With the 2023 NFL regular season finally underway, you know what that means. Time to peer into our crystal ball and see how the 2023-24 postseason will shake out — and who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy on the grand stage in Las Vegas.
Before we dive into our picks, here is our projected 14-team playoff field, with each participant’s record and seeding:
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
2. Buffalo Bills (12-5)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-6)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-6)
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5. Baltimore Ravens (11-6)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
7. New York Jets (10-7)
NFC
1.San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-5)
3. New Orleans Saints (10-7)
4. Detroit Lions (10-7)
5. Dallas Cowboys (11-6)
6. Seattle Seahawks (11-6)
7. New York Giants: (10-7)
We’re projecting 10 of last year’s 14 participants to return to the playoffs this year. The only changes are the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets getting in instead of the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Charges in the AFC, and the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions winning their respective divisions over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into the 2023-24 NFL postseason predictions.
AFC Wild Card Round – (2) Buffalo Bills vs. (7) New York Jets
For the second straight year, Josh Allen and the Bills a) lock down the No. 2 seed and b) draw a division rival in the Wild Card Round.
Aaron Rodgers’ first year in Gotham ends football’s longest active playoff drought, which is a minor victory in itself for Gang Green. But the Bills are just that much better on both sides of the ball — not to mention that Josh Allen has made easy work of the Jets these last three years.
Bills advance in a low-scoring affair. No Super Bowl for A-Rod and the Jets in year one.
Final Score: Bills 24, Jets 20
AFC Wild Card Round – (3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (6) Pittsburgh Steelers
Third time’s a charm?
The Bengals have hosted their AFC North rivals in two Wild Card Playoff Games this century: Both losses — in 2005 and 2015.
Cincy’s high-powered offense and stingy defense will make them the first team to win three straight AFC North division titles since Bill Cowher’s Steelers claimed four in a row from 1994 to ‘97.
Speaking of the Steelers, second-year QB Kenny Pickett will take a major step forward and help the Steelers lock down the franchise’s third playoff berth in four years. TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward promise to give “Joe Cool” plenty of headaches in this one….
Buuuuuuut it’s hard to go against Burrow in the Jungle – especially with Pickett still growing as a quarterback. Steelers’ D keeps it close, but the Bengals commit fewer mistakes and reach the elite eight for the third straight year.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Steelers 24
AFC Wild Card Round – (4) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (5) Baltimore Ravens
The arrival of Calvin Ridley and the growth of a young defense will leave the Jaguars with little trouble in winning their second straight AFC South division title. Trevor Lawrence is just too darn good, and too darn loaded with weapons, for the Jaguars to disappoint again.
Winning the division and a playoff game last year was a nice first step. But is this the year the Jaguars show that they belong in the upper echelon of AFC contenders?
The Ravens will have something to say about that. A healthy Lamar Jackson makes all the difference in the world, not to mention the Ravens’ promise to feature a more balanced offense with new wideouts Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and rookie Zay Flowers.
Unfortunately for Jacksonville, Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton headline one of the NFL’s few secondaries that’s actually capable of slowing down their high-powered offense. The Ravens, as always, should have their way in the ground game as well to win just their second playoff game in the Jackson era.
Prediction: Ravens 24, Jaguars 23
NFC Wild Card Round – (2) Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (7)
These two clubs met at Lincoln Financial Field in the Divisional Round last January, but Brian Daboll’s feel-good Giants’ club put up no fight against Philly. The Eagles rolled to a 38-7 win to also secure a 3-0 season series sweep of their archrivals.
The G-Men had a nice offseason by adding Parris Campbell, Darren Waller and Jalin Hyatt to their offense. But let’s be real: They’re still several tiers below the Eagles until/unless Daniel Jones goes from “solid” to MVP-caliber.
LIke their Divisional Round showdown last season, this one shouldn’t be a contest.
Prediction: Eagles 30, Giants 14
NFC Wild Card Round – (3) New Orleans Saints vs. (6) Seattle Seahawks
Thanks to football’s second-easiest strength of schedule and an offensive overhaul featuring the arrival of Derek Carr, the Saints finally return to the postseason after narrowly missing out in consecutive years.
New Orleans wins football’s softest division which guarantees them a playoff game. But they have the misfortunes of drawing a dangerous Seattle team that added Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Bobby Wagner and Dre’Mont Jones to an already stacked roster.
Seattle’s offensive stars are too much for a slow New Orleans D, and the Legion of Boom 2.0 — yes we said that — gives Carr and company enough fits to clinch Seattle’s first postseason win since 2019.
Prediction: Seahawks 26, Saints 21
NFC Wild Card Round – (4) Detroit Lions vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys
Thanks to inevitable regression from the Minnesota Vikings coupled with Aaron Rodgers’ departure from Titletown, the Lions will claim their first division title since 1993. Now…if they could just win their first postseason game since 1991..
Not happening this year, folks. The Lions will be good, but the Dallas Cowboys are better just about everywhere. They have the personnel to slow down Detroit’s rush-heavy offense plus the Amon-Ra St. Brown-Jameson Williams receiving duo.
And the Lions have…who exactly to cover Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb? Cowboys dance their way back to the Divisional Round.
Score Prediction: Cowboys 31, Lions 24
AFC Divisional Round – (1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (5) Baltimore Ravens
Death, taxes and the Chiefs hosting a Divisional Round with the chance to host another AFC Championship Game…The more that stays the same.
The only thing standing in the way of a sixth straight AFC title appearance is Jackson and the Ravens. Ultimately, Baltimore once again fails to solve its kryptonite in Mahomes. You know, the guy with 12 touchdowns, two picks, a 119.1 passer rating and an average of nearly 370 yards per contest in four career meetings.
Also, a Chris Jones and George Karlaftis-led defensive line is more than capable of limiting the damage of Baltimore’s prolific rushing game. The Chiefs are back in the final four. Surprise surprise.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Ravens 20
AFC Divisional Round – (2) Buffalo Bills vs. (3) Cincinnati Bengals
The Chiefs, Bills and Bengals have established themselves as the three AFC heavyweights. But one of them has to go home before the Conference Championship, and it’s been Buffalo each of the last two years.
Buffalo has the more complete roster on paper, but Joe Burrow and company weren’t at all fazed by the rocking Bills Mafia and the snowy-filled conditions at Highmark Stadium last year — cruising to a 27-10 victory in the Divisional Round.
Regardless of how much more star power Buffalo has, this team has yet to show they can rise to the occasion in big moments. Burrow has — and this Bengals’ D is one of the few that can limit the Allen-Stefon Diggs duo.
Buffalo’s secondary has had issues with elite quarterbacks in recent years. Burrow is an elite QB. Same opponent, same result — only this time the Bills lose in an overtime heartbreaker after failing to score on the opening possession in OT. Evan McPherson is the hero for the Bengals, who are on to their third straight AFC Championship Game.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Bills 24 (Overtime)
NFC Divisional Round – (1) San Francisco 49ers vs. (6) Seattle Seahawks
The sky’s the limit for a 49ers team that has Christian McCaffrey for a full regular season…and for a team that hopefully has a full-time healthy and capable starter in Brock Purdy.
With football’s No. 1 defense and a loaded offense led by Purdy, Run CMC, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, San Fran will lock down the No. 1 seed for the first time since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
Last season’s wild card showdown was a blowout in San Francisco’s favor. Seattle will keep it close throughout, thanks to a revamped defense, but the 49ers’ D will do just enough to close out a ‘70s-style defensive slugfest.
Prediction: 49ers 23, Seahawks 19
NFC Divisional Round – (2) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys)
As hard as it may be to believe, these historic rivals have only met once in the postseason since 1996. That was back in 2009, when Tony Romo notched his first career postseason game in what would also be Donovan McNabb’s final outing as an Eagle.
There’ll be a lot on the line for both teams here. If the Cowboys once again fail to advance to the NFC Championship Game, one can only wonder if Jerry Jones will look at sweeping changes. Could Mike McCarthy and/or Dak Prescott be shown the door? Hmm.
The Cowboys are one of the few NFC clubs that can give a star-studded Eagles’ roster a challenge in a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. But Philly is that much better on both sides of the ball. Plus, unlike Dak, Jalen Hurts has shown that he’s built for the big moments.
A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game, it is!
Prediction: Eagles 33, Cowboys 27
AFC Championship Game: (1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (3) Cincinnati Bengals
For the third straight year, it’s Mahomes vs. Burrow at Arrowhead Stadium with a trip to Super Bowl 58 on the line. Get your popcorn ready.
The Chiefs will certainly be the favorites in this one, but bet against the Bengals at your own risk. Joe Burrow is an extra bounce or two away from being a perfect 4-and-0 against Mahomes.
Lou Anarumo’s D is the only that has consistently given Mahomes troubles to date. KC looks a little more vulnerable on offense here with Orlando Brown Jr. – GASP! — now in Cincinnati, and with no clear-cut No. 1 thanks to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s departure.
Try as they might, the Chiefs’ D hasn’t really had any answers for Burrow and his three-headed monster at receiver. It’s always a coin flip when these two teams meet, but it simply feels like Cincinnati’s time to return the favor in this game of musical chairs.
Prediction: Bengals 31, Chiefs 28
NFC Championship: (1) San Francisco 49ers vs. (2) Philadelphia Eagles
We remain bitter that we didn’t get to see the 49ers with a healthy QB in last year’s highly-anticipated conference championship game in Philly. Fast forward a year later, and both teams will give us the REAL nail biter and Oscar-worthy show at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers and Eagles have football’s two deepest and most complete rosters. Honestly, we’d be shocked if the NFC title game wasn’t a rematch from last year. These two clubs are just heads-and-shoulders above the rest.
With San Fran’s offense at full strength, they can get the ball out to all of their explosive pass-catchers instead of needing Run CMC to do it all on his own. Philly’s D is obviously no joke, but their ageing secondary will have a difficult task keeping up with Deebo, McCaffrey, Aiyuk et al.
And as great as Jalen Hurts was last year, we have a tough time thinking he’ll walk all over the league’s best D again. This time, the 49ers prevail at home and get nice comeuppance after last year’s frustrating defeat.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Eagles 21
Super Bowl 58: (1) San Francisco 49ers vs. (3) Cincinnati Bengals
If our calculations are correct, last season’s conference championship runner-ups will redeem themselves by punching their respective tickets to the big dance at Allegiant Stadium.
So here you have it. Joe Burrow’s Bengals vs Nick Bosa’s 49ers . The unstoppable force that is Cincy’s offense against the immovable object that is the San Francisco defense. Something’s gotta give here.
Old-timer fans will recall this as a rematch from the two Super Bowl showdowns in the ‘80s, with Joe Montana’s dynastic 49ers defeating the Bengals both times. Well, like we said earlier in the Bengals-Steelers wild card game entry…third time’s a charm.
“Joe Cool” is simply too, well, cool under pressure like 49ers legend Joe Montana. The 49ers’ pass rush will make its plays, but they simply lack the corners to slow down the Ja’Marr Chase-Tee Higgins-Tyler Boyd three-headed monster at receiver.
Anarumo, the game’s ultimate defensive mastermind, will again drop his eight men in coverage and slow down San Fran’s wealth of weapons.
Burrow gets the first of many defining career wins, leading the long-suffering Bengals franchise to their first-ever Super Bowl — fittingly against the team that held them off twice four decades ago.
Prediction: Bengals 24, 49ers 23
Who do you think will win Super Bowl 58?
