On Sunday night the 2018 NFL regular season concluded when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Tennessee Titans for the final playoff spot. On the flip side, as of Monday there are now eight head coaching vacancies that need to be filled. After Week eight the Cleveland Browns fired Hue Jackson and after Week 13 the Green Bay Packers fired Mike McCarthy. But on Monday Steve Wilks, Todd Bowles, Adam Gase, Dirk Koetter, Marvin Lewis and Vance Joseph were all fired and now the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos are all now searching for new head coaches, in addition to the Browns and Packers.
But there are 12 teams/organizations having a better Monday because they made the playoffs. Here are the final standings after the final game of the 2018 regular season was played Sunday night. The 12 organizations that made the postseason are not in the mode of searching for a new head coach. Instead they are preparing to try to make a run in the playoffs and hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta on February 3, 2019. Below is the postseason schedule and predictions for the Wild Card round.
NFL Wild Card Round Predictions and Postseason Schedule for 2018 Season
Playoff Schedule (all times in ET)
Wild Card Round
Saturday, Jan. 5
(6) Indianapolis Colts at (3) Houston Texans at 4:35 PM on ESPN/ABC/Watch ESPN
(5) Seattle Seahawks at (4) Dallas Cowboys at 8:15 PM on FOX
Sunday, Jan. 6
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Baltimore Ravens at 1:05 PM on CBS
(6) Philadelphia Eagles at (3) Chicago Bears at 4:40 PM on NBC
Divisional Round
Saturday, Jan. 12
(1) Kansas City Chiefs will host the 4:35 PM game on NBC
(2) Los Angeles Rams will host the 8:15 PM game on FOX
Sunday, Jan. 13
(2) New England Patriots will host the 1:05 PM game on CBS
(1) New Orleans Saints will host the 4:40 PM game on FOX
Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan 20
The NFC Championship game will take place at 3:05 PM on FOX
The AFC Championship game will take place at 6:40 PM on CBS
Predictions For Wild Card Round
(6) Indianapolis Colts at (3) Houston Texans
The Colts began the season 1-5, but finished the season with a 10-6 record after going 9-1 the rest of the way and made the postseason for the first time since 2014 by securing the six seed in the AFC. The Texans started the season by losing their first three games, before they rattled off nine wins in a row and ultimately finished the season 11-5 and as the victors of the AFC South.
Being able to watch Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson do their thing in the postseason automatically makes this game worth watching. Plus, given the talent both teams possess this could end up being a pretty close game as well. But, the Colts are the more balanced team and they protect Luck better than the Texans protect Watson (Watson has been sacked 62 times this season). Plus, since Week seven, Luck’s QBR is second only to Drew Brees’ who is in MVP consideration.
It will be a close game, given the talent of Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus and T.Y. Hilton’s ankle injury could be a cause for concern, but Indy will move on.
Final score: Colts 21 Texans 17
(5) Seattle Seahawks at (4) Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys may have home field advantage, but the Seahawks have recent Super Bowl success and Russell Wilson under center. Sure, Dallas may get a slight edge from the home crowd, but Dak Prescott, while a pretty good quarterback, is no Russell Wilson.
Plus, while Dallas does have one of the best running backs in Ezekiel Elliot, the Seahawks actually lead the league with 160.00 rushing yards per game and also finished the season with 15 touchdowns on the ground. Seattle also doesn’t turn the ball over (they committed only 11 turnovers on the season), but their defense forced 26 takeaways.
This game won’t be a really high scoring, track meet, and the Seahawks offensive line is once again a concern, but the edge has to go to the Seahawks.
Final score: Seahawks 24 Cowboys 13
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens and Chargers met in Week 16 in Los Angeles and Baltimore won 22-10.
This has the potential to be the best of the four Wild Card round games. Both teams are capable of making a run to the Super Bowl. The Ravens made a change to rookie signal caller, Lamar Jackson, during the season, and while Jackson has performed well, Philip Rivers is the superior quarterback.
The Ravens defense is absolutely for real; since Week 11 only the Bears have a better DVOA. But rookie quarterbacks have historically struggled in the playoffs. Going back to 2000, 21 rookie signal callers have started postseason games, and they have a 9-12 record in those games. So, yes, the Ravens have a great defense, but all it’s going to take is a mistake or two by Jackson at an inopportune time and Rivers and the Chargers offense will make Baltimore pay.
If the Chargers get a little creative on offense and don’t turn the ball over, they should win this game.
Final score: Chargers 24 Ravens 20
(6) Philadelphia Eagles at (3) Chicago Bears
With Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz once again sidelined with an injury, backup Nick Foles has taken over and performed well. But Foles did leave Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins with an apparent rib injury. He is undergoing further tests on Monday. If Foles can’t go and Philly has to start Nate Sudfield the Bears will make easy work of the Eagles. However, if Foles is close to or at 100% for the game, then the final score will be a lot closer.
But, whether it’s Foles or Sudfield under center for the Eagles, the Bears are just the more complete team. Chicago finished the season on a four game win streak and won nine of their last 10 games. They can take pressure off of their young quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky, with their defense and rushing attack.
Final score: Bears 27 Eagles 20
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