NFL Playoffs: What do you think will happen?

What do you WANT to happen?

Seaside Joe’s subscribers were rated by the MPAA* as “the smartest Seahawks fanbase on the Internet” in every year since 2019. Why not use this opportunity to poll and talk to you about your hopes and expectations for the final eight teams in the NFL playoffs?

My ‘Pinion Association, Alright?

To participate in the comments section — Rated #1 in the world — join Regular Joes or Super Joes. But the polls are free to all!

Saturday: Chiefs vs. Texans

A month ago, the Chiefs beat the Texans 27-19. Kansas City has been to the AFC Championship game in each of the past six seasons, while Houston has never been to an AFC Championship game in their 23-year history as an organization. This despite the fact that the Texans have won their division eight times in the last 14 years.

However, this is the state of the NFC South:

• The Texans had a 0 point differential in 2024

• The Texans had a +24 point differential in 2023

• The Texans had a -7 point differential when they won the division in 2019

• The Texans had a +86 point differential when they won in 2018

• The Texans had a -49 point differential when they won in 2016

In Houston’s last five DIVISION TITLE SEASONS, they have a combined point differential of +54. The team that wins the AFC South, no matter who they are, is just not a competitive team. Some will root for the upset, others will root for the best possible AFC Championship game.

Saturday: Lions vs. Moons

As head coach of the Falcons, Dan Quinn went to a Super Bowl in 2016 (beating Seattle on the way there), and as defensive coordinator of the Cowboys he had a 36-15 record. He just went 12-5 in his first season with the Washington Moons and helped them win their first playoff game since 2005 (a run that ended with a loss to the Seahawks that year).

The NFL has had a “find good quarterbacks in the draft” problem since Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert in 2020, but Jayden Daniels could break the mold.

But in terms of being America’s team this weekend, Quinn is up against a monster in Detroit: The Lions have never been to the Super Bowl and their last “NFL Championship” appearance was 1957. Dan Campbell is the NFL’s most popular coach (if he’s not your coach) in a long time so if he wins a Super Bowl, his Hall of Fame resume is probably already locked in because he did it in Detroit.

The Lions put up 40 points six times this year (52 points twice): From 1998 to 2021, Detroit scored that many points only 11 times total. They had a +222 points differential:

Compared to Tom Brady/Bill Belichick’s historic career together in New England, +222 would be their third-best season and only significantly trail the undefeated regular season in 2007

No matter how many injuries hit them, the Lions haven’t slowed down and that’s why they will probably lose both coordinators (Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn) to head coaching jobs after the playoffs; a rumor this week is that Johnson wanted Washington to keep Sam Howell as the starting quarterback but ownership insisted on drafting one and that’s why the interview never happened.

Is he lyin’?

Sunday: Eagles vs. Rams

The forecast calls for some snow on Sunday. The last time Matthew Stafford played in Philadelphia in the snow — dubbed “The Snow Bowl” in 2013 — he fumbled five times and went 10-of-25. That was eight inches of snow. This is thought to be maybe one inch.

Still, bad weather could favor Saquon Barkley more than anyone else. The Eagles beat the Rams 37-20 in Week 12 and they beat them 23-14 last season.

The Rams are a division rival and certainly not a team or fanbase that has any love for the Seahawks. But the Eagles are the Eagles.

Sunday: Bills vs. Ravens

The “game of the week” for obvious reasons, the Ravens pasted the Bills 35-10 in Week 4 as Derrick Henry rushed for 199 yards.

So if Henry and Barkley both help lead their teams to conference championship games, is the “running backs don’t matter” crowd that probably felt they were overrated as free agents going to admit a miscalculation?

Probably not before buffalos grow wings.

If the Seahawks do decide to trade Kenneth Walker or Zach Charbonnet this offseason, Henry and Barkley will have had a positive net impact on their value.

Please share us with other fans!

Super Bowl predictions

Briefly, I was curious where fans stand as far as who they think will make the Super Bowl.

Seaside Joe 2148