Who's Going to the Playoffs? Ben Slavin 2018 Playoff Preview

Written by Ben Slavin

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 Ben thinks will reach the postseason this year. Remember to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

NFC

1.Minnesota Vikings

Newly aboard the Viking ship, Kirk Cousins could be enough to put them over the edge. He’s unquestionably an upgrade from Case Keenum -- it’s just how much -- and surrounded by Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook, he should see even more success than in Washington. The defense is so dominant that they can win games single handedly and be the driving force behind a Super Bowl run like the one the Eagles had last year. It’s unfortunate the Vikings were not the first team to do it in their own stadium last year, but I doubt they’ll care much if they can lift the Lombardi Trophy February 3rd.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Once Carson Wentz returns from injury, the Eagles have the best chance to repeat of any non-Patriots team we have seen in a while. Another defense that can absolutely destroy a game plan, the Eagles biggest strength is by far their d-line. Any quarterback in the NFC East who lives after seeing waves of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett, and so many others twice deserves a medal. For the Eagles to win it this year, the road is going to be twice as tough. Every team is extra-motivated against the reigning champs and the playoff road will be much tougher than Atlanta and a tired Minnesota. The talent is clearly still there and the difference between Carson Wentz and Nick Foles gives the Eagles a chance.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Acquiring this much talent should definitely be enough to earn the Rams the 1 seed, but red flags like Todd Gurley’s workload last year and what an injury to him would to their offense, Aaron Donald’s holdout, and the past failures of “super teams” lead me to be cautious and leave the Rams where they finished last year. So long as they work out a deal with Donald, avoid the injury bug, and keep all their egos in check, Los Angeles should be able to close the season on a tear and scare everyone come playoff time. On defense, they are in the tier of absolute game wreckers along with Minnesota and Philadelphia.

4. New Orleans Saints

The Saints being only the 4th seed is a testament to how brutal their schedule is and how wide the conference talent gap is. One of the best rookie classes we have ever seen is another year older and helping lining out one of the deepest rosters in football. Drew Brees is still Drew Brees. Sean Payton is still a genius/ Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram Jr. compliment each other perfectly, although we’ll see how great Kamara truly is while Ingram is suspended the first four weeks of the season. After so many years of being the reason why Brees’ teams never went anywhere, the defense is finally ready to pitch in led by Cameron Jordan and stud sophomores Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams -- although I’m sure there’s a certain play he’d love to forget that makes people overlook an otherwise great rookie season.

5. Atlanta Falcons

Never getting back to capturing their Super Bowl magic last year, expect the Falcons to play closer to their talent this year. Few teams have more weapons on offense than the Falcons, yet they were largely anemic. Hopefully for their sake, another year with Steve Sarkisian calling plays works wonders because it was ugly and if it isn’t fixed he won’t have a job next year. Also, hopefully for their sake, Chick-fil-a rethinks their terrible business model because in all likelihood that’s what was cursing the Falcons and not Sarkisian. Just like Sean Payton is a genius with offense, Dan Quinn is a defensive genius, and the Falcons actually have a lot more talent than you think. The Falcons lose out in a tough division race because it’s hard to believe that they’re just going to suddenly figure it out when their level of competition is as high as the Saints.

6. Green Bay Packers

I like the Packers to steal the final NFC wild-card on the back of one man and one man alone. With new GM Brian Gutekunst the Packers were more aggressive than ever, bringing in big names like Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson, but anyone expecting the Packers’ playoff fate to be decided by a player other than Aaron Rodgers or Anthony Barr is foolish. However, those new names along with incumbents Davante Adams, Mike Daniels, and David Bakhtiari should just barely be enough to propel past the rest in the NFC bloodbath.

AFC

1. New England Patriots

Another year another dominant Patriots season. It doesn’t seem like anyone in the AFC really feels like opposing them anymore. Every other team has obvious and potentially crippling warts while the Patriots keep rolling along even while seemingly hating each other. The pass game is slightly worrisome, especially for the first few games of the season while Edelman is suspended for taking the worst PEDs ever sold, but Josh McDaniels and the Patriots are capable of going into any bar in Boston finding a guy name Keith and getting him open on Sunday. The defense should be better than last year even with the loss of Matt Patricia, though that doesn’t say much. Anyone tired of the reign of the evil dynasty is going to have to keep waiting.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

All those years of being absolutely terrible are finally starting to pay off for Jacksonville. The defense is absurdly loaded at every level. How a team can have arguably the best defensive line and secondary to go with quietly top 10 or even 5 linebackers goes beyond fair. And then you throw in the offensive talent with Leonard Fournette, a great receiving core, and solid o-line. If they just had a good quarterback, I don’t see how the Jaguars lose the Super Bowl. This year, though, I don’t think Blake Bortles looks nearly as bad as years past, partially due to personal improvement, but mainly due to once again being carried by the talent around him.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

If Le’Veon Bell’s holdout extends to the season like it’s starting to look like it might, we might see an entirely different Steelers team. Maybe Antonio Brown doesn’t look as good without defenses keying on a superstar running back. Who knows how Ben Roethlisberger will be affected by teams focusing all their efforts on the passing game? Defensively, and really as a whole, they are as frustratingly inconsistent as they come. One week, they’ll shut you down and the next it’s big play after big play. If Le’veon Bell returns at a decent time and the Steelers are able to get him going, they’ll be just as dangerous as always, but with the way he’s been treated by the franchise, that’s no certainty.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

Based on the injuries we have already seen (Hunter Henry and Jason Verrett, both season-ending), the Chargers did something to anger someone once again. With that being said, the AFC West is looking extremely mediocre this year and the once again strong-on-paper Chargers look poised to take advantage. It’s just unfortunate that we’ve seen this for years now with Los Angeles -- well technically, only a year for any geographers out there -- and each year they just can’t get out of their own way, so I like the Chiefs as a sleeper out West if the Chargers stumble.

5. Tennessee Titans

The Titans are building a team the right way and have a good shot at a better record than the Chargers, possibly the Steelers, but are stuck in the 5th seed behind probably the most talented team in the league in Jacksonville. I think Jacksonville is more likely to win the head-to-head matchups and battles against Houston, which will likely prove to be the difference in this former laughingstock division. Come playoff time, though, Tennessee won’t be the pushover it was last year with a two-headed monster in the backfield, bulldozing offensive line, another year of growth for their quarterback, and a quietly stout defense.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore takes the final playoff spot in the AFC, and while they earn it, they certainly don’t have to fight for it nearly as much as if they switched conferences. Like the Chargers, the Ravens were killed by injuries last year, but unlike the Chargers they have not yet lost two presumed starters for the season. Similar to the Chiefs last year, I expect Joe Flacco to be much better after his team spent a first round pick on a potential replacement. His weapons should also be much improved this year while the defense is terrifying as always. Baltimore’s no joke, but their competition is pretty laughable.

Ben's Super Bowl Prediction Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles

I’m sticking with the Eagles making it through the NFC gauntlet, but now I like the Jaguars to go on a leisurely stroll through their conference. Come game time, the Jaguars better be ready for by far the most physical fight they’ve had. If it goes the way I expect the Eagles will have just played Los Angeles and Minnesota, two of the most physical teams in the league, while Jacksonville will be coming off of tough but more finesse teams like the Patriots and Steelers. I have no doubt the Jaguars will be ready, as this team can maul anyone on either side of the ball. When the Eagles beat the Patriots, almost everyone was wide open. Against the Jaguars, they’ll be lucky to get three easy completions all game. I really think Jacksonville can shut Philly’s offense down to tune of around 10-15 points. The problem for them is can Blake Bortles be remotely competent against a defense that rivals his own? The Jaguars offensive line is solid but the Eagles pass rush is going to embarrass a lot of teams this year and Bortles is going to have to make some throws to give his team a chance. Luckily the Eagles secondary can be suspect at times and the Jaguars have some burners so I’d expect that on one play Jim Schwartz or one of the Eagles corners gets a bit too aggressive and Blake has just enough time to throw a floater to Keelan Cole or Dede Westbrook for a 70 yard difference-making touchdown. If you like points, I hope you enjoyed last year’s show, because these are two of the meanest teams in the league.

Ben's Super Bowl Champions: Jacksonville Jaguars

I can’t say I expected to pick Blake Bortles team when I started this. But Jacksonville is such a strong team they can cover for a weakness, even one that big. They majority of their games are going to be close but that’s the style they play and it prepares them well for playoff-time. There’s not a single team they should fear playing and judging by Jalen Ramsey’s comments, there isn’t. All those years of being awful culminating in a Lombardi Trophy, would you take it for your team?

Will the Jaguars win the Super Bowl? Or is Ben crazy? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to stay tuned for Sam DeCoste's 2018 NFL predictions coming soon, as well the debut of the Franchise Quarterback Podcast!

Works Cited: Delery, Wallace. “Jaguars vs. Steelers Divisional Round: Open Thread.” Canal Street Chronicles, Canal Street Chronicles, 14 Jan. 2018, www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2018/1/14/16875680/jaguars-vs-steelers-divisional-round-open-thread.