2021 NFL Playoff Predictions, Awards, and Opening Night

Division Winners

AFC East – Bills – They’re just the best team in the division with the best player in the division

AFC North – Browns – Not picking the Patriots in the AFC East and picking the Browns in the AFC North...what world are we living in?

AFC South – Titans – Worried about Derrick Henry’s workload and Arthur Smith leaving for Atlanta...but with the rest of the division, this is kind of a default.

AFC West – Chiefs – I so want to pick the Chargers...but Mahomes.  

AFC Wild Cards – Chargers. Patriots. Ravens. 

AFC Championship – Chiefs over Chargers

 

NFC East – Cowboys? – Assuming any and all parts of Dak’s body work correctly.   

NFC North – Packers – Aaron Rodgers. That is all. 

NFC South – Bucs – Brady. Brady. Brady…..Brady. 

NFC West – Rams – This paper-thin team worries the heck out of me...but fully healthy...it’s going to be a monster. 

NFC Wild Cards – Seahawks. Saints. 49ers.

NFC Championship – Packers over Bucs 

 

Superbowl:  Packers over Chiefs. The Aaron Rodgers drama is overshadowing how awesome a team this is top to bottom. They’ll figure out the offensive line and give Rodgers one more go. 

 

Awards

MVP: Patrick Mahomes

-I’m looking for a way for the answer to not be Patrick Mahomes. But the answer is Patrick Mahomes.

 

OPY: Alvin Kamara

-He’ll have to be. 

 

DPY: Aaron Donald

-He’s actually just the best player in football.  

ORY: Mac Jones

-Opportunity meets visibility meets success. Najee Harris will be on a team that I don’t think is going to do well. Lawrence and Wilson are far more talented, but their teams suck. Fields and Lance aren’t going to play right away. Mac just kind of has all of the boxes.  

 

DRY: Micah Parsons

-He’s going to call the plays, have gaudy tackle numbers, have exciting plays rushing the passer, and he plays for Dallas. It’s Micah Parsons. 

 

COY: Brandon Staley - Chargers 

-Herbert’s step up, defensive improvements (especially with Derwin James returning), and the fact that the Chargers can’t have worse kicking and close-game luck means the formula is there for Staley to win. 

 

Opening Night: 

Bucs -8 over Cowboys, 34-24

-This is a big line, but the Superbowl Champs win at home in these situations all of the time. Add in uncertainty about Dak, Dallas health issues on the offensive line, and a new defense. You kind of just have to lay the eight. 

 

Record in 2020:

Straight Up: 169-88

By Spread: 130-128

 

Lifetime record:
Straight Up: 1722-942
By Spread: 1407-1262