By Peyton Schultze

Green Bay and Chicago both enter the playoffs with a chance to go deep, but Rodgers’ Packers appear to be locked in with Super Bowl hopes on the line (via USA Today).

The playoffs are finally here!

After one of the strangest years in league history, the NFL postseason is officially here with Wild Card Weekend coming up in a few days. There are plenty of huge question marks for every team in the league, and you can bet that every team will be looking to de-throne the reigning champion Chiefs on their way to the Super Bowl. From the Browns’ historical season to get back into the playoffs to Aaron Rodgers’ spectacular MVP season to get the Packers the top seed in the NFC, these playoffs are full of fascinating stories that are sure to shape the playoffs over the next couple of weeks.

With that being said, here are our predictions and playoff preview for all 14 teams who qualified for this year’s postseason:

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs (14-2, 1st in AFC West; #1 Seed)

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are certainly the favorites to get to the Super Bowl in the AFC, but they figure to face a much tougher challenge during this run (via FanDuel).

Kansas City cruised for much of the season with a 14-2 record and the top seed in the AFC, but they showed some concerning creaks along the way that may dent their playoff hopes by just a tad. The Chiefs are far and away the favorite to repeat this season as Super Bowl winners, but Patrick Mahomes and the defending champions could have their hands full in this playoff run. But are people starting to doubt Andy Reid’s Chiefs for the right reasons, or is Kansas City just waiting for the right moment to step on the gas and throttle their way through the rest of the AFC?

Why They Can Win: Of all of Kansas City’s strengths on both sides of the ball, the difference between them and every other team in the league is their ability to win close games against any team. Many people think the Chiefs have played down to opponents this year, but with so many weapons on both sides of the ball, it was unsurprising to see KC rely on the game’s best quarterback to bail them out with some prolific statlines and clutch moments to seal the deal on many occasions. Kansas City is the best 4th quarter team in football, and that could truly help them during this run if a team like Baltimore of Buffalo gives them a real scare late in a game. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are obviously the other headliners for this team, but their defense has had their fair share of big moments this season too. Mahomes will deservedly receive most of the praise if they end up capturing their second Lombardi Trophy in as many years, but their supporting cast will likely be what could take them to the mountaintop again.

Why They Won’t Win: An immensely improved AFC is sure to give the Chiefs some trouble in this year’s playoffs, especially after they cake walked to the Super Bowl last season with some favorable matchups with the Texans and Titans in their early 2020 run. Yet the main concern for the Chiefs has to be the potential quality of opponents that they’ll see in the postseason this time around. Although Kansas City played and beat teams like Buffalo and Baltimore this year already, they played them earlier in the year and could see vastly improved teams who have showed gradual improvement over the course of the season. Throw in the fact that Patrick Mahomes is coming off the worst month of his professional career in December (he still didn’t lose a start despite decreased numbers) and there is hope for others that the Chiefs may have tougher time this season. It would not be a stunner to see the Chiefs back on the game’s biggest stage at the Super Bowl, but it also would not be shocking if they dropped early in this year’s playoffs and proved to be human after all.

Prediction: Bye Week in the Wild Card, Divisional loss to the Ravens.

Buffalo Bills (13-3, 1st in AFC East; #2 Seed)

After destroying opposing defenses all season long, the 2021 postseason could be Josh Allen’s shining moment (via BuffaLawDown).

Buffalo has been one of the most fun teams to watch in all of football this season as led by the emergence of quarterback Josh Allen. The strong-armed quarterback has turned into a superstar and ranks near the top of MVP candidates in the NFL, which makes this Bills teams a real threat to anyone inside the conference in the 2021 playoffs. They are not a perfect team and are still young and emerging, but can this red-hot team ride their wave of momentum toward the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994?

Why They Could Win: Allen has been next-level in terms of his dominance for most of the 2020 season with his versatile skillset through the air and with his legs. The addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs may have turned out to be the biggest offseason move for any team in the league over the past year, as Allen and Diggs have formed a dynamic connection that has turned them into an offensive juggernaut capable of lighting up the scoreboard every single week. Yet the Bills don’t rely all on Allen, as a very timely defense has been able to develop over the course of the season. The Buffalo defense struggled early in the season by allowing a lot of big plays and yardage through the air, but have turned it around to become a very good unit. Throw in the notion that they may be one of the best 4th quarter defenses in terms of needing a crucial stop in a big moment, and the Bills’ defense could be able to do just enough to stop players like Patrick Mahomes in the postseason. The Bills are great in all areas from top to bottom, and head coach Sean McDermott could put on a coaching clinic this postseason if Buffalo can advance all the way back to the big game.

Why They Won’t Win: The Bills have been as complete as any team in the league over the past 10 weeks, but their biggest concern has to be what could happen if they trail early in a game. Allen has been spectacular all season long, but still remains somewhat of a gambler who could throw some bad picks in crucial moments. This tendency has not shown up much this season at all, but it has to at least sit in the minds of Bills’ fan everywhere in the event they had to compete in a shootout this season. In addition, the Bills have somewhat of a weak running game that has never really taken off the season. Buffalo has a nice offensive line and Devin Singletary and Zack Moss are a solid duo, but they could have some struggles on the ground if teams cause some issues for them on the outside in the passing game. The Chiefs linger for them in a potential matchup down the line, and it is easy to question if the Bills would be able to head on the road into Arrowhead Stadium and come out of Kansas City alive after a loss earlier in the year.

Prediction: A Wild Card win over the Colts, a Divisional win over the Steelers, a Conference Championship win over the Ravens, and a Super Bowl loss to the Packers.

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, 1st in AFC North; #3 Seed)

Pittsburgh enters the postseason with some major question marks across the board after an odd finish to the regular season (via Behind the Steel Curtain).

For a team that many thought had a chance to go undefeated for a long period of time, the Steelers enter the playoffs with more question marks than answers after an AFC North-winning season. A late season flurry of mishaps and drama filled the air in Pittsburgh, and although they have a very good defense that can really cause some damage, their offensive effectiveness may struggle if they can’t smooth things out and bolster a running game that lacks any sort of power right now.

Why They Can Win: The Steelers, perhaps more so than any other team in the league, have the basic formula for winning in the league: a good quarterback, great pass rushers on defense, and a strong offensive line. We’ve seen this type of team win time and time again in the league in the forms of teams like the 2020 Chiefs or the 2016 Broncos, and the Steelers have what it takes on paper to cause real problems for opponents in the AFC if they can get hot. The Pittsburgh defense should be able to do their thing against anybody and keep games close, but their biggest key remain their playmakers on the outside on offense. If players like Juju Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson can regain some lost confidence and create big plays down the field in the passing game for Big Ben, the Steelers could put up a fair share of points against the AFC’s best. They are not peaking right now, but it is not impossible to imagine this team getting hot if they’re able to win their wild card matchup with the Browns.

Why They Won’t Win: Mike Tomlin’s Steelers may have started off the season fast by facing an easy schedule of games, but their late season collapse has brought about some serious concerns over their offensive identity. While the Pittsburgh defense remains an elite unit capable of limiting opposing offenses from breaking out, their offense, as led by the quick passing game from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, has virtually no ground game to help him out. This could be a huge factor against capable defenses like Buffalo and Indianapolis in the playoffs, and the Steelers have a real chance of getting bounced in the first round if they are forced to throw the ball over 50 times with Big Ben. There’s hope that the Steelers finally regained their groove after a Week 16 win at home versus the Colts, but there are some serious doubters in the room when it comes to just how good these Steelers are.

Prediction: Wild Card win over the Browns, Divisional Loss to the Bills.

Tennessee Titans (11-5, 1st in AFC South; #4 Seed)

As the premiere running back in all of football, Derrick Henry has become an offensive juggernaut who is leading the way for an earth-shattering place down the line in the Hall of Fame (via USA Today).

Tennessee nearly missed the playoffs after a Week 17 battle with the disappointing Houston Texans came down to the final seconds, but Derrick Henry’s 250 rushing yards and two touchdowns were just enough to get the Titans back in the playoffs after last year’s miraculous run. The Titans are a frightening team that has the skillset to beat any team in the league, and their sheer physicality on offense makes them a very tough matchup for any team in the conference.

Why They Can Win: Outside of the quarterback position, there is almost no question that Henry is the game’s best offensive player in the sport. With over 2,000 rushing yards on the season to become just the eighth player in league history to meet that milestone, the former Heisman winner has torched defenses all year with his Hall of Fame skillset. Combining the focus of Henry’s power with the dominance of wide reciever AJ Brown on the outside has also opened up the gates for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has played awesome all season long. Tannehill may need to make more plays this season in the playoffs than he did last year in order to get the Titans in the Super Bowl, but he has proven to be a capable player who is ready for the big moment.

Why They Won’t Win: As great as their offense has played this season, the Titans have struggled against opposing offenses all season long. With a lack of a strong pass rush to disrupt some of the best quarterbacks in the conference, teams have had a field day with Tennessee’s secondary all year long in what has become a very disturbing trend. With injuries also piling up on their offensive line and with a tendency to have some struggles while playing from behind against good teams, the Titans will need to put up huge numbers from the start on offense in the postseason in order to get to the Super Bowl as the AFC representative.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5, 2nd in AFC North; #5 Seed)

Many people claim that Jackson has regressed this season, but the superstar signal caller put together an elite second half of the season on the field to get Baltimore back into the playoffs (via Inquirer Sports).

The Ravens were the preseason darling as one of the favorites to go to the Super Bowl this season, but some tough scheduling breaks and some mid-season struggles on both sides of the ball took Baltimore on a roller coaster of a journey this year. But the Ravens kept fighting all year long despite being a headliner for COVID-19 cases in the league, and they found a way to sneak into the playoffs again with a strong finish to the campaign. Yet the Ravens are clicking at the right time right now as led by their franchise superstar in Lamar Jackson, who appears to be hitting his peak of the season just in time for an intense playoff run full of very good opponents on their radar.

Why They Can Win: This Ravens team is the exact kind of group that could ruin the playoff picture in the AFC after a brilliant finish to their season. Ever since Jackson popped out of his mid-season slump with a career-defining moment on Monday Night Football against the Browns, the Ravens have found much more success on offense. Baltimore is known for having a lethal ground game with the trio of Jackson, JK Dobbins, and Gus Edwards, but the difference in the second half of the season for this offense has been moving Jackson around in the passing game. This has created a plethora of opportunities down the field despite an unimpressive group of pass catchers on the outside, which is what they may need at some point in the playoffs against a great defense. However, the Ravens‘ defense, outside of some games with injuries across the board, is also very effective and excels at creating turnovers. This is one of the biggest x-factors for any team in the league this postseason: can the Ravens’ defense create enough turnovers against players like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen to make a run? If they can, the possibilities are endless for this scrappy team with very little pressure on their shoulders this season.

Why They Won’t Win: Will having a flurry of road games in tough environments catch up with the Ravens despite their winning streak this postseason? It is hard to determine with crowds fluctuating in and out of stadiums this season, but the Ravens will have to beat some great teams in the postseason this year without being inside of their own friendly confines. The Ravens also have had a tendency to struggle while playing from behind at times, although Jackson is more than capable of taking over a game with his legs when needed. Their defense has become an elite unit, but at their very worst, have had some cases of miscommunication and missed tackling in the secondary. This will be a serious key to beating teams with explosive offenses like the Titans and Chiefs, which could determine how far John Harbaugh’s Ravens go in the postseason.

Prediction: A Wild Card win over Tennessee, a Divisional win over Kansas City, and a Conference Championship loss to Buffalo.

Cleveland Browns (11-5, 3rd in AFC North; #6 Seed)

With a new head coach in town and an improved season from Baker Mayfield, the Browns were able to break a 17-year curse and get back into the postseason (via Dawgs by Nature).

Things truly changed this season for the often-controversial Cleveland Browns, as head coach Kevin Stefanski was able to guide this team back into the playoffs as a wild card in this strange year. The Browns may be young and inexperienced, but there is no doubt that they have begun to place some of the ingredients for the future of the franchise. But will their current options be enough to make a postseason run and get to the Super Bowl? After a fun year for the first time in a while in Cleveland, you never know what may be in store next for this group.

Why They Can Win: If there is one thing we know about the Browns going into the postseason, it is this: they have a great offense. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt certainly form the best combination of running backs in all of football behind a dominant offensive line full of Pro Bowlers who have made life easy. In addition, even with the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. for the season, Baker Mayfield has formed a strong connection with players like Jarvis Landy and Rashard Higgins on the outside. With Mayfield playing confidently and taking care of the ball like he has been, Cleveland can score with any team in the league. Add in the greatness of Myles Garrett on defense, and there is no wonder that the Browns have been so improved in the 2020 season. But if the Browns want to make a deep run, they’ll need a slowly returning secondary to make some big plays to flip field position and cause a few turnovers. If the Browns can get this out of some players on defense, they have a real shot of competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

Why They Won’t Win: Inexperience and the competition in front of them are the two biggest factors for the Browns in the postseason. Baker Mayfield played much better this season to bring some stability to the quarterback position to the Browns’ organization, but all eyes will truly be on him this weekend against the Steelers in the first playoff game of his career. Although the young signal caller has been great in recent weeks outside of a clunker against the Jets, it is fair to doubt just how well he will be able to play against a divisional rival seeing him for the third time on the season. In addition, the Browns may just have too much to overcome right now. They have some great options on both sides of the ball, but they do not look like a team quite yet who is capable of making a run to the Super Bowl. Cleveland might be a year away from going toe-to-toe with Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore, but the first step of their journey begins this coming weekend in a huge game on Sunday Night Football over Wild Card Weekend.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts (11-5, 2nd in AFC South; #7 Seed)

After a slow start to the season, T.Y. Hilton came alive late in the year as part of the Colts’ high-scoring attack on offense (via IndyStar).

Could the Colts somehow pull off a miracle and charge toward a deep playoff run as the AFC’s first #7 seed in the history of the NFL? Ignore their seeding and look at their style of play and overall record to see just how capable this Colts’ team is, who have proven to be a dangerous team on a weekly basis despite a crowded field of AFC contenders. While Indianapolis may have some trouble against deep passing offenses and in late game situations when the game gets tighter and tighter, they’re also a team with a deep roster who can expose the flaws of some of the best teams in all of football.

Why They Can Win: The Colts are scary for several reasons, but nothing compares to their ability on the ground right now behind an elite offensive line. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor has blossomed in the past month and miraculously finished as the game’s third leading rusher this season, which should boost Indy’s chances heading into the playoffs against some great offenses. Their ball control style of play is also a real challenge for teams like the Chiefs and Bills (their first opponent), who typically jump out to early leads and control the tempo of the game from the start. If the Colts use this formula effectively by keeping the ball out of the hands of other star quarterback on the other side of the field, Indy has a chance to beat anyone under offensive guru Frank Reich. Nevertheless, their defense has turned in another great year where they displayed a knack for creating turnovers in big moments. With timeliness on defense factoring into many of their biggest games, the Colts can afford to keep games close and wait until the opposing offense makes a back-breaking mistake to shift the tide of the whole ballgame.

Why They Won’t Win: Philip Rivers has actually played very well all season long for the Colts, but he doesn’t come without his fair share of limitations at the late stages of his career. While Rivers has been able to turn down the interceptions this year, he has almost no ability to scramble outside of the pocket and avoid pass rushers to create plays down the field. This has not come back to bite the Colts too much yet, but with a road meeting with the dynamic talents of Josh Allen ahead, you have to wonder how much of a disadvantage the Colts will be at if they are forced to throw the ball a ton. Meanwhile, the Colts’ defense has started to fall off a little bit over the course of the season. Indy’s defensive group was flying around the field in the first half of the season, but they have been more and more exposed by the week in the secondary against some mediocre quarterbacks. If the Colts don’t put an end to the trend, their postseason run could quickly come to an end in the form of a hurtful blowout against an explosive offensive unit like Kansas City.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills.

NFC

Green Bay Packers (13-3, 1st in NFC North; #1 Seed)

Aaron Rodgers’ MVP-type season once again showed why he’ll easily be a first ballot Hall of Famer down the line in Canton (via USA Today).

After an odd offseason that had many people questioning the organization’s vision, the Packers put together a phenomenal season that vaulted them to the top seed in the conference. Aaron Rodgers appears to be the favorite for the MVP award once again this season, and his own offense remains one of the most explosive units in the league with so much firepower on the outside. But will the Packers fall short of the Super Bowl once again, or can Rodgers guide this squad to the Super Bowl for the first time since they beat the Steelers in 2011?

Why They Can Win: Aaron Rodgers is the main reason that this team has a shot against any team right now, but plenty of other supporting characters have had gigantic years. First and foremost, however, appears to be head coach Matt LaFleur, who has had two outstanding years so far in Green Bay. LaFleur is certainly one of the most underrated coaches in the sport, and his offensive game planning has been near perfect in 2020. Aaron Jones and Davante Adams also help Rodgers create the best offensive trio in football, and their pure control on offense separates them from other teams in the league. Green Bay is not perfect on defense, but they have had some nice success in the second half of the season against the pass with a very good secondary. The Smith duo on the defensive edge also helps the Packers create pressure against opposing quarterbacks, and this team never seems to play from behind. But what is the key to the Packers’ potential second Super Bowl in the Rodgers-era? Fast starts, which can open up their star players to take control of the game inside the wintry confines of Lambeau Field.

Why They Won’t Win: Like any great quarterback in the history of the league, there is really only one way to disrupt Rodgers: create loads of pressure and hit him all game long. This is what the Buccaneers did earlier in the season against the Packers in their only real disappointment of the season, but the Packers must be very concerned after the loss of left tackle David Bakhtiari. If Bakhtiari is unable to return at any point throughout the playoffs, teams may have a chance to get to Rodgers and force him to make some unwarranted throws that takes the Packers’ offense out of rhythm. The Saints and Bucs both have these capabilities in the NFC, which is why Green Bay pushed hard at the end of the season to get the top seed in the conference so that teams had to win inside Lambeau in order to advance deeper. The Packers’ other main concern in against the run, which has been exposed at times. Green Bay did pass their last test against a physical Titans team in Week 16, but the Pack are not a team that is great at playing very physical football games that are low-scoring and ugly throughout. If teams jump out early and disrupt Rodgers from the start, Green Bay could find themselves outside of the Super Bowl once again.

Prediction: Bye Week in the Wild Card, Divisional Win over the Bucs, Championship Win over the Saints, and a Super Bowl win over the Saints

New Orleans Saints (12-4, 1st in NFC South; #2 Seed)

Alvin Kamara is a dynamic superstar for the Saints’ offense who could be a real difference-maker in the postseason (via NFL.com).

New Orleans came up just short of capturing the number one seed in the NFC to have home-field advantage in the Superdome for the playoffs, but they’re still in excellent position to make a run in the playoffs after a season full of adversity. Perhaps no team in the league is more battle-tested than these Saints, and New Orleans has proven to have so many different ways of beating teams with a strong running game, good pass catcher, and an elite defense. The time is now for these Saints, and this postseason may be the best chance they will have at winning the Super Bowl for many years to come.

Why They Can Win: For all of the Saints power on offense in the form of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans defense is the unit that could take this team back to the Super Bowl for the first time in over a decade. The Saints are deep on the defensive line as led by Cameron Jordan, and they also have the ability to cause issues for offenses in the secondary with physical corners like Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore. In addition, the Saints have been in enough strange postseason situations over the past couple of seasons that they should be well-prepared for a final run with their Hall of Fame quarterback if this happens to be his last dance. Brees’ right arm is not quite shot yet, and the decorated signal caller may be the single biggest x-factor in the postseason if he can put together a string of great games. The pressure is high in the Bayou, but this may be the best team that the city has seen since they upset Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

Why They Won’t Win: If teams take away the Saints’ harsh run game and Drew Brees is forced to throw the ball deep down the field, the Saints’ Super Bowl hopes could quickly unravel. Brees has been up and down in 2020, but at his best, he gets the ball into the hands of Kamara and Thomas very quickly through a creative scheme administered by Sean Payton. But if Brees is forced to play from behind and overcome outdoor elements or a fierce pass rush against a good team, the Saints could be in real trouble this postseason. The other factor that has to play a role is the Saints’ prior postseason struggles. It is fair to say that New Orleans may have one of the best rosters in all of football, but prior playoff failures could play a mental role for the Saints in these playoffs if they end up coming up short once again.

Prediction: Wild Card win over the Bears, Divisional Win over the Buccaneers, and a Conference Championship loss to the Packers.

Seattle Seahawks (12-4, 1st in NFC West; #3 Seed)

Seattle has beaten a lot of good teams and has many great weapons on both sides, but quarterback Russell Wilson may have to do some heavy-lifting in the playoffs if Seattle wants to get to the Super Bowl (via The News Tribune).

It seems like forever ago when Russell Wilson was considered the frontrunner for the NFL MVP award and the Seattle defense was playing at a historically poor level, but the script has certainly flipped as the playoffs near. While Seattle is still capable of going on a run with Wilson at the helm, Pete Carroll’s Seahawks will need to find a new way to win on the fly with their air attack struggling so much at the moment. And without the 12th Man in the picture in the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks will need a lot of positive breaks to go their way in the postseason to go on a deep run past teams like New Orleans and Green Bay.

Why They Can Win: Russell Wilson is simply one of the best players in all of football, but did not have his best season by any means despite his bloated passing numbers. However, Wilson remains a game-changing player with the ability to single-handedly take over any game, which gives Seattle a chance against every single opponent they’ll play. If Wilson can get the Seahawks’ passing game going again and get the ball into the hands of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett often, Seattle’s offensive has lethal potential. But if the Seahawks are truly going to be a great team in the postseason, they’ll need an improving defense to keep dominating. This recent edge has started with the play of safety Jamal Adams, a dynamic defender with some of the best blitzing skills of any player that anyone has seen from the position. If Seattle’s defense keeps playing at a high level and doesn’t rely on Wilson to bail them out in order to win games in the 4th quarter, the Seahawks are capable of a deep run in the NFC.

Why They Won’t Win: As highlighted with Wilson, turnovers and the lack of a strong run game with running back Chris Carson have limited this offense all season long. It is odd to see a Wilson-led offense going through such growing pains this late into the season, but Seattle will struggle against many good defenses in the playoffs if they can’t establish the run early with Carson. In addition, Wilson has been bothered by a pass rush for most of the second half of the season, and Seattle’s offensive line has once again become a big problem that could be exposed by teams with elite defenders up front like Los Angeles and Tampa Bay. In addition to this, although they have become a very good unit as the season has gone along, the Seattle defense has shown some concerning trends through the air at times. Teams have tried to go at Seattle’s corners early and often to create big plays through the air, and this could become a massive problem if they fall behind early in games. The sky isn’t falling for Seattle, but it appears that they’ll need a near-perfect postseason in order to keep advancing through the NFC gauntlet.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Washington Football Team (7-9, 1st in NFC East; #4 Seed)

It did not take rookie Chase Young long at all for him to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the sport as the face of Washington’s defense (via YardBarker).

For all of the things said about the NFC East this season, the Washington Football Team rightly won the division on the backs of a strong defense and an offense full of young playmaking talents. Washington might have a bit of a tough time getting to the Super Bowl this season, but they are surely a very dangerous team that could easily have upset on their mind as they enter a Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Buccaneers.

Why They Could Win: Washington deserved to get in the playoffs as the NFC East winner after a nice second half of the season, especially when Alex Smith was in the starting lineup. Smith was not great by any means, but he surely gave the offense the spark that they needed by feeding the ball into the hands of Antonio Gibson, JD McKissic, and Terry McLaurin. However, the true success for this team relies on a very good defense that got even better over the course of the season. Washington’s defensive line might be the best unit in all of football as led by rookie pass rusher Chase Young, who has emerged as a generational defensive player on the edge. Washington has been extremely good against the pass this season with a nice secondary in the back, which could be good news for fans heading into a weekend matchup with Tom Brady and the Bucs. Washington’s pass rush and solid offensive line at least gives them a shot at every game in the playoffs, and it will be fun to see if they can shock the world over the course of the postseason.

Why They Won’t Win: Can anybody really imagine Washington making a run to the Super Bowl? The newly-named team certainly has a bright future ahead with head coach Ron Rivera leading the organization, but they have a ton of flaws that have been exposed time and time again. Alex Smith is a remarkable story at the quarterback position, but the veteran is limited at this point and really doesn’t push the ball down the field a ton. Washington in general struggles to generate a lot of big plays, and they at times get a little too conservative on offense. With this, their defense can take the field for too long at times, and with high-scoring teams like Tampa Bay and Green Bay on their radar, things could get very ugly in the second half of games. Washington is a feel-good story and has a chance at stealing a playoff game on Saturday, but it is hard to picture this team representing the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss at home to the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5, 2nd in NFC South; #5 Seed)

Tom Brady will get a chance at a run to the Super Bowl in the first year with his new team down in Tampa Bay (via Pats Pulpit).

It was not the prettiest year for the Buccaneers in the first year of the Tom Brady-era, but the Bucs appear to be peaking just at the right time with the playoffs right around the corner. Tampa deploys two good units on both sides that are matchup nightmares for teams, and it seems like the Bucs may have a chance for a deep run. Oh, and their future Hall of Fame quarterback is red-hot as Wild Card Weekend approaches, which gives Tampa Bay a real chance to find real postseason glory for the first time in over a decade as Brady’s hunt for a seventh championship continues.

Why They Could Win: Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown. The Buccaneers are the most stacked offense in the league on paper, and a late season surge of point gives Tampa a ton of confidence heading into Wild Card Weekend. Although Brady has thrown more interceptions than he is used to and still remains immobile outside of the pocket, the six-time champion has once again excelled in the short-passing game by getting the ball into the hands of his weapons. This has only developed over the course of the season, and the Bucs’ outside weapons could make all the difference in the world if they are able to advance. On defense, the Buccaneers’ have arguably the best front seven in football. Not only does this make their attack against the rush the best in the league, but Tampa also has the useful ability to create a pass rush with only four on the line. If the Buccaneers face off with the Packers or Seahawks, look for this quality to be a huge development as they potentially get closer and closer to playing a Super Bowl at their own home stadium.

Why They Won’t Win: For as many elite weapons as this offense has, Tampa has been at least a little bit of a disappointment on offense this season outside of Brady and Evans. A lot of their inconsistencies on offense rely on a deep passing attack that has just been nonexistent for much of the year, especially when teams dare the Buccaneers to run the ball with running back Ronald Jones. If the Bucs are ready to go deep into the playoffs, they’ll need playmakers like Godwin and Brown to get the ball a ton so that they can create yards after the catch. Nevertheless, the Bucs’ one potentially fatal flaw is their secondary on defense. Although they have some pretty solid players in the back end, they have struggled immensely for most of the season and especially in primetime games. Tampa needs their defensive backs to put together a string of elite games on defense in order to advance, but this remains a serious doubt after so many straight weeks of fireworks through the air for opposing offenses.

Prediction: A Wild Card win over Washington and a Divisional loss to New Orleans.

Los Angeles Rams (10-6, 2nd in NFC West; #6 Seed)

Los Angeles may be without their starting quarterback for the playoffs, but at least have the league’s best defense to rely on to make a run (via USA Today).

The NFC West was an insane division for most of the season, with the Rams entering the season with some faint playoff hopes. But after a roller coaster ride of a season that saw them beat several playoff teams yet also fall to the then-winless New York Jets, Los Angeles enters the playoffs beaten up and with some question marks on offense. Can they replicate some of their success in the playoffs that got them to the Super Bowl against the Patriots a couple of years ago, or will they be an early exit against a divisional rival in Seattle?

Why They Could Win: Defense is the name of the game this year in Los Angeles, where the Rams boast perhaps the most impressive unit in all of football. The Rams are led by two of the biggest defensive superstars in the league in the form of Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, and their ability to wreck games have given the Rams a chance to win every Sunday this season. The Rams could easily claim to have the best secondary in football as well, and that ability to shut down opposing passing attacks gives them a chance to make a deep run in the playoffs despite stiff competition in the NFC. On offense, head coach Sean McVay still remains an excellent playcaller with a knack for getting the best out of his players. Receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best duos in the league, but what has turned the Rams’ offense around this season has been the emergence of a foundational running game. As anchored by rookie running back Cam Akers, the Rams use a throwback formula on offense full of pounding the football and using play-action to generate big plays down the field. The Rams may be the throwback team of the league this season, and that physical brand of football gives them a chance at a run in the playoffs if things break their way.

Why They Won’t Win: The quarterback position has to be the biggest question mark for the Rams right now, especially with Jared Goff injured and questionable for the playoffs. Goff has not had a very good year by any means when in the lineup, but there is no doubt that the organization is more confident in their players on offense when he is in the lineup. With or without him as the starter in the playoffs, the Rams’ key during their playoff push will be taking care of the football. Turnovers have plagued the Rams in some of their worst losses this season, but they play well enough in close games to beat some of the best squads in the NFC if they can hold onto the football. In addition, although the Rams are easily the best defense in all of football this year, they have had the occasional miscommunication in the back end of the secondary. If this happens in the playoffs and the Rams are forced to play from behind, they are toast with the way their offense is playing right now. The Rams would need a rejuvenation on offense right now in order to get to the Super Bowl, but it is not impossible in a wide-open NFC.

Prediction: A Wild Card win over the Seahawks and a Divisional loss to the Packers.

Chicago Bears (8-8, 2nd in NFC North; #7 Seed)

The Bears have been off and on for stretches this season, but found a way to sneak into the playoffs with some Week 17 luck (via Windy City Gridiron).

The Bears once looked like a contender, then fell off the side of a mountain, and then climbed all the way back up it in order to sneak right into the playoffs as the #7 seed in the NFC. It has been anything but a normal season for many teams, but these Bears have gone through it all in what has been a very unexpected year in Chicago. It may be tough for this team to get it going and make a dash to the Super Bowl, but watch out for this red-hot team to make some teams sweat if they can rattle off a few win in this year’s postseason.

Why They Could Win: This current Bears’ team is really not that different from the Bears’ team that looked like a Super Bowl contender two years ago, which should inspire a fanbase looking for some playoff success. The Bears were the most streaky team in the league this season, but a lot of their success was pinned on the play of the quarterback position. Luckily for Chicago, often-criticized quarterback Mitchell Trubisky played very well down the stretch to get this team into the playoffs, and he finally has some confidence in his abilities with this offense. If head coach Matt Nagy can keep coaching Trubisky to take care of the ball and move him outside of the pocket to best utilize his skillset, the Bears’ offense has some sneaky potential. In addition, the Bears deploy some ballers on defense, such as Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson, who continue to produce for this unit on a yearly basis. The bears have struggled against very dynamic offenses like Green Bay, but they have also shut down an elite Tampa Bay offense at one point this season as well. The Bears’ biggest key to success in the last third of the season was their awareness of their flaws and how to best play to their strengths. And if this trend keeps continuing in the right direction as it has been, don’t count out Chicago just yet.

Why They Won’t Win: The Bears are hot right now, but does anybody really believe this is a unit capable of winning the Super Bowl? Trubisky has played well in recent weeks against some poor teams, but was exposed a little bit as soon as he played a great team in the form of the Packers in Week 17. It is tough to imagine the young signal caller going off against a great New Orleans’ defense in the divisional round as well, even if he can hook up with his weapons like Allen Robinson on the outside a few times. In addition, although the defense is solid on paper, Chicago is rather inconsistent on both sides of the ball. The Bears’ defense has some game-changing ballers who can flip any matchup on its head, but they have still not been quite as good as many expected them to be on that side of the ball this season. The Bears have too much to overcome in this year’s postseason, and their ceiling appears to be one playoff win this year at the very most.

Prediction: A Wild Card loss to the Saints.

Total Predictions

Are the Bills destined for a trip to the Super Bowl? (via News 4 Buffalo)

Wild Card Weekend

#2 Buffalo Bills over #7 Indianapolis Colts

#5 Baltimore Ravens over #4 Tennessee Titans

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers over #6 Cleveland Browns

#6 Los Angeles Rams over #3 Seattle Seahawks

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #4 Washington Football Team

#2 New Orleans Saints over #7 Chicago Bears

Divisional Round

#5 Baltimore Ravens over #1 Kansas City Chiefs

#2 Buffalo Bills over #3 Pittsburgh Steelers

#1 Green Bay Packers over #6 Los Angeles Rams

#2 New Orleans Saints over #5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Conference Championship

#2 Buffalo Bills over #5 Baltimore Ravens

#1 Green Bay Packers over #2 New Orleans Saints

Super Bowl

#1 Green Bay Packers over #2 Buffalo Bills

2021 NFL Postseason Preview

AFC