NFL Playoff Predictions (8 weeks through season)
- SportsmanHunter
- Nov 2, 2017
- 4 min read
The NFL season in now through eight weeks of play. To say the first half of the season was surprising is a big understatement. Fans entered the season looking at teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants to be locks for the playoffs. Of course, injuries have played a role in some of the better teams shockingly slow starts, but how many of you actually saw teams like the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams as possible playoff contenders?
There really has not been a truly dominant team thus far. Kansas City jumped out to a 5-0 start but currently sit at 6-2 and now have to try and fend off the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers for the AFC West title, the hardest of the eight NFL divisions, in my opinion. The Eagles own the top record in the league thanks to a six-game winning streak . Are they now the team to beat in the NFL? Don't forget about the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, which both shrugged off tough starts to the year and seem to be finding their grooves.
While the NFL still has half a season to go, this year might be one of the most up-in-the-air type seasons fans have seen in awhile. From week-to-week, the playoff picture changes a little bit. Outside of a small number of bottom-dwellers, there is no real lock in any scheduled matchup, meaning any team can earn wins on any given week.
With all that being said, here is how I think the rest of the regular season will shake out, first taking a look back at what I thought the playoff picture would be after four weeks of play.
To see my original playoff predictions, please refer to "NFL Playoff Predictions (4 weeks through season)" or "NFL Playoff Predictions."
(My NFL Playoff Predictions after four weeks of the regular season)
AFC
#1 Seed - Pittsburgh Steelers
#2 Seed - Oakland Raiders
#3 Seed - New England Patriots
#4 Seed - Tennessee Titans
#5 Seed - Kansas City Chiefs
#6 Seed - Denver Broncos
Wild Card Round - Patriots over Broncos; Chiefs over Titans
Divisional Round - Steelers over Chiefs; Raiders over Patriots
AFC Championship - Raiders over Steelers
NFC
#1 Seed - Atlanta Falcons
#2 Seed - Green Bay Packers
#3 Seed - Seattle Seahawks
#4 Seed - Philadelphia Eagles
#5 Seed - Detroit Lions
#6 Seed - Dallas Cowboys
Wild Card Round - Seahawks over Cowboys; Lions over Eagles
Divisional Round - Falcons over Lions; Packers over Seahawks
NFC Championship - Falcons over Packers
Super Bowl - Falcons over Raiders
(Here are my updated NFL Playoff projections, following eight weeks of play)
AFC
#1 Seed - New England Patriots
#2 Seed - Pittsburgh Steelers
#3 Seed - Kansas City Chiefs
#4 Seed - Tennessee Titans
#5 Seed - Oakland Raiders
#6 Seed - Buffalo Bills
Wild Card Round - Raiders over Titans; Chiefs over Bills
Divisional Round - Patriots over Raiders; Steelers over Chiefs
AFC Championship - Steelers over Patriots
NFC
#1 Seed - Philadelphia Eagles
#2 Seed - Seattle Seahawks
#3 Seed - New Orleans Saints
#4 Seed - Minnesota Vikings
#5 Seed - Atlanta Falcons
#6 Seed - Green Bay Packers
Wild Card Round - Saints over Packers; Falcons over Vikings
Divisional Round - Falcons over Eagles; Seahawks over Saints
NFC Championship - Seahawks over Falcons
Super Bowl - Seahawks over Steelers
Notes - This is the first time all season that my Super Bowl pick has not been the Falcons over the Raiders. Neither team has been playing well and it's hard to imagine both teams getting past some of the better teams in each conference. That being said, it's all about which team is the hottest heading into the postseason, which is why I enjoy trying to predict playoff teams and outcomes every month.
In the AFC, I think the battle for the top seed will be between the Patriots and Steelers. I see the Patriots finishing a game better than the Steelers and earning the top AFC seed going into the playoffs. I am still not sold on New England's defense, so for the time being, I will say the Steelers upset the Patriots and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. As for the remaining AFC seeds, I like the Chiefs to win the AFC West but the Raiders to find a way to nab the No. 5 seed. I still see the Titans winning the AFC South and now have the Buffalo Bills earning the final playoff seed.
For the NFC, I have to give my top seed to the hottest team in the NFL in the Eagles. I think the Seahawks nab the No. 2 seed eventually represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Seattle arguably has the most experienced team and I think their defense will carry them to a Super Bowl title over the Steelers. The NFC South and NFC North are totally up in the air, but I think the Saints and Vikings both claim the division crowns by a game. My two wild cards, the Falcons and Packers, could get hot down the stretch, especially if Aaron Rodgers returns to lead the Packers. I think the Falcons get hot late in the season and end up in the NFC Championship before losing to the Seahawks.
Check back after week 12 to see another updated edition of NFL Playoff Predictions!
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