Playoff Predictions

As I sit here on this fantastic Sunday of football, I decided to write my two cents on the last three games of the NFL season. So there are currently four teams left in the playoffs. For the NFC, we have the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears and for the AFC, we have the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are the break downs for each team based on how they rank in the entire league.

Chicago Bears:

Offense:

Points per Game: 20.9 (Ranked 21^st)

Yards per Game: 289.4 (Ranked 30^th)

                Passing YPG: 188.4 (Ranked 28^th)

                Rushing YPG: 101.0 (Ranked 22^nd)

Third down Conversion: 32.8% (Ranked 27^th)

Overall Grade: D

Defense:

Points Allowed per Game: 17.9 (Ranked 4^th)

Yards Allowed per Game: 314.3 (Ranked 9^th)

Interceptions: 21 (Ranked 5^th)

Forced Fumbles: 23 (Ranked 2^nd)

Sacks: 34.0 (Ranked 17^th)  

Overall: B+

Green Bay Packers:

Offense:

Points per Game: 24.3 (Ranked 10^th)

Yards per Game: 358.1 (Ranked 9^th)

                Passing YPG: 257.8 (Ranked 5^th)

                Rushing YPG: 100.4 (Ranked 24^th)

Third down Conversion: 41.5% (Ranked 8^th)

Overall Grade: B

Defense:

Points Allowed per Game: 15.0 (Ranked 2^nd)

Yards Allowed per Game: 309.1 (Ranked 5^th)

Interceptions: 24 (Ranked 2^nd)

Forced Fumbles: 14 (Ranked 11^th)

Sacks: 47 (Ranked 2^nd)

Overall: A-

New York Jets:

Offense:

Points per Game: 22.9 (Ranked 14^th)

Yards per Game: 351.0 (11^th)

                Passing YPG: 202.6 (Ranked 22^nd)

                Rushing YPG: 148.4 (Ranked 4^th)

Third down Conversion: 39.6% (Ranked 15^th)

Overall Grade: B-

Defense:

Points Allowed per Game: 19.0 (Ranked 6^th)

Yards Allowed per Game: 291.5 (Ranked 3^rd)

Interceptions: 12 (Ranked 25^th)

Forced Fumbles: 17 (Ranked 6^th)

Sacks: 40.0 (Ranked 8^th)

Overall: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Offense:

Points per Game: 23.4 (Ranked 12^th)

Yards per Game: 345.3 (Ranked 14^th)

                Passing YPG: 225.1 (Ranked 14^th)

                Rushing YPG: 120.3 (Ranked 11^th)

Third down Conversion: 43.1% (Ranked 6^th)

Overall Grade: B-

Defense:

Points Allowed per Game: 14.5 (Ranked 1^st)

Yards Allowed per Game: 276.8 (Ranked 2^nd)

Interceptions: 21 (Ranked 6^th)

Forced Fumbles: 20 (Ranked 4^th)

Sacks: 48.0 (Ranked 1^st)

Overall: A+

For the NFC matchup, I have the Packers winning over the Bears. The Bears have a very good defense, but they have no offensive threats. The Packers just have too many weapons and too many playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Packers have also lost their first string running back and tight end early in the season, but of late, they have been on a roll. I just have a hard time figuring out any way the Bears could win.

For the AFC matchup, I have the Steelers beating out the New York Jets. The Jets just do not have the same shut down defense that they did last year. And while the Jets rushing game looks strong, the Steelers defense is just too good. There is no way the inexperience of Mark Sanchez will outplay Ben Roethlisberger. For whatever reason, Ben always seems to man up in the playoffs and figure out a way to secure a victory. Love them or hate them, the Steelers are just one of those teams that always know how to win important games.

For the Super Bowl, I have the Green Bay Packers playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas. This is the big one, the do-or-die game where anything can happen. And this year I have the Packers beating out the Steelers 34-21. I realize that that score is very inflated and will probably be closer to 17-14, but everybody likes to see big plays and a high scoring game. (And besides, where is the fun of making a drinking game out of a low score?) The defense of both teams will play sub-par and this will be an epic battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the league. This year though, Aaron Rodgers wins his first “major game” and moves out of being a top quarterback and into the conversation of elite quarterbacks. It will be a good old dog fight and it will make for one hell of a game.