NFL Midseason Playoff Predictions

 

We've finally made it to the midway point of the NFL season, and I thought it would be a great time to make some playoff predictions. 

Some teams, such as the Buffalo Bills (6-2), and Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) have held up to their reputations for being the top two teams in the NFL.

Other teams, such as the Minnesota Vikings (7-1), Philadelphia Eagles (8-0), New York Giants (6-2), and Seattle Seahawks (6-3) have vastly surpassed preseason expectations.

While other squads, such as the Green Bay Packers (3-6), Los Angeles Rams (3-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5), and Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) have mightily disappointed in 2022.

Let's get to it!

z = home field advantage

y = division winners

x = playoff berth

AFC:

AFC East:

1. Buffalo Bills (13-4) (z)

2. Miami Dolphins (11-6) (x)

3. New York Jets (10-7) (x)

4. New England Patriots (8-9)

The guess here is that even with Josh Allen's UCL injury, the Bills (as the most talented team in the league) hang on to not only win the division, but also claim home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs for the first time since 1993. For a team that's come up painfully short in the playoffs over the last couple of years, that development would be huge.

The Dolphins will continue their upward trajectory with Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill playing at extremely high levels, while the New York Jets will make their first postseason appearance since 2010. The Patriots will be competitive, but their extremely inconsistent offence will be the reason why Bill Belichick's squad misses out on the postseason for the 2nd time in three years.

AFC North:

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4) (y)

2. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) (x)

3. Cleveland Browns (7-10)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-12)

The Ravens (currently 6-3) have an easy schedule down the stretch. Led by Lamar Jackson and a reenergized defence led by the newly acquired Roquan Smith, Baltimore will cruise down the stretch to get the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. 

The Bengals (currently 5-4) haven't been as good as I thought they would be, but Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase will still do their thing and led Cincy back to the postseason.

Meanwhile, the return of Deshaun Watson won't be able to save the Browns and the Steelers will finish with their first losing season since 2003, obtaining a top 5 pick in the process.

AFC South:

1. Tennessee Titans (11-6) (y)

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-11)

3. Indianapolis Colts (6-10-1)

4. Houston Texans (2-14-1)

Yeah, this division is pretty bad. 

Tennessee, behind a stout defence and Derrick Henry will clinch the division before December. Even still, I have serious doubts about this team come January, mainly at quarterback and wide receiver.

The Jaguars will finish the season on somewhat of a high note, marking substantial improvement in Doug Pederson's first year coaching the squad. Meanwhile, the Colts will continue to struggle, and the Texans will obtain the number one overall pick in next year's draft.

AFC West:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) (y)

2. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)

3. Denver Broncos (7-10)

4. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)

It's crazy that coming into the season, the AFC West looked like the most vaunted division in the league. But midway through the season, it seems like Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs will cruise to their 7th straight division title. 

The Chargers came into 2022 with very high expectations, but due to injuries, they've been pretty inconsistent so far during this campaign. And I think their up and down play will continue in the second half.

The Russell Wilson era has gotten off to a horrible start in Denver, as it appears that the Broncos' lengthy playoff drought will continue. And after going 7-2 in one score games last year, the Raiders can't pull out a close win for their lives, as they are 0-5 in such contests this season.

Final Standings:

Division winners:

1. Buffalo Bills (13-4) (z)

2. Baltimore Ravens (13-4) (y)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) (y)

4. Tennessee Titans (11-6) (y)

Wildcard teams:

5. Miami Dolphins (11-6) (x)

6. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) (x)

7. New York Jets (10-7) (x)

Wildcard round:

#2 seed Ravens defeat #7 seed Jets 

#3 seed Chiefs defeat #6 seed Bengals

#5 seed Dolphins defeat #4 seed Titans

Divisional round:

#1 seed Bills defeat #5 seed Dolphins

#3 seed Chiefs defeat #2 seed Ravens

AFC Championship Game:

#1 seed Bills defeat #3 seed Chiefs 

NFC:

NFC East:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (15-2) (z)

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-5) (x)

3. New York Giants (10-7) (x)

4. Washington Commanders (8-9)

For the first time since 2006, the NFC East will send three teams to the playoffs.

The Eagles will ride their undefeated start to 15 wins, which would be their most in a season in franchise history (they won 13 games in 2004 and 2017). 

The Cowboys will make the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing so in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, while the Giants will make the the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 

The Commanders will be the only team from this division that won't crack the postseason with 8 wins. It's safe to say the NFC East has come a long way from 2020.

NFC North:

1. Minnesota Vikings: (13-4) (y)

2. Green Bay Packers: (7-10)

3. Chicago Bears: (6-11)

4. Detroit Lions: (3-14)

How the mighty have fallen.

The Minnesota Vikings will easily cruise through and capture the NFC North for the first time since 2017, and for the first time in the Kirk Cousins era under rookie coach Kevin O'Connell.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers (winners of the NFC North for the last three seasons) will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and endure a double-digit loss season for the first time since 2008.

 The Bears will go 6-11 for the second straight season, but with Justin Fields showing immense potential combined with having a bunch of cap space for the 2023 offseason, the future is bright in Chicago.

Meanwhile, the Lions will finish with 3 wins and will receive the 3rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

NFC South:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6) (y)

2. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)

3. New Orleans Saints (5-12)

4. Carolina Panthers (3-14)

This division has been the worst in the NFL this season. But I think one team will begin to emerge as the season comes to a close: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs have surprisingly struggled so far. But they will right the ship (no pun intended) and finish the year on a tear to win their second straight NFC South crown.

The Falcons will finish with 7 wins, which I never could've imagined coming into the season. Head coach Arthur Smith has regularly faced criticism for failing to properly utilize his top weapon in tight end Kyle Pitts. But he's done a really solid job, especially considering the lack of top-end talent on the roster.

The Saints will finish out with their first losing season since 2016, and the Panthers will conclude 2022 with 3 wins, their fewest since 2010.

NFC West:

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) (y)

2. Seattle Seahawks (11-6) (x)

3. Los Angeles Rams (8-9)

4. Arizona Cardinals (4-13)

Led by a dynamic offence featuring Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, the 49ers will win the NFC West for the first time since 2019 (when they made the Super Bowl).

Meanwhile, the Seahawks will continue their surprise run, and make the playoffs for the 10th time in the Pete Carroll era. 

The defending champion Rams will miss the postseason, and in the process become the first defending champion to not make the playoffs the following year since the Denver Broncos in 2016. While Arizona will finish with their fewest wins in a season in the Kyler Murray era, which will result in the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Final Standings:

Division winners:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (15-2) (z)

2. Minnesota Vikings (13-4) (y)

3. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) (y)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6) (y)

Wildcard teams:

5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5) (x)

6. Seattle Seahawks (11-6) (x)

7. New York Giants (10-7) (x)

Wildcard round:

#2 seed Vikings defeat #7 seed Giants

#3 seed 49ers defeat #6 seed Seahawks

#5 seed Cowboys defeat #4 seed Buccaneers

Divisional round:

#5 seed Cowboys defeat #1 seed Eagles

#3 seed 49ers defeat #2 seed Vikings

NFC Championship: 

#3 seed 49ers defeat #5 seed Cowboys

Super Bowl LVII:

Bills defeat 49ers