Playoff Predictions - Whose Going to Vegas!
The time is now! The 2024 NFL playoffs are among us and this crazy season is only getting crazier. The Bills completed the comeback; the Jaguars completed the collapse. Joe Flacco and Mason Rudolph are starting playoff games. The Lions are in the playoffs. It will be -30 in Kansas City Saturday Night. Have I said enough? It really is SUPER wildcard weekend. The guys (myself included) took the week to think about who they think could hoist the Lombardi trophy in Las Vegas next month. I wouldn’t say we all went chalk across the board, but the winners may not surprise a bunch. I’m going to give all of our original predictions as well and see how well we landed (it’s not pretty). Without further ado, let’s see whose going to Vegas!
John McCarthy
Original Pick - Jaguars defeat Eagles
If you asked this to John in Week 10 how he felt about this, he probably would’ve went to the casino and cashed a futures bet. Fast forward to today, and these two teams were the worst teams down the stretch. The Jaguars completely bottomed out, losing 5/6 and missing the playoffs in the last week of the season. The Eagles, after starting off 10-1, finished the year at 11-6, lost the NFC East and have to travel to Tampa Bay to take on Baker Mayfield and the resurgent Buccaneers. Maybe the big guy will do better in his playoff prediction…
NFC
WildCard Weekend
(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 31-14
(6) Rams defeat (3) Lions 38-31
(4) Bucs defeat (5) Eagles 20-17
NFC Divisional
(1) 49ers defeat (6) Rams 31-17
(2) Cowboys defeat (4) Bucs 38-10
NFC Championship
(1) 49ers defeat (2) Cowboys 21-17
AFC
Wildcard Weekend
(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 31-10
(4) Texans defeat (5) Browns 17-10
(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 28-14
Divisional
(1) Ravens defeat (4) Texans 21-14
(2) Bills defeat (3) Chiefs 17-14
AFC Championship
(2) Bills defeat (1) Ravens 21-16
SUPER BOWL
Bills defeat 49ers 34-31
Super Bowl MVP - Josh Allen
Rich Jones
Original Pick - Chiefs defeat 49ers
This is the only pick of the bunch that is still in play! And there is a scenario where both teams get back to Vegas this February. The Chiefs are looking to become the first back to back Champs since the 03-04 Patriots, but in order to get out of the AFC, they will need to find an answer to their offense. The 49ers have looked like a juggernaut all year, so them getting to the big dance would surprise no one.
NFC
Wildcard Weekend
(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 41-13
(3) Lions defeat (6) Rams 34-21
(5) Eagles defeat (4) Bucs 21-18
Divisional
(1) 49ers defeat (5) Eagles 31-30
(2) Cowboys defeat (3) Lions 27-21
NFC Championship
(1) 49ers defeat (2) Cowboys 38-17
AFC
Wildcard Weekend
(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 24-21
(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 21-14
(4) Texans defeat (5) Browns 27-21
Divisional
(1) Ravens defeat (4) Texans 30-10
(3) Chiefs defeat (2) Bills 21-14
AFC Championship
(1) Ravens defeat (3) Chiefs 31-21
SUPER BOWL
Ravens defeat 49ers 30-27
Super Bowl MVP - Lamar Jackson
Joe Miglio
Original Pick - Bengals defeat 49ers
This pick is more of an incomplete as Joe Burrow’s season never quite felt right. He eventually got hurt and missed the season after wrist surgery, and the Bengals season crumbled with it. The 49ers have already been discussed so no need to go back to that well.
NFC
Wildcard Weekend
(2) Cowboys defeat (7) Packers 41-17
(3) Lions defeat (6) Rams 35-24
(5) Eagles defeat (4) Bucs 23-21
Divisional
(1) 49ers defeat (5) Eagles 27-16
(3) Lions defeat (2) Cowboys 34-28
NFC Championship
(3) Lions defeat (1) 49ers 28-27
AFC
Wildcard Weekend
(2) Bills defeat (7) Steelers 24-6
(3) Chiefs defeat (6) Dolphins 16-13
(5) Browns defeat (4) Texans 23-14
Divisional
(1) Ravens defeat (5) Browns 17-14
(3) Chiefs defeat (2) Bills 26-22
AFC Championship
(1) Ravens defeat (3) Chiefs 20-17
SUPER BOWL
Ravens defeat Lions 29-27
Super Bowl MVP - Zay Flowers
The year of Harbaugh.
