With the contestants in the NFL playoffs now decided, it’s time to look into the crystal ball and see how the post-season will unfold.
Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts
The Chiefs have had an unexpectedly amazing season – going from a league worst 2-14 in 2012 to an equal-sixth best record 11-5 in 2013.
It has been a remarkable turnaround, all on the back of the hiring of head coach Andy Reid, the recruitment of usurped 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and the revelation of running back Jamaal Charles.
The Colts have achieved the same record as the Chiefs this year, but with much less fanfare.
Higher expectations, the paucity of competition in the AFC South and some shocking results against mediocre opposition in 2013 make it seem like the Chiefs have everything going for them going into this game.
But what the Colts have done well this year is step up in big games. They have defeated fellow playoff team the 49ers, were the first team to stop the Broncos juggernaut this year, have defeated the clear favourite for the 2013 title the Seattle Seahawks and easily defeated the Chiefs just two weeks ago.
While the focus will be on the Chiefs’ dream run this year, the Colts will get the job done at home in yet another big game.
Winner: Colts
New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Saints are another team that have put a poor 2012 behind them, starting 2013 like a house on fire and at one stage being 9-2.
Drew Brees is pulling the strings at quarterback and Rex Ryan has done a great job to transform the defence from a poor showing last season.
The Eagles reached the playoffs from the other direction – starting the season 3-5 before a Nick Foles-led resurrection saw them take out the NFC East with a 10-6 record to enter the post-season as one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
This momentum disparity, along with the fact the Eagles get to host the not-too-well-travelled Saints in sunny Philadelphia, will see Chip Kelly’s side progress from the Wild Card Round.
Winner: Eagles
San Diego Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Chargers snuck into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth – this fact alone should alert the rest of the league that they will be a playoff threat.
In 2012, the Baltimore Ravens stumbled into the playoffs on the back of four losses out of their last five games and edged out the Bengals to take out the AFC North.
Then they just kept winning. And winning. And winning. And won the Super Bowl.
The Chargers can sneak under the radar the same way if they find some of the form they had in the regular season, which saw them defeat the Colts, the Chiefs (twice) and the Broncos, sending them into the post-season on a four-game win streak.
The Bengals have had a very inconsistent season and benefited from an ordinary season in the AFC North.
They have had quite an easy schedule this season, only playing four teams that made the playoffs this year. Even then, two of those snuck into the playoffs on the last day.
They have been very unspectacular but have been getting the Ws required. They just don’t have the ‘next gear’ required when times get tough – and making things tough is what the Chargers are capable of doing.
Winner: Chargers
San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers
The 49ers had a slow start to the season but have ended it as a team feared and well in form – trademarks of a Superbowl-winning team. With the quality across the field and experience from last year’s heartbreak of losing in The Big Dance they will be focussed and will be tough to stop this postseason.
And the Packers will not be the team to stop them. Barely scraping into the playoffs, more due to the incompetence of their NFC North rivals than their own sterling efforts, they have faced problems with injuries to key personnel all season – in particular to key defensive players.
Even with Aaron Rodgers back, the 9ers have too much going for them and will repeat last year’s playoff win over the Packers.
Winner: 49ers
Week 2
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are the best and most feared team in the NFL. Period.
And with good reason – extraordinary secondary, one of the best wuarterbacks in the league and an in-form offensive line. They came into the playoffs with the best record in the league and it will be hard to see anyone stopping them.
They will be fresh coming into this game versus the 49ers, they will be at their fortress of a home ground and they will be looking to right the wrongs of last year’s playoff heartbreak against the Falcons.
While the 49ers will be worthy opponents, they will not stand in Seattle’s way.
Winner: Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are one of the stories of the season so far.
Coming off a poor 2012 in which they finished second in their division (or depending how you want to read it, last, as all teams apart from division-winning Atlanta had a 7-9 record), they finished their 2013 season strongly to win the NFC South from the Saints.
They ended the season winning 11 of their last 12 games to be one of the form teams in this year’s playoffs. With a mean defence and an offence lead by the mercurial Cam Newton, the Panthers are dark horses for the Super Bowl this year.
They are talented enough and strong enough to end the Eagles season at this point.
It all depends on whether or not the Panthers can remain calm under the pressure and what kind of performance we see from the Eagles, but Carolina should have enough in the locker to progress to the NFC Championship Game.
Winner: Panthers
San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have long been considered a 2013 Super Bowl favourite – with legendary quarterback Peyton Manning pulling the strings to complement a strong roster, it’s hard not to see why.
Eager to eradicate last season’s post-season heartbreak, the Broncos will be wiser to the task at hand. Like last year they have cruised into the playoffs and come into the post-season as one of the teams to beat.
Given the Broncos’ choke last year it is tempting to back the Chargers as the outsiders. It will be closer than many people think, but the Broncos will get the job done.
Winner: Broncos
Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots
New England – the most fortunate team in the NFL, to be part of the AFC East. I can’t recall the last time they failed to make the playoffs. But once there, they are always contenders.
And with legends Tom Brady and Bill Belichick steering the ship, they have enough know-how to beat any team. Just look at their miraculous comeback win against the Broncos last month.
While they haven’t looked at their all-conquering best this year, they are still worthy candidates.
And while I am tempted to say they will show why in this game, I think the Colts will have the strong hand which will see them pull off the upset and march into the AFC Championship Game.
Winner: Colts
Week 3
Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks
Seattle won the Week 1 meeting between the two sides, in a tight match which was an indication of things to come.
By virtue of Seattle’s home ground advantage, they will get the job done in a tight encounter.
Winner: Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver
Will Denver choke again? They will be playing opponents who have already beaten them this season.
In fact, the Colts were the first team to beat the Broncos, who at that point were making a claim to join the ’72 Dolphins as teams to go undefeated throughout the regular and post season.
It will not be easy for Denver – in fact, it will be too difficult.
Winner: Colts
Super Bowl
Indianapolis Colts versus Seattle Seahawks
It’s never easy to call the Super Bowl with any confidence. But since I’ve come this far, why not one more?
I refer to my previous comment: “The Seahawks are the best and most feared team in the NFL. Period.”
Winner: Seahawks
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