NFL Playoff Predictions

 AFC
Wild Card Round
2 Buf over 7 Ind 35-13
6 Cle over 3 Pit 27-21
5 Bal over 4 Ten 24-14

Divisional Round
1 KC over Cle 38-17
Buf over Bal 23-17

AFC Championship
Buf over KC 41-37

NFC
Wild Card Round
2 NO over 7 Chi 24-3
3 Sea over 6 LAR 34-31
5 TB over 4 Was 45-6

Divisional Round
1 GB over TB 35-24
NO over Sea 15-10

NFC Championship
GB over NO 38-28

Super Bowl LV
Buf over GB27-21

Top 5 QBs Now

This list takes more into account than one pass, one game, or even one season. But it's not a list one the best who happen to be active. It also isn't a prediction of what will happen either. Injuries are not ignored. The previous list was posted on February 27, 2019.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Patrick Mahomes	(5)
2	Russell Wilson	(4)
3	Drew Brees	(2)
4	Tom Brady	(1)
5	Lamar Jackson	(NR)

2020 NFL Playoff Preictions

AFC
5 Buffalo over 4 Houston 17-13
3 New England over 6 Tennessee 20-10

1 Baltimore over Buffalo 17-16
2 Kansas City over 3 New England 24-9

Kansas City over Baltimore 45-32

NFC
5 Seattle over 4 Philadelphia 23-12
3 New Orleans over 6 Minnesota 35-14

Seattle over 1 San Francisco 27-23
New Orleans over 2 Green Bay 31-20

Super Bowl LIV
Kansas City over New Orleans 35-31

Top 5 QBs, RBs, WRs Now

This list takes more into account than one pass, one game, or even one season. But it's not a list one the best who happen to be active. It also isn't a prediction of what will happen either. Injuries are not ignored. The previous list was posted on February 23, 2018.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Tom Brady	(1)
2	Drew Brees	(2)
3	Aaron Rodgers	(4)
4	Russell Wilson	(NR)
5	Pat Mahomes	(NR)

Running Backs

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Todd Gurley	(3)
2	Ezekiel Elliot	(5)
3	Alvin Kamara	(NR)
4	Saquon Barkley	(NR)
5	Joe Mixon	(NR)

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Julio Jones	(2)
2	Antonio Brown	(1)
3	DeAndre Hopkins	(4)
4	Tyreek Hill	(5)
5	Michael Thomas	(NR)

2019 NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC

Wild Card Round

5 LAC (12-4) over 4 Bal (10-6) 24-9

3 Hou (11-5) over 6 Ind (10-6) 20-17

Divisional Round

1 KC (12-4) over 5 LAC 34-31

3 Hou over 2 NE (11-5) 27-16

AFC Championship

KC over Hou 35-17

NFC

Wild Card Round

6 Phi (9-7) over 3 Chi (12-4) 12-9

5 Sea (10-6) over 4 Dal (10-6) 21-20

Divisional Round

1 NO (13-3) over 6 Phi 27-10

2 LAR over 5 Sea 38-21

NFC Championship

NO over LAR 41-33

Super Bowl LIII

New Orleans over Kansas City 38-24

Top 5 QBs, RBs, WRs Now

This list takes more into account than one pass, one game, or even one season. But it's not a list one the best who happen to be active. It also isn't a prediction of what will happen either. Injuries are not ignored. The previous list was posted on February 22, 2017.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Tom Brady	(1)
2	Drew Brees	(3)
3	Matt Ryan	(5)
4	Aaron Rodgers	(2)
5	Ben Roethlisberger	(4)

Running Backs

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Le'Veon Bell	(1)
2	LeSean McCoy	(4)
3	Todd Gurley	(NR)
4	Kareem Hunt	(NR)
5	Ezekiel Elliot	(2)

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Antonio Brown	(1)
2	Julio Jones	(2)
3	Larry Fitzgerald	(NR)
4	DeAndre Hopkins	(NR)
5	Tyreek Hill	(NR)

2018 NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC
Wild Card Round
6 Buffalo over 3 Jacksonville 21-10
4 Kansas City over 5 Tennessee 27-14

Divisional Round
1 New England over 6 Buffalo 24-23
2 Pittsburgh over 4 Kansas City 13-10

AFC Championship
2 Pittsburgh over 1 New England 17-13

NFC
Wild Card Round
6 Atlanta over 3 LA Rams 35-27
4 New Orleans over 5 Carolina 24-14

Divisional Round
6 Atlanta over 1 Philadelphia 28-3
4 New Orleans over 2 Minnesota 20-17

NFC Championship
4 New Orleans over 6 Atlanta 31-17

Super Bowl LII'
New Orleans over Pittsburgh 28-23

New NFL Division Format Proposal

The NFL playoff format should be changed by combining divisions. Here's the plan: The NFC South and East divisions would be combined. The NFC North and West would be another division. In the AFC, the North and East would come together and so would the AFC South and West.

Teams in the same current divisions would play each other twice while teams would play the other four teams in their new division once. Four games would be played against teams in the opposing conference in the same current four year rotation. The remaining two games would be against teams in the same conference but different division.

Current AFC standings
1) Pit 10-2
2) NE 10-2
3) Ten 8-4
4) KC 6-6
5) Jax 8-4
6) Bal 7-5

AFC in New Format
1) Pit 10-2
2) Ten 8-4
3) NE 10-2
4) Jax 8-4
5) Bal 7-5
6) KC 6-6

The only scenario where the new format is less fair is when the top teams would be in the same division as is the case here with Pittsburgh and New England. Otherwise, instead of Kansas City having an undeserved home game in the wild car round, they would be on the road at New England- a much fairer situation. There would be two out of two hot division races, and a four-way tie for the final spot.

Current NFC standings
1) Min 10-2
2) Phi 10-2
3) LAR 9-3
4) NO 9-3
5) Sea 8-4
6) Car 8-4

NFC in New Format
1) Min 10-2
2) Phi 10-2
3) LAR 9-3
4) NO 9-3
5) Sea 8-4
6) Car 8-4

While the seedings would be the same right now, the new format would Include two out of two tight division races. Right now, the East and North are all but over. In the new format, New Orleans would trail Philly by just one game and the Ram would be one back of Minnesota.

Top 5 QBs, RBs, WRs Now

This list takes more into account than one pass, one game, or even one season. But it's not a list one the best who happen to be active. It also isn't a prediction of what will happen either. Injuries are not ignored. The previous list was posted on February 18, 2016.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Tom Brady	(1)
2	Aaron Rodgers	(2)
3	Drew Brees	(3)
4	Ben Roethlisberger	(NR)
5	Matt Ryan	(NR)

Running Backs

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Le'Veon Bell	(2)
2	Ezekiel Elliot	(NR)
3	DeMarco Murray	(NR)
4	LeSean McCoy	(NR)
5	David Johnson	(NR)

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	(Previous Rank)
1	Antonio Brown	(1)
2	Julio Jones	(2)
3	Odell Beckham	(5)
4	T.Y. Hilton	(NR)
5	Mike Evans	(NR)

NFL Playoff Predictions

Check out what the playoff matchups would look like if the NFL did things in a fairer way.

NFC
Seattle over Detroit 17-9
Green Bay over NY Giants 35-31

Seattle over Atlanta 24-20
Dallas over Green Bay 31-21

Seattle over Dallas 20-13

AFC
Pittsburgh over Miami 38-10
Houston over Oakland 13-3

New England over Houston 45-3
Kansas City over Pittsburgh 24-15

New England over Kansas City 27-24 OT

Super Bowl LI
Seattle over New England 31-27

New NFL Format Update

Check out last week's explanation of a potentially much fairer division breakdown in the NFL.

Current AFC standings:
1) NE 11-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Pit 8-5
4) Hou 7-6
5) Oak  10-3
6) Den 8-5

AFC in New Format:
1) NE 11-2
2) KC 10-3
3) Oak 10-3
4) Pit 8-5
5) Den 8-5
6) Mia 8-5

Right now, Oakland would have to travel to Houston in the Wild Card round to face a team with 3 fewer wins! The new format is much fairer. It also would be more exiting. Seven teams are between 8-5 and 6-7 and would all have a shot at the last 3 playoff spots. As it is, the Colts at 6-7 have a significantly better chance to make the playoffs as the 4th seed than Buffalo at 6-7 does as the 6th seed, which makes no sense.

Current NFC standings:
1) Dal 11-2
2) Det 9-4
3) Sea 8-4-1
4) Atl 8-5
5) NYG 9-4
6) Tam 8-5

NFC in New Format:
1) Dal 11-2
2) Det 9-4
3) NYG 9-4
4) Sea 8-4-1
5) Atl 8-5
6) Tam 8-5

The Giants just beat the best team in the league. They did not improve their seed in the current format and have virtually no hope of finishing better than the 5th seed because of the absurdity of the current format. That means the Giants wouldn't get a home game int he Wild Card round even if they went 12-4 as long as Dallas wins or ties one game. In the new format, the Giants moved up to 4th and could realistically finish as high as 3rd. The new format is much fairer.

Top 5 QBs, RBs, WRs Now

This list takes more into account than one pass, one game, or even one season. But it's not a list one the best who happen to be active. It also isn't a prediction of what will happen either. Injuries are not ignored. The previous list was posted on February 19, 2015.

Quarterbacks

Rank	David's	(PR)	Mike's	(Previous Rank)
1	Tom Brady	(2)	Tom Brady	(2)
2	Aaron Rodgers	(3)	Cam Newton	(NR)
3	Drew Brees	(4)	Carson Palmer	(NR)
4	Russell Wilson	(NR)	Russell Wilson	(NR)
5	Cam Newton	(NR)	Aaron Rodgers	(1)

Running Backs

Rank	David's	(PR)	Mike's	(Previous Rank)
1	Adrian Peterson	(NR)	Adrian Peterson	(NR)
2	Le'Veon Bell	(2)	Le'Veon Bell	(4)
3	Doug Martin	(NR)	Doug Martin	(NR)
4	Todd Gurley	(NR)	Todd Gurley	(NR)
5	Matt Forte	(NR)	Devonta Freeman	(NR)

Wide Receivers

Rank	David's	(PR)	Mike's	(Previous Rank)
1	Antonio Brown	(2)	Antonio Brown	(2)
2	Julio Jones	(3)	Julio Jones	(4)
3	Calvin Johnson	(1)	DeAndre Hopkins	(NR)
4	A.J. Green	(NR)	Odell Beckham	(NR)
5	Odell Beckham	(NR)	A.J. Green	(NR)

2016 NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC
3 Cin over 6 Pit 17-12
5 KC over 4 Hou 28-10

2 NE over 3 Cin 24-14
5 KC over 1 Den 31-28

5 KC over 2 NE 21-20

NFC
6 Sea over 3 Min 27-13
4 Was over 5 GB 17-14

1 Car over 6 Sea 23-17
2 Ari over 4 Was 31-7

1 Car over 2 Ari 24-20

Super Bowl L
Carolina over Kansas City 31-21

NFL Playoff Predictions

AFC Wild Card
6 Bal over 3 Pit 24-14
4 Ind over 5 Cin 21-9

NFC Wild Card
3 Dal over 6 Det 17-10
5 Ari over 4 Car 14-6

AFC Division
1 NE over 6 Bal 35-10
2 Den over 4 Ind 27-14

NFC Division
1 Sea over 5 Ari 21-0
3 Dal over 2 GB 38-35

AFC Championship
NE over Den 26-21

NFC Championship
Dal over Sea 14-12

Super Bowl XL
NE over Dal 41-24

Fixing the Unfair NFL Playoff System

The NFC is extremely unfair. In the NFL combined their existing division to form two eight-team divisions, things would be far more fair. The NFC East and South would link and so would the AFC East and North.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 12-3; 2) Den 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 10-4-1; 4) Indy 10-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 10-5; 6) SD 9-6.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 12-3; 2) Den 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 10-4-1; 4) Pit 10-5.
Road playoff games: 5) Ind 10-5; 6) SD 9-6.

The current format takes away a lot of potential drama. Indy is going to have a home playoff game and has very little to play for. In the new format, Indy/Den would go to a deep tie-breaker if Denver loses and Indy wins. Indy could finish as high as 2nd or as low as 6th in the new format.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-4; 2) Det 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Dal 11-4; 4) Car 6-8-1.
Road playoff games: 5) GB 11-4; 6) Ari 11-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Sea 11-4; 2) Dal 11-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 11-4; 4) GB 11-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Ari 11-4; 6) Phi 9-6.

All six teams would have clinched had the NFL gone to the new format. Dallas would have clinched the South/East division. The North/West division would just about be the most exciting finish in NFL history. Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, and Arizona would all have a shot at the bye. Only one would be on the road in the Wild Card round. Instead, the winner of Carolina and Atlanta, who will finish under .500, will earn a home playoff game. The best case scenario is that the NFC South winner will be 3.5 games worse than their visiting playoff opponent. It's possible that Atlanta could be 5 games worse than their playoff opponent!

Updated NFL Standings, Current and Proposed

Continuing the weekly update of what the playoff picture should be. In short, in the NFC, the East and South would form a division and the West and North would form the other. In the AFC, the East and North would be one division and the West and South would be the other.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 11-3; 2) Den 11-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 10-4; 4) Cin 9-4-1.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 9-5; 6) Bal 9-5.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 11-3; 2) Den 11-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 10-4; 4) Cin 9-4-1.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 9-5; 6) Bal 9-5.

The AFC playoffs are fair all around as of now. One thing we miss out with the current format is division races. In the North/East, Cincy would be a game back of New England. In the South/West, Denver would be only a game up on Indy- instead, both have clinched their division titles.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 11-3; 2) Det 10-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Dal 10-4; 4) NO 6-8.
Road playoff games: 5) Sea 10-4; 6) GB 10-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 11-3; 2) Dal 10-4.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 10-4; 4) Sea 10-4.
Road playoff games: 5) GB 10-4; 6) Phi 9-5.

In the NFC, there are clearly 6 top teams. They won't all get in under the current format. In the new format, they all would make it in.

It would be exciting to see where all 6 teams wind up. They could all finish with road games in the Wild Card round or byes. Unfortunately, we've been stripped of that possibility. Instead, one of the six will be unfairly excluded and an inferior team from the NFC South will make it in.

The New NFL Division Format Update

Continuing the weekly update of what the playoff picture should be. In short, in the NFC, the East and South would form a division and the West and North would form the other. In the AFC, the East and North would be one division and the West and South would be the other.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 10-3; 2) Den 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 9-4; 4) Cin 8-4-1.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 8-5; 6) SD 8-5.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 10-3; 2) Den 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Ind 9-4; 4) Cin 8-4-1.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 8-5; 6) SD 8-5.

Things are as they should be in the AFC at the moment. The big difference between the current system and the new system is with the new division alignment, there would be a lot more up in the air, which makes for more drama. Currently, only one of the four division races in the AFC is closer than two games. In the new alignment, Cincy would be a game and a half back of New England for the North/East lead. In the South/West, Denver would be up only one game on Indy.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 10-3; 2) GB 10-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 9-4; 4) Atl 5-8.
Road playoff games: 5) Sea 9-4; 6) Det 9-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 10-3; 2) Phi 9-4.
Home playoff games: 3) GB 10-3; 4) Sea 9-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Det 9-4; 6) Dal 9-4.

In the NFC, there are clearly 6 best teams. They won't all get in under the current format. In the new format, they all would make it in.

There is one way the new format is less than fair than the current one (and many ways that it's far more fair). Green Bay and Arizona would both be in the same division, so only one would get a bye. Philly would be up in the South/East, so Philly would currently be in line for the other bye. That isn't fair, because Green Bay currently has a better record than Philly, but it's a hell of a lot more fair than Atlanta getting in and one of the 9-4 teams not making it.

NFL Realignment Update

Continuing the weekly update of what the playoff picture should be. In short, in the NFC, the East and South would form a division and the West and North would form the other. In the AFC, the East and North would be one division and the West and South would be the other.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 9-3; 2) Den 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 8-3-1; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) SD 8-4; 6) Mia 7-5.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 9-3; 2) Den 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 8-3-1; 4) Ind 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) SD 8-4; 6) Mia 7-5.

Things are pretty fair in the AFC at the moment. The one big difference the new format would improve is the Colts would be in the thick of the playoff chase. They would be ahead of San Diego using the 5th tie-breaker and would be only a game ahead of the six teams tied at 7-5. As it stands in the current format, they're two games ahead of Houston for the South division lead.

The race for the division titles would also be more interesting. New England would be a half game ahead of Cincy. Denver would be a game up on Indy and San Diego. Division winners would get a bye.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-3; 2) GB 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 9-3; 4) Atl 5-7.
Road playoff games: 5) Sea 8-4; 6) Det 8-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-3; 2) Phi 9-3.
Home playoff games: 3) GB 9-3; 4) Sea 8-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Det 8-4; 6) Dal 8-4.

The NFC in 2014 is the reason why the NFL should change. It's pretty simple; Atlanta is 5-7 and doesn't deserve to make the playoffs. They'd be in a 5-way tie for 8th in the new alignment, 3 games out of playoff position. Instead, one team is going to get screwed royally. Right now, Dallas loses a three-way tie for the 5th and 6th spots in the current NFL format. San Fran is 7-5 and could also be the screwed team. In the new format, all of the 8-4 teams are in with San Fran a game out, as it should be.

The NFC North and West division in the new format would be quite exciting. Arizona and Green Bay would be tied at 9-3 for first with Seattle and Detroit just a game back. Arizona and Seattle would play each other twice and so would Green Bay and Detroit. Arizona and Seattle would each play Detroit and Green Bay once in the new alignment. Think about all of the high-level football to decide a division!

NFL Realignment Update

Last week was the first time this year, I showed what the playoffs would look like with a simple realignment. Each conference would have two divisions. Each team would play the three other teams in their current division twice and the four new teams in their division once. The AFC East and North would be one division and the South and West would be another. In the NFC, the East and South would be one division and the West and North would be the other.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 9-2; 2) Den 8-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 7-3-1; 4) Ind 7-4.
Road playoff games: 5) KC 7-4; 6) SD 7-4.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 9-2; 2) Den 8-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 7-3-1; 4) Pit 7-4.
Road playoff games: 5) Ind 7-4; 6) KC 7-4.

There are six teams in the AFC tied at 7-4. In the NFL, tie-breakers involving three or more teams are essentially come down to conference record, although ties are first broken within the division, which is weird. For the new format, I simply broke the ties with conference record. Pit and Indy are both 6-3 in the conference and since Pit beat Indy, they are in the 4th spot. KC and SD are both 5-3 and KC beat SD earlier this year.

In the NFL's format, Indy has a comfortable lead for the fourth spot because the next best team in their division is 5-6.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-2; 2) GB 8-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 8-3; 4) Atl 4-7.
Road playoff games: 5) Dal 8-3; 6) Sea 7-4.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-2; 2) Phi 8-3.
Home playoff games: 3) GB 8-3; 4) Dal 8-3.
Road playoff games: 5) Sea 7-4; 6) Det 7-4.

The Atlanta situation is embarrassing for the NFL. It simply wouldn't happen in the new format. The NFC shows the vast superiority of the new format.

The GB, Philly, Dal tie was broken by first determining the leader of the East-South division. Philly has a better division record than Dallas. GB has a better conference record than Dal and thus is in the third spot.

New NFL Format Standings are Back Again

Back again is my attempt to make the NFL playoffs and seedings far more fair. Check out last season's final standings. We combine the AFC East and AFC North into one division. The AFC West and AFC South will be in another. The division winner earn byes.

The NFC East and the NFC South will be in one division and the NFC North and West will be in the other.

Each team will play their current division foes twice every year and the four new teams in the division once. For example, the Buffalo Bills will still face the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets twice a year, but will face the Ravens, Browns, Bengals, and Steelers once a year. Four games will be played against teams in the other conference in the same way they are now. And the other two games will be based on last season's record.

Here are the updated standings: actual and new. If the playoffs began today, the AFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) NE 8-2; 2) Den 7-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Cin 6-3-1; 4) Ind 6-4.
Road playoff games: 5) KC 7-3; 6) Pit 7-4.

AFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) NE 8-2; 2) Den 7-3.
Home playoff games: 3) KC 7-3; 4) Cin 6-3-1.
Road playoff games: 5) Pit 7-4 ; 6) Mia 6-4.

For the second year in a row, the current NFL format rewards the Colts for being in a weak division and hurts Kansas City for sharing a division with Denver. In the new format, five teams would be tied for the sixth spot. Miami has the best conference record of the five.


If the playoffs began today, the NFC playoffs would look like this:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-1; 2) Det 7-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Phi 7-3; 4) Atl 4-6.
Road playoff games: 5) GB 7-3; 6) Dal 7-3.

NFC playoffs in the new format:
Byes: 1) Ari 9-1; 2) Phi 7-3.
Home playoff games: 3) Det 7-3; 4) GB 7-3.
Road playoff games: 5) Dal 7-3; 6) SF 6-4.

This is exactly the scenario the new format is designed to prevent. Right now, Atlanta would get a home playoff game, despite having a 4-6 record. It is simply unfair. In the new format, Atlanta would be in a five-way tie for eighth place.Realistically, any division-winning team in the current NFC South will have to go at least 5-1 to finish with a winning record.