2018 NFL playoff thread

[pete6032]

Post your predictions and discussion here.

Wild card games this weekend:
Titans - Chiefs
Bills - Jaguars
Falcons - Rams
Panthers - Saints

Bye Week - Eagles, Vikings, Patriots, Steelers

My prediction:
NFC Champ = Vikings
AFC Champ = Patriots

Superbowl = Vikings > Patriots

 

[glenn1]

Chiefs and Jags are going to destroy this week. Falcons underrated defense stops Todd Gurley and Julio!!! goes nuts for 250 yards and couple of TD or something. Panthers defense makes life hard for the Saints but NO still pulls out the win.

JAX surprises PIT in week 2. Philly squeaks by ATL. MIN-NO is the game of the year but Minny pulls it out. NE takes out KC in a high scoring game.

NE handles JAX with ease. Minny curb stomps Da Iggles without Wentz. NE over MIN is a hard one to pick for the SB since the only thing that seems it can stop Brady is a big interior pass rush and Minny has a pretty good one but who knows if Case Keenum is going to turn back into a pumpkin.

 

[renz20003]

Rams v stillers

 

[KeithTalent]

No way the Vikings make it that far. I really wish they could, but I actually think the NFC is tough and they will probably lose to the Rams, Saints, or Panthers no matter who gets through. Love the big fat D, but I still don't trust Keenum.

I'm just happy all but 1 of my most hated teams didn't make it into the playoffs.

KT

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I don't know if it was Sean McDermott or their GM, but whoever decided to bench Tyrod Taylor halfway through the season should be fired after the playoffs regardless of outcome.

edit: wrong head coach

 

[BarkingGhostar]

So you guys hating the Pats for what reason this year?

 

[Darwin333]

Old school but I believe!

 

[BUTCH1]

So you guys hating the Pats for what reason this year?

As a Pats fan I agree, our defense has been trouble facing talented offenses all year long. Hightower is out for the season, our 1st round DE didn't make it past pre-season with a torn ACL and Nikovich unexpectedly retired. Bill B signed Gilmoure to a $65 million contract but he's risen to just "OK" in the later parts of the season. Thank God Gronk's healthy, with Edeleman out for the season Brady had looked lost a few times. If the Steelers can be at full strength in an AFC championship game they will cause huge problems. Oh, KC, (who has arisen from the dead quite nicely), already beat the Pats in Foxborough and quite handily in week one.

 

[BUTCH1]

Can't say enough for the Bills fans, after Andy Dalton threw the dart, (on a 4th+12 play), that wound up winning the game last weekend the Bill's fans have donated over $300,000 to Dalton's foundation in Cincinnati that helps family's with disabled children. Talk about a win/win/win, the Bill's get propelled into the playoff's for the 1st time in 17 years, thousands on needy family's will get assistance and oh yea, that sniveling bag of puke Harbaugh gets to go the fu** home and shut the fu** up. The deafening roar of the stunned crowd expecting a Raven victory followed by a you could hear a mouse squeak silence was priceless. No one circles the wagons like the Bills indeed!.

 

[glenn1]

As a Pats fan I agree, our defense has been trouble facing talented offenses all year long. Hightower is out for the season, our 1st round DE didn't make it past pre-season with a torn ACL and Nikovich unexpectedly retired. Bill B signed Gilmoure to a $65 million contract but he's risen to just "OK" in the later parts of the season. Thank God Gronk's healthy, with Edeleman out for the season Brady had looked lost a few times. If the Steelers can be at full strength in an AFC championship game they will cause huge problems. Oh, KC, (who has arisen from the dead quite nicely), already beat the Pats in Foxborough and quite handily in week one.

The Pats D is much improved from the start of the year but agreed it's nothing like it was last year. But then again you can say the same thing for the Chiefs D compared to last year. Hopefully Antonio Brown is healthy again in Divisional Round but PIT has the weapons and good defense to beat JAX even without him. Of course JAX is no cupcake this year either and Bortles has the same fire lit under him now that Alex Smith did to start this year, BB has just been killing it the last month.

I continue to think the Saints are the most well rounded team in the entire playoff field this year and wouldn't be surprised if they took the whole shebang. It's scary how well they've duplicated the formula from their Super Bowl win year only with improved players (Ingram > Reggie Bush, Kamara > Pierre Thomas, Michael Thomas > Marques Colston, etc).

 

[glenn1]

2018 AP all-pro selections announced. Think Keenan Allen should have gotten 2nd team over Julio but understand why that pick was made. Otherwise pretty satisfied with this list. Shady McCoy might feel like he got jobbed by having Kamara picked over him but the rook was amazing this year.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England

Running Back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Flex: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Wide Receivers: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston

Left Tackle: Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams

Right Tackle: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia

Left Guard: Andrew Norwell, Carolina

Right Guard: David DeCastro, Pittsburgh

Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia

DEFENSE

Edge Rushers: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans

Interior Linemen: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh

Linebackers: Chandler Jones, Arizona; Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Bobby Wagner, Seattle

Cornerbacks: Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville; Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota

Safeties: Kevin Byard, Tennessee; Harrison Smith, Minnesota

Defensive Back: Darius Slay, Detroit

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker: Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams

Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams

Kick Returner: Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams

Punt Returner: Jamal Agnew, Detroit

Special Teamer: Budda Baker, Arizona

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia

Running Back: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh

Flex: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans

Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City

Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Atlanta; Adam Thielen, Minnesota

Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay

Right Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City, and Daryl Williams, Carolina

Left Guard: Rodger Saffold, Los Angeles Rams

Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas

Center: Alex Mack, Atlanta

DEFENSE

Edge Rushers: Everson Griffen, Minnesota; Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas

Interior Linemen: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville

Linebackers: Von Miller, Denver; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore; Telvin Smith, Jacksonville

Cornerbacks: Casey Hayward, Los Angles Chargers; A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Seattle; Micah Hyde, Buffalo

Defensive Back: Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota

SPECIAL TEAMS

Place kicker: Brett Kern, Tennessee

Kick Returner: Tyler Lockett, Seattle

Punt Returner: Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams

Special Teamer: Matthew Slater, New England

 

[Ken g6]

This is such a weird year! Of the teams that are in the playoffs this year, only the Patriots, Steelers, and Falcons were in the playoffs last year. Only the Chiefs, Panthers, Vikings (barely), Patriots and Steelers were in the year before. It's been at least 4 years since any of the other half of the teams playing this year were in the playoffs; I didn't search further back.

 

[RLGL]

From Mn. I am holding my breath, waiting to see if history can be made.
The Vikes have lost four in the past, Bud Grant at ninety is still on the payroll and has an office at the HQ. Is this the year???????????????

 

[BUTCH1]

The Pats D is much improved from the start of the year but agreed it's nothing like it was last year. But then again you can say the same thing for the Chiefs D compared to last year. Hopefully Antonio Brown is healthy again in Divisional Round but PIT has the weapons and good defense to beat JAX even without him. Of course JAX is no cupcake this year either and Bortles has the same fire lit under him now that Alex Smith did to start this year, BB has just been killing it the last month.

I continue to think the Saints are the most well rounded team in the entire playoff field this year and wouldn't be surprised if they took the whole shebang. It's scary how well they've duplicated the formula from their Super Bowl win year only with improved players (Ingram > Reggie Bush, Kamara > Pierre Thomas, Michael Thomas > Marques Colston, etc).

I like how the Saints are rounded, but the defense didn't play very well last week, probably just an aberration, but allowing 18 points to the Buc's in the 4th qtr was not good to see.

 

[darkswordsman17]

This is such a weird year! Of the teams that are in the playoffs this year, only the Patriots, Steelers, and Falcons were in the playoffs last year. Only the Chiefs, Panthers, Vikings (barely), Patriots and Steelers were in the year before. It's been at least 4 years since any of the other half of the teams playing this year were in the playoffs; I didn't search further back.

Chiefs were the #2 seed in the AFC last year.

 

[KMFJD]

2018 AP all-pro selections announced. Think Keenan Allen should have gotten 2nd team over Julio but understand why that pick was made. Otherwise pretty satisfied with this list. Shady McCoy might feel like he got jobbed by having Kamara picked over him but the rook was amazing this year.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England

Running Back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Flex: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Wide Receivers: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston

Left Tackle: Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams

Right Tackle: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia

Left Guard: Andrew Norwell, Carolina

Right Guard: David DeCastro, Pittsburgh

Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia

DEFENSE

Edge Rushers: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans

Interior Linemen: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh

Linebackers: Chandler Jones, Arizona; Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Bobby Wagner, Seattle

Cornerbacks: Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville; Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota

Safeties: Kevin Byard, Tennessee; Harrison Smith, Minnesota

Defensive Back: Darius Slay, Detroit

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker: Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams

Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams

Kick Returner: Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams

Punt Returner: Jamal Agnew, Detroit

Special Teamer: Budda Baker, Arizona

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia

Running Back: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh

Flex: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans

Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City

Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Atlanta; Adam Thielen, Minnesota

Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay

Right Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City, and Daryl Williams, Carolina

Left Guard: Rodger Saffold, Los Angeles Rams

Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas

Center: Alex Mack, Atlanta

DEFENSE

Edge Rushers: Everson Griffen, Minnesota; Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas

Interior Linemen: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville

Linebackers: Von Miller, Denver; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore; Telvin Smith, Jacksonville

Cornerbacks: Casey Hayward, Los Angles Chargers; A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Seattle; Micah Hyde, Buffalo

Defensive Back: Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota

SPECIAL TEAMS

Place kicker: Brett Kern, Tennessee

Kick Returner: Tyler Lockett, Seattle

Punt Returner: Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams

Special Teamer: Matthew Slater, New England

That's a weird list, a couple of people being all pro and 2nd team all pro in a different position? (Calias Campbell, Leveon Bell, Xavier Rhodes)

 

[GagHalfrunt]

So you guys hating the Pats for what reason this year?

They're the Pats, that's reason enough.

I don't have a dog in this fight, my Giants shit the bed repeatedly and missed out by a mile. Usually even in the case when the Giants are out I'm still interested in the playoffs. This year though I'm just not feeling it. None of those first round matchups look all that interesting. Maybe the NCAA New Years Day bowl games spoiled me by being so good, but looking at these on paper I wouldn't be shocked to see at least three blowouts and no games that come down to the wire.

 

[herrjimbo]

Half-time and the Chiefs are winning 21 - 3. Alex Smith is the man.

 

[zerocool84]

Crazy TD by Mariota

 

[BUTCH1]

Half-time and the Chiefs are winning 21 - 3. Alex Smith is the man.

All of a sudden the Chief's offense can't buy even a 1st down, Kelsey's out so Smith and that offense better adapt quickly to his absence, the Titan's have turned this into a physical slug-fest and are taking it to KC. Amazingly, they are still hanging close despite a dropped punt on their own 29, a INT, 4-5 dropped passe's as well.

 

[BoomerD]

Crazy TD by Mariota

Yep...Mariota to....Mariota!

 

[purbeast0]

This is going to be one of Andy Reid's biggest choke jobs ever if the Titans hold on. Glad this turned into an entertaining game though.

 

[zerocool84]

This is going to be one of Andy Reid's biggest choke jobs ever if the Titans hold on. Glad this turned into an entertaining game though.

Gahh I had to go do something with the wife after halftime so I missed this comeback. When I left the game I was like ehh I'm not going to miss much but obviously I did.

 

[BUTCH1]

This is going to be one of Andy Reid's biggest choke jobs ever if the Titans hold on. Glad this turned into an entertaining game though.

Meh, I don't see any deficiencies in the KC game plan, Tennessee is just playing with a smash-mouth intensity the Chief's seem to have no answer for, nothing fancy going on in the Titan game plan that was unexpected, just physical domination on both sides of the ball. I thought at 21-3 it was almost time to change the channel, glad I stayed!.

 

[BUTCH1]

Gahh I had to go do something with the wife after halftime so I missed this comeback. When I left the game I was like ehh I'm not going to miss much but obviously I did.

LOL, yea, you did, usually when a team, (at an away game) has a muffed punt for a turnover, an INT, several dropped passes, they usually don't even compete much less win!.