Written by Sam DeCoste
With the 2018 NFL season on the horizon, it is time for our experts to predict who is going to the playoffs, and who will clinch the two coveted Super Bowl berths to play in Atlanta this February. Let's see who Sam thinks will reach the postseason this year. Remember to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers
I know, this is quite the gamble. But every playoff contender must have stability at the quarterback position, and San Francisco finally found it when they traded for Jimmy Garappolo last October. When Garappolo started under center, the 49ers were unbeaten, winning five straight games to close the 2017 season, and despite being a perennial backup at New England and earning few opportunities with the Patriots and in limited starts with the 49ers, Garappolo is unbeaten as a starting quarterback. He has not lost a game which he has started in his career. I like the momentum the 49ers have at the moment with Garappolo at quarterback. It is a shocker to put them at the number one seed, but I just think they will win games this year.2. Atlanta Falcons
After a fairytale Super Bowl run in 2016, the Falcons played half asleep on offense last year. Considering how historically great the Falcons offense was in 2016, scoring 34 points per game and racking over 400 yards per game, the Falcons were comparatively pedestrian in 2017. Led by new offense coordinator Steve Sarkisian, the Falcons offense racked fifty fewer yards and scored twelve fewer points per game. Considering the arsenal of talent Atlanta has going forward, there is no reason for the Falcons offense to finish outside the top five. But this season, the Falcons have continuity, with Sarkisian getting an offseason to spend with his players. Not to mention the defense is young and improving, and they arguably carried the Falcons during the playoffs last season. It will be difficult to win a division with the Saints in it, but if their offense clicks again like in 2016, the Falcons are the favorites to win the South.3. Green Bay Packers
Football is consistently preached as a team sport, but in the case of the Green Bay Packers, it is all about one man. Aaron Rodgers. Last season, Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay to a 4-1 start, including a dramatic comeback victory over Dallas. But once Anthony Barr knocked Aaron Rodgers out with a broken collarbone, the Packers crumbled. They absolutely crumbled. And it may sound strange that if Green Bay plugs Rodgers right back into the lineup, then everything will be fine again. But that's how I feel, especially with the additions Green Bay has made, including Jimmy Graham, as well as Muhammad Wilkerson and Tramon Williams on defense. The Packers without Rodgers are pathetic, but the Packers with Rodgers are Super Bowl contenders.4. Washington Redskins
What? Are you insane? The Redskins are going to win a division with the Eagles in it? Yes they will. Here is why: Alex Smith. He is a proven winner. Wherever Alex Smith has gone, whether it be the 49ers or the Chiefs, he has led otherwise mediocre teams to wins. Besides, it's not like the Redskins have an awful roster. There is talent to speak of in the nation's capital. Smith can throw the ball to Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, and Jordan Reed, and he has some quality running backs. Despite the unfortunate ACL tear to Derrius Guice, they still have Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine, Chris Thompson, and the great Adrian Peterson. This offense will be fun to watch, and I think the Redskins will take the league by storm this season.5. New Orleans Saints
I think the Saints will keep their seat in the playoffs, but I think they will regress as well. The magic ingredient to the fantastic run of theirs last season was the outstanding backfield. Running with the power back Mark Ingram on one down, and then handing it to the young and shifty Alvin Kamara worked wonders for New Orleans. The two-headed monster in the backfield provided a dimension the the Saints have not had offensively for a long time, and defenses could not stop them. However, Mark Ingram will miss the first quarter of the season due to suspension, leaving Kamara as the lead tailback. But it will be tougher for Kamara if he does not have Ingram to complement him, as that was what made their running game so efficient. The pressure is on Kamara to carry a heavier load, and it will be on Drew Brees to carry New Orleans team as well. But the talent on defense is as great as it was last season, especially with Marshon Lattimore shutting down an entire side of the field for opposing offenses, and Drew Brees leading the team once again. It would be a disaster if the Saints missed the playoffs this season.6. Los Angeles Rams
Possibly the most exciting team in the league last season was the LA Rams. Led by the youngest coach in history, Sean McVay led the Rams to their first postseason appearance since 2004 with an incredible run. McVay turned former first overall pick Jared Goff into a competent signal caller after a forgettable rookie season, he revived star running back Todd Gurley after a dormant 2016, and he turned the Rams into a winning football team. And this offseason, the Rams are going all in by building a dream team. They've acquired speedster Brandin Cooks, they've plugged in Ndamukong Suh alongside Aaron Donald on the defensive line, and they've added two superstar corners on the outside in Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. It's honestly just not fair that the Rams are this talented. I think the Rams will be great, but it may take time for so much talent and so many egos to gel and find their rhythm. It may take a season or two to hit their peak, but the Rams are bound to return to the postseason.AFC
1. New England Patriots
What a contrast to my NFC pick for home field advantage. But can you blame me for picking New England in this spot? In twelve seasons with Tom Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick as head coach, the Patriots have earned at least a first round bye twelve times (!), and they have not played on Wild Card Weekend since 2009. It may be an easy pick, but the Patriots are a dependable pick not only to win the division, but to earn a bye, and even reach yet another Super Bowl. Tom Brady is still the quarterback, and he has not regressed just yet. Just look at his numbers from the Super Bowl. He threw for 500 yards! While there are a lot of questions around him, including the suspension of Julian Edelman in a weak receiving core, the ACL tear of first round pick Isaiah Wynn, and the reported turmoil inside the facility. But every year, the Patriots win despite any suspensions, or injuries, or turmoil. This year is no different. They will win games again.2. Houston Texans
Houston, we have a quarterback. Finally, the Texans, a team that considers TJ Yates to be their best starting quarterback in its history, found a dependable, franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson. When he was thrown into the fire last season, Watson was brilliant. He threw for 19 touchdowns in his seven starts, and his final game was undoubtably his best performance, and one of the best by any quarterback in the NFL last season, throwing for 402 yards and four touchdowns against the Seahawks. But unfortunately, he tore his ACL later that week, and the Texans crumbled the rest of the season, winning just one of their last nine games. But Watson is back, and he is going to lead Houston back to the playoffs, along with star defensive lineman, JJ Watt, returning from multiple back injuries. While there are questions about Watt and Watson and how effective they can be after devastating injuries, I am confident that they will have fantastic seasons this year.3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers sincerely paid for overlooking the Jaguars last season. Despite what others may think, the Steelers are not good enough to overlook anyone. They haven't reached a Super Bowl since 2010, and they only have three playoff wins since. And their roster has arguably worsened in the offseason. Of course, Ryan Shazier's situation is very tragic and unfortunate, and the Steelers would be kidding themselves if they ever expected him to play in the NFL ever again. But losing Shazier is massive for the Steelers. They lose the quarterback of the defense, and that makes the defense significantly worse. Not to mention Ben Roethlisberger is getting older, and he regresses every year. Le'Veon Bell is holding out again, and even if he returns by Week 1, it takes many weeks for a player to get accustomed to getting hit again, as Bell struggled with when he held out last year. The Steelers are the best team in the AFC North, and they should win the division again. But I don't like their chances in elimination games against teams as good as them.4. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are due to return to the playoffs. Their roster stacks up with just about any other in the NFL. They have a great quarterback in Philip Rivers, a great running back in Melvin Gordon, a number one receiver in Keenan Allen, two fantastic pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, and a great corner in Casey Hayward. The Chargers are just too talented not to win the division. But in the past few years, the Chargers' problem has been the Chargers. They beat themselves by coming up short time and time again as well as digging themselves deep holes at the start of every season. If they can get out of their own way, Chargers fans have a lot to be excited about.5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Any football team led by Blake Bortles has no right going to the playoffs. But that is how good this Jaguars team is. Despite the liability they have at quarterback, the Jaguars have one of the best rosters in the league. They acquired All Pro guard Andrew Norwell, standout Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and dependable receiver Donte Moncrief to add to a fantastic core of players already. Their defense ranked second overall and first in passing last season. Their defense is stacked with all stars, including Calais Campbell, Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, AJ Bouye, and the outspoken Jalen Ramsey. Do you recall those comments Jalen Ramsey made about numerous starting quarterbacks in the league, saying how most of them are "overrated" or "trash?" Well, if you're one of those quarterbacks, good luck proving him wrong. This defense won't give up points easily. This is easily the league's best defense.6. Tennessee Titans
Say what you want about the Titans, but they won a playoff game last year. How many big teams couldn't even reach the first round? The Titans are a very good team. They have a dependable quarterback in Marcus Mariota, who will surely improve after suffering from poor coaching and offensive development under Mike Mularkey for three seasons, and a dynamic running game with Dion Lewis providing a change of pace to the hard-nosed Derrick Henry, and they signed Super Bowl winner Malcolm Butler to bolster their secondary. Not to mention that for as pedestrian as Tennessee was last season, they actually swept their division rivals, Jacksonville. The Titans have made good signings, and under a new coaching staff, the stars on the team should flourish as a result.Sam's Super Bowl Prediction
New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers
New England has appeared in the Super Bowl in three of the past four seasons, and I expect them to get back to the big game again, especially in an incredibly mediocre AFC this season. No team has stepped up in the AFC, and the Patriots are as dependable as you get. I trust the Patriots to return to the Super Bowl. As for Green Bay, it is about time that they get Aaron Rodgers a second Super Bowl win. The Packers have not played in the big game since 2010, and they have played victim in some awfully devastating playoff loses in the last few seasons. But the front office finally decided to be aggressive in the offseason, by paying Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson, as well as trading up in the draft to acquire cornerback Jaire Alexander, addressing a position of need. For so long, Green Bay has depended on Aaron Rodgers to carry the team all the way to the promise land by covering the holes on the roster with some bandaids. But the Packers mean business this year and Aaron Rodgers is a man on a mission.
Sam's Super Bowl Champion: Green Bay Packers
It is about time Aaron Rodgers won a Super Bowl, and he knows it. He's carried Green Bay for years with no help from his front office or his teammates. Think back to 2016 when the Packers were 4-6, and Rodgers famously said in a locker room interview that the Packers would "run the table" from there. Guess what they did. They ran the table, making it all the way to the NFC Championship until Atlanta exposed their horrible roster. Aaron Rodgers has the support in 2018 to make a run all the way to glory. Davante Adams is in the prime of his career, and he has stepped up as the number one receiver in Green Bay for the past two years, with Jimmy Graham coming into the fold as well. The defense should improve as well, with Mike Daniels coming back for a full season, with Muhammad Wilkerson rushing on the opposite edge, Clay Matthews returning, and a revamped secondary under new coaching staff. And while there are still holes on the roster, a good quarterback can make it all worthwhile. Aaron Rodgers is the best in the business. He has his eyes on the Lombarbi Trophy, and I reckon he'll be lifting the prize when it's all said and done.Is Sam insane, or might he actually be onto something? Let us know in the comments what you think of our experts' predictions going into the season! And be sure to stay tuned for our Weekly Power Rankings and Predix for every game during the season, as well as the Franchise Quarterback Podcast. Football is coming!
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