Championship Sunday Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

Championship Sunday is both an exciting and sad day for football fans. It’s great because it means we are only two weeks away from the Super Bowl and we get to watch the four best teams clash to see who will be in that very Super Bowl that’s two weeks away. On the other hand, it means there are only three games left in the NFL season. Take it how you see it though. Either way, we’ve got two games to look at so let’s get right to it.

Sanders went 1-3 last week putting him to 4-4 on the post-season.

New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs

A case for the Patriots:

Did you watch last week’s game? For a team that wasn’t supposed to beat the Chargers, they made sure it wasn’t even a real game. The Patriots, as always, have been masters at the game of chess when it comes to football. If you recall the last time they met up with Kansas City, they won a big shootout in Foxborough. But both of these teams are a bit different now and this time the game is in Arrowhead. The Patriots are probably thinking what most people around the League are. They need to stop Patrick Mahomes. To do that, I believe Bellichick is going to dare Andy Reid to run the ball against his defense and win the game with short passes for first downs. Bellichick won’t be easily be giving up the big play like a lot of teams have. If the Pats D can execute Bellichick’s gameplan and Brady can carve up the Chief’s defense like he did to LA’s defense, this game shouldn’t be too hard for them to win,

However…

A case for the Chiefs:

The Chief’s offense has been near unstoppable no matter where they are playing. While it has calmed down a bit ever since Kareem Hunt left, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce still makeup one of the best 1-2 receiving punches in the League. Meanwhile, it’s really hard to take Patrick Mahomes down even if you do manage to collapse the pocket. What’s more, is while the Chief’s defense is often talked about as being one of the NFL’s worst defenses (your friendly writer is guilty of this too), they actually have been a bit tighter at home than away. This is an important fact considering the game is in Arrowhead stadium. It sounds simple, but that’s because it is. If the Chief’s maintain what they’ve been doing at home all season, they’ll run away with another win and will be taking a trip to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970.

Final Judgement:

I really want to pick the Chiefs here. They feel like the right pick. But I’m going with the New England Patriots here. I can’t get over how much LA was destroyed by the Patriots. The game wasn’t even close and I was so bought-in on the Chargers beating Patriots. This time around though, I’m not doubting the Patriots again. Historically, Bellichick has been able to out-scheme Andy Reid. I do believe he’ll do it, yet again.

Patriots 30 Chiefs 24

Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints

A case for the Rams:

The emergence of C.J. Anderson has been a nice surprise creating yet another 1-2 punch for the Rams to utilize in the backfield when you add in Todd Gurley. However, the Saints have held every RB to 75 yards or less this season. This means a couple things for the Rams. First, they’re going to have to get creative with the running schemes if they want to get Anderson and Gurley going. The second thing it means, is that Jared Goff will have to step up this weekend. Over the last several games, Goff hasn’t had to win a game for the Rams because the running game has done so well and the Rams defense has been just good enough. With the Rams playing against Drew Brees and a tough Saints running defense, Goff will need to be a major reason the Rams offense is rolling if they intend to win this game.

Speaking of Brees and the Saints defense…

A case for the Saints:

The Saints are at home. Yes, the story of “home-field advantage” can get tiresome, but it’s so important when you talk about the New Orleans Saints. This team throughout all of the Sean Payton-Drew Brees years have always played significantly better in their home dome than anywhere else. In addition, it allows the Saints to air the ball out if they need to. Enter Drew Brees. The thing is though, for this game, the Saints will need to establish their running game as usual. Easier said than done against the Rams defense, but when you have Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram in your backfield, it makes things just a little bit easier. My one concern for this Saints defense is the absence of Sheldon Rankins. I do believe it will be a bigger loss than some are thinking. The Saints D-line will need to step up if they wanna get to Goff or stop their running game.

Final Judgement:

For almost the entire season, I’ve had the Saints as my Super Bowl pick to represent the NFC. I have since changed my mind. In recent weeks, the Saints have not looked like the New Orleans Saints that started 8-0. They’ve looked more like a well-coached team that’s been winning games because of solid play and good-coaching. They haven’t been spectacular. On the other hand, the Rams have not only been well-coached, but they’ve also been outstanding in their field. To me, this game will be won by not only the better game plan but also by the better overall team. To me, that’s the Rams.

Rams 31 Saints 27

NFL Divisional Playoffs Preview

By Jacob Sanders

It’s Divisional football time. Arguably, this is the best part of the season because we get to see the top 8 teams in the NFL go head to head and there’s a lot to look forward to for each team. Can KC finally break their home playoff curse? Will Rivers finally beat Tom Brady? Is St. Nick still delivering presents to Philadelphia way past christmas? There’s a lot more to ask going into this weekend but I’ll save you from the boredom of so many questions. So, let’s get right to it!

Sanders went 3-1 last week.

Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City Chiefs

A case for the Colts:

Last week I had mentioned that the Colts offensive line would probably hold up pretty well against Houston’s pass rush and they did. They’ll need to do it again against KC’s pass rush. While Kansas City’s defense is pretty hum-ho, they’ve got some playmakers on the line and on the edge that will require discipline from the Colts O-line and Luck will also need to make sure he knows exactly where the pressure is coming from. If that’s done, then this offense may run like it did the entire first half of last week when it went up 21-0. The more important aspect of the Colts hopes in winning this game is if they can control Patrick Mahomes from making big plays. The Colts secondary has been great at eliminating the big plays and forces opponents to beat them with a dink and dunk offense which nobody has done in quite some time.

But if there’s any offense that knows how to adapt in this league…

A case for the Chiefs:

It’s hard to deny that the Chiefs have the NFL’s best offense and arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Patrick Mahomes. However, for the Chiefs to win this game, they’ll need to tailor this game heavily on both Kelce and Hill working the middle of the field. This Colt’s D won’t give up big plays easily and so Andy Reid’s offense will need to improvise on how they can get their playmakers home run plays without being obvious about it. As for the Chiefs defense, I would love if they could just NOT let Andrew Luck run them over. The matter of the fact is that this is one of the NFL’s worst defenses yet it’s not highly talked about because the Chiefs average 35.3 PPG so even if they’re letting opponents score 33 points, it didn’t matter because Mahomes and Co. scored 40 points. However, against this Colts D, the Chiefs can’t hope for a 40 point game. So yes, the Chiefs defense needs to show something or they might be the ones who get a 40 burger on the them.

Final Judgement:

Regardless of whether you think defense matters in the NFL, your friendly writer here knows it does. If you look at all the teams that one last week, but they put up great defensive plans to limit their opponents. I’m taking the team that actually has a defense, the Colts. I’m not worried about Luck being able to keep up with Mahomes. I’m worried about the Chiefs defense and it’s ability to limit Luck. I truly don’t think they can, or will. Look no further than the Chargers or Seahawks loss for evidence of this.

Colts 35 Chiefs 31

Dallas Cowboys vs LA Rams

A case for the Cowboys:

This Cowboys defense is tough. If you didn’t know that before last week’s Wild Card Weekend, you know it now. Vander Esch, Smith, and Lee are a mean LB group that will, again, control the middle of the field. Their job will be to stop Goff’s quick throws which they can do if they execute their game plan well. The secondary is probably the weakest part of the Cowboys defense but it hasn’t been a total mess which could be enough if the Dallas frontline can stop Todd Gurley.  The big question that needs to be answered though, is this: Can Dak Prescott make enough plays like he did last week to win another game? I’ve been a heavy critic of Dak Prescott for a while now. But he’s been on a bit of streak in the last few weeks. Whether it’s just a streak or actual growth, I do not know. For Cowboys fans though, let’s hope it’s growth and not just a product of Cooper showing up. Also, there’s a RB who likes to eat a lot on this team. Think his name is...Ezekiel Elliot? Don’t really remember. Heard he’s pretty good though.

Okay sure. But what about the other team?

A case for the Rams:

The Rams have some of the best coaching BAR NONE in the NFL. I’m sure people are tired of hearing about Sean McVay but not enough can be said about how much this guy prepares his gameplans for opposing defenses. While Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are individually great players, it really has been Sean McVay’s gameplans that have unlocked their potential. No great team comes without great gameplans. So, really, for this Ram’s offense, it’s going to come down to execution. If the O-line lands their blocks, Goff throws the ball accurately, and the receivers get open, they should be able to run their operation smoothly. This also banks on the fact that the Rams defense can stop Ezekiel Elliot. If the Rams defense can’t stay off the field, then the Rams offense won’t have time to execute their gameplan. Look for Aaron Donald to have a huge game.

Final Judgement:

In similar fashion of how the Eagles beat the Rams earlier this season, I think Dallas will do the same. To me, Dallas has the better defense and the better running game. When you really start to think about how this Dallas offense runs, it’s near impossible to stop once Elliot gets rolling. And he’ll get rolling.

Cowboys 20 Rams 17

Chargers vs Patriots

A case for the Chargers:

This Chargers team is the one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. They can throw the ball, they can run the ball, they can play defense, and they finally have a kicker who can nail kicks for them. This Chargers team has multiple ways to win and can adapt their gameplan through the course of 4 quarters. Do they need to air it out? Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen gotcha. Does there need to be more clock control? Gordon, your number is up. It’s hard to find a hole in this Chargers team and, what’s even bigger, is that they are undefeated outside the state of California. Huh? So what does that have to do with anything? Well, they’re playing on the road again in New England. The weather will be cold and the atmosphere won’t be in favor of LA. But this team has faced a lot of adversity without too much of anyone caring about them. They aren’t even the true stars in LA despite finishing 12-4. Hell, they didn’t even win their division at 12-4. They’ve been the underdog all season. And they’ve thrived in it and that’s the Chargers story this season. Label them the underdogs and they’ll thrive in it. Again, they walk into New England as underdogs. You think Anthony Lynn, Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Melvin Ingram, and Joey Bosa care? Nope. They know who they are. One of the best squads in the NFL that will punch you in the mouth with all the talent in the world.

But they’re opposing team has been in this ring quite a few times…

A case for the Patriots:

Many analysts and fans alike are trying to explain why the Patriots are having a down year. A down year? Are you $%&#@%$ me?! A down year?!?! They’re 11-5 people. That’s not a down year. Sure, they missed out on home field advantage but still managed to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC. There’s nothing bad about that. What’s more, is the Patriots have now had two weeks of rest which was much needed with their roster being pretty banged up. Add in the fact that Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick are still the best game preppers in the business, and there is really no reason to profess this as a down year and immediately write off the Patriots in this game.. Sure, it’s not the most impressive year they’ve had, but they’ve done a lot with very little star power and they can do it again. How so? Well, Tom Brady and James White will need to carry this offense if they want to get anything done against the Chargers fast pass rush. And Bill Bellichick will have to come up with a creative game plan to limit Chargers offense just enough for Brady and Co. to stay ahead. If the Patriots D can’t control the Chargers though, they’re going to have a really long day.

Final Judgement:

Despite the fact I believe the Patriots can’t be written off, I don’t think they’re winning this game either. The Chargers are just a better team top to bottom. And it’s always hard to pick against the better team.

Chargers 24 Patriots 21

Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints

A case for the Eagles:

Good ole St. Nick can’t stop and won’t stop in the post-season can he. Nick Foles has arguably been the most poised and most clutch quarterback ever in NFL history. His knack for big plays in big moments has kept this Eagles team in contention for the Super Bowl two years in a row now. A lot of people are wondering if last year’s magic can be replicated. If that’s to happen, it’s not all on Nick Foles shoulders. The offensive performance last weekend, to be honest, was not good. Nick Foles was not great despite raves of the Foles-Tate reception on 4th and goal. That’s an extremely thin line they barely stood on and survived last week. If not for excellent effort by the Eagles defense, we may not even be talking about the Eagles in the first place. So here’s what needs to happen. The Eagles offense has to perform way better than they did last week, and the Eagles defense needs to put up another monster performance against the Saints offense. If that can be done, well. Deja Vu.

Speaking of Deja Vu and other voodoo…

A case for the Saints:

This game will be played in the land of voodoo and tricks. But that’s certainly not how the Saints like to win. No, the Saints win through smart play-calling and a balanced attack. While Drew Brees could certainly air it out if he needed to, Sean Payton has a lot of toys he can mess with whether it’s sending Michael Thomas deep or letting Alvin Kamara do dirty work on the ground. Payton and Brees have a lot of options at their disposal and if something isn’t working, they have more than enough options to turn to. What will need to happen on the defensive side of the ball though, is limiting the big plays. Nick Foles, for whatever reason, just magically has occasional deep throws that change the course of a game. If the Saints defense can contain the Eagles receivers outside the numbers and force Foles to work the middle of the field, they can contain the Eagles offense.

Final Judgement:

Alright. I was wrong. The Eagles did beat the Bears even though they had zero business doing so. Well again, they have zero business beating the Saints. And you know what? They won’t. This Saint’s team is too good and they’ll be in front of the home crowd. All signs point to the Saints.

Saints 28 Eagles 20

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

Playoffs are upon us. For some people, the playoffs mean that every matchup is good and every game should be good. On the contrary, I have seemed to view that sentiment as not true at all. I found last year’s Wild Card Weekend to be very boring. However, this year, ALL four matchups are interesting and exciting in their own ways. The best part, is none of them are really all that predictable and that’s what makes writing predictions so fun. So, let’s get right to it!

As per usual when I do playoff previews and predictions, I will give a case for each team to win and then make my prediction.

Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts

A case for the Texans:

There’s a lot to like about this Texans team. The Watson-Hopkins connection is one of the best in the NFL today. The combo of J.J. Watt and Jadaveon Clowney is never talked about enough and the kind of pressure the duo creates on offensive lines. If the Texans do want to win, they must get to Andrew Luck who has been a dark horse MVP candidate and will surely win Comeback Player of the Year because of how easily he has been dissecting defenses when he has time. However, if the Texans truly want to win this game, they better be thinking about keeping the Colts offense off the field. Read: Lamar Miller needs to have a big day. If the Texans defense can stop the Andrew Luck and Co. in the middle of the field and the offense can follow up by maintaining long drives, the Colts won’t have a chance to keep up.

But when you really think about it…

A case for the Colts:

The Colts offensive line has played so well that I’m not quite sure even the Clowney-Watt duo will be able to maintain enough consistent pressure on Luck. Eric Ebron has had a phenomenal comeback season after being “left for dead” as a bust draft pick and has become a trust target of Luck’s. Also, the Colts can stretch the field with Hilton and create space in the middle of the field requiring the Texans to play less men in the defensive box. Thus, Marlon Mack should have some chances to give some easy 3rd and manageables. As for that Colts D, it’s been pretty bend but don’t break this season. What’s been great for them though, is rookie Darius Leonard being an immediate contributor in his first season by taking control of the middle of the field and earning All-Pro honors. The Colts need to maintain what they’ve been doing since October (they’re 9-1 since then) and they’ll probably see the same result they’ve been seeing for a while now.

Final Judgement:

Give me the Colts in this matchup. They’ve been hot for months and haven’t stopped marching forward. In fact, the last time these two teams met up in Houston, Indianapolis pulled out the win. The result should be the same again.

Colts 27 Texans 21

Dallas Cowboys vs Seattle Seahawks

A case for the Seahawks:

The Seahawks have been playing hard-nose football. Chris Carson has become a feature RB in the backfield of the offense while Russell Wilson has continued his great career by having another season full of wow plays. The Seahawks defense has been better than advertised this entire season as well. They play with heart and come up in the clutch when it's been necessary to. They'll need to continue to play with heart and get some stops against this Dallas offense that loves to play ball-control offense with Zeke Elliot at the helm. If they can do that, then they'll be the ones controlling the tempo with the 1-2 punch of Wilson and Carson. For this Seattle Seahawks team, their winning formula is simple. Play defense. Run the ball. Throw in some Russell Wilson plays. Boom. Victory.

In similar fashion though…

A case for the Cowboys:

The Cowboys have done the same thing but with more running. Ezekiel is having another sensational season and is, again, leading the league in rushing yards per game. Dak Prescott has also steadily improved ever since the Cowboys attained Amari Cooper from the receivers. Who knew it would be nice to have a No. 1 receiver, eh? The Cowboys defense is nothing to sneeze at either. Their linebacker group is arguably one of the best in the NFL and can command the center of the field like no other. They force you to make difficult throws and give up very little. Overall, the Dallas D will suffocate you if you can’t challenge them. As before, a simple formula. Play defense. Run the ball. Throw a few passes to Amari Cooper. Boom. Victory.

Final Judgement:

I’m all in on this Dallas team. They are the type of team built for January football. Play suffocating defense and pound the rock. It’s a tried and true strategy that doesn’t fail often in the playoffs. While the Seahawks have the same strategy with a better QB, I’m taking the better defense. You know, the defense who annihilated the Saints offense in primetime. Or did you forget about that already?

Cowboys 20 Seahawks 17

Baltimore Ravens vs LA Chargers

A case for the Chargers:

The Chargers have an advantage that no other team has had when facing the Ravens. They now know what it’s like to play against Lamar Jackson. Better yet, they have film of their own mistakes playing against a Lamar Jackson led offense. Will Baltimore throw the same things at LA? Probably not. But now that the Chargers have the experience, they’ll be better prepared to limit Baltimore’s run-heavy offense. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are some of the fastest players in the NFL and should be able to contain the run game a little bit better than last time with the knowledge they now have. Also, Philip Rivers isn’t going to be throwing an interception on the first pass either. While the Chargers will still struggle a bit against the Baltimore defense, if they can eliminate the penalties they commited, and contain the pass rush for just a second longer, Philip Rivers should be able to slice up the Baltimore secondary with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Travis Benjamin.

Sounds simple but…

A case for the Ravens:

There’s nothing simple about this Ravens team. They are playing an entirely different game of football than the rest of the NFL. Averaging nearly 220 rush yards per game, it’s near impossible to predict where the ball is going to go because Lamar Jackson’s speed must be respected. In addition, both Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon are two completely different RBs to prepare that Baltimore can take advantage of in their playcalling. An important thing Baltimore will need to establish is the passing game. Jackson will need to find open holes in the middle of the field again on 3rd and manageables if the Ravens wish to move the ball efficiently. As for the defense, they must have a repeat performance of what they did two weeks ago. Pressure Philip Rivers and limit the amount of passes he can complete. Stopping Melvin Gordon will also be a must as well. If either player is able to succeed and play well, Baltimore’s D will have their hands full all day.

Final Judgement:

Of all four games this weekend, this matchup is probably the best but also the hardest one to predict. Both of these teams carry a dark horse attitude but only can come out victorious. That team will be the one with the better quarterback which is the Chargers. It’s not often a 12-4 team is traveling on the road during Wild Card weekend yet here we are and while being on the road sounds tough in theory, this team is 7-1 on the road so far. Also, it’s not often a great team can be beaten two times in a row by another team.

Chargers 24 Ravens 20

Chicago Bears vs Philadelphia Eagles

A case for the Bears:

If you haven’t noticed, the Monsters of the Midway are back. The Bears defense at times seems impenetrable and their defensive line constantly wins at the point of attack. Not to mention the fact that this Bears defense has the most interceptions in the League with 27. The closest to them is the Rams with 18. Wow. On the other side of the ball, Mitchell Trubisky and Co. just need to continue what they’ve been doing for most of the season. Play mistake-free football and score off of short field positions given to them by the defense. Important note: If both Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen have great days, then everything else becomes easier. Look for them to be involved early and often. As long as the Bears can control the clock, they should have nothing to worry about.

Speaking of nothing to worry about…

A case for the Eagles:

A few people have some concerns that the Eagles are going to repeat last year’s feat. Nick Foles comes in and lights up opposing defenses. The Eagles defense tights up. Suddenly their the talk of the NFL as dark horse Super Bowl contenders. Well, before shipping them off to the Super Bowl they need to take down a defense that’s No. 1 in points allowed (17.7). Foles has done well spreading the ball to Ertz, Agholor, Jeffrey, and Tate. If they can maintain that, they might have a chance at beating this Bears defense. However, for that to happen, the Eagles need to get something out of their running game. Anything. It’s been inconsistent at best for the last four games averaging 2.4 ypr, then 3.7, then 2.6, and then 3.8. If that pattern follows, the running game won’t have a good day. That can’t happen. Enough about the offense though, what about the defense? Contain Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky has been at his best when extending the play and throwing outside the pocket. If the Eagles can win the trench war, they’ve got a shot. If not, it might be a long day for that Eagles defense.

Final Judgement:
The thought that the Eagles could make another Super Bowl run is almost cinematic. But, that's probably all it is. I'm not picking against arguably the best defense in the NFL, especially when that defense is at home. Bears win it.

Bears 24 Eagles 14