Peanut’s Picks: Predicting the NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs are here, football fans. With the 51st Super Bowl right around the corner, eight teams are trying to battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy. The NFL has had a year of surprises, but the excitement is not yet over. With these eight remaining teams trying to make history, only one team can win it all.

NFC

The top-seeded team in the NFC is the Dallas Cowboys. Nobody expected this and they sure have shocked the world. The Dallas Cowboys have a young, talented offense with their two spectacular rookies in quarterback and 4th round draft pick Dak Prescott and their incredible running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott won the rushing title this season behind, arguably, the greatest offensive line in football. The biggest surprise about this team is on the other side of the ball. Their defense, lead by linebacker Sean Lee and  unpredictably good defensive lineman David Irving.

The number 2 seed is another big surprise: the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have become one of the best teams in football this year with a very high powered offense led by their elite quarterback Matt Ryan. This is very scary offense with two running backs that are great receiving threats out of the backfield and all-pro Julio Jones. As of late Jones has been dealing with turf toe, so how he performs could affect the Falcons’ chances. Similar to the Cowboys, this defense has performed above expectations as well. The highlight great defensive lineman, Vic Beasley, who needs to keep his play up to help them succeed in the playoffs.

The Seattle Seahawks are the number 3 seed. The Seahawks are a scary team even though their year hasn’t been as good as usual, but they are still a legitimate contender. Seattle has an offense ran by a great playoff quarterback in Russell Wilson. This Seattle team also has a defense that can be very scary at times. With Richard Sherman at cornerback and a great core of linebackers, the Falcons will need to make sure they need to keep their head on a swivel.

The no.4 seed in the NFC is the red hot Green Bay Packers. The Packers had an ugly start to their season ,but they have turned it on during the second half of the season winning their last seven games including the playoffs. With MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers continuing to blow people away with his performances, I see no way of stopping this offense unless you keep them off the field.

AFC

Starting off at the 1 seed in the AFC is the powerhouse of this division, the New England Patriots. The Patriots have been ruling the division for many of years and are very efficient on both sides of the ball at all times. With their future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady having a tremendous year and leading his team to the one seed, a team in the AFC just may not be able to compete with them.

The number two seed Kansas City Chiefs might be a surprise in to many, but proven that they can compete with anybody, even the Patriots. Having a veteran at quarterback in Alex Smith, they should feel comfortable having him handling the pressure while on the other side they have a hard hitting defense that can take on any offense in this league. Most teams don’t have a special teams as quite as explosive as Kansas City, but they have the most electrifying player in the league in rookie Tyreek Hill. Look for him to make a big impact in their game against the Steelers.

Sitting at no.3 is the always dangerous Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are lead by their talented offense which can score in many different ways. The Steelers boast arguably the best wide receiver in the game in Antonio Brown and arguably the best all around running back in Le’veon Bell while teaming up with veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who loves to throw the home run balls. They also have a very powerful defense lead by their big-hitting linebackers Lawrence Timmons, James Harrison, and Ryan Shazier.

The number four seed and the largest underdogs of the remaining playoffs are the Houston Texans. The Texans have had a very odd season with their quarterback situation after signing Brock Osweiler to a big contract this offseason. The Texans are having a tremendous season on the defensive side of the ball, and without that defense, one may wonder if they even would have made the playoffs. They are playing without maybe the best defensive player in football in J.J. Watt, but they are being led by tremendous young talents in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback A.J. Bouye. The defense could keep the matchup with the Patriots much closer than most people might expect.

Predictions

NFC Divisional Round

1.Dallas Cowboys  27

4.Green Bay Packers 17

2. Atlanta Falcons 24

3. Seattle Seahawks 31

AFC Divisional Round

1. New England Patriots 31

4.  Houston Texans 17

2. Kansas City Chiefs 24

3. Pittsburgh Steelers 27

NFC Championship 

1. Dallas Cowboys 21

3. Seattle Seahawks 24

AFC Championship    

1. New England Patriots 17

3. Pittsburgh Steelers 27

Super Bowl LI

Seattle Seahawks 17

Pittsburgh Steelers 21