With the NFL season in the home stretch, here’s how I see the campaign playing out for the 11 teams in contention.
49ers
After being unable to beat the Seahawks, the two have a Week 17 matchup still on the schedule, as well as the possibility of a meeting in the playoffs. Seattle is the one team that has proven they can go toe-to-toe with the Niners and come out victorious while the Packers and Saints weren’t as lucky.
Unless they have an epic collapse, I think San Francisco will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Ravens
Teams will continue to be unsuccessful in figuring out Lamar Jackson. Nothing short of being the lock for MVP, Jackson continues to wow fans each week pulling something different out of his bag of tricks. The Patriots’ and Bills’ defenses did the best against him, but still, Jackson and the Ravens found a way to win both of those games. They are my obvious choice as the team to beat.
Packers
While this season hasn’t been the typical one we’re used to seeing, Green Bay has found a new identity. But will that be successful against the 49ers, Saints or Seahawks, who on paper are better teams? I think they will win a playoff game but lose in the divisional round.
Titans
Can they win out? A three-game stretch, which may be the toughest for any team jockeying for the playoffs, sees Drew Brees and the Saints in the middle of two matchups with division-rival Houston. Three wins would lock up the division, or possibly two with help. Will Brees play with nothing to gain in their playoff positioning? If Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and the Titans continue at the level they are playing at, they may be the dark horse in the AFC.
Rams
They have finally seemed to come together as a team in recent weeks. They need quite a few chips to fall their way to sneak into the playoffs. I think they will continue to play well and win two out of their last three as they come up just short.
Patriots
Can the defense continue to carry this team? If the answer is yes, they will make a serious run. But I think Tom Brady and the offense are going to have to make some things happen, and in January football, you can never count Brady out.
Eagles or Cowboys
One of them will win the NFC East, but with both teams being inconsistent the entire season, does anyone else in the NFC think they can’t beat either one? Either team will be one and done in the playoffs.
Chiefs
Similar to the Rams, Kansas City has not had the same success they had a year ago. But can we count them out? I think Andy Reid’s team will limp into the playoffs. Before the Raiders’ collapse, I thought they would be able to challenge the Chiefs for the division.
Saints
New Orleans is a tough place to play for visiting teams … unless the most obvious pass interference call is missed. I thought that was true prior to last week. Brees’s late-game heroics usually end with a Saints victory, but that was not the case last week thanks to George Kittle’s late-game talents. While I think they will win a game or maybe two in the playoffs, they will be watching the Super Bowl from home.
Steelers
Will they Duck into the playoffs? (See what I did there?!) Mike Tomlin has Coach of the Year in the bag. To lose your future Hall of Fame starting quarterback for the season almost always spells doom. Then, your back-up wins a few games, but garners a benching. Many teams, at that point, mail it in and begin making off-season plans, but not this team. If they do sneak in, I don’t know if they can win in Baltimore, New England, or Kansas City.
Seahawks
Was the debacle against the Rams a hiccup or did it knock them off the rails? A Russell Wilson-led team is one you can never count out. I think they have the only shot at beating the 49ers in the NFC.
