Final Predictions: Playoffs and Super Bowl

     Now that I have completed my regular season predictions, it is now time to give my predictions for who will hold up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.  If you missed my playoff seedings for each conference, here they are:

          NFC:                         AFC:
          1. Packers                 1. Ravens
          2. Eagles                    2. Texans
          3. 49ers                     3. Patriots
          4. Saints                     4. Chiefs
          5. Giants                     5. Steelers
          6. Lions                      6. Titans

     Now that we have the teams set up, we begin with the wild card round.  Obviously, the Packers, Eagles, Ravens and Texans get the bye week with having the top spots.

           NFC:                                        AFC:
           -Lions over 49ers                      - Patriots over Titans
           - Saints over Giants                   - Chiefs over Steelers

     The wildcard sees a couple of wild games where the Lions-49ers new rivalry gets a playoff game added to the pot where the Lions defeat San Fran on the road.  The Saints also take down the Super Bowl champs in the Big Easy, but the Giants will play tough even though there is no threat to fire Tom Coughlin.  On the AFC side, the Patriots handle the Titans easily and Romeo Crennel gets his first victory against the Steelers with his Chiefs knocking off the Steelers at home and ending Kansas City's playoff drought.

     Next up, the divisional round of the playoffs:

          NFC:                                           AFC:
          -Packers over Lions                     - Ravens over Chiefs
          - Eagles over Saints                      - Texans over Patriots
 
     The divisional round sees high scoring affairs in Green Bay and Philadelphia, where the top two teams win and make it one game to the Super Bowl with Green Bay topping Detroit and Philadelphia defeating New Orleans.  The AFC also has the top two teams making it to the conference championship with Baltimore shutting down Kansas City and Houston stunning New England to make their first ever conference championship game.

     Next up, the game that decides the Super Bowl contenders:

           NFC:                                           AFC:
           - Eagles over Packers                  -Ravens over Texans

     And the Super Bowl is set with the Eagles stunning the Packers in Lambeau Field and the Ravens finally making a Super Bowl with Harbaugh and Flacco by taking down the Texans.

      And finally, now that the stage is set, the Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles will be won by (drum roll please):

         Super Bowl:
          - Eagles over Ravens

      That's right, I have the Eagles defeating the Ravens in a wild Super Bowl.  Andy Reid finally wins one for the fans, leaving Flacco another year of listening to the critics.  The Super Bowl that pits two of the most talented teams comes down whoever has more heart and the age factor helps the Eagles win over the aging Ravens.  Eagles fans can now rest easy, at least for eight months.