With the NFL Season just about here, and with the divisional predictions posted already, it’s now time to predict who’s getting to the postseason, and eventually, who will win the Superbowl. Without any further introduction, let’s get into it:

In the AFC:

Wild Card round:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers – bye
2. Houston Texans – bye
3. New England Patriots vs. 6. New York Jets – This matchup features a fierce divisional rivalry where the season is on the line. In a hard-hitting matchup of two AFC contenders from last seaon, Tom Brady comes up big, and Ryan Fitzpatrick comes up short in a ten point loss in Foxborough. Final score 30-20.
4. Oakland Raiders vs.  5. Denver Broncos – In the second divisional matchup of Wildcard weekend, this is a low scoring, defensive heavy matchup, as the Raiders improved defense goes toe to toe with the Broncos vaunted unit. This is a close game, coming down to who has more playoff experience, the Broncos know how to win in the playoffs, the Raiders don’t yet. Final score 20-17.

Divisional Round:

1. New England Patriots at Houston Texans – This has the potential to be a fun matchup, as both teams are well coached, Brock vs. Brady, Bill vs. Bill, these are two teams that are built very well, but the improvements to the Texans offense are enough to overthrow the evil empire of New England. Texans win at home 27-21
2. Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers – In a repeat of last years playoff matchup, the Broncos and Steelers go at it again in a classic. The Steelers offense against the still tough Broncos defense is the type of football you want to watch in the playoffs. The differences this time around are that the Steelers are healthy, and the Broncos don’t have Peyton Manning’s mind out on the field. The Steelers triumph on this occasion: 24-21 in overtime

AFC Championship:

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers – The newest NFL franchise versus one of its most historic. An established contender versus a rising star, Lamar Miller leads the charge for a revitalized Texans offense, Brock Osweiler manages games well enough to get the team to this point, and the defense shuts down opposing offenses . The Steelers dynamic offense and strong front seven helped roll through the league for most of the season. It all comes down to the end at Heinz field, on a cold January day. Which team will be able to run the ball better? Houston, we have liftoff, the Texans reach the Superbowl for the first time in franchise history. Texans pull off a stunner 21-17.

For the NFC:

Wildcard Round: 

1. Green Bay Packers – bye
2. Carolina Panthers – bye
3. Seattle Seahawks vs. 6. New York Giants – In a surprise surge, led by the defense, the Giants are able to squeeze into the playoffs over the Cardinals, Falcons, and Buccaneers. The Giants roll into Seattle undaunted by the road game, nor the noise the 12th man presents. However, the Giants just don’t have enough pass-rush to get to Russell Wilson, but Odell Beckham and the Giants offense finds a way to keep up and upset the Seahawks 31-29, missing overtime by a failed 2 point conversion.
4. Washington Redskins vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings are going through a time of transition, starting the season with Shaun Hill under center, then Sam Bradford as soon as he’s ready to take the reigns could move the Vikings to the 6 seed. The Redskins made it to the playoffs last year, only to lose to a team from the NFC North, history does not repeat itself today, as Kirk Cousins leads a comeback from 10 down to put the Redskins into the divisional round, Redskins win 28-24.

Divisional Round:

1. Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants – In the bitter cold of Lambeau field, this is not a game for the faint of heart, this is a game of attrition, a rock hard field in an icy Green Bay, Wisconsin in the heart of January, a time where legends are remembered, and this day will belong to Eddie Lacy, despite the presence of Damon Harrison, the interior of the Packers offensive line will do enough to allow Lacy to exploit the Giants weakness at linebacker. Packers pound away 31-17
2. Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Redskins – There are mismatches, then there are mismatches, the Redskins are completely overmatched on this occasion, they’ve had a good season to this point, but are looking at a team that’s ahead of them in just about every way. Josh Norman will not be getting his revenge on this occasion, as the Panthers steamroll their way back into the NFC Championship. Kirk Cousins does show some good things, but not enough to keep up with Cam Newton. Panthers win 41-21.

NFC Championship:

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers – These teams represent the 2 new schools of thought in the football world, Green Bay with its wide open offense and a runningback committee of Lacy and James Starks, going against the Panthers power option offense with big receivers on the outside. This should be a close matchup, however, the Packers pass rush proves to be too much for the Panthers offensive line, and the holes in the secondary prove to be their undoing as Julius Peppers gets his revenge, and the Packers go on to the Superbowl to face Houston.

Super Bowl

Green Bay Packers vs. Houston Texans – In a game not many would have predicted, there will prove to be many interesting matchups. The Texans pass rushers of JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus, and a surging Jadeveon Clowney against a re-shuffled Packers offensive line. Rodgers and his now healthy receiving corps against the Texans secondary. The Texans new-look offense against the Packers now strong defense. Ultimately, the Superbowl is decided by the best overall team, not the best quarterback on the field, as we saw last year. The Houston Texans are your 2016-2017 Superbowl Champions, defeating the Packers in an exciting affair 23-21, as Mason Crosby misses a 60 yard field goal to end the game, wide left will be forever engrained in the minds of Packer fans.

Award Winners: 

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons middle line-backer, Jones was a second round pick of the Falcons because of his speed and potential playmaking ability. Jones is set up to be a tacking and playmaking machine, much like Bobby Wagner is in the Seahawks scheme, as Jones ran a 4.38 40-yard dash time at the combine. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 110 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble are enough to get Jones in the conversation, and the award. (Alternate: Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys running back, Elliott has the clearest path to winning the award, running behind the best offensive line in the NFL, having Dez Bryant, Terrence Williams, and Dak Prescott taking the pressure off of Elliot to be the only player defenses have to fear on Sundays. There aren’t many other offensive rookies set up to win this award, but injuries, and the presence of Alfred Morris could present a threat to Zeke’s hopes of bringing home the hardware (Alternate: Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles)

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Aaron Donald proved himself to be every bit as dominant and effective as JJ Watt last season, but this is the season where he becomes a household name and takes home the hardware, Watt is on his way to being an all-time great, Donald might not be too far behind him. This is the start of a great battle between 2 incredible defensive players for who can win more DPOY awards, or be first to be named MVP.

Offensive Player of the Year: Lamar Miller, Houston Texans running back, is this crazy? Probably, but Miller has shown incredible potential in his time with the Dolphins, so now that he’s the feature back, and running behind a stout offensive line in Houston, Miller could go off for one of those seasons to remember for a running back. In terms of his career, the Dolphins got Miller Lite, the Texans are about to get into the Miller High Life. (Alternate: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers)

MVP: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Wilson is set up to have the best season in his career with a great cast of receivers around him, along with an offense that’s now all his own, without the shadow of Marshawn Lynch waiting to make another run we’ll all remember for a long, long time. (Alternate: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings)