I’ve had a chance to look at all 12 of the playoff teams, and earlier in the week I took a close look at each of the four opening games this weekend. I’m ready to lock in on my overview of how the postseason will play out.
FIRST ROUND:
Houston 20, Kansas City 10
Cincinnati 24, Pittsburgh 20
Seattle 23, Minnesota 10
Washington 28, Green Bay 17
I’ve got two upsets in the first round. Kansas City and Pittsburgh are favored. Looks like the Steelers won’t have DeAngelo Williams, and with him down, I think the Bengals will pull out that one. That’s the closest of the first-round games. With Houston and Kansas City, I really like those defenses. I think the over-under of 40 and half points is too high. I’m taking the Texans, who are a 3-point underdog. I would say that with more confidence if they hadn’t lost their left tackle last week. On the NFC side, Washington is favored by a point over the Packers but I think it should be a lot more – I don’t think Green Bay is very good. With the Seahawks and Vikings, I think Seattle will win, but that it will be a lot closer than last time.
SECOND ROUND:
Patriots 24, Bengals 20
Broncos 20, Houston 13
Carolina 23, Seattle 17
Arizona 34, Washington 20
New England will get a bunch of its hurt guys back. That should help them get by Cincinnati. I’m very much intrigued by that game because I don’t think Denver has the chops to get to the Super Bowl. I’m taking the Broncos over Houston but I don’t think their offense is good enough. … On the NFC side, Seattle has won a few defensive games at Charlotte in recent years, but I just think it’s Carolina’s year. I thought the Panthers were pretty close to Seattle in the postseason last year – were the better of those two teams for a lot of their playoff game in Seattle last January. With the Cardinals, I see them destroying either Green Bay or Washington in this round.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
New England 27, Denver 20
Arizona 31, Carolina 27
Both Arizona and Carolina has lost key defensive backs recently. The Panthers losing Bene Benwikere and Charles Tillman will make it tough for them to contend with Arizona’s fleet of receivers. Josh Norman can’t cover everyone.
SUPER BOWL 50:
New England 31, Arizona 28
I see four teams as real possibilities to win this thing. New England, Carolina, Arizona and Seattle. The Patriots have the advantage of being in the AFC – they will at most play one of those teams. Seattle has the hardest road; would potentially have to beat all three of the others.