I previously made my 2015 AFC and NFC predictions, so if you haven’t already, you can view them here and here. That’s how I see the regular season finishing, but what about when it really matters? Here is how I see the postseason shaking out, all the way to who will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on February 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium, as the winners of Super Bowl 50.
2015 AFC PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
Here is my best guess at what the AFC seeding will look like at season’s end.
- Indianapolis Colts
- New England Patriots
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Denver Broncos
- Baltimore Ravens
- San Diego Chargers
That would mean the Colts and Patriots would get byes in the first round of the playoffs and we would get matchups of the Steelers vs. Chargers and Broncos vs. Ravens.
WILD CARD ROUND
STEELERS VS. CHARGERS
This game would feature two really talented quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers, who were both drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Big Ben has won two Super Bowls, while Rivers has yet to lead his team to the Super Bowl.
The Steelers should have one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2015, especially with Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown, and running back Le’Veon Bell, but their defense has some questions. The Chargers have added some weapons on offense this offseason to go along with Rivers, including wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones and running back Melvin Gordon. If San Diego’s offensive line can gel and keep Rivers upright, and Pittsburgh’s offense plays like it supposed to, this game could turn into a shootout of sorts. At the end of the day, I think Pittsburgh’s defense steps up enough and their offense is just too much. Plus, they have home field advantage, for what it’s worth.
Winner: Steelers
BRONCO VS. RAVENS
This game would also showcase a couple of incredibly good quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Joe Flacco. While almost no one would argue that Flacco has had the better overall career, both quarterbacks have won one Super Bowl apiece. The Ravens defense, particularly the secondary, has some questions, so Manning could potentially pick apart the defensive backfield, although the addition of cornerback Kyle Arrington will probably help aid the Ravens. Getting good games out of Flacco and running back Justin Forsett, who had a really good 2014 campaign, would certainly help the Ravens’ cause.
The Broncos may have lost some receiving weapons this offseason, but they still have Manning and some other playmakers on offense, including Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. They two keys for the Broncos will be the offensive line playing well and the running game being productive, because then it won’t all be on Manning’s shoulders. The Broncos have a surefire hall of famer in Manning, but the Ravens are always tough in the postseason and they have a talented guy under center too. This could be a really fun matchup if it happens.
Winner: Ravens
That concludes my picks for the Wild Card Round. Now onto the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
COLTS VS. RAVENS
The Ravens should be good this season, but the Colts have Super Bowl aspirations, and that means winning games in the playoffs. Both quarterbacks, Andrew Luck and Flacco, are really talented, and it would be a lot of fun to watch both play on the field. But at the end of the day, I think the Colts have too much offensive fire power with Luck and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, especially with the additions of wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore. The Colts would also be playing at home where the game is faster and they’d benefit from that.
Winner: Colts
PATRIOTS VS. STEELERS
This would be a rematch of when these two teams met in Week 1. Although, that game may not be the best barometer for this postseason matchup. Both teams have star offensive players who will miss Week 1 due to suspension. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four game suspension for his alleged role in Deflategate was upheld, and Steelers running back Bell has his three game suspension (for violating the league’s substance abuse policy), which was reduced to two games. Plus, how much can you really learn in Week 1?
The Patriots did lose some key players this offseason, including cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, and defensive tackle Vince WIlfork. But there is still plenty of talent in New England with quarterback Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Julian Edelman, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, and linebacker Jamie Collins. The Patriots offense will need to keep up with the really talented trio of Roethlisberger, Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Both the Patriots and Steelers (with Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell) will be able to score points, and this game would be a highly entertaining one to watch with two high powered offenses and two great, veteran quarterbacks in Brady and Roethlisberger playing on the same field. The question will be, which team’s defense will step enough, in what could be a high scoring affair?
Winner: Steelers
That brings us to the following matchup for the AFC Championship game:
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
COLTS VS. STEELERS
A win for the Colts would mean Andrew Luck’s first trip the Super Bowl and Indy’s first time playing in the Super Bowl in the post Peyton Manning era. This is the step the Colts need to take if they want the 2015 season to be considered a success. A victory for the Steelers would mean Big Ben’s third trip to the Super Bowl and his first since the 2008 season. Both quarterbacks certainly have the talent win this game and lead their teams to the Super Bowl. But only one team can represent the AFC, and I think the Steelers just need their young playmakers to step up on defense this season. If I’m correct and Pittsburgh has made it this far that means their defense did improve from 2014 and their offense was as good as I thought it would be. The Colts will just miss out again, with their season ending with a loss in the AFC Championship game for a second straight season.
Winner: Steelers
Check back to see my NFC playoff predictions and who I think will win Super Bowl 50.
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 11: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to throw a pass against the New England Patriots during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
