2022 NFL Playoffs & Super Bowl

September 07, 2022

The 2022 season is finally here, which means it is time for playoff and super bowl predictions. Below is our divisional predictions, along with the playoff bracket and super bowl winner.

AFC WEST: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The AFC West is going to be a brutal division. It could be argued than any of the 4 power house offenses in this division could come out on top. Denver Broncos and the welcoming of Russell Wilson. Kansas City and their future hall of fame quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. The Los Vegas Raiders and Derek Carr, who was top 5 in passing yards in 2021. Then there are the Los Angeles Chargers, who have one of the perennial young quarterbacks in the league.

We are predicting the Chargers to take this division as they are the most well rounded teams in the AFC West. This team is elite at all offensive positions, with one of the best wide receiver duos in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the electric running back in Austin Ekeler, a great pass cathing tight end in Gerald Everett, a top 15 offensive line, and top 15 defense. All of the above, plus the Fantasy Beast has projected Justin Herbert to be a top 3 QB option in 2022.

AFC EAST: BUFFALO BILLS

The Josh Allen led Buffalo Bills are going to be very difficult to beat. This is a high powered offense with a deep receiving core, and an incredible RBBC attack. The duo of Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis should be one of the top receiving duos in the NFL. Then you add Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder, and you have an offense that is near unstoppable. And who can forget the way Devin Singletary ended last season destroying defenses on the ground.

What makes the Bills team uniquely elite is they have a defense that will compete with their offense in terms of greatness. The Bills elite defense from 2021 went and added more talent by acquiring Von Miller in the offseason, making them the #1 rated defense by all metrics going into 2022. This team is super bowl or bust this year

AFC NORTH: CINCINATTI BENGALS

The reigning AFC champions are back again and they retained all key offensive threats for another year. This young Bengals offense is going to put up points in bunches and can share the offensive load amongst several players (Jamar Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon to name a few). When you couple that with a top 10 offensive line, you have a team that can return to the super bowl for a 2nd consecutive year.

Not only are the Bengals bringing back their core offensive weapons, but another year of Joe Burrow developing will only bolster this team's ability to make a deep run into the playoffs. To end 2021, Burrow went nuclear, having back to back games of 400+ yards (500+ in one of them), and throwing for 8 TDs on no INTs. Let's see if he can continue that production into 2022.

AFC SOUTH: TENNESSEE TITANS

Who would have thought that a Titans team without Derrick Henry could end the season as the number 1 seed in the AFC? This Tannehill led offense did just that. Despite being the number 1 seed, it felt as though the Titans were the underdog in last years playoffs. The AFC South as a whole is not considered to be a tough division, and the Titans have the pieces to take it. The loss of A.J Brown is going to hurt them, but the additional of Robert Woods and Treylon Burks should allow Tannehill to move the ball around. Oh, and they will have Derrick Henry back to start the season!

NFC WEST: LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Super Bowl champs are here again! The Rams have somehow managed to pay all of their top performers (Matthew Stafford $160M, Jaylen Ramsey $100M, Aaron Donald $95M, Cooper Kupp $80M, and Leonard Floyd $64M), and add additional depth to their defense (Bobby Wagner $50M). This team should have another elite season, and take the reigns of a difficult NFC West Division.

With that, the NFC West will not be a cake walk. Outside of the Seattle Seahawks, who should be in rebuild mode, both the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals will be competing for the division this year. This will be an excited division to keep an eye on!

NFC EAST: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

One of our favorite picks is the Jalen Hurts led Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East division. Somehow, all teams in this division tend to compete for the win each season. This year, we see a clear cut favorite in the Eagles. With the addition of A.J Brown, this team should be elite on the offensive front. Not to mention a year 2 receiver in DeVonta Smith a potential breakout season in Dallas Goedert, and arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. When you match this with a top 15 defense, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.

NFC NORTH: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Are we crazy? How could we seriously put anyone other than the Green Bay Packers to win this division? Well, this is the year folks. This is the year the Minnesota Vikings overtake the Packers to win the North. As you'll see later, the Vikings are one of our favorite teams in 2022. They will have an elite offense led by the under-valued Kirk Cousins. Cousins has been a top 12 QB in fantasy for 3 straight years (and 6 of the last 8). They also have a phenomenal receiving core in Justin Jefferson (#1 ranked per Fantasy Beast) and Adam Thielen. They also have a top 10 running back in Dalvin Cook, and potential breakout tight end in Irv Smith. That, and they have hired the pass heavy head coach in Kevin O'Connell to really open up this offense. It will take a lot of points to compete with this Vikings offense.

NFC SOUTH: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Tom Brady led Buccaneers will be at it again (after 3 years, it still feels weird saying Tom Brady led Buccaneers). This team will once again have an elite offense, with skilled players in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Leonard Fournette. This offseason, the Buccs add future hall of famer Julio Jones to their offense - that's definitely not going to hurt their chances.

What makes the Buccs so elite is that they have a defense that is also one of the more elite in the NFL. Tom Brady is going to put up points, and it is going to be difficult for opponents to be able to keep up.

AFC WILDCARDS

Denver Broncos
Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs

NFC WILDCARDS

Green Bay Packers
Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys

AFC PLAYOFF WILDCARD ROUND

#1 Buffalo Bills - BYE

#2 Los Angeles Chargers WINNER

#7 Kansas City Chiefs

#3 Cincinnati Bengals

#6 Baltimore Ravens WINNER

#4 Tennessee Titans

#5 Denver Broncos WINNER

NFC PLAYOFF WILDCARD ROUND

#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - BYE

#2 Los Angeles Rams WINNER

#7 Dallas Cowboys

#3 Minnesota Vikings WINNER

#6 Arizona Cardinals

#4 Philadelphia Eagles WINNER

#5 Green Bay Packers

AFC PLAYOFF DIVISIONAL ROUND

#1 Buffalo Bills WINNER

#6 Baltimore Ravens

#2 Los Angeles Chargers WINNER

#5 Denver Broncos

NFC PLAYOFF DIVISIONAL ROUND

#1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

#4 Philadelphia Eagles WINNER

#2 Los Angeles Rams

#3 Minnesota Vikings WINNER

AFC PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP

#1 Buffalo Bills WINNER

#2 Los Angeles Chargers

NFC PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP

#4 Philadelphia Eagles

#3 Minnesota Vikings WINNER

SUPER BOWL

#1 Buffalo Bills WINNER

#3 Minnesota Vikings

The Buffalo Bills will be Super Bowl LVII champions! Sean McDermott and Josh Allen led team will end the year as both the top offense and top defense, making them an unstoppable force during both the regular season and playoff race.