Yahoo Sports Latest 2024 NFL playoff predictions to win AFC Bracket, NFC Bracket, and Super Bowl
Wild card weekend may not have been filled with as many close contests as we'd like, but there will still a number of upsets, big plays, and shocking developments that kept us on our toes throughout. The divisional round is sure to bring even more.
The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers will each make their first appearance of the postseason having secured the top seed in each conference, and both will take on a surprising team in their game. The Ravens will face the Houston Texans after C.J. Stroud and company obliterated the Cleveland Browns, ending their Cinderella run with Joe Flacco at quarterback. The Browns were favorites heading into that game, and much of the public believed a revenge match between Flacco and the Ravens was coming this weekend. Alas, we'll have to settle for the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year against the likely MVP. How heartbreaking.
In the NFC, the Niners will take on a familiar postseason opponent in the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay stunned the football world, decimating the Dallas Cowboys on the road. While the 49ers have won each of their last four playoff meetings against the Packers, Green Bay is now boasting a new quarterback in Jordan Love who could be the exact change of pace needed for Green Bay to come out on top.
Both the Ravens and 49ers will play on Saturday, Jan. 20, while the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs will play on the 21st. Here are some predictions regarding who will come out on top.
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AFC Standings
1. Baltimore Ravens – 1st AFC North (13-4)
2. Buffalo Bills – 1st AFC East (10-6)
3. Kansas City Chiefs – 1st AFC West (11-6)
4. Houston Texans – 1st AFC South (10-7)
5. Cleveland Browns – 2nd AFC North (11-6) -*eliminated
6. Miami Dolphins – 2nd AFC East (11-6) -*eliminated
7. Pittsburg Steelers – 3rd AFC North (10-7) -*eliminated
Per NFL.com
AFC Divisional Round Predictions
Pro Football Network: Ravens and Chiefs win
Brian Blewis writes, "I’m not trying to take anything away from Stroud’s rookie season, but I just think this might be the right time to sell. It could be another resounding home victory for the Ravens against a playoff team."
Regarding the Chiefs and Bills game, Blewis continues, "I think this game is going to come down to the very wire, like they always do in this rivalry, so I’ll take Mahomes as an underdog — a spot where he has been very profitable over the years."
Sporting News: Ravens roll, Bills finally overcome the Chiefs
Bill Bender believes the Ravens are destined for the AFC Championship game citing that the Texans do not know well enough how to contain Lamar Jackson. He writes, even if the Texans do manage to do so, the Ravens defense should hold Houston to to few points to keep up.
On the Chiefs-Bills game, Bender writes, "The Bills were 7-1 S/U and 7-1 ATS as a home favorite this season. Kansas City is 7-0-1 ATS and 6-2 S/U as a road underdog since Mahomes took over as the starter in 2018. and If Allen avoids field-changing interceptions, then Buffalo should be able to feed off the home crowd in the elements."
CBS Sports: Texans shock Ravens, Bills take down Chiefs
John Breech is rolling with the underdog Texans here, writing "The Texans played 10 games this season against teams that finished the year with a winning record and they went 7-3. In those games, Stroud averaged over 300 yards passing while also throwing 21 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. Stroud has essentially been at his best against good teams. Yes, one of those three losses did come to the Ravens, but that was back in Week 1 in a game where Stroud was making the first start of his career. Although the final score ended up being 25-9, it's worth nothing that the score was only 7-6 with 10 minutes left to play in the third quarter."
As for the Chiefs and Bills, Breech believes the Bills will come out on top. He writes, "The past five meetings between these two teams have been played in Kansas City, but this one is being played in Buffalo and I think that's going to be the difference. In a city where the fans jump off snow drifts on to flaming tables, they might set the entire stadium on fire if the Bills win."
NFC Standings
1. San Francisco 49ers – 1st NFC West (12-5)
2. Dallas Cowboys – 1st NFC East (12-5) - *eliminated
3. Detroit Lions – 1st NFC North (12-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1st NFC South (9-8)
5. Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd NFC East (11-6) - *eliminated
6. Los Angeles Rams – 2nd in NFC West (10-7) - *eliminated
7. Green Bay Packers – 2nd NFC North (9-8)
Per NFL.com
NFC Divisional Round Predictions
Pro Football Network: Packers, Lions advance
Brian Blewis writes, "Given the explosiveness of both of these offenses, I’m expecting this to be a high-scoring game. It might be a square pick to be buying high on Love and this Packers offense when their stock is at an all-time high, but we have a large enough sample size to completely buy-in." He adds that he doesn't have all the faith in the world that the Packers win this game, but he is confident that both teams will perform remarkably well on offense. He likes the over more than either team in this one, but still picks the Packers to overcome their playoff rivals.
Blewis believes the Lions will have a much easier time with Tampa Bay. "One concern going into this matchup for the Bucs is their pass protection, as Mayfield was under duress against an Eagles pass rush that was invisible for the second half of the season. Like last week, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson should be in for another big performance."
Sporting News: 49ers and Lions advance
Bill Bender doesn't believe lightning will strike twice with the Packers. After all, they still allowed over half a thousand yards to the Cowboys. "The most-frequent playoff matchup is renewed. The 49ers will be a multi-dimensional problem for the Packers’ defense, which still allowed 510 yards against the Cowboys – albeit most of that when Dallas was in way-behind mode. The Packers need to force uncharacteristic turnovers from Brock Purdy. Kyle Shanahan, however, will be patient behind a strong running game led by Christian McCaffrey. That will open the middle of the field for George Kittle and the perimeter."
On the other side, Bender writes, "Tampa Bay could not run the ball in the first matchup. If that trend repeats itself, then a Detroit pass rush led by Aidan Hutchinson will eventually get home. Tampa Bay is 8-3 ATS as an underdog, so be careful." Clearly, he believes the Lions are more talented, but the Bucs have some sort of magic to them that allows them to play better when they are the underdogs.
CBS Sports: Lions dominate Bucs, 49ers edge out Packers
John Breech likes the 49ers, but in a close game. He writes, "Jordan Love has been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL over the past nine weeks with 21 touchdowns compared to just one interception since Week 11 and if he keeps playing like that, the Packers could certainly pull off an upset. I feel like Love can turn this game into a shootout, but I'm going to have to roll with the team that has won five straight playoff games at home."
As for the Lions, Breech doesn't believe this will be a close contest. "Since the start of the Super Bowl era in 1966, the Lions have NEVER won two playoff games in the same postseason, but after watching them end their 32-year drought without a playoff win, it's starting to feel like they're going to be ending a few droughts this year."
AFC Championship Predictions
WSAZ: Ravens 27, Bills 18
WSAZ believes the Ravens are the team to beat in the AFC. After a solid win over Houston in the divisional round, the AFC Championship could appear to be a great game on paper, but with Baltimore playing as well as they are right now, WSAZ thinks the Ravens will win by more than a score.
Action Network: Ravens to represent the AFC
Action Network has the Ravens as favorites to win the AFC after wild card weekend, and the odds aren't particularly close. Baltimore's (+115) next closest adversary are the Buffalo Bills (+235). That's a pretty massive edge. Baltimore is playing their best ball of the season right now though. It's hard to argue against these odds.
Sporting News: Chiefs will represent the AFC
If it's not the Ravens, it's got to be Patrick Mahomes, right? Although this was written before wild card weekend, Vinny Iyer's predictions still hold. He believes the Chiefs are still the team to beat in the AFC, writing "The more adversity Patrick Mahomes seems to be battling, the more dangerous it seems he and the Chiefs are. Mahomes and Andy Reid will figure out a few more solutions offensively, and that's all that's needed given how well the defense should continue to play and make big plays through the AFC tournament."
NFC Championship Predictions
WSAZ: 49ers 28, Lions 20
After wins from both the favorites in the divisional round, the Lions will not have the firepower to take down the 49ers. Lions quarterback Jared Goff notoriously plays much better at home than on the road, so the 49ers should have no problem containing a usually potent Lions offense. Throw in the fact that 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has now had two weeks to heal his banged-up calf, and you've got yourselves a 49ers Super Bowl appearance.
Action Network: 49ers are heavy favorites
After the Dallas Cowboys were eliminated by the Green Bay Packers, the 49ers are massive favorites according to Action Network. In fact, betting money on the 49ers to represent the NFC won't even net you double your bet. The Niners (-185) closest opponents are the Detroit Lions (+330). Meanwhile, the Bucs and Packers are both given little to no chance at +950 apiece.
Sporting News: 49ers will go to the Super Bowl
Matt Lutovsky writes ahead of wild-card weekend, "Things are wide open in the NFC, but San Francisco has the best roster top-to-bottom. A single injury to Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, or Brock Purdy could change that in a hurry, but with questions about Philadelphia’s, Detroit’s, L.A.’s, and Tampa’s pass defenses, Green Bay’s run defense, and Dallas’ running game, we’ll take San Francisco to break through."
Super Bowl LVIII Predictions
Sportsnaut: Ravens 27, 49ers 14
Andrew Buller-Russ writes, "The 49ers have won five Super Bowls across seven appearances, while the Ravens have won both times they reached the final stage. We don’t see that changing in February when John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson show what the NFL’s MVP can do. But first, they have to get there, which didn’t work out so well in 2022."
New York Post: 49ers win it all
Although these predictions posted before wild card weekend, most of the pieces are still in place for this to work out in the end. Steve Serby has the 49ers taking down the Ravens in the Super Bowl, writing "Big players make big plays in big games and Nick Bosa, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk keep pace with Lamar and Justin Tucker, until rookie Jake Moody wins it with a 49-yard field goal as time expires."
The Ringer: Baltimore hoists the Lombardi
Danny Heifetz writes, "The Ravens have the best defense in the league. They have a top-tier offense. In an AFC where seemingly every team is playing below its potential, Baltimore is near its peak on both sides of the ball. Picking between Baltimore and San Francisco feels impossible, and frankly, the 49ers have been the stronger team thus far this season—even with their loss to Baltimore. But I have faith that this Ravens team and Lamar will come up huge."
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BetMGM: Niners are favorites
Although the Niners would clearly be underdogs if they were to face the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl, they are currently the odds-on favorites (+185) to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Why? Because their path to the Super Bowl appears much less daunting than teams in the AFC. They won't have to face the Bills or Chiefs. The best quarterback they might have to take down is Jordan Love. The next closest team is the Baltimore Ravens (+275), followed by the Buffalo Bills (+500) and Kansas City Chiefs (+700).
DraftKings: 49ers reign supreme
DraftKings sportsbook also has the 49ers as the favorites at +175 odds. What's shocking is that DraftKings also lists the favorite Super Bowl result as the 49ers to defeat the Baltimore Ravens (+400). In all fairness, the Ravens defeating the 49ers has the second-best odds (+500), but it still seems odd that the Ravens would be underdogs considering how they were able to defeat the 49ers earlier in the season.
Covers: Niners are favorites again
Chris Vasile writes, "The San Francisco 49ers (+175) are the Super Bowl 58 betting favorites. The Baltimore Ravens (+290), andBuffalo Bills(+500) are also fighting for a top spot."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NFL playoff predictions: Picks to win Super Bowl, AFC- NFC titles
