* – Division Winner
+ – Wild Card Winner
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Indianpolis Colts
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Tennessee Titans
7. Las Vegas Raiders
NFC
1. New Orleans Saints
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Minnesota Vikings
Wild Card
Ravens over Raiders
Bills over Titans
Steelers over Colts
49ers over Vikings
Seahawks over Cowboys
Packers over Buccaneers
Divisional Round
Chiefs over Steelers
Ravens over Bills
Saints over Seahawks
49ers over Packers
Championship Round
Chiefs over Ravens
49ers over Saints
Super Bowl 55
49ers over Chiefs
Yes, I have selfish reasons for predicting this Super Bowl. If you don’t know this was last years matchup and if you didn’t watch it, it was a good one.
Do I expect more of the same this time around? Yes, I actually do. The 49ers still boast one of the deepest pass rushing groups in the league. Their biggest flaw is in the secondary, but that could and should be addressed with a possible trade during the season. Kansas City is in the same boat on defense with the same main core of players returning and one in particular, DT Chris Jones getting a well deserved contract extension.
We know what the Chiefs will do on offense and QB Patrick Mahomes proved that during last years playoff run. He’ll still have WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce roaming the field. I expect their first round pick RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be a perfect all-purpose back for them the entire year. For San Francisco they need to ride that running back group led by Raheem Mostert and with a healthy Jerick McKinnon they are even more dynamic in the passing game. TE George Kittle will be at his best and if WR Deebo Samuel and first round pick WR Brandon Aiyuk both form a dynamic duo the Niners envisioned going into 2020, they’ll be here.
I don’t expect much of a defensive game like it was for about 3 quarters last year. This will be a back and forth affair. The result will different though. RB Raheem Mostert will be the Super Bowl MVP with 3 total touchdowns (2 on the ground, 1 in the air).
Final score: 49ers 34 – Chiefs 28.
