2022 NFL Postseason Preview

By Peyton Schultze

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers look like the clear favorites out of the NFC after a magical regular season full of phenomenal highlights and huge moments in big games (via MARCA).

The playoffs… are finally here.

After a truly exciting season that saw plenty of memorable moments, down-to-the-wire finishes, and highlight-worthy plays, the 2022 NFL Postseason has arrived in spectacular fashion. With a wide open field full of plenty of real contenders all fighting for a chance to get to Los Angeles in February for Super Bowl LVI, this year’s tournaments looks like it is shaping up to be a real winner that could have some extremely tight finishes.

But which team will come out on top? Will the Rams’ dream team formula prove to overwhelm their NFC opponents? Can Aaron Rodgers and the Packers take home the second Lombardi Trophy of his illustrious career to cap off a drama-filled season? Will Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs once again re-ignite talks of a long-running dynasty? Will a underdog team like the Raiders, Steelers, or Bengals make a run to this year’s big game? Or will Tom Brady take home his eight Lombardi Trophy of his career to once again add to his already-near-perfect legacy?

Let’s take a look at each of the fourteen teams in this year’s playoff field as we present our final Golden Angeleno article of the 2021-2022 NFL season.

NFC

Looking to capture their second straight Lombardi Trophy, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers look ready to make another run in the NFC playoff field (via Tampa Bay Times).

#1 Green Bay Packers (13-4)

With all of the injuries that this team dealt with over the course of the regular season, it really is a miracle that the Packers enter postseason play as the conference’s top overall seed. Dealing with major injuries to star players such as Jaire Alexander and David Bakhtiari, Green Bay has somehow overcome the odds and marched toward another prolific season under head coach Matt LaFleur. Yet most of the credit once again has to go toward the dominant duo of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, a combination that makes a very strong case for being the two best offensive players in the sport. Throw in the fact that Green Bay has also shown some real toughness on the offensive line with a run game led by AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones and the Packers look well-equipped for a deep playoff run, especially with home-field advantage at Lambeau Field throughout the month. The Pack have dealt with some playoff heartbreak in the past under Rodgers, but with all the cards stacked up in their favor, there’s a chance that this final ride could be a storybook one.

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)

Is there an adequate way to describe this season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? This repeat effort in southern Florida has been unlike any other in recent memory, especially with some brutal late-season injuries and a divisive wide receiver controversy that continues to dominate headlines. Yet Tom Brady and company once again marches into the playoffs with some real hopes of another Super Bowl, especially with all-around dominance on both sides of the ball. Brady was dominant once again this season under head coach Bruce Arians and with a cast featuring Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski, but Tampa’s biggest key to a Super Bowl will once again be on defense. If the Buccaneers can shore up some issues in the secondary as they did last year to match up with one of the game’s most explosive front sevens, there is no reason to doubt the seven-time champion’s squad in a playoff scenario. Matchups could be key to pave a path toward the playoffs, but the Bucs once again look to be gearing up for a dash to glory.

#3 Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

This regular season taught us many things, but it surely showed us that the Dallas Cowboys have returned to relevancy in the NFC. Yet as a major surprise to many, the Cowboys have not returned to the playoffs on the backs of stars such as Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and CeeDee Lamb, but instead on the coattails of a ridiculously aggressive defense with a knack for creating turnovers. Led by star rookie Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys’ defense was able to dominate opponents all season long and enters the postseason as one of the game’s most dangerous units on either side of the ball as led by coordinator Dan Quinn. But as good as their defense has been, the Cowboys’ key to playoff success could easily come down to Prescott. With good overall health throughout their offensive unit, Prescott and the ‘Boys have all the ingredients that they need to make a run to the Super Bowl past teams such as the Packers and Buccaneers. But will they? As things tense up and get even more exciting in Big D over the next few weeks, stay tuned.

#4 Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

The Rams could easily be considered the most perplexing team in the entire playoff field after a wild 2021-2022 regular season. A team that has dominated teams such as Tampa Bay, yet fallen at the hands of divisional rivals such as Arizona and San Francisco, the Rams have almost flipped their script from the past couple of seasons. No longer a physical team built through the run game with a top-end defense, the Rams have been incredibly streaky this season despite adding key names such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller to a group led by Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp obviously produced one of the game’s greatest receiving seasons in the history of the sport, but with a lack of a run game toward the end of the season, it is fair to question if Los Angeles has become too Matt Stafford-centric under head coach Sean McVay. Right there could be their greatest undoing enter a postseason with some immense pressure on their shoulders, and even with their status as the fourth seed in the conference, Los Angeles will face a lot of heat if they are unable to take home the Lombardi Trophy this season.

#5 Arizona Cardinals (11-6)

An organization that unexpectedly sprouted a year earlier than many expected, the Cardinals enter the NFC playoff picture with real hopes of a championship. The main reason for this? The emergence of quarterback Kyler Murray, one of the game’s most dangerous players at the position despite some late-season injuries that downplayed his overall production this season. Although he will be without star wideout DeAndre Hopkins for much of this postseason, Murray has also received some huge help from a very good offensive unit from names such as James Conner and AJ Green. Yet what makes Arizona scary is not the explosiveness of head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, but the underrated abilities

of a great defense coordinated by Vance Joseph. If this solid unit can continue to get after the passer and cause issues for opposing quarterbacks as they have all season, the Cards have a real chance of upsetting a few teams in the NFC and making a run to Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI.

#6 San Francisco 49ers (10-7)

Few teams enter this year’s playoff race with more uncertainty than the San Francisco 49ers. A roster capable of making a Super Bowl run with elite coaching and a core identity on both sides of the ball, the Niners present an interesting matchup for many teams in this year’s playoff field with their ability to rush the passer and dominate defenses on the ground. Throw in the fact that wide receiver Deebo Samuel easily became one of the best all-around offensive players in football alongside the ever-so-spectacular tight end George Kittle on offense, and it looks like Kyle Shanahan’s squad is capable of staying hot entering January. However, San Francisco’s biggest question may not be matchup-based at all; instead, will they be able to stay healthy? With many lingering health issues on both sides of the ball to key players such as Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers appear to be extremely brittle despite their immense talent and huge upside.

#7 Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)

Nobody could have expected this type of season out of the Eagles, especially considering the potency of the playoff field in the NFC. But after a rough initial start to the year, head coach Nick Sirianni helped adjust this team’s identity to fit the strengths of quarterback Jalen Hurts by riding the brute power of one of the game’s best offensive lines. The Eagles made a strong case for the best rushing team in all of football this season, while they have played relatively well on defense despite some inconsistencies in the secondary. But the greater question remains: does this team have enough of an air attack to upset some of the best teams in the conference such as Green Bay and Tampa Bay? That remains a lingering cloud above this team entering the postseason, and while this group has given off some 2011 Denver Broncos vibes, it is hard to imagine them traveling down to south Florida and pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent NFL history.

AFC

Despite an uneven season, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are dialed in for another Super Bowl run in January and into February (via MARCA).

#1 Tennessee Titans (12-5)

A common theme throughout the AFC seems to be, “how did this team get here?” This begins with the underrated play of the Tennessee Titans this season, a physically imposing group that has collected some of the most impressive wins of the entire regular season. Yet the Titans were dealt a tough blow midway through the season with the temporary loss of star running back Derrick Henry, forcing Ryan Tannehill, AJ Brown, and the Titans’ offense to evolve. Tennessee did just that, plowing through the rest of the AFC with key win after key win to take home the conference’s top overall seed. Now, with Henry back for the playoffs and the Titans’ defense continuing to be the league’s most underappreciated unit under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Titans have some real Super Bowl aspirations. No longer are these Titans the unlikely dark horse team with a chance at a Super Bowl run; instead, they’re the AFC’s strongest team with a chip on their shoulder to make their first Super Bowl in over two decades.

#2 Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)

Everyone knew that they would figure out some early-season struggles despite some lapses through the first half of the season, but nobody could have predicted that this Chiefs’ squad may be the most complete team so far in the Mahomes-era. With pure dominance on defense in the second half of the regular season as led by Jarran Reed, Chris Jones, and Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs’ were able to beat opposing offenses down late in the year to make life easier for head coach Andy Reid’s offense. Yet Patrick Mahomes remains the game’s greatest wild card with his ability to take over any game, especially for as long as he continues to have Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce at his disposal. This Kansas City team may be much more unpredictable than some of their teams in the past few years, but with some real momentum entering the playoffs, the Chiefs are once again the AFC’s clear favorite to return to the Super Bowl as the winners of the Lamar Hunt Trophy.

#3 Buffalo Bills (11-6)

Few teams have been as streaky as the Buffalo Bills, especially with some truly embarrassing losses to much-lesser opponents. Yet the Bills do have impressive wins over Kansas City and New England this season (as well as a very narrow loss to the Bucs in Tampa Bay), which does give Bills’ fans some real hope of making a deep playoff run back to the Super Bowl for the first time in over 20 years. Sure, the Bills’ defense is capable of holding down their opponents for stretches of time, but Buffalo’s championship hopes rely on the shoulder of Josh Allen. A rare talent with the Mahomes-ian ability to take over games, Allen may be the most unpredictable player entering the playoffs. But if he gets hot at the right time and finds a way to match up with Stefon Diggs and Dawson Knox, the Bills will not just be a tough out in the AFC; they’ll be a true contender capable of beating any team in the league.

#4 Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)

There was not a more exciting team to watch this season than the Cincinnati Bengals, especially after a magical season from second-year quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow, alongside star weapons such as Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon, helped form a deadly offensive attack with the ability to stretch the ball down the field, solidifying Cincy’s status as an emerging team with a chance to compete for Super Bowls over the next decade. In addition, a timely defense with some very good players has helped create big play after big play for Zac Taylor’s squad, and they’ll enter the playoffs with some late-season momentum from the second-half of the season. No team in the playoff field has the highest ceiling but lowest floor than these Bengals, which will not only make them one of the most exciting watches in January, but make for a truly compelling story if they can make an unlikely run toward LA for the Super Bowl.

#5 Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)

One of the regular season’s most exciting games came down to the final seconds last weekend between the Raiders and Chargers, but Las Vegas was able to seal their playoff fate with a dramatic last-second kick at the buzzer in overtime. But as the Raiders now enter the playoffs for the first time in several seasons, they’ll be looking for the organization’s first postseason win since 2002 and their first-ever in Las Vegas. That puts a lot of pressure on quarterback Derek Carr after a MVP-type season that saw him and the Raiders overcome insurmountable odds time and time again, both on and off-the-field. But with an increasingly dynamic running game and an improving pass rush that is causing issues for passers, the Raiders have a formula for winning right now at the right time. That is key entering postseason play as the conference’s scrappiest squad, which could be a great sign for Raider fans in the Black Hole as they try to make a surprising playoff run throughout January.

#6 New England Patriots (10-7)

They’re back. The old saying is that “all great things must come to an end”, but the New England Patriots suddenly returned from the dead and pushed toward the postseason for the first time since Tom Brady departed for Tampa Bay. The credit for this resurgence will understandably be sent toward head coach Bill Belichick, who will enter this postseason with hopes of capturing the seventh Super Bowl of his own career behind a wipeout defense that has caused havoc for offenses all season long. Yet on the other side of the ball, rookie signal caller Mac Jones put together a very nice first season for the Pats behind a solid cast led by Damien Harris, Jakobi Meyers, and a very strong offensive line. But do these Patriots have the same realistic championship aspirations as their prior Super Bowl winners? In a conference that looks as wide open as ever, don’t bet against New England in what would be a shocking return to AFC dominance.

#7 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1)

How did the Steelers find a way to get back into the postseason? In Ben Roethlisberger’s curtain call to a Hall of Fame career, Pittsburgh found a way to sneak in as the AFC’s final season with a massive Jags’ upset over the Colts and a Steelers’ win over the rival Ravens. But now that they’re in, can they make any noise? All signs point toward the answer being “no”, but Mike Tomlin’s squads in the past have had a knack for shocking the world and pulling off some huge playoff upsets. The Steelers have the dominant pass rushing formula behind all-world defender TJ Watt and superstar Cameron Heyward, yet Pittsburgh will need improved play against the run to have a chance in the playoffs. Yet the Steelers will need to also muster some last-second magic out of Big Ben to have a chance on offense, especially with some solid playmakers around him such as Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris. The Steelers look like they’re being written off before the playoffs have even started; beware, for the heart of a champion never goes quietly into the night.

Playoff Predictions

With the Titans getting healthy and with the Buccaneers looming large as the defending champions, a very Southern Super Bowl could be in the works for Los Angeles in February (via Musket Fire and NFL).

Wild Card Weekend

AFC

#2 Kansas City Chiefs over #7 Pittsburgh Steelers

#5 New England Patriots over #4 Buffalo Bills

#4 Cincinnati Bengals over #5 Las Vegas Raiders

NFC

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #7 Philadelphia Eagles

#6 San Francisco 49ers over #3 Dallas Cowboys

#5 Arizona Cardinals over #4 Los Angeles Rams

Divisional Round

AFC

#1 Tennessee Titans over #5 New England Patriots

#2 Kansas City Chiefs over #4 Cincinnati Bengals

NFC

#1 Green Bay Packers over #6 San Francisco 49ers

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #5 Arizona Cardinals

Conference Championship

AFC

#1 Tennessee Titans over #2 Kansas City Chiefs

NFC

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #1 Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl LVI

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #1 Tennessee Titans