Astin and Kelly’s Season 33 Playoff Predictions

Astin and I each went through the schedules and rosters of every team in the other’s conference, to determine who will make the big dance at the end of the season. We picked every division winner, the wildcard teams, and a team that just misses out on the playoffs. You’ll also find the predicted record after each team and commentary from Astin in the NFC and Kelly in the AFC. If you don’t like these predictions, please do your own write-up.

#1 Seed – New York Giants (13-3)

The Giants have managed to keep their core team intact, which for them is a good thing. Ihedigbo has a year under his belt and OBJ is still elite. Shane Ray is an animal and Coach Sin has added new pass rushers to help. While they do have a few tougher games (Cardinals, Chargers, Eagles x2, and Cowboys x2), the rest of the schedule should not scare them too bad.

#2 Seed – Los Angeles Rams (13-3)

The Rams boast easily the best overall lineup in the league, plus the best DT, RB, & MLB. They also benefit from playing the NFC North. The Eagles and Saints should be their only non-conference games they could have troubles with. If they were playing in any other division, there could be talks about running the table with this group. However, the NFC West is going to have some good teams not named the Seahawks.

#3 Seed – New Orleans Saints (9-7)

The Saints benefit from not doing anything. That is their strength at this point. Their division opponents are all going through growing pains that could ultimately be their demise. The Panthers got rid of Cam and Luke, Falcons have an unproven new owner, and the Bucs traded away Evans and are looking to move Winston with him. At this point, the biggest threat to the Saints is either 1) Dalton cannot throw it deep enough to Cooks or 2) the Falcons owner has some stick skills.

#4 Seed – Green Bay Packers (9-7)

Anyone in the league that was calling for A-A-RON to be replaced this offseason needs to R-E-L-A-X. He still has elite skills to get it done. The Packers added speedster Everette McKinnon at RB and rookie superstar TE Joey Koets. There are a few minor holes on defense, but I hear their division they play in is pretty easy to build up wins. With that offense, there is no reason they should not be in the top 10.

#5 Seed – Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

The Eagles schedule is very similar to that of the Giants, aside from facing the Rams instead of the Cardinals. I predict it will be a tight race all season between the Giants and Eagles for that top spot in the division. The key will be how each fairs against each other and the Cowboys, who still have one of the highest rated teams in the league. Don’t let last season fool you into thinking they aren’t that good. Eagles lost their speedster Broyles and replaced him with another bruiser in Gordon. Their WR group is going to be what hurts them the most.

#6 Seed – San Francisco 49ers (10-6)

One name to rule them all: CAM. Even if you have an up-and-coming QB in Philip Light, if you have a chance to go out and get a former MVP and highest rated QB in the league, you do it. RB Rico Dever and Jameson Hilton are young but experienced and should flourish with Cam under center. The 49ers also have debatably the best front 7 in the league, with 5 of those players 90+ OVR. If the Niners can’t get it done, it will either be 1) due to their offensive line, or 2) Cam turning the ball over too much. They also benefit from the NFC North.

#7 – Almost made it! – Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

The Cardinals miss the playoffs again! This year, we can blame it on an old team playing in a great division. Julio Jones and Dez Bryant on the same team as David Johnson would be unstoppable, plus adding the Seahawks secondary. However, this is the year 2021 and all these players have lost a few steps. While for the most part they will make the plays they need, the truth is this strategy of older players will finally catch up to them and Coach VB may need to start looking to rebuild soon.

#1 Seed – Cleveland Browns (15-1)

On paper the Cleveland Browns do not stack up as an all-time great. However, this teams is littered with raw talent that will continue to improve throughout the season. Losing Wilson will actually turn out to be a benefit, because coach Adelman can go back to a ball control style offense and protect Jameson. The biggest factor for this stellar record… the easiest schedule in the league.

#2 Seed – New York Jets (11-5)

The Jets schedule gets much harder this year, but upgrading at QB and running back should more than make up for the loss of an aging Julio Jones. With the rest of the AFC East right on their tail, the Jets will manage to squeak out one more division title.

#3 Seed – Oakland Raiders (10-6)

No team finished the season stronger than the Oakland Raiders last year. After starting 0-5, they finished 8-2 before a meaningless week 17 loss. Trading away Rashaud Conway was a big gamble, but as long as the defense boasts Khalil Mack and Jason Verrett, this team will be in all of their games. Good news for the Raiders, they went from the hardest schedule in the league last year, to an average difficulty schedule this season.

#4 Seed – Tennessee Titans (8-8)

I’ll be perfectly honest, I have no idea who is going to win the AFC South. I have all 3 teams (sorry Texans) going 7-9. My guess is whoever sweeps one of the other two teams without getting swept will win the division. I’m going with the Titans because they have the easiest schedule of the 3, by virtue of finishing in 3rd place last season. JP will be in every game because of his play style. As long as he can avoid turnovers, he’ll have a chance to get back to the playoffs.

#5 Seed – Cincinnati Bengals (13-3)

What do you get when a 13-3 teams gets to face off against the worst division in football? A second place finish in their own division apparently. The defenses is loaded with young, but unproven players. Stafford should be an upgrade over Tyrod Taylor, but this is all about the division getting better. Steelers will challenge in the North and the Browns will get their second division title of the cycle.

#6 Seed – Buffalo Bills (10-6)

The BILLS?! This all comes down to winning division games. If coach Astin can rack up 4 division wins, the rest of the schedule has at least 6 winnable games. The Bills got better this off season by unloading aging vets and adding superstar talent in the draft. Picking up Steven McLeod from the Vikings will make all difference for the last placed passing offense.

#7 – Almost made it! – Pittsburg Steelers (9-7)

While the schedule gets much easier for the Steelers this season, they still have to face the Browns and Bengals 4 times. It appears as though this new offense will take some time to adjust to the new personnel. Coach Steelers Guy stated after the first game he asked the offensive coordinator to scrap the playbook and start from scratch. It will be interesting to see if losing Shazier and Bell come back to haunt them.