NFL · 1 year ago

NFL Playoffs: Predicting Every Outcome in NFC Bracket

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

CONF: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers OVER No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles
Despite all the chaos, we have found our way back to the NFC championship matchup that most people predicted heading into the season and leading into Week 13. Let's break it down and explain why the Eagles could have a chance. If the Eagles make it back to the Conference Championship game against all odds, they'll be filled with confidence and likely playing at their Super Bowl-caliber peak. Plus, they better have an added layer of motivation after the 49ers obliterated them in Week 13. However, on the other end, the 49ers despise the Eagles and want revenge for what happened in last year's NFC Championship. It must be noted that Kyle Shanahan cannot be given complete immunity here as he has pulled off a few choke jobs himself, but the 49ers feel like a team of destiny, so I can't go against them now.
WC: No. 2 Dallas Cowboys OVER No. 7 Green Bay Packers
I have to be honest. I will be betting the Packers +7.5 before kickoff on Sunday, as Green Bay is playing some good and, more importantly, underrated football right now. They’ve won five of their last seven with Jordan Love, proving he’s capable of hanging with a dominant offense in a potential shootout, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Cowboys already have their sights set on their next matchup. Although it would be Cowboy fashion for them to choke here, I can’t entirely pull the trigger on Green Bay yet, as I believe Dallas will find a way in their building.
WC: No. 6 Los Angeles Rams OVER No. 3 Detroit Lions
What a day for the NFL scriptwriters as arguably the matchup of the weekend will feature the first Detroit Lions home playoff game in 30 years against Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Rams, the man who was supposed to take the Lions to the promised land but never could get over the hump. The Lions are only a three-point favorite at home with money pouring in on the Rams, so it wouldn't surprise me to see this line close at less than a field goal, but I will be backing the Rams here as the trendy upset pick. The Lions' whole thing as of late has been to score enough points to cover up for their lousy defense, but that won't fly against this Rams' offense that has won seven of their last eight games and averaged over 28 points per game over that stretch. I have way more confidence in a surging Rams team led by Stafford, who now has a Super Bowl ring, than a young Lions team that hasn't proven anything yet. This should be great, but I'll lean to the Rams.
WC: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles OVER No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nothing I can say can make up for how dreadful the Philadelphia Eagles have been over the last six weeks, but part of me believes they’ll find a way to get the job done on Monday night. At the same time, they could get obliterated, but in that locker room, they know they will be the most embarrassing team of the season if they lose to Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers. The Eagles already went down to Tampa earlier this season and dominated the Bucs, so they have that going for them and technically are favored to win by 2.5 points, but I’ll hold my nose and hope for improvement for the much more talented team on the field.
DIV: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers OVER No. 6 Los Angeles Rams
Part of me wants to drum up the controversy and pick the Rams here since I have that much faith in them, but at their peak, the 49ers have been the best team in the NFC by a mile. Their starters will be on three weeks of rest by this point compared to what will likely be a high-intensity and emotional game for the Rams in Detroit, so I expect them to be a lot fresher. When the Rams take down the Lions, I reserve the right to tout the Rams that week on the money line if the spread is five points or less, but for now, I’ll express my confidence in the best team in the conference.
DIV: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles OVER No. 2 Dallas Cowboys
Here we go with the hot take of the bracket. Why can’t this happen? Let’s think this out. It couldn’t have been a worse six weeks for the Eagles as they went 1-5 after beginning the season 10-1. By this point, they would have gone into Tampa and taken care of business, giving back confidence to the public and, more importantly, to themselves that they are still fully capable of returning to the Super Bowl. On the other sideline, we know that no team is as skilled at choking as the Cowboys. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Cowboys were to overlook this matchup and start focusing on San Francisco, opening up a window for the Eagles to come in and steal this game. In classic Dallas fashion, they’ll be home before the conference championship.
CONF: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers OVER No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles
Despite all the chaos, we have found our way back to the NFC championship matchup that most people predicted heading into the season and leading into Week 13. Let's break it down and explain why the Eagles could have a chance. If the Eagles make it back to the Conference Championship game against all odds, they'll be filled with confidence and likely playing at their Super Bowl-caliber peak. Plus, they better have an added layer of motivation after the 49ers obliterated them in Week 13. However, on the other end, the 49ers despise the Eagles and want revenge for what happened in last year's NFC Championship. It must be noted that Kyle Shanahan cannot be given complete immunity here as he has pulled off a few choke jobs himself, but the 49ers feel like a team of destiny, so I can't go against them now.
WC: No. 2 Dallas Cowboys OVER No. 7 Green Bay Packers
I have to be honest. I will be betting the Packers +7.5 before kickoff on Sunday, as Green Bay is playing some good and, more importantly, underrated football right now. They’ve won five of their last seven with Jordan Love, proving he’s capable of hanging with a dominant offense in a potential shootout, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Cowboys already have their sights set on their next matchup. Although it would be Cowboy fashion for them to choke here, I can’t entirely pull the trigger on Green Bay yet, as I believe Dallas will find a way in their building.

NFL Playoffs: Predicting Every Outcome in NFC Bracket

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