Welcome to part 3 of my 2020-21 NFL playoff predictions! Three for four on the Divisional games, correctly predicting all but the Buccaneers victory.
And then, there were only four. Four teams left standing, all eager to a chance to play in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Here are the four potential match-ups:
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buffalo Bills vs. Green Bay Packers
Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
But which match-up will it be?
Let's find out.
AFC
#1 Kansas City Chiefs vs. #2 Buffalo Bills
And so two powerhouses finally meet. The reigning Super Bowl champions against an ascendant squad determined to win their first Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs have retained virtually all their strength from last season, steamrolling almost all opposition en route to the playoffs. Still, there remains concern over Patrick Mahomes. A brutal collision during the Divisional game left Mahomes with a concussion, and now there are several pressing questions: will Mahomes play? If so, will he be at 100%?
Even without Mahomes, the Chiefs defense was solid overall against the Browns. The defense started to bend a little too much in the second half as the Browns mounted a furious comeback, but most importantly the defense did not break. The mere three points the Chiefs offense scored in the second half should be of much more concern. The Chiefs offense needs to battle the full sixty minutes if they wish to topple the ascendant Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills desperately want a Super Bowl title to erase the pain of the 1990s, and this year is likely going to be one of their best shots to do so. Once Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs turn on the jets, the Bills offense is unstoppable. That said, sluggishness during the Wild Card match nearly doomed the Bills to a one-and-done exit, and the Bills will need all their strength, all their power to dethrone the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Bills defense saved the day against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card game, and then turned into a brick wall against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round.
Two teams, very evenly matched.
This is going to be a close one. A very close one.
Prediction: Bills win, 28-27.
Result: Chiefs win, 38-24.
Comments after the game:
The long-suffering Buffalo Bills will spend another year without knowing the glory and beauty of victory.
The Bills had a good start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead, but the Chiefs turned on the jets and never looked back. Patrick Mahomes is clearly at full strength, and the Chiefs air and ground attacks shredded though the Bills defensive ranks with ease. Defensively, the Chiefs pass coverage utterly neutralized the Bills passing attack, preventing the Bills from getting much momentum.
It is indeed a disappointing end, Buffalo, but fear not. Your window of opportunity remains open. You'll be back, and one day, you too will know absolute victory.
But for now, the Kansas City Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl for the second straight year!
NFC
#1 Green Bay Packers vs. #5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A top seed versus a much lower seed. A match-up that should be lopsided in favor of the number one seed. That is, until you realize the lower seed has Tom Brady.
The Green Bay Packers have been frustrated for much of the 2010s. After winning Super Bowl XLV, the Packers have failed to return the Super Bowl, and since that title game have played in and lost three NFC Championship games (vs the Seahawks in 2014, vs the Falcons in 2016, and vs the 49ers in 2019). The Packers are clearly a talented squad, but have frequently fallen just short in recent years.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, have been in the bitterly cold wilderness for nearly twenty years following their lone title victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. Before the 2020-21 season, the Buccaneers only made the playoffs twice: in 2005 and 2007, both runs ending with one-and-done performances. The Buccaneers spent year after year after year in the darkness, away from the light of playoff victory.
This year, things will be different for at least one of these teams.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers finished the season 13-3 for the second year in a row, and easily toppled the Los Angeles Rams for the chance to compete once again in an NFC Championship game. A high octane offense has fueled the Packers' path to victory, but the Packers' most lopsided loss this season was inflicted at the hands of none other than Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers faced a tougher fight to the Championship, first defeating Washington in the Wild Card game before decimating Drew Brees and the New Orleans Turnovers Saints in the Divisional game. Tom Brady, Gronk, and the rest of the Buccaneers offense are on a roll, and the Buccaneers defense has held strong throughout the playoffs.
Once again, we have two very evenly matched teams.
Once again, this is going to be a close one.
Prediction: Buccaneers win, 35-31.
Result: Buccaneers win, 31-26.
Comments after the game:
Total chaos.
The Buccaneers started strong but crumbled in the second half, Tom Brady throwing three interceptions and allowing Aaron Rodgers to spend plenty of time on the field. Indeed, the Packers mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter, exploiting every weakness the Buccaneers presented.
But the comeback was all for nothing thanks to an exceptionally abysmal play call decision by the Packers. Down 31-23, the Packers are down by one score and it's fourth down. What do the Packers do?
Kick a field goal. And then give the ball right back to Tom Brady.
That won't come back to haunt the Packers!
Oh wait, it did.
A mind-boggling play call dooms the Packers to yet another NFC Championship defeat. Green Bay, this was entirely avoidable. Even if you went for it on fourth down and failed, at least the history books would recognize you played to win instead of settling for a game-losing field goal! Alas, you have chosen failure.
The Buccaneers return to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly twenty years, while Tom Brady returns to the Super Bowl for the first time in two years! As if that's not enough, the Buccaneers will be the first NFL team to host a Super Bowl in their home stadium!
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