2021 JK NFL Playoff Predictions
Three days until the 2021 season kicks off. It's that soon. We figured before the season kicks off, we have to make our official and FINAL playoff predictions that we can look back at in January. Using a playoff predictor and picking each game, I got my 14 playoff teams and then took them through a playoff bracket and picked the playoff matches to get to the Super Bowl. All of this is to come down below. We will start with the 7 NFC teams and move to the AFC and then show the how we had the playoff bracket turning out!
NFC:
1st Seed Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
After winning the Super Bowl last year, the Bucs look to be back for another ferocious playoff run in 2021. They returned everyone in addition to adding some nice depth to the squad. Tom Brady is still Tom Brady and the team is going to be clicking on all cylinders. They will have a relatively smooth regular season and will coast into the playoffs with the first round bye. Losses: vs Dolphins, @ Saints, @ Washington Football Team, @ Colts
In what proves to be an ultra competitive NFC race, the Rams barely lose the one seed to Tampa due to a predicted loss to them early on in the season. The Rams aren't just battling for a top seed, they are battling to win the toughest division in the sport. The NFC West is loaded and we see the Rams coming out just barely on top. Their defense might be the best in the league with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Leonard Floyd and co. on the job. Matthew Stafford being their QB is going to make all the difference in the world for these Rams. They will be a tough out come the Winter. Losses: vs Buccaneers, @ Seahawks, @ Giants, vs 49ers
3rd Seed Prediction: Green Bay Packers (11-6)
In Aaron Rodgers' likely final season as a Packer, the team looks to be right back where it was last year. As one of the top seeds in the NFC playoffs. Rodgers is coming off an MVP season and looks to have another great year. The problem for the team is they didn't add many new faces this off-season. It might be an easier squad to figure out. The receiving core remains suspect behind Adams and the defense is lackluster at best. They are going to really hope first rounder CB Eric Stokes can be a lockdown CB2 next to the beast that is Jaire Alexander. Losses: @ 49ers, @ Bears, @ Chiefs, @ Vikings, vs Rams, vs Browns
I love what the Football Team did this off-season to build off of a success of a year in 2020. When they struck out on the big QB names like Carson Wentz and Matthew Stafford, they went for a low risk/high reward option in Ryan Fitzpatrick. I love the move. Fitz is as consistent as they come and will provide a super calm veteran presence for the offense. He will move the chains in high pressure situations. The main strongpoint of this team is the defense which will aim to be even better than they were last year. Chase Young is going to be a mean man this year. They have a tough schedule to face this season but will come away with some quality wins that make them more prepared for the playoffs. Losses: vs Chargers, @ Bills, @ Packers, vs Seahawks, @ Cowboys, @ Giants
5th Seed Prediction: Seattle Seahawks (12-5)
The Seahawks come up just short of a second straight division title when they get upset in week 18 by Arizona on the road. It doesn't matter though because this team looks more built than ever to make a real playoff run this season. Russell Wilson is a man on a mission and will stop at nothing to bring another title back to Seattle. The defense looks vastly improved and if they can find consistent play at the CB position, will end up being a positive unit in 2021. The Seahawks find ways to win that no one else can and we expect to see some more of that this year. This is a team I'm really excited to watch compete. Losses: vs Titans, @ 49ers, @ Packers, @ Rams, @ Cardinals
We don't know who will be playing QB each week for this team, but it won't matter much. The offensive support system is elite around either Jimmy G or Trey Lance. The defense will be back like it never left this year with a ton of starters returning from injury. Nick Bosa is one of those guys. He will make up for lost time we are sure. George Kittle also will be a force to reckon with. The Niners play a tiring style of football that will be hard on opponents for a full 60 minutes. This team is built to make another deep playoff run like in 2019. They could easily be the top seed in the NFC with their relatively easy schedule. Losses: @ Cardinals, vs Colts, vs Rams, vs Vikings, @ Seahawks
7th Seed Prediction: New Orleans Saints (11-6)
In what might be a shock to some, the Saints are the final NFC playoff team. Jameis Winston is going to break out in a big way this year and the Saints are going to pick right back up where they left off from last year with him leading the way. The offense will open up a lot more with his big arm. The real story is who he will be throwing to. Marquez Callaway looks like a breakout option. They still have the elusive Alvin Kamara and a hungry defense that is pretty underrated. Sean Payton is one of the best coaches in the league and won't see his team underperform. Losses: vs Packers, @ Washington FB, @ Seahawks, @ Titans, @ Buccaneers, @ Falcons
The rest of the NFC (outside of the playoffs)
8. Vikings (10-7)
9. Cowboys (10-7)
10. Cardinals (9-8)
11. Panthers (6-11)
12. Bears (4-13)
13. Giants (4-13)
14. Eagles (3-14)
15. Falcons (3-14)
16. Lions (1-16)
AFC:
1st Seed Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
With the best record in the NFL, the Chiefs are the one seed in the AFC again. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. What is surprising is the improving AFC West in which the Chiefs do not have a cakewalk in anymore. The Chargers are coming hot for the Chiefs and could dethrone them this season. I don't see it happening right away, but it could. The Chiefs have more firepower than anyone on offense with Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and more. Their main weakness is their defensive unit which is improving as a whole as well. It will take a lot to beat these Chiefs in a 60 minute ball game. Losses: @ Washington FB, @ Raiders, @ Chargers
The Browns getting the two seed might not seem crazy anymore, but what still does is them being tied with KC for the best record in football. They are truly here though. Their roster is stacked from top to bottom and this team could reach new heights if Baker Mayfield can kick it up another notch. The Browns are likely to be run committed again with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as the top tandem in the league. They are going to churn out yards and keep the football in their possession. A tough strategy to stop. Seeing KC and Cleveland square off week 1 is going to be crazy entertaining and may really come down to who has the better D. I think the Chiefs win the game but there is something to be said about the Browns probably having the better defense. Losses: @ Chiefs, @ Bengals, @ Ravens
3rd Seed Prediction: Buffalo Bills (13-4)
With the way the schedules work out, I think the Dolphins will control the AFC East for most of the season only for the Bills to come clawing back and take it out of their grasp. The Bills really impressed last season and were so close to making it to the Super Bowl but couldn't get past the Chiefs. I think the Browns pass them this year too. That doesn't mean these Bills can't make it to the Super Bowl, but I expect them to have an even harder path this year than last. For this team to hit the next level, they will need to incorporate the run game much more than they have. 5 rushes a game by RBs is simply not enough. I like the Bills, but I will need to see with time if I love them. Losses: @ Chiefs, vs Dolphins, @ Saints, @ Buccaneers
4th Seed Prediction: Tennessee Titans (11-6)
The Titans are about to try and go a whole season winning games like the recent Falcons Super Bowl squad. Win every shootout and play little defense. That might sound bad, but this offense is SO good. Ryan Tannehill has been such an elite pickup for this squad, he has really transformed into a top 10 QB during his time in Nashville. Something we never thought we'd see from the guy traded for a late round pick. Derrick Henry demands the eyes of an entire defense which leaves open possibly the best WR duo in the NFL in Julio Jones and AJ Brown. If this defense can literally cause any stops, this team will be really tough out. Regardless of how good they end up being, this offense is weekly must watch football. Losses: vs Colts, vs Bills, vs Chiefs, @ Rams, @ Steelers, vs 49ers
The breakout team of 2021. There is always at least one team each year that becomes really good out of the dirt and we strongly believe it will be the Chargers this year. By their predicted record, we have them not being just good, but great. Justin Herbert is poised to take another leap in his second season and now has a great offensive line to work with. The defense is going to be the other reason this team has such success in the coming months. New HC Brandon Staley is a defensive mastermind and will be able to get the most out of all the talent on their team. Derwin James being back is a huge reason for optimism as he is a DPOY candidate when on the field. There is so much to be excited about with this team and we will be embarrassed if we are super wrong on how good we expect this football team to be this season. Losses: @ Chiefs, vs Browns,
@ Ravens, @ Raiders
6th Seed Prediction: Miami Dolphins (11-6)
With the way their schedule sets up, the Dolphins are in a really good position to take control of the AFC East early on and then will just need to hang on to it down the stretch if they can. This is really good timing for them because Tua Tagovailoa is going to need all the time he can get to continue to improve and hopefully be the team's franchise QB of the future. The defense in Miami is elite. They have so much to work with on that side of the ball, especially in the secondary. Rookie first rounders Jaylen Waddle (WR) and Jaelan Phillips (EDGE rusher) both figure to contribute massively right out of the gate. This team has the upside of being the top seed in the conference, seriously. They could be that damn good if the offense takes the next step. For now, we have them getting in as the 6th seed. Losses: vs Bills, vs Panthers, vs Jets, @ Saints, @ Titans, vs Patriots
7th Seed Prediction: Indianapolis Colts (11-6)
Boom! That's right, our final playoff team in the AFC is the Colts, not the Ravens. The final few spots are going to come down to the final week but we have the Colts narrowly edging the Ravens to get into the post-season here. These Colts are going be stout and well coached like always. The defense is for real and is going to win them a lot of games. The real cause for optimism is the offense this year. Carson Wentz might just be a future Super Bowl winning move. If he can stay healthy and limit the turnovers, he is going to be so good on this team. We love what the Colts are doing and though they have a tough schedule early on, it lightens up later on and gives them a good chance to run the table down the stretch and sneak into the 7th seed over Baltimore. Losses: vs Seahawks, vs Rams, @ Dolphins, vs Titans, vs Bills, vs Jaguars
The rest of the AFC (outside the playoffs)
8. Ravens (10-7)
9. Broncos (8-9)
10. Steelers (7-10)
11. Patriots (7-10)
12. Jaguars (6-11)
13. Jets (5-12)
14. Bengals (5-12)
15. Raiders (4-13)
16. Texans (0-17)
Wildcard Bracket (based off projections)
Seahawks (5 seed) over Washington Football Team (4 seed)
Packers (3) over 49ers (6)
Rams (2) over Saints (7)
AFC:
Chargers (5) over Titans (4)
Bills (3) over Dolphins (6)
Browns (2) over Colts (7)
Divisional Round
NFC:
Rams (2) over Packers (3)
Seahawks (5) over Buccaneers (1)
Browns (2) over Bills (3)
Chiefs (1) over Chargers (5)
Conference Championships
NFC:
Seahawks (5) over Rams (2)
AFC:
Chiefs (1) over Browns (2)
Super Bowl 56:
CHIEFS over Seahawks
Final Thoughts:
In an eventful post-season, we see Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs avenge their Super Bowl 55 loss with an impressive playoff run all the way to the Super Bowl where they outduel the cinderella Seahawks in an all-time great big game. I think some of the match-ups we get along the way would be beyond exciting. Chiefs/Chargers in the divisional round for the third time in the season after I have each team taking one game a piece during the regular season. Seahawks and Buccaneers which would feature Wilson vs Brady in the playoffs for technically the second time ever. Chiefs and Browns would be a rematch of the thriller in the divisional round last year and would surely be down to the wire again. Even Packers and 49ers in the divisional round would be one of the best games of this playoff slate. In the end, the Chiefs win it all but they do it over a team little would probably expect to make it that far. You have to go with somethingdifferent than just Chiefs and Bucs again because you almost never see a rematch the following year and the two reigning conference champs are almost always both the favorites again. If it was Wilson vs Mahomes in the Super Bowl as well it would genuinely be a game for the ages. They have only played once and it was a shootout that Wilson and co. came out on top of. The storylines would be through the roof and the game would be so fun to watch. We cannot wait for the season and with our final predictions locked in, we will come back to this during and after the playoffs and see just how well we did!
Comments
Post a Comment