Way Too Early NFL 2023 Playoff Predictions (& Who Will Win Super Bowl 57)
Jessica Wilkins The midway part of the NFL season is now upon fans, and it's safe to say that it's been the most unpredictable season in years. Contenders such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers have fallen by the wayside. Even the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams are one of the worst teams in the league.
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Meanwhile, other teams, such as the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are shocking fans with their success. Despite the unpredictability of the ongoing season, we're going to look into our crystal ball and predict who will be the winner of Super Bowl 57.
7 AFC Wild Card Round
On the AFC side of things, don't expect the Kansas City Chiefs to be playing on opening weekend. As of now, they've hit their stride (despite incredible injuries on offense too), so they're going to easily take the number one seed. On Wild Card weekend, the seventh-seed New York Jets will face the two-seed Buffalo Bills. Also for that weekend, the sixth-seed Miami Dolphins will face the third-seed Baltimore Ravens, while the fifth-seed New England Patriots travel to the fourth-seed Tennessee Titans.
In keeping with the results from last year's playoffs, the higher seeds will all emerge victorious. With that, the Titans will move to Kansas City and face MVP Patrick Mahomes. Meanwhile, the Ravens will have a rematch of sorts with the Bills. The pair faced off in 2020, with the Bills getting the win after Lamar Jackson left the game due to injury.
6 NFC Wild Card Round
The NFC has proved to be far more unpredictable than the AFC thus far. Luckily, the top of the conference already seems settled, as the Philadelphia Eagles will easily take the one seed. Thus, setting up matchups between the seventh-seed Seattle Seahawks facing the second-seed Minnesota Vikings. Also on wild card weekend will be the sixth-seed Dallas Cowboys traveling to third-seed San Francisco, and the fifth-seed New York Giants taking on the fourth-seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady.
NFC's wild card weekend will be chaotic as it was in the regular season. Geno Smith will continue his Cinderella story by upsetting the Vikings and moving Seattle to a date with the Eagles. The Giants will also end Tom Brady's season in Tampa, while San Francisco and Christian McCaffrey run all over the Cowboys.
5 AFC Divisional Round
© Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The AFC divisional round will feature a pair of rematches. While the Bills and Ravens played in 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs famously played the Tennesee Titans a year prior in the conference championship game. That year saw Patrick Mahomes dominate, as he moved on to the Super Bowl to get his first ring. This year, the result will be the same.
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The Titans are a good team but have faltered in the playoffs repeatedly. It also doesn't help matters that they've already lost to the Chiefs in the regular season already. On the other side of things, a healthy Lamar Jackson will upset Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo. The Ravens are a forgotten contender, and if they're healthy, they very well might be the best team in the NFL.
With that, fans get to witness Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson in the playoffs for the first time.
4 NFC Divisional Round
© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
While there will be some upsets in the opening round of the NFC playoffs, the divisional round will be much tamer. Sadly for Geno Smith, the Seattle Seahawks will get dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles. However, his comeback story is still one of the greatest stories of the 2022 NFL season.
On the opposite end of the NFC, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants will too have their incredible season ended. While the San Francisco 49ers have been inconsistent, they always show up come playoff time. Expect them to defeat the Giants, and move onto one of the most unlikely NFC championship games of all time.
3 AFC Conference Championship
© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The narratives of the AFC conference finals write themselves. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, two young MVPs who are the future, and the present of the league. Despite their incredible play, they've never met until now, with a Super Bowl birth on the line.
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After being so close to making the Super Bowl last year, it's hard to see Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs letting the chance slip through their fingers again. Lamar Jackson will have to wait for his turn to play in the big game.
2 NFC Conference Championship
© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
A possible NFC conference championship between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles is almost too bizarre to think about. Jimmy Garoppolo was a backup to start the season, while Jalen Hurts was on the hot seat after being brutalized in the playoffs last season.
In the unlikely conference championship, the San Francisco 49ers will defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. The strides Hurts and the team have made are incredible, but it won't be enough. With the win, the 49ers will move to Super Bowl 57 for a rematch with the Chiefs.
1 Super Bowl 57
© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
It's very unlikely anyone would expect to see a rematch of Super Bowl 54 this year. In that 2020 championship game, the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo got out to an early lead and held that lead until late. However, Patrick Mahomes did what he does best. He came from behind and wound up winning 31-20.
Sadly for San Francisco fans, the second time isn't the charm. By the end of this NFL season, Mahomes will not only have another MVP to his name but another Super Bowl ring.