We know the Bills and Chiefs and Eagles are the best of the best in the NFL. Beyond these three? It’s a total crapshoot. I’d still bank on everything Kevin O’Connell is building in Minnesota. They’re winning the games Mike Zimmer found a way to lose and that fourth-quarter feeling transcends analytics. We’ll have our revised midseason predictions live at Go Long later today.
Until then, I want to hear from you.
This league is currently drowning in parity. Which team will get hot right now to become a legit Super Bowl contender?
Perhaps the Packers still have time to figure it out…
Maybe Tua Tagovailoa is for real…
Possibly Geno Smith is enjoying himself a Rich Gannon-like renaissance…
I think we all want BUF vs KC as the AFCCG and I think we will get it. I have always thought Baltimore is a team you underestimate at your own peril but some of things I have seen this year…can you trust them? I am not sure. I still don’t believe in Miami. Their defense is bad. There’s no way around it. Can they keep up in the playoffs against elite offenses?
The eagles roster is really nice. But they’re playing very mediocre at best opponents. But I think there will be some team we didn’t see coming at the start of the season in the NFCCG. Like maybe Seattle or Minnesota. Or, and maybe this sounds crazy given their current state…Tampa. I cannot trust Dallas for one reason, Mike McCarthy.
Despite my continued fury over Tyler inexplicably putting George Kittle in his top 10 TEs ever and leaving Travis Kelce out all together, I can't resist this question. I also love these discussions at this time of year, because every year, everyone forgets that November is so early in the NFL season and rarely do the teams hot now stay hot for the whole season. It does happen (Pats did for many years), but countless examples of teams fizzling after a hot start (Pittsburgh recently; even my KC team was 9-0 early in Andy Reid's tenure before finishing 2-5 and bowing out early).
This year's Bills may be the exception. They're not without flaws, but they're pretty damn close. As a Chiefs fan, I am really, really hoping for a rematch -- and honestly, I'm excited to see how Mahomes responds on the road in the playoffs. What a great test it would be in Orchard Park in January, with the crazed Bills mafia out in full force. Sign me up. And if we can't pass that test, more power to Josh Allen and the boys ... you guys do deserve one with such a great roster and being on an upward trajectory for the last few years. Would be amazing for all the fans who endured heartbreak in the early 90s for four straight years ... oof.
Outside those two on the AFC, I'm going with Miami. I don't totally trust Tua, and I definitely don't trust him on the road in a hostile environment in KC or Buffalo in January, but their roster is stacked and Chubb could get to the qb enough on D to keep them in games. The big-play ability could mean they surprise this year, as did Burrow and JaMarr Chase last year when they got hot. I still think they don't get over the Buffalo or KC hump.
Baltimore are interesting and should be better than they are. (People are now talking about the Vikes being contenders because of their ability to win close games; Baltimore has lost quite a few close games. This script could flip easily within season.) If the Ravens start playing complete games and don't implode, they could be trouble for either the Bills or Chiefs, especially if they finish with a better record and host a divisional playoff game, for example.
Eagles look head and shoulders better than anyone in the NFC. Dallas could challenge. I don't believe in Minnesota and will not until they actually win the Super Bowl. And I don't get the hype around the 49ers. They have a stacked roster and all these stars -- including Tyler's boy George Kittle ;) -- but their record is mediocre. If they're as good as everyone says, why aren't they destroying everyone? Maybe it's Jimmy G. I texted my brother during the Chiefs-49ers game (when it was still close), "Don't worry. Jimmy G gonna Jimmy G." And then he did.
Buffalo over Philly in SB.
Finally the Bills win a Lombardi!
Whatever happens, give us KC v MIA in the playoffs
The Dolphins scare the pants off of me.
I think we all want BUF vs KC as the AFCCG and I think we will get it. I have always thought Baltimore is a team you underestimate at your own peril but some of things I have seen this year…can you trust them? I am not sure. I still don’t believe in Miami. Their defense is bad. There’s no way around it. Can they keep up in the playoffs against elite offenses?
The eagles roster is really nice. But they’re playing very mediocre at best opponents. But I think there will be some team we didn’t see coming at the start of the season in the NFCCG. Like maybe Seattle or Minnesota. Or, and maybe this sounds crazy given their current state…Tampa. I cannot trust Dallas for one reason, Mike McCarthy.
Bucs @ Eagles or Bucs @ SF. I can’t decide…
Despite my continued fury over Tyler inexplicably putting George Kittle in his top 10 TEs ever and leaving Travis Kelce out all together, I can't resist this question. I also love these discussions at this time of year, because every year, everyone forgets that November is so early in the NFL season and rarely do the teams hot now stay hot for the whole season. It does happen (Pats did for many years), but countless examples of teams fizzling after a hot start (Pittsburgh recently; even my KC team was 9-0 early in Andy Reid's tenure before finishing 2-5 and bowing out early).
This year's Bills may be the exception. They're not without flaws, but they're pretty damn close. As a Chiefs fan, I am really, really hoping for a rematch -- and honestly, I'm excited to see how Mahomes responds on the road in the playoffs. What a great test it would be in Orchard Park in January, with the crazed Bills mafia out in full force. Sign me up. And if we can't pass that test, more power to Josh Allen and the boys ... you guys do deserve one with such a great roster and being on an upward trajectory for the last few years. Would be amazing for all the fans who endured heartbreak in the early 90s for four straight years ... oof.
Outside those two on the AFC, I'm going with Miami. I don't totally trust Tua, and I definitely don't trust him on the road in a hostile environment in KC or Buffalo in January, but their roster is stacked and Chubb could get to the qb enough on D to keep them in games. The big-play ability could mean they surprise this year, as did Burrow and JaMarr Chase last year when they got hot. I still think they don't get over the Buffalo or KC hump.
Baltimore are interesting and should be better than they are. (People are now talking about the Vikes being contenders because of their ability to win close games; Baltimore has lost quite a few close games. This script could flip easily within season.) If the Ravens start playing complete games and don't implode, they could be trouble for either the Bills or Chiefs, especially if they finish with a better record and host a divisional playoff game, for example.
Eagles look head and shoulders better than anyone in the NFC. Dallas could challenge. I don't believe in Minnesota and will not until they actually win the Super Bowl. And I don't get the hype around the 49ers. They have a stacked roster and all these stars -- including Tyler's boy George Kittle ;) -- but their record is mediocre. If they're as good as everyone says, why aren't they destroying everyone? Maybe it's Jimmy G. I texted my brother during the Chiefs-49ers game (when it was still close), "Don't worry. Jimmy G gonna Jimmy G." And then he did.
Dallas has a QB, weapons, and a pass rush. That gives them a chance. McCarthy holds them back though.
BAL is the squad that BUF and KC do not want to see come waltzin' into town for a Divisional Round showdown