NFL 2025 Playoffs
Transmitter 42.
Speaker 2:It's that time of year where the National Football League playoffs commence. Let's spend some time discussing the playoff structure and format, the bracket itself, and teams to watch. Today's guest, Dylan Huggins, is a 5 year offensive line veteran of college division 3 football. To say he knows the game is an understatement. He shares his knowledge with this preface to the NFL playoffs. Please welcome Dylan Huggins to Transmitter 42. Well, thank you for joining us, Dylan.
Speaker 1:Thanks for having me. Glad to be here.
Speaker 2:Tell us a little bit about yourself real quick.
Speaker 1:Well, so as you already mentioned previously in the intro, 5 year member of the Hamilton City Football Team. So not division 1 or anything, but I'd like to think of myself as, you know, individual who's been around the game a pretty long time and with various experiences. And I've seen a lot of knowledge through, you know, various coaches I've been playing under. So excited to be here today and, share my thoughts on the NFL playoffs and what will unfold this season.
Speaker 2:Welcome and thank you for joining Transco Under 40 2. Let's start with the introduction of a brief overview of the NFL playoff structure.
Speaker 1:So this is now I wanna say it's the 5th season where we had we have now the 7th seed added to the NFL playoffs beforehand. It was a little bit different of a structure. You had, 6 total teams in each conference, 1 through 6 1 through 6 seeds in each conference. What was different was, in that old format, the top 2 seeds in each conference both got a 1st round by unlike this year where it's just the top seed in each conference, which I think is a lot better because, well, a, with an extra team in the playoffs, you're you're giving you're getting an extra game, which, mean, I don't think anybody's gonna complain about. And with only 1 team in each conference getting a buy, it's really more it's more rewarding, and it pushes teams to really fight for that number 1 seed whereas in the old format, 4 to 5 years ago, you know, if you just got a 1 or 2 seed, you get the buy.
Speaker 1:So it was just less competitive.
Speaker 2:What are we gonna expect in this episode?
Speaker 1:So in this episode, gonna I'm gonna highlight, my playoff predictions after seeing the regular season play out. What I who I think is playing good right now, who I think is falling is trending downwards, and I'm also gonna, you know, I'm gonna highlight some key players on these teams. You know, what are the x factors for, various teams to succeed and how other teams can combat those x factors. And yeah.
Speaker 2:Let's go over the overview of the playoff format.
Speaker 1:So 24, 25 playoffs. I'm gonna start with the AFC. Top seed AFC for their listeners is what? American Football Conference. And then top seed to, I guess, many people's unsurprise is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 1:Only had 2 losses on the season. And, you know, with that and say with that with just 2 losses, if you're just looking at the record itself, you're thinking, oh, they're poised for a 3 peat. But they do have the greatest quarterback one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes, who this season really hasn't it's he's played uncharacteristic of what he's you know, what we're accustomed to seeing. He hasn't been bad by any means, but he's definitely taken, I'd say a step back from what he's capable of playing and what we're used to. Obviously, that the Kansas City Chiefs now, whereas where they're different now as opposed to when Patrick Mahomes first came into the league was their defense is now one could say, and I in my opinion, the defense is the backbone.
Speaker 1:When Patrick Mahomes first came into the league, the it was heavy reliant on the play calling of head coach Jamie Reid, you know, the talent, Patrick Mahomes, future hall of famers, Travis Kelce at tight end, and Tyreek Hill at wide receiver who Tyreek Hill is now in the Dolphins, but that's another story. But now the defense in the last few seasons has been a wrecking ball of a unit. They've they've got they've got talent on on all phases of the defense, stopping the run. Another future hall of famer, Chris Jones, defensive tackle, the the best the best defensive lineman in the NFL, and he has been for a couple years now. And they're very they've got great talent, you know, just all over the defense, stopping the run, defending the pass.
Speaker 1:Like, guys like Trent McDuffie at corner. They're even losing valuable play losing valuable pieces, this past off season. So there's cornerback Lejarius Snead. It still didn't really affect their defensive play at all. They were still they they contain teams no matter what the game plan was, and that was the reason why they were be able they were able to have so have so much success this year.
Speaker 1:It's not that they were blowing teams out of the water, you know, just dumping a bunch of points on them. It was they were winning they weren't really blowing anybody out this year, but they were just limiting offensive play. And scores were close all year for the most part, but their defense was the main centerpiece. And Patrick Mahomes, even though down year for him, some would say, but in the big moments, he still came through when it was when it mattered most. Moving on to, Buffalo.
Speaker 1:Buffalo is an intriguing team because I've had Josh Allen at quarterback for number of years now, and he's Josh Allen is one of the quarterbacks. There's very few quarterbacks in the NFL that are classified as, I would say, elevators. I would say there's only about 5 elevators. And what I mean by that is an l I classify an elevator as a quarterback that doesn't need a specific system to, work in and orchestrate the offense in. You know, elevators or quarterbacks that are, regardless of the situation, they can elevate talent around them.
Speaker 1:And even if that includes sometimes coaching liabilities, Patrick Mahomes also falls into that core category. But Buffalo Buffalo this year, they to me, obviously, in the last few years, they have ran into the Kansas City Chiefs every see every season besides once the Bengals, and they have come up short each time in the playoffs. And a lot of people thought last year was their year because it was gonna be played on Buffalo's terms. It was in Buffalo in the AFC divisional round last year against Chiefs in Buffalo. And everybody was thinking, oh, this is the Bills' final chance.
Speaker 1:Finally, their chance to, you know, get over the hump and finally get past the Chiefs because many people just thought if they got past the Chiefs, they could win the whole thing. Yeah. So Buffalo Bills, they're I think a big thing that helped them this offseason was they had to get former wide receiver, now on the Texan, Stefon Diggs, out of the locker room. I really think he was I thought he was a I thought he was a bit of a locker room cancer. And you and specifically after last season, they lost to the Chiefs at home.
Speaker 1:Diggs winds to the Stefon Diggs whining to the media and saying all this and that, but he himself played horrible in that game. And there was a deep ball to Diggs That would have been a huge game, and he just went right through his hands. So I think it was good for Josh Allen and the Bills to get him out of there. And Josh Allen this year has been playing at a MVP caliber level as opposed to seasons like, he's always been a an uplifter of talent around him, but he's limited his turnovers this year significantly. And I just think he's he's a lot more poised and there's less drama in the locker room.
Speaker 1:Moving on to the 3 seeded Baltimore Ravens, the winners of the AFC North. They themselves have another MVP candidate, and it's almost gonna be like a the MVP is gonna be almost like a pick them between Lamar Jackson, quarterback of the Ravens, and Josh Allen for the Bills. Lamar Jackson is spectacular, and this team is spectacular. Coach John Harbaugh for the Ravens, he's been doing it a long time. And, you know, he's really got a he had a good team last year, but I think the defense this year has much improved.
Speaker 1:It's past defense stopping the run, and Lamar Jackson has played ironically way better this season than he did last season when he won his second MVP last year, which is, in my opinion, a pretty weak MVP, considering, you know, the historical, like, frame we have of what an MVP is. But the Ravens matching up here, 1st round, rivalry game, AFC North matchup against Pittsburgh Steelers. And Pittsburgh Pittsburgh's been a pretty interesting situation the last couple years because ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired, they have not they do not have a quarterback. They have not had a quarterback. Now this year, they they, picked up Russell Wilson as a rental, I would assume.
Speaker 1:And he's had spurts this year where he's looked very good. But other games where it's looking back to, it looks like, you know, the Denver Broncos Russell Wilson. So the Pittsburgh Steelers defense throughout last ever since Mike Tomlin has been the head coach, which has been, you know, forever now, their defense has always been, you know, top of the league, and it remains to be that Even in these past few years where the offense just lacks coaching, proper schemes, talent, specifically at quarterback, lack of a running game, They relied on their defense so much that it masked, and it they produce it produces, you know, it produced a reasonable record. You know? Mike Tomlin's never had a losing season in his tenure ever.
Speaker 1:Now people might think that's, oh, there's no problems at all. But last 5 ish years, it's it's just the defense that's pretty much bailing out the offense. I mean, the defense is elite. There's no question. You know?
Speaker 1:Alex Highsmith, TJ Watt, at defensive end, at edge, You know? They're gonna have their way getting pressure on the quarterback. Like, it's gonna come down to like, Pittsburgh will never hate to say this, but Pittsburgh will never be able to advance deep playoff run until they figure it out at quarterback and on offense. The defense is amazing, and it has been. But you need you need to score points in the National Football League, which it's going to be, it's going to be a rough, I think it'll be a very rough game against the Ravens because the Ravens are Ravens are one of the most, I would say, top 2 or 3 in terms of balance on both sides of the football offense and defense.
Speaker 1:So they wear that Pittsburgh defense out. It could be a long day. Next team up is Houston Texans, winners of the AFC South. Now this division was, in my opinion, most disappointing team in the or disappointing division in the entire NFL this year. Houston Texans last year, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud had an amazing rookie campaign, and no one had any expectations for him to make the playoffs last year and even winning a playoff game last year.
Speaker 1:This season, they have they have dealt with some injuries. Obviously, losing Tank Dell. He had a pretty gruesome knee injury against the Chiefs a few weeks back and there's good chance he's not coming back next season. But this team just doesn't, They struggle running the football. They struggle on pass protection.
Speaker 1:The defense, they are good on edge. They're getting pressure. Will Anderson, you know, They've got they have a good presence to a type of quarterback, but this defense really struggles in the past. I do have a stud quarterback in Derek Stingley. And Derek Stingley has, you know, he was a, I believe he was drafted 3rd over he was a 3rd overall pick, if I'm not mistaken, for out of LSU, and he was, you know, a stud at LSU back when he was playing with Joe Burrow and company at LSU, and they won the Natty.
Speaker 1:And he from the Natty? The national championship. And he struggled with injuries coming in, but he seems to be in the secondary, he seems to be the lone stud in my eyes. And, you know, they're faced up against, facing up against the Los Angeles charters who finished second in the, AFC West to the Chiefs. Charter Los Angeles charters, I mean, it was a it was a year that raised a lot of question with former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, were making a return to the NFL.
Speaker 1:And there was, I guess, you could say somewhat of an expectation because, you know, Harbaugh has had success in the NFL before coming off a national championship win in college last year against Washington and leaving to make a return to the NFL. You know, people people were expecting, I would say, kind of just like an average 1st year, like, middle of the road, nothing crazy. If you miss the playoffs, you know, people wouldn't, you know, score or ridicule you, but he really exceeded expectations there. They had a great draft. They drafted drafted 2 guys that drafted a tackle, Joe Walt from Notre Dame.
Speaker 1:He's been a stud for them. And Ladd McConkey, wide receiver at Georgia, has a 1000 yards on the year as a rookie. And they also have, you know, Justin Herbert who Justin Herbert, working with harp working with Harbaugh has helped him tremendously. They Justin Herbert's another one of those quarterbacks that I talked about earlier that's an uplifter of talent because the chargers lack a consistent running game as of right now. They don't necessarily have they have a good defense.
Speaker 1:I won't say a great defense. They have a good defense. They lacked talent, I would say, at the receiver position. I did mention Ladd McConkie, but outside of Ladd McConkie, it's very it's very wishy washy, I would say. They have another former 1st round pick, Quentin Johnson who out of TCU, and he just hasn't lifted he hasn't lived up to the prior expectation.
Speaker 1:But I believe that and I think this is kinda scary. The this will be the worst season in the Harbaugh tenure at on the chargers, which I think is pretty scary because there was no expectation for this team to make the postseason make the postseason at all. And I think the fact that he did it with this roster as it is right now should be a wake up call to the rest of the league that Harbaugh and the chargers are they're gonna be here to stay in the future. So and then last team I will talk about is the Denver Broncos. Another team out of the AFC West finishing 3rd behind the chargers and chiefs.
Speaker 1:Rookie quarterback Bo Nix who has played, I would say, a lot I think a lot of people didn't really expect him to do all that in the end film, and a lot of people expected him a lot of people didn't think he would spending a first round the the Broncos spending a first round pick on him would be very worthwhile, but he's he's not doing anything crazy, but he is, you know, he's doing his job. He's running the system that head coach Sean Payton has put in front of him. They do have a stud offensive line, especially in pass protection, but their running game and their running game schemes are pretty terrible. They're not good. They struggle running the football, and the defense has it's kind of a similar situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1:This defense is, you know, sensational. Best quarter best quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Sertan out of Alabama. He is, you know, sensational. This defense has really taken a drastic turn since last season. Last season, they were bottom 10 in the NFL, and now they've they've climbed to the top 2.
Speaker 1:So it's another one of those situations where defense is elite, similar to the Steelers, but will the offense be able to do enough? Now I do think the Denver offense is better than the Pittsburgh offense. I wouldn't say by a crazy amount because I mean, like I said, Bow Nick quarterback Bow Nicks right now, he's not asked to do a lot. He it's a lot of dinking and dunking to receivers. You know?
Speaker 1:He's not really throwing the ball down the field. I don't know if that's a trust thing as of right now or if he's still I mean, he's just running the system that coach Sean Payton has out in front of him. But, you know, he's still he has had moments this year where he's grown and improved throughout the year. So that's all the teams in the AFC. I'm a make my picks here for, at first, I'm gonna I'm gonna highlight what I think is gonna be the best game.
Speaker 1:And then a game that I think is gonna get out of hand.
Speaker 2:In the AFC.
Speaker 1:In the AFC. Correct. Best game, I think, even though I'm gonna say it's gonna be I think it could be Buffalo Denver, honestly, or I think Houston and the chargers could be good as well. But, Buffalo Denver, I think it's a better matchup for Denver against Buffalo than Houston against the Chargers. I think Denver although they might not win this game, which I did not pick Denver to win this game, I think they could definitely make it interesting with that, the defense that they have.
Speaker 1:You know, limited trying to limit Josh Allen to extend plays. You know? They got a great may have the best quarterback in the NFL. I think it's I think it's a pretty low scoring game, and it's just gonna come down to will Denver be able to move the ball on Buffalo, which will we will see. Game that I think is gonna get out of hand, and and it's gonna be it's gonna be Baltimore, Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1:In Baltimore, the way Lamar Jackson for the Ravens has played this year, the way the team is structured, great offense, great defense, great run game. Derrick Henry at running back, rushing just shy of 2,000 yards on the season at age 30. Like, they're Baltimore's poised to make a push, and I just don't see the Steelers offense being able to sustain drives against that defense. And I think Baltimore think there's a chance Baltimore struggles early possibly moving the football against that Steeler defense. I could see the score being, fairly low scoring at halftime.
Speaker 1:I could see Baltimore being up by, like, 7. And but I didn't see the second half. I just I think Baltimore pulls away in the second half. And then I got the chargers on the road at Houston beating the Texans. Have not liked the way the Texans have looked this season.
Speaker 1:I just don't think they're gonna be able to their this like, their offensive line is pretty terrible there as a whole, and I just don't think Stroud, CJ quarterback CJ Stroud for the Texans is gonna have enough time is gonna have enough time to get the ball out as playmakers, Chargers, good defense. And I got the Chargers moving on. And then Baltimore, I said. And the Buffalo Denver game, like I mentioned earlier, I think it's closer it's a lot closer than people think. I do have Buffalo winning due to quarterback Josh Allen's been here before.
Speaker 1:You know? He's been in these playoff games, these types of situations. I think he he finds a way to elevate, and they pull that out that game out. I could see a score like 24 to 17, 2414, may maybe around those lines. I think it's a pretty competitive game.
Speaker 1:So in the next round, as I mentioned well, I don't think I actually mentioned this. So in this format that we've had for about 4 or 5 years now, we have the lowest remain was the lowest remaining seed, the first round would play the top seed. In this case, the Chiefs. So with those picks, I have the chargers on the road to the Chiefs, and charters are in a great spot for the future. But going into Arrowhead is a tough place to play in the playoffs, and I just don't think they're gonna be ready for it.
Speaker 1:I don't really think it's a I don't think it's a high scoring affair. Like I mentioned earlier, Chiefs defense. I just think the Chiefs defense will find a way to neutralize maybe not neutralize, but severely hinder Justin Herbert in Charter's offense. So I have the Chiefs moving on to play in yet another AFC conference championship. And then this one could be the game I think this game coming up could be the probably the best game of the entire playoffs.
Speaker 1:And it's kinda it's in the 2nd round, which is kinda crazy, but Baltimore and Buffalo. I think this game will be if it ends up playing, if both these teams meet up, I think it'll be the best game of the playoffs. And it's kinda crazy to say in the 2nd round, but, thank this game is just gonna come down to quarterback play. It's gonna be Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen. And Josh Allen I think Josh Allen has more of a chip on his shoulder than previous years.
Speaker 1:I do like the Ravens defense more than the Bills defense, But this is just me. I'm I'm putting a little more faith in Josh Allen than I am Lamar Jackson because although Josh Allen has not made it to a Super Bowl, neither has Lamar Jackson. But although Josh Allen hasn't been to a Super Bowl, I've seen Josh Allen play a lot better in the postseason than Lamar has. So when the stage is set bright, you know, what quarterback are you gonna, like, put your trust in? I'm putting mine in Josh Allen, and I have Buffalo moving on in a dogfight.
Speaker 1:So that will bring us to the AFC championship game. We got the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills' familiar foes in the postseason, and it'll be an Arrowhead. And So that's your pick. For the AFC champion. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Got it. And this is kind of what I'm thinking right here. Patrick Mahomes has a chance to go down as the greatest quarterback ever. I still think it's Brady right now, but he has the chance, and he's on trajectory to do so. When Tom Brady was playing, you know, went to numerous Super Bowls, obviously.
Speaker 1:But there were the years where, like, you know, some quarterbacks just got the better of them. You know? You know, Big Ben, like, Big Ben has years where he got the better. And then Drew Brees had a year. Like, all these other quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers had a year.
Speaker 1:Like, all these other quarterbacks had, like, years, like Peyton Manning Peyton Manning especially. Like, all those quarterbacks, like, have years where it's like they finally get one. They finally break through. And I just with the way Josh Allen's been playing and Patrick Mahomes has been playing, it's hard to go against Patrick Mahomes in these types of situations because we know what we've seen in the way that defense is. But I just I'm gonna I'm rolling with Josh Allen and the Bills.
Speaker 1:Josh Allen, I think he's played fantastic this season, better than Patrick Mahomes. And I think Josh Allen finally breaks through and gets gets to the Super Bowl. It's been a it's he's been, you know, trying for a while. They haven't been they haven't beaten the Chiefs in the playoffs, and they've matched up 3 times, those 2 quarterbacks. But I'm taking the Bills in this one.
Speaker 1:I think the Bills finally get it done, and they have a little sigh of relief for the time being. So Bills are my AFC representative in the Super Bowl. Moving on to the NFC. National Football Conference. That's correct.
Speaker 1:And Remember, some listeners are learning about football from you. Oh, that's true. That's true. NFC is a the NFC is a lot different than the AFC. I think the AFC has better quarterbacks, but the NFC has better, more structured teams, more talent around with these quarterbacks in the NFC are not necessarily uplifters like I've mentioned in the AFC.
Speaker 1:Like, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert. Quarterbacks in the the quarterbacks in the NFC just aren't to the talent level as those AFC guys.
Speaker 2:So there's better balance typically. I remember growing up the same thing. It was like the NFC was more of a grind it and get it done sort of thing, and the AFC was legendarily score lots of points more than your opponent scores on you. Try to win that way. So focus on offense.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean, I just think I think there's the NFC. It's the quarterbacks in the NFC aren't I would, in my opinion, aren't asked to do as much. They're not asked to uplift a situation. You know?
Speaker 1:And the number one seed, the Detroit Lions. Detroit Lions, you know, they have really burst onto the scene because historically, terrible franchise. And I think our even Lions fans would even say that.
Speaker 2:It's with a few exceptions. I do remember in the late eighties or early nineties, they were dogging with the Redskins trying to get through the playoffs.
Speaker 1:That's that's true. But, you know, they've never they've never even reached the Super Bowl. So it's but this is some would argue that the talent they have now is probably is, like, the best talent they've had in a while because there was a span where they were just bottom of the league, you know, early draft picks, couldn't pan out. You know? They've my head coach, Dan Campbell, came there in 2021.
Speaker 1:That was his 1st season. He was he got a position at he got the coaching position at a team that was, pretty terrible. I wanna say they won maybe 3 or 4 games when he arrived. And when he his 1st year there was not great, but it was as we've seen across these last few years, it's they've steadily improved and pretty quick and drastically. And then his 2nd year, they went 9 and 8.
Speaker 1:And they didn't make the playoffs, but as a Packers fan, the last game of the season in the last year, Aaron Rodgers played in Green Bay in Lambeau at Lambeau Field was against the Lions. And if the pack all the packers had to do were they just had to win and they were in. They didn't have to rely on other teams winning or other teams losing to get in. All they had to do was take care of business, and they were in. And the lines at this point were already eliminated.
Speaker 1:And so, theoretically, they're not playing for anything. But the Dan Campbell, the culture he's installed there in Detroit, you know, they're gonna go play hard no matter the circumstance, no matter what the occasion is, if they're in the playoffs, out of playoffs, whatever. And they beat the Packers. And that's when that was the moment I knew. I was like, there's a new there's a new giant that is that is coming in the NFC.
Speaker 1:And last year, they were just shy of Super Bowl parents. Should've probably should've won the game last the NFC championship last year against the 40 niners. Horrific second half. This year, they have been very dominant in games, scoring lots of points, and it's the best offensive line unit in the NFL. They're they can just have their way with it seems like any defensive front, they just find a way to run the ball.
Speaker 1:They have a great running back, Jimmy Gibbs, from Alabama. They're great at wide receiver. The only the only red flag I would have with the lions is the injuries they have sustained throughout the course of the year. They have lost pieces, in the secondary and the safeties and corners. So pass defense at times can be shaky in this back end of the season this back half of the season.
Speaker 1:And they also lost their star, pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, to the earlier on in the season, they had a pretty gruesome leg injury against the Cowboys. But even with all those injuries, they've still found a way to be dominant, which is pretty amazing. And with all those injuries, you gotta give a lot of credit to defense coordinator Aaron Glenn for the Lions. He's done an amazing job given all the injuries that have taken place, and he will he after this season, he will have a decision to make if he wants to stay, or he most certainly is gonna be offered a head coaching position somewhere where I have no idea. But it'll be one of these bad teams that will be searching for a head coach, and Aaron Glenn will definitely be one of the candidates.
Speaker 1:And then the 2nd seed for, the number 2 seed in the NFC is the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia Eagles are, I believe, to be the front runner for the Super Bowl. I think they're I think they have it all. I think they are my well, they are my Super Bowl pick. Reason being, the offensive line is still elite even without Jason Kelsey, Saquon getting Saquon Barkley at running back.
Speaker 1:You know, he was just shy of breaking the all time record for rushing yards in the season, but he didn't play in the last game because he didn't need to, and they had already the Eagles had already clinched their playoff seeding. So Saquon Barkley rushing forever 2,000 yards behind an elite offensive line. An elite defense an elite defense, I believe to be the best May it might be the best defense in the NFL. I would say definitely the best defensive line. They're they just they've they their run stopping ability is insane And secondary, their defensive backs are just sensational.
Speaker 1:Quinion Mitchell, rookie out of Toledo, been a stud. Cooper DeGene, rookie out of Iowa, stud. Like, they're just I think that team has it all. And even while Joe and Hertz the quarterback, some people don't some people think he's better than he is. Some people think he's worse than he is.
Speaker 1:I personally think he's a good quarterback, but he's one of those quarterbacks that he has to have pieces around him, and he has probably the I would say he's got the best supporting cast out of any quarterback in the NFL given including the defense if you're including that. So he's not asked to do that much. And that's not like a knock on him or anything, but he's just not asked to do in a game what these other quarterbacks, like, for example, in the AFC, have to do with less with, less of an arsenal surrounding them. He's got an elite wide receiver 1. He's got a great wide receiver 2.
Speaker 1:He's got a good tight end, good offensive line, best running back in football. Like, he's got and the defense, and he's got he's got everything. So I think the Eagles are gonna be very tough to stop in this playoffs these playoffs. 3 seed, you got the temp we have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oh, it was been it was a weird year for tip Tippbay and that division, the AFC cell or the NFC South as a whole.
Speaker 1:Many people didn't think Tampa Bay would even be in this position this year. Made the playoffs last year. Many people thought it was a fluke. Got a playoff win against the Eagles. Maybe thought it maybe few many people thought it was fluky.
Speaker 1:And this year, the heavy favorite to win their division was the Atlanta Falcons with Kirk Cousins, leaving Minnesota and coming to Atlanta. And he was offered the Atlanta Falcons situation is not great right now because they you got Kurt to cut, they got Kurt cousins to come down there for, I want to say it was like about 160, 160,000,000 guaranteed. And then he ended up getting benched in the last few games of the season. He was unplayable. He was not, he was not good.
Speaker 1:So they had to, resort to 1st round draft pick Michael Panix to play quarterback who I think has looked pretty good in his own right. But the team was just it was inconsistent all season and, you know, huge disappointment as a whole. Tampa Bay has been Tampa Bay's got a great offense. They do. They have a great offensive line.
Speaker 1:They have a great running back. They have a good running game. And Baker Mayfield at quarterback who I'm a big fan of his because he's kind of revived his career, being drafted to the Browns and then went to the Panthers, it was looking pretty bad. It was not looking great. But he got he got into a situation where he had you know, he had he has got he's got good coaching and they get off into the lawn.
Speaker 1:He's got a hall of fame feature hall of famer, wide receiver, Mike Evans. And he's, you know, Baker Mayfield, you know, he's not one of these. He's also we use the term system quarterback. Gotta have system quarterbacks have to have, you know, the right situation around them to succeed in the league. We're just Versus the elevator.
Speaker 1:Correct. Yeah. Like, where I was talking about the AFC has got more elevators at quarterback, and the NFC's got the system guys. But I think they could I think their offensive their offense is enough to get them in a position to win some games. You know, they could they could go on a run.
Speaker 1:Is it super likely? No. But we'll see. And then the LA Rams, winners of the NFC West. NFC West had a very weird season.
Speaker 1:The San Francisco 40 niners have, last couple years, have been by far the most dominant team in that conference or in that division. But took a severe step back this year, dealt with a lot of injuries, though, like, a crazy amount of injuries. And then the Rams, you know, the Rams were solid. Like, they're they got a good team, but I just I've watched them this season, and I've don't see any consistency with them. They've got great offensive pieces.
Speaker 1:Like, Matthew Stafford, you know, Super Bowl winner. You know? He's he's proven in the league. He's got good wide receivers. Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp, they have a good running back.
Speaker 1:And they have a they do have a really good defensive line with 2 rookies, actually, both from Florida State, Braden Fisk and Jared Vers, who really taken that defensive line up several notches. Rams are I think the Rams are a sneaky team, but for these playoffs, but I just don't see them beating their their opponent in the 1st round in the 5 seed, the Minnesota Vikings. And unfortunately for the Vikings, they are a wild card team. They did not win their division because they finished second to the Detroit Lions, And they're the only team in NFL history to win 14 games, finished 14 and 3, win 14 games, and have to go on the road for their 1st playoff game, which kinda sucks. Because any other division, they're winning the division.
Speaker 1:It's just how it goes. But they lost to Detroit twice. And, you know, that's that's rough situation, but I still Minnesota is a great football team. They have elite coaching on both sides. Kevin O'Connell, the head coach, the play caller.
Speaker 1:Brian Flores, defensive coordinator. Brian Flores has some of the best schemes for blitzing the quarterback out of anybody. Just period. The similar to Tampa Bay, the quarterback situation there has been is another revived career. Sam Darnold, who was drafted 28 2018, I believe, by the New York Jets.
Speaker 1:Was looking pretty bad, was not looking good. Also went to the Panthers, was not looking good, and then he finally got into a situation where he, you know, he's got the tools around him. He's got the play caller. He's got the offensive line. He's got the receivers.
Speaker 1:He's got a great defense. So he's not asked to do, you know, like you said, he's not asked to uplift. He's asked to, you know, just execute the offense. Nothing crazy. You know?
Speaker 1:But he's played very well this year, so kinda cool to see him somewhere to Baker Mayfield last year for the Buccaneers. Kinda cool to see, you know, these careers revive when, like, they were looking pretty bad early on when they were younger. And then succeed
Speaker 2:your
Speaker 1:team, Lowell Washington. Pretty cool to see Washington back in the postseason. You know? They made the postseason during the COVID season, but it just wasn't the same. And, also, they they were at a losing record.
Speaker 1:It was kinda like a won the division by default. This year, though, although they didn't win the division because, unfortunately, their company with the Philadelphia Eagles, they've it's cool to see them turn it around. You know? And they really hit on their their rookie quarterback, Jaden Daniels, out of LSU, the Heisman Trophy winner in college last year. He he's been sensational.
Speaker 1:He's he's got he's some might say a similar, you know, play style to Lamar Jackson. Great rusher at quarterback. He rushed for, I think, just shy of 900 yards this year, which is it was just crazy for, you know, a rookie and a quarterback. And he's been great passing the football as well. Their offense has just taken a crazy leap this year.
Speaker 1:And under head coach Dan Quinn, they've that team has really come alive this year, and as opposed to past years where it's just seemed like, you know, all hope is lost. Because, I mean, they went from last year, they had a bottom pick. They were pretty terrible last year. I don't remember how many games they won, but drastic turnaround this year, impressive turnaround, and excited to see what they do in the future. And then the last team I got here is my pride and joy, Green Bay Packers, who they've they're interesting because they have not beaten an elite team this year.
Speaker 1:And some might say, oh, so they're a fraud. And I would say they they're definitely not gonna win their 1st round matchup because they're gonna be playing the Eagles. But they all these teams that they've lost to, they finished 11 and 6, lost the lions twice, lost to the vikings twice, and lost to the eagles. And, unfortunately, lost to the bears in the last week of the season. Don't really wanna talk about that.
Speaker 1:It was pretty embarrassing.
Speaker 2:But what are the bears fit
Speaker 1:in all this? Chicago bears. So they're they won 5 games all year. They haven't beat the Yeah. They haven't beat the packers since 2018.
Speaker 1:But any given day. Right? Any given day. That's that's true. That's the same with the playoffs.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's any given day. They haven't all those elite teams they lost to, they didn't get blown out in any of them. They're all competitive. They're all close, like, dog fights. But at the end of the day, it just comes down to, like, those games that are close like that, are your players gonna rise to the occasion?
Speaker 1:Is your coach gonna rise to the occasion? So, unfortunately, seeing that theme of not rising to the occasion play out all year doesn't install much hope for the Packers to make it out of the 1st round against the Philadelphia Eagles. So my NFC, bracket predictions on this side of the bracket I think the most exciting game actually is gonna be Tampa Bay, Washington because I have Tampa Bay winning this game mainly because I think it's gonna be a shootout game. That's because both the offenses are very good. I think it's gonna be a shootout, and it's gonna be fun to watch.
Speaker 1:I give Tampa Bay the nod just because I give Tampa Bay the nod just because they've been here before and they've done it. This is kinda like Washington's, like, first rodeo in a sense, you know, in a while. So, you know, they like, they made the playoffs in the COVID year, but that was completely different team than it is now. So I think it's close. Would I be surprised if Washington won?
Speaker 1:Not necessarily. But I am picking Tampa here, and I think that's gonna be the best game of the NOC's first round. A game I think could potentially get ugly would be Philadelphia and Green Bay. I would love for the Packers to beat the Eagles. I just don't see it happening in Philly with the amount of talent Philadelphia has.
Speaker 1:I don't think the Packers are gonna be able to stop the run. Running attack of Saquon Barkley, and I don't think that the Packers are gonna be able to move the ball very well on that Eagles defense. Especially, the Packers, if they want a shot in this game, they're gonna have to establish the run early, which establishing the run against that Philly defensive line is gonna be very difficult. So I think that game goes 1 of 2 ways. I think either the Eagles run the Packers out of the building, out of the stadium, or Packers, like, pull off a miracle and, like, barely win it.
Speaker 1:I don't really think there's any in between. So I got Philly moving on there. And the Rams, Minnesota game. Minnesota is definitely the better team here, top to bottom. It's in LA.
Speaker 1:Well, actually, now it's switched to Arizona because of the wildfires in LA. They're playing in Arizona now. So I actually think that game's gonna be pretty close. I got Minnesota moving moving on. But and Minnesota's a I think Minnesota's a pretty a pretty good favorite, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's a dogfight either.
Speaker 1:I think Stafford will find a way to, like, maybe even though I don't think they'll win the game. I think they compete, like, throughout, and they're, like, they're with they're they're there with Minnesota. But I do have the Vikings moving on. So Vikings and the Vikings moving on play Detroit. And, you know, you think you would think right now that, like, Minnesota would be the better team because defense seems to be better than Detroit's.
Speaker 1:But in the last week of the season, they play each other for the division. And for the number one seed, Detroit pretty much had their way, especially in the second half of the second second half of the game. And, you know, it's gonna be up to Minnesota to make adjustments, watch that game, look
Speaker 2:at the
Speaker 1:film. Detroit, although missing so much on defense in that game, they applied lots of pressure on the quarterback for the on Sam Darnold at quarterback, and he was not able to make complete like, completions and was not able to stay in the pocket. But and it and it got out of hand in that game. I think this time around, I have Detroit winning this game. I think it's a lot closer than the last matchup.
Speaker 1:I think Minnesota will adjust and get the ball out sooner if the Detroit still tries to bring constant pressure. I do have Detroit winning, but I think it's a dogfight game, and I think Minnesota and would I be shocked if Minnesota wins? I would not because Minnesota is a really good football team, but we got Detroit winning that, moving on to the NFC championship, and then Tampa Bay on the road to the Eagles. Now it's Tampa Bay. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:You get your 1st round playoff win, but I just don't see a I don't see a go around the road to Philly and competing with those boys over there. I just don't think you're gonna be able to. I don't think Tampa is gonna be able to their their defense is definitely not gonna be able to stop the Eagles, in my opinion, and they won't be able to have as much success moving the football. I think that game, although in the second round, has potential to be pretty ugly as well. So I got the Eagles, advancing the NFC championship gate game, traveling on the road to Detroit.
Speaker 1:And I got Philadelphia winning this one because I think the defense that Philly has is pretty unmatched. They're top to bottom. I think probably the best unit in the league. And I think Detroit, Jared Goff, specifically, at quarterback is gonna have trouble. And I think they're gonna apply pressure on him, and I think he's gonna, a, not have a good pocket, or, b, he'll I don't I just don't think that Detroit's there's gonna be a lot open down the field against that Philly defense, that Philly secondary.
Speaker 1:I think Philly actually takes it. I could see it by 10 even though it's in Detroit. I think Philly, like, takes that game takes a good hold on that game early, and then they never looked back.
Speaker 2:We have about a minute left.
Speaker 1:Well, that brings yeah. Brings us to the Super Bowl. Got Buffalo in Philly. And Buffalo in Philly. Wow.
Speaker 1:And, you know, you wanna pick buffalo. I I would love it for Josh Allen, but I just think at I don't think that buffalo top to bottom is gonna I don't think Josh Allen's gonna be able to uplift the situation enough against this Philly team. Philly's top to bottom just complete in all facets. And I got Philadelphia taking the, 2025 Lombardi Trophy. It's the Bills.
Speaker 2:Okay, Dylan. Well, thanks so much for your your, keen insights on the NFL and the status this year. I hope everyone, has their own predictions, and we can all compare results later on after the, big game is finally over. Thank you, Dylan, for being on Transmitter 42.
Speaker 1:Thank you for having me. Have a good one.
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