Week 18 NFL Game Predictions: NFL Playoffs
Welcome to Week 18’s NFL Predictions!! We are now in playoffs mode and are looking at the first round of the 2012-2013 NFL Playoffs. Let’s dive right into the action!
AFC:
Game 1: Kansas City (5) @ Baltimore (4)
Match up to watch: Jamaal Charles v.s. Ray Lewis
This is quite an interesting match up. Here we have one of the league’s youngest offenses against one of the league’s most seasoned defenses. I love Kansas City’s speed on offense. The team has a plethora of weapons for Matt Cassel to do damage with. BUT, this Baltimore team is on a mission this season. After coming up short in the 2011-2012 AFC Championship game, I feel as though this team will do whatever it takes to get back to that game. Sorry Kansas City your Super Bowl Dreams end here.
Kansas City – 20 Baltimore – 27
Game 2: Cincinnati (6) @ San Diego (3)
Match up to watch: AJ Green v.s. Marcus Gilchrist
Honestly, I hope this game truly happens in the first round. Cincinnati is such an under rated team and deserves respect. Yes, they are the true “young guns” in the AFC, but this team can do some damage when they want to. San Diego is also a team that deserves more respect than they are given. The team possesses one of the best signal callers in the league, not to mention a fiery defense. These two teams clash nicely against each other, but I like San Diego a bit more than Cincinnati in this one. San Diego has a more well rounded offense and the team’s defense is superior to Cincinnati’s.
Cincinnati – 17 San Diego – 28
Bye: Houston (1), New England (2)
NFC:
Game 1: Dallas (5) @ Atlanta (4)
Match up to watch: Sean Lee v.s. Michael Turner
This is going to be quite an interesting game, to say the least. Dallas has a quarterback in Tony Romo who has never won a playoff game. Did I mention that Atlanta’s Matt Ryan has never won a playoff game either? The winner of this game will face a tough road to the Super Bowl, but both teams have enough talent to survive. I look for Dallas’s defense to try and contain Ryan’s troops for the first half – they may be successful – but there is no way any defense can contain this offense for four quarters. Sorry Tony, maybe next year…
Dallas – 24 Atlanta – 31
Game 2: Detroit (6) @ Philadelphia (3)
Match up to watch: Stephen Tulloch v.s. Lesean McCoy
This is by far, the best Playoff match up of the week. Both teams possess a high powered offense and a fiery defense. Detroit is shaky in the defensive back field, which may be one of the leading factors to a loss. Lesean McCoy is the key to Philadelphia’s success. If Philly hopes to continue towards a Super Bowl, the team must rely on his special skill set. There is no linebacker on Detroit’s roster who can cover this guy in space. I look for Philadelphia to win in a big, and I mean BIG shootout.
Detroit – 35 Philadelphia – 42
Bye: Green Bay (1), San Francisco (2)
Man, it just seems weird not picking any upsets here. All teams are even in every match up regardless of their seeding. Detroit, Kansas City, Cincinnati and Dallas will all have to watch the remainder of the games at their homes. Better luck next year fellas!
On to Week 19, fans!!
Keep your fins up fans!!!
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