears wouldn’t cherish the opportunity to ruin their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings’, playoff aspirations with a victory in week 17. If the Bears were to lose to the Vikings, they will be facing Minnesota in their wild card game, which is something I would assume they will be trying to avoid.
4 seed – Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have emerged as division champions, in what has been argued as one of the worst divisions in all of football. They should not be slept on regardless of the opponent they face in the wild card, due to their big play ability and great linebacking core on defense. This year’s Cowboys will be a tough team to face in the playoffs for sure.
5 seed – Seattle Seahawks
With a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in week 16, the Seahawks clinched their birth in this year’s NFC postseason. Due to their ability to control a game’s tempo on offense with their incredible run game and big play ability, the Seahawks are a dark horse in this year’s playoffs. The more likely matchup in the wild card will be against the Dallas Cowboys, which will make for a very entertaining matchup between two young, hungry teams.
6 seed – Philadelphia Eagles
This is another bold take of mine, but I see the Bears ending the Minnesota Vikings’ season, in addition to an Eagles victory against the Washington Redskins, to put Philly back in the postseason. This Eagles team has been playing incredibly since the return of Nick Foles in the quarterback position, and will be looking to upset the superior Chicago Bears in their wild card matchup.