NFL Playoff Preview

After numerous postponements and through all the troubles of COVID-19 the NFL playoffs are finally here. This will no doubt go down as one of the toughest seasons ever to be completed.  Not just the team who hoists the Lombardi trophy in February should be proud, every single player, coach, and team personal should be proud of what was accomplished this season.  With that being said, it looks like we have an excellent finish ahead to the 2020-2021 NFL season. 

AFC:

Can anyone challenge the Chiefs?

The Chiefs are the favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LV.  Patrick Mahomes is having yet another MVP caliber year and no one appears to be able to stop Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce…or can they?  I believe the Buffalo Bills are playing the best football of any team in the league right now.  Josh Allen might be the hottest quarterback in the league right now.  He lit up the Miami Dolphins last week throwing for 224 and 3 touchdowns despite playing one half.  The week before he torched Bill Belichick’s defense on Monday night football throwing for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Since week 7 the Bills defense has completely turned their season around.  They have been getting to the quarterback, forcing turnovers and flat out flying around the ball.  Look for the red hot Buffalo Bills to make a run to challenge Mahomes and the Chiefs

Are the Ravens poised to make a run?

It was not long ago when the Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday night football in November dropping them to 6-5 on the season.  They dropped three straight and have not lost since.  Granted they only played one team above .500 in the current five-game win streak, nonetheless, there has been drastic improvement in the passing attack for the Ravens which was severely lacking in the regular season.  The Ravens season is eerily similar to the Chiefs Superbowl run as well.  Both quarterbacks were former MVP’s the season before and had rough starts at the beginning of the season only to learn from their mistakes and go on a playoff run.  

NFC:

Will the Seahawks return to their early season success?

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks got off to a hot start in the 2020-2021 NFL season.  It looked like Wilson was on his way to his first-ever MVP award.  Then things started to go south for the quarterback.  He threw a costly 3 interceptions against the Cardinals, with the last one ultimately costing them the game.  Two weeks later he threw another 2 picks in a loss to the Bills and 2 more the next week.  It was clear the offense lost their traction and have not regained it since.  With their defense in the bottom half of the league, their offense was the only thing winning them games.  For the Seahawks to make a run, this offense has to get back to their early-season form.  

Will Brady continue his post season magic with the Buccaneers?

Tom Brady is arguably the best quarterback of all time.  Winning 6 Super bowls with the New England patriots and having won the AFC East 11 straight times.  Now, Tom Brady is in Tampa Bay and he will be leading a franchise that has not been to the playoffs since 2007.  There were a lot of ups and downs with Tom Brady and Bruce Arians this year.  Bruce Arians called out his quarterback after multiple losses which Brady was not used to.  Nonetheless, they made the playoffs and they might be playing their best football of the season.  They finished the season on a 4 game win streak with their offense exploding in each game.  There is no doubt they have talent on defense, but for the Buccaneers to make a run they needed the offense to mesh together and it looks like they have done just that.  Look for Tom Brady to continue his postseason magic with the Buccaneers propelling the Bucc’s to their first Superbowl since 2002.  If Brady wins the Superbowl in Raymond James, we might see Tompa Bay be the new name for the city.