That Time of The Year Again!

Football Playoffs are here

Everyone's favorite time of the year is soon. Christmas? Nope, Easter? No again! Well some might say “What is it then?” The only answer I can think of is playoff football time. Something about watching a Sunday night playoff football game and watching your favorite team hopefully win brings joy to many of the 17.9 million fans who watched a regular season football game, and the other couple million who watch the nationally televised Super Bowl each year. 

As of right now, we are entering week 13 of the 18 week extended NFL season. As we near week 18, you will see speculation all over the web as to whether or not your team is gonna make the playoffs or if they do, its always if they make the playoffs will they win the Super Bowl. I’m here to give you the scoop on all 32 teams. 

Starting it off in the AFC East which consists of the New England Patriots (3-10), the New York Jets (3-9), the Buffalo Bills (10-2), and the Miami Dolphins (5-7). The Bills, as of Sunday with a win over the 49ers, clinched the division while also clinching a spot in the playoffs; however, the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots are all heavily disfavored to make the playoffs right now. 

The AFC North consists of the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3), the Baltimore Ravens (8-5), the Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), and the Cleveland Browns (3-9). The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in a tight race with the Baltimore Ravens, who are only one game back from the Steelers, and we will see these two teams battle it out in week 15. For the Bengals and the Browns, both of these teams are practically out of the playoff race at this point in time. 

The AFC South consists of the Houston Texans (8-5), the Indianapolis Colts (6-7), the Tennessee Titans (3-9), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10). Currently the Houston Texans are projected to win this division; however, after a nail biting win over the Patriots this week, the Colts are now vying for a wild card spot. Both the Titans and the Jaguars are not having superb seasons and some might even go as far to say they are having terrible seasons, which practically eliminate them from playoff contention. 

The AFC West consists of the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), the Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), the Denver Broncos (8-5), and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10). Currently the Chiefs have clinched their division and will be a playoff football team, which leaves both the Chargers and the Broncos to battle for a wild card spot with the Raiders out of playoff contention. 

Now moving onto the NFC, the NFC East contains the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2), the Washington Commanders (8-5), the Dallas Cowboys (5-7), and the New York Giants (2-10). With the Giants out of contention, the Cowboys practically out of contention, and the Eagles beating the Ravens on Sunday, the Eagles have clinched a playoff spot, and it also looks like the Commanders will obtain a wild card spot in the playoffs. 

The NFC North consists of the Detroit Lions (11-1), the Minnesota Vikings (10-2), the Green Bay Packers (9-3), and the Chicago Bears (4-8). It looks like this division is a toss up, so only time will tell. I think all three of the Lions, the Vikings, and the Packers will all make the playoffs. 

The NFC South consists of the Atlanta Falcons (6-6), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), the New Orleans Saints (4-8), and the Carolina Panthers (3-9). I think that whoever out of the Falcons or the Buccaneers has a better record and wins the division will make the playoffs, however I think the NFC South will be underrepresented in the playoffs this year. 

The NFC West consists of the Seattle Seahawks (7-5), the Arizona Cardinals (6-6), the Los Angeles Rams (6-6), and the San Francisco 49ers (5-7). I think, similarly to the NFC South, that the winner of this division will make the playoffs but that no one else will. 

Time for my predictions for who will make the Playoffs and who will not. First, with the winners of each division I have the Bills, the Ravens, the Texans, the Chiefs, the Eagles, the Lions (this one will be really close), the Buccaneers, and finally the Seahawks. 

Wild Card predictions: in the NFC I have the Commanders, the Vikings, and the Packers, and in the AFC I have the Steelers, the Chargers, and the Broncos. 

Predictions for the Super Bowl? 

Personally I believe we will see a highly competitive and highly intense Superbowl this year due to the sheer talent of both these teams. I think that the Super Bowl will be the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens. 

Things to look out for: 

1. The Chiefs making an early exit in the Playoffs, look for this team to lose to a team such as the Bills or even the Steelers or Texans.

 2. Josh Allen will show the world why he deserves the respect and title as the best quarterback in the NFL. 

3. The Packers are a true darkhorse in the NFC and have a chance of making a deep run in the NFC championship game or even maybe making the Superbowl.

Oliver Gates