NFL Playoff Predictions: Week 11

With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. While still a wide open race in most division, some teams have separated themselves from the rest of the league, showing that they are worthy of contending for a spot in Dallas this February. Unlike seasons past where a team has raced ahead with an undefeated record or close to it, this season many teams are close throughout the standings which will make for a very interesting playoff push.

AFC Playoff Picture

AFC EAST: New England Patriots (13-3)

AFC NORTH: Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

AFC WEST: Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)

WILD CARD: New York Jets (12-4)

WILD CARD: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

Clearly shown over the past few weeks, the Patriots, Ravens, and Jets are the class of this conference. I fully expect the Pats and Jets to battle each other to the finish for the best record in the conference. The only real close race I see unfolding would be in the AFC West, with the Raiders and the famously strong finishing Chargers chasing Kansas City. Other than that, I think barring a monumental collapse the other five teams should have no problems moving on to the postseason.

NFC Playoff Picture

NFC EAST: New York Giants (11-5)

NFC NORTH: Green Bay Packers (11-5)

NFC SOUTH: Atlanta Falcons (12-4)

NFC WEST: Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

WILD CARD: New Orleans Saints (11-5)

WILD CARD: Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

While I think Tampa Bay has a chance to make the playoffs as a wild card team, I think that eventually New Orleans and Philadelphia will outlast the last two spots. As for the NFC West, it is basically a four team race with the whole division being separated by just two games. Clearly the worst division in football, a deserving playoff team such as the Bucs will lose its spot to an awful football club. Look for Atlanta to continue its hot play of late on route to the best record in the NFC and homefield advantage.

WIld Card Round

AFC

 (3) Indianapolis Colts 27 (6) Pittsburgh Steelers 24

In what should be a close game to the finish, I predict Peyton Manning to lead the Colts to victory over the Steelers at home. While the Steelers defense is stout against the run, I expect Manning to throw all over a blitzing Pittsburgh team. On the other side of the ball, although Indianapolis has had its trouble on defense, I expect them to do enough to slow down Roethlisberger and contain Mendenhall. This game has the potential to be one of the best Wild Card round games in a long time.

(5) New York Jets 31 (4) Kansas City Chiefs 13

Kansas City's strength is the ability to run the ball, and I just do not see either Jamaal Charles or former Jet Thomas Jones being able to move the ball effectively against this great defense. Mark Sanchez has proved this season that he is capable of leading this team, and Kansas City will not be able to stop him or the Jets running game. This game shouldn't be close as the Jets are clearly the superior team on both sides of the ball.

NFC

(3) Green Bay Packers 28 (6) Philadelphia Eagles 21

Two explosive offenses and two very fun teams to watch. I predict Green Bay will outlast the Eagles in the freezing January weather in this Wild Card game. Aaron Rodgers has shown himself to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league and is capable of throwing for 400 yards on any given night. While any team with Michael Vick can beat any other team at any time, I think that the Packers defense will put enough pressure on him to force mistakes and lead them to the Divisional Round.

(5) New Orleans Saints 34 (4) Seattle Seahawks 14

A complete mismatch, this game has the potential to be even more lopsided than predicted here. The defending champs have been written off by many critics but they have the postseason experience and are well rounded enough on both sides of the ball to make a deep run in the postseason. Seattle on the other hand is a team not worthy of a postseason bid and despite a miracle, will be heading home early this postseason.

Divisional Round

AFC

(1) New England Patriots 20 (5) New York Jets 17

Two very even teams, both very well coached, in what should be a great Divisional Round game. Do not expect Tom Brady to allow his team to lose at home in the playoffs two years in a row. While the Jets clearly have the advantage on defense, the Patriots young squad has come together of late and is no longer the laughable group from early in the season. No matter the outcome of the game, its bound to be a tight one. I give the Patriots the slight advantage because of homefield, New England weather and Tom Brady, but I would not be surprised to see the outcome of this game go either way.

(3) Indianapolis Colts 23 (2) Baltimore Ravens 14

Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning, and while he is still the quarterback of the Colts, they will never be an easy out. I expect Manning, with some of his weapons back, to play well enough against a tough Ravens defense to lead the Colts to victory and face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game yet again.The Ravens are a very good football team, but Joe Flacco has the tendency to disappear in big games and I do not believe that he is quite ready to lead this team to the big show.

NFC

(5) New Orleans Saints 27 (1) Atlanta Falcons 23

Atlanta may be the NFL's team of the future, but for this season do not see them ready to take down the league's defending champs. In what should be classic NFC South battle, Drew Brees and the Saints go into Atlanta and squeak by with a win. Matt Ryan and Roddy White do all they can to try and lead their team to victory, but in the end Brees and New Orleans' offense is just too much to overcome. Although Atlanta maybe the more talented team with the brighter future, expect Sean Payton and Co. to overcome their shortcomings and advance to their second straight NFC Championship game.

(2) New York Giants 16 (3) Green Bay Packers 13

These are two very good teams, both capable of winning the Super Bowl. I give the Giants the slight edge here because of two thing: homefield advantage, and their defense. Green Bay will be incapable of running the ball at all against the Giants, and will rely heavily on Aaron Rodgers. Although I believe this will be a close game, I feel like the Giants pass rush will be too much for the weak Packers offensive line. Eli Manning and the offense will do just enough to lead the Giants past the Pack and into the NFC Championship.

AFC and NFC Championship

AFC

(1) New England Patriots 27 (3) Indianapolis Colts 24

In another classic Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, the Patriots outlast the Colts to move on top another Super Bowl. The two best quarterbacks in the game today put on a show, shredding defenses in a back and forth battle. While neither team has a defense to brag about, the Patriots defense is slightly more talented and has the ability to make more plays down the stretch than the Colts. Peyton Manning will do his best to lead his bruised and battered teammates back to The Big Game, but in the end will fall short. While both offenses are among the best in the league, Brady's squad has just a few more weapons for him to work with, and that should make the difference.

NFC

(2) New York Giants 28 (5) New Orleans Saints 17

Drew Brees and the Saints will have their hopes for back to back Super Bowls shut down by Eli Manning and the Giants at the Meadowlands, setting up a rematch of one of the best Super Bowls ever played. The Giants defense should be able to put enough pressure on Brees, leading to turnovers and short fields for Manning to work with. The Saints defense will have a hard time matching up with Nicks and the two headed monster of Jacobs and Bradshaw. Look for the Giants run game to break out while leading their team to Dallas. 

Super Bowl XLV

SUPER BOWL XLV

New England Patriots 21 New York Giants 14

In a rematch of the 2007 season, the New England Patriots get their revenge on the Giants in a closely contested Super Bowl. Tom Brady and the members of the Patriots still remember that loss and how close they were to a perfect season. Brady and Manning play an even game until the fourth quarter, where Brady does what he's done so many times before, and leads the Patriots to a late game touchdown to take the lead. The Patriots defense does a good job holding down the Giants run game and prevents them from scoring the tying touchdown in the final moments. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick win their fourth Super Bowl together, with Brady taking home his third MVP award. The Patriots get the sweet revenge that they have waited three years to have.