By: Owen Simler | Writer
January 8, 2021
For the past 17 weeks, 32 teams have been fighting for a chance to make the playoffs, and hopefully, punch their ticket for Super Bowl LV. After Week 17 of the National Football League (NFL) ended, the 6-game schedule for what is being called “Super Wild Card Weekend” was released. Below are my predictions for who is going to win:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills
This showdown kicks off in icy Buffalo (with temperatures expected to be about 32 degrees) at 10:05 AM on Saturday morning, and will be the first game of the weekend. Experts predict the Bills to win by a fairly large margin of about six points, meaning that the Bills are predicted to out score the Colts by around a touchdown. I can’t image QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs won’t rack up some major points and blow out the Colts. While Phillip Rivers used to be a top ten quarterback, he just isn’t the dynamic athlete that Allen has been this season. “The Bills will overwhelm the Colts in a blowout win,” Senior Matthew Streuter said. “They’ll win be behind a great performance from Josh Allen.” I agree and I think it sums up how this game will play out perfectly. 30-21 Bills
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
At 1:40 PM on Saturday, the Rams will take on division rivals in Seattle. Out of all of the games this weekend, I believe that this game is going to be the closest. Experts from CBS Sports predict the Seahawks winning by three but the NFL experts predict the Rams will win 20-19. In Week 16 of the regular season, the Rams starting QB Jared Goff seriously injured his thumb. He is on the mend but still might not be able to start on Saturday. QB Russell Wilson, on the other side of the field, is still playing phenomenal. I think this game will come down to how well CB Jalen Ramsey, DT Aaron Donald, and the Rams defense overall end up playing. 24-20 Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. The Washington Football Team
The Buccaneers play Washington at home as the final game Saturday evening. Experts predict Tampa Bay to win by about nine points, and this time I agree. The most dangerous player on both of these teams is “playoff Tom Brady.” Whenever Brady heads into the playoffs, he becomes the best quarterback…ever. Brady with TE Robert Gronkowski and WRs Antonio Brown and possibly Mike Evans, are dangerous options for any team. Yet Washington has some momentum on their side; QB Alex Smith became the starter in Week 11, and since then Washington has gone 5-1. Also, rookie Chase Young is a menacing defensive end being quoted by ESPN saying, “I want Tom Brady!” The winner of this game will move on to play QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. 34-17 Buccaneers
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans
On Sunday at 10:05 AM, the Ravens will take on the Titans in Nashville and predictions have Baltimore winning by a field goal. Even though Baltimore has one of the best defenses in the league, RB Derrick Henry is nearly unstoppable. It’s going to be very hard for any team to slow down Henry. Former MVP QB Lamar Jackson will struggle to expose the Titans poor passing defense, forcing him to be swallowed up by the Titans stout run defense. Comparing the two teams, QB Ryan Tannehill has so many more solid options with Henry and WRs AJ Brown and Corey Davis. Jackson won’t be able to outperform Tannehill, even with receiving options in Dez Bryant, Marquise Brown, and Mark Andrews. The winner of this game will be rewarded by playing QB Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who won a first week bye. 30-27 Titans
Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints
The Bears play the Saints in New Orleans at 1:40 PM. Experts have the Saints blowing out the Bears by about ten points. I think QB Drew Brees and star RB Alvin Kamara are going to steamroll defensive end Khalil Mack and the Bears defense. Brees has a top three running game and a top three wide receiver in Mike Thomas (when healthy), so it is very hard to not give the Saints this win. However, there still is a chance RB David Montgomery and WR Allen Robinson put up some major points for the Bears. The sad thing is that there is only so much they can do when playing a top tier team such as the Saints. 33-20 Saints
Cleveland Browns versus Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns head to Pittsburgh at 5:15 PM, with the Steelers projected to win by about a touchdown. For the Steelers, it is all about the passing game. QB Ben Roethlisberger has so many possible targets in WRs Juju Smith-Schuster, Donate Johnson, and Chase Claypool. On the other side of the football, the scariest thing about this team though is the pass rush. DE TJ Watt leads the NFL in sacks (15) and I feel that he will rack up many more against the Browns. QB Baker Mayfield hopes to overturn the odds stacked up against him since this is the first time the Browns have made the playoffs since 2002. Mayfield and RB Nick Chubb could rack up some big points but I think the Steelers will come out on top. “The Steelers and Browns are going to be a good game,” Senior Arya Nemati said. “I hope that the Steelers advance to the next round.” 28-21 Steelers
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