Oh yeah, it’s that time of year again! The NFL playoffs are upon us, and you know what that means - it’s time to print out your very own playoff bracket! If you’re anything like me, you love nothing more than sitting down with a cold drink and analyzing every single game in the playoffs. And what better way to keep track of everything than with a handy-dandy printable bracket?
First, a Little Background
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the NFL playoff structure, let me break it down for you real quick. The playoffs consist of 12 teams - 6 from the AFC and 6 from the NFC. These teams are determined by their regular season record, and the top two teams from each conference receive a first-round bye (i.e. they automatically advance to the divisional round). The remaining four teams from each conference compete in a wild card round, and the winners of those games move on to the divisional round. From there, it’s a simple matter of winning your way to the Super Bowl!
Now, Let’s Get to the Bracket
As you can see, this year’s playoff bracket is looking pretty interesting. The New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys are the top seeds in their respective conferences, but as we all know, anything can happen in the playoffs. Will the Patriots be able to make it to yet another Super Bowl, or will the Pittsburgh Steelers knock them out in the AFC Championship game? Will the Seattle Seahawks be able to overcome their inconsistent offense and make a run to the Super Bowl, or will the Atlanta Falcons prove to be too tough to handle in the NFC Championship game?
My Picks
Now, I’m not one to boast, but I’ve been known to make a pretty accurate prediction or two when it comes to the NFL playoffs. So, without further ado, here are my picks for this year’s playoff bracket:
Wild Card Round
- Raiders over Texans
- Steelers over Dolphins
- Giants over Packers
- Seahawks over Lions
Divisional Round
- Patriots over Raiders
- Steelers over Chiefs
- Falcons over Seahawks
- Cowboys over Giants
Conference Championship Games
- Steelers over Patriots
- Cowboys over Falcons
Super Bowl
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for - the Super Bowl! This year’s matchup is shaping up to be a good one. On one side, you have the Dallas Cowboys, who have been dominant all season long. They have the league’s top rushing attack and a defense that has been surprisingly solid. On the other side, you have the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have quietly been playing some of the best football in the league over the past few weeks. They have one of the most explosive offenses in the league and a defense that has been improving steadily throughout the season.
So, who’s going to win? After much deliberation, I’m going to go with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think their offense is going to be too much for the Cowboys to handle, and their defense will be able to slow down Ezekiel Elliott just enough to get the win. Plus, I have a soft spot for teams that wear black and yellow!
Conclusion
So there you have it, my friends - my picks for this year’s NFL playoffs. Whether you agree with me or not, one thing is for sure - this year’s playoffs are going to be an exciting ride. So print out your bracket, grab a cold drink, and settle in for what is sure to be a wild ride to the Super Bowl!
