By Lourence Alturino
Image from cbssports.com
The road to Super Bowl 57 is underway. 14 of the best teams this season continue their quest to the championship. After another chaotic season of football, which team will stand tall among the rest and raise the Lombardi Trophy above their heads? Lets break down who I believe will win each playoff matchups, awards, and the Super Bowl itself.
Wild Card Round
(7) Seattle Seahawks vs (2) San Francisco 49ers
One of the most notorious rivalries in the league adds its newest chapter as NFC West rivals, Seahawks and 49ers once again face off in the playoffs. San Francisco swept Seattle 2-0 during the regular season, however it is not easy beating a team 3 times in one season. The Seahawks have played well enough throughout the season to make it to the bracket, but this is where their road ends. The red hot 49ers are coming to steamroll the opposition on their way to the Divisional round.
Score: 49ers 38 - Seahawks 13
(5) Los Angeles Chargers vs (4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Herbert vs Trevor Lawrence. A battle of two of the best young QBs in the NFL. The Jaguars are on a 5 game winning streak heading into this game and won the AFC South. The Chargers had championship contender expectations heading into this season as their team looked to be one of the best in the league on paper. While they haven't had the season they probably wanted, Los Angeles is still one of the most dangerous teams to watch out for in the playoffs. Jacksonville will put on a strong fight, but its just not their time yet.
Score: Chargers 28 - Jaguars 27
(7) Miami Dolphins vs (2) Buffalo Bills
AFC East rivals matchup once again. Due to another head injury, the Dolphins will be without their starting QB, Tua Tagovailoa, who has had the best year of his career. Starting Skylar Thompson in the playoffs would not be ideal for Miami, especially against such a great football team like Buffalo. The Bills will win this game as Miami is just not ready for the playoffs after a complete midseason collapse. Buffalo wins for Damar Hamlin.
Score: Bills 24 - Dolphins 14
(6) New York Giants vs (3) Minnesota Vikings
The New York Giants have finally made the playoffs after years of despair and losing seasons. They matchup with the 13-4 Minnesota Vikings. However that record doesn't tell the whole story. Eleven of the Vikings wins this season were within one possession. The luck will run out at some point and the Giants will be the ones to do it. A team that is hungry and full of confidence will come to Minnesota and get the big upset of the playoffs.
Score: Giants 23 - Vikings 16
(6) Baltimore Ravens vs (3) Cincinnati Bengals
The two best teams from the AFC North clash in the playoffs. The Ravens are a completely different team without their star QB, Lamar Jackson. By different, I mean a much worse team. Unfortunately for Baltimore, they will have to play without Jackson as he's been ruled out with a knee injury. The Bengals will take advantage of this and win this game as they are probably the most complete team in the playoffs.
Score: Bengals 31 - Ravens 17
(5) Dallas Cowboys vs (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Dallas Cowboys have never defeated Tom Brady ever. Here they are matched up in the first round of the playoffs with a chance to finally get one over on the GOAT. The Buccaneers have not been a good team this season, but they have figured it out late in the season aka the perfect time. As great as the Cowboys can be, the playoffs are their kryptonite. Especially against Tom Brady, Dallas' dreams will be cut short in the Wild Card round for the 2nd year in a row.
Score: Buccaneers 17 - Cowboys 13
Divisional Round
(5) Los Angeles Chargers vs (1) Kansas City Chiefs
As I said earlier, it is a difficult task to defeat a team three times in a season, especially since these two teams always go back and forth in their previous contests. The Chiefs have the best offense in the league led by MVP candidate, Patrick Mahomes, but the Chargers defense has been playing really well recently. This will be a nail biter of a playoff matchup. It will simply come down to coaching and playoff experience and those aspects are in Kansas City's favor. KC advances in a close battle.
Score: Chiefs 33 - Chargers 30
(6) New York Giants vs (1) Philadelphia Eagles
After pulling off the big upset in the past round, the Giants once more meet the top team in the NFC, the Philadephia Eagles. The Eagles were widely regarded as the best team in the league for majority of the season until they underwent a small collapse at the end of the season due to Jalen Hurts' injury. Now that he is back and healthy, the Eagles are prime for a deep playoff run. New York has fought and found ways to win throughout the season, but this is where their dream run gets halted. Philly gets one more over on the Giants to advance to the NFC Championship game.
Score: Eagles 26 - Giants 13
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs (2) San Francisco 49ers
Week 14 was our first glimpse of this matchup. The Niners would go on to win that game in dominant fashion, 35-7. Though, this is playoff Brady, so expecting the same result would be foolish by San Francisco. The 49ers are just too hot and the Bucs don't have the coaching necessary to win them this game. Brock Purdy gets his 2nd playoff win in a row and another win over Tom Brady to head to the NFC Championship game.
Score: 49ers 30 - Buccaneers 14
(3) Cincinnati Bengals vs (2) Buffalo Bills
The game that never finished. This matchup occurred in Week 17, but was permanently suspended because of Bills' Safety, Damar Hamlin's tragic accident. Now we can get this game in full where it matters most. A battle between two of the best teams in the entire NFL. Joe Burrow vs Josh Allen. Ja'Marr Chase vs Stefon Diggs. Both teams have great defenses, but this is bound to be an electric shootout. Thinking an overtime thriller of a game is in store, who wins? The Bengals will and advance to the conference championship game.
Score: Bengals 34 - Bills 28
Conference Championship Round
(2) San Francisco 49ers vs (1) Philadelphia Eagles
The top two teams in the NFC square off for a ticket to the Super Bowl. San Francisco vs Philadelphia. #5 offense vs #3 offense. #1 defense vs top 10 defense. This is a matchup everyone has been waiting for. Can Mr. Irrelevant himself, Brock Purdy actually lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl? Will Jalen Hurts silence all his doubters and take Philly to the promise land? A dog fight of a game we have here. And after a rough battle, the San Francisco 49ers will win in Philadelphia and become NFC Champions.
Score: 49ers 23 - Eagles 21
(2) Cincinnati Bengals vs (1) Kansas City Chiefs
A rematch of last year's AFC Championship game. Cincinnati won that game in overtime, 27-24. Now, another championship game with the two offensive powerhouses. The Bengals also defeated the Chiefs 27-24 back in Week 13. Patrick Mahomes has yet to defeat Joe Burrow. Another close contest to predict, but the difference will be the Bengals defense being better than the Chiefs'. The Bengals will out score the Chiefs and their defense will come up clutch at the end. Bengals are back to back AFC Champions.
Score: Bengals 33 - Chiefs 31
NFL Season Awards
MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
OPOY: Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
DPOY: Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
OROY: Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
DROY: Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, New York Jets
CBPOTY: Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
COTY: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl 57
(2) San Francisco 49ers vs (3) Cincinnati Bengals
The big game will be contested between the 49ers and the Bengals. The two most complete teams, top to bottom, in the entire NFL. Two high power offenses. Two great defenses. This is as even as it could get for the Super Bowl. Who wins the Lombardi Trophy this year?
The 49ers will. There is just too much talent on this team for them not to win. The star power plus the genius of Kyle Shanahan in charge, this is a team built to win the championship. The San Francisco 49ers are the 2022-23 Super Bowl Champions.
Score: 49ers 27 - Bengals 21
Super Bowl MVP: Nick Bosa
Comments