Simon's NFL Playoff Preview

Thoughts on, and predictions for, the upcoming NFL Playoffs.

With the NFL playoffs kicking off today, I wanted to share some predictions.

First, I made some preseason NFL predictions, including the teams I expected to make the playoffs, and I'd like to review them briefly.

How’d My Preseason Playoff Predictions Do?

I correctly predicted 5 of 7 teams in the AFC (Chiefs, Bills, Texans, Ravens, Chargers) and 4 of 7 teams in the NFC (Lions, Eagles, Rams, Packers). 9 of 14 isn’t too shabby, but it’s not great either. My picks of the Jaguars and Bears to make the playoffs were complete whiffs due to overestimating their respective quarterbacks. The Falcons and Bengals came close but ultimately fell short, while the 49ers struggled with injuries and bad vibes.

Before the season, I had the Texans and Lions as my No. 1 seeds in each conference—one out of two isn’t bad!

Before the season, I picked the Chiefs to defeat the Texans in the AFC Championship Game and the Lions to beat the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

The 2025 NFL Playoff Bracket

Playoff Predictions

The Texans have not looked very strong this season, and if they were in a tougher division, I’m not sure they’d even be in the playoffs. I believe the Chargers will beat them in Houston on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers have a better coach and a more experienced quarterback. Both teams have good defenses and solid running games, but the Chargers have the edge in coaching and experience.

Since I believe the Bills and Ravens will each handle their first-round matchups against the Broncos and Steelers, respectively, that means the Chargers will face the Chiefs in Round 2, and the Bills and Ravens will meet as well.

With Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the best quarterback-coach duo in the NFL, along with a very strong defense, I don’t think the Chargers stand a chance. The Chargers are 0-2 against the Chiefs this season, and I expect that losing streak to continue.

Ravens running back Derrick Henry stiff arms defender in regular season victory over the Bills.

Ravens vs. Bills in Round 2 is a spectacular matchup, and I’ll be disappointed if either team fails to take care of business in the first round. I’d give the Ravens a slight edge, despite being the road team. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are both elite quarterbacks, and their individual matchup is essentially a wash. However, when it comes to every other aspect of the roster—aside from the offensive line—the Ravens have the advantage. I prefer Derrick Henry over James Cook, John Harbaugh over Sean McDermott, and the Ravens defense over the Bills'. I do worry about Lamar’s history of struggling in the playoffs, but I think he overcomes that to a large degree this postseason.

If my predictions hold, we’ll get a Chiefs-Ravens rematch in the AFC title game, and I expect it to play out similarly to last year. The Ravens will be tense, the Chiefs will remain stoic, and it will likely come down to one or two key drives where Mahomes is able to execute, and Lamar is not.

For the NFC, I hope my preseason prediction turns out to be wrong, especially since the Rams are facing my Vikings in the first round. That said, I do think the Vikings will win the game. It’s now been moved to Arizona due to the unfortunate wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area. This helps the Vikings immensely, as I can’t imagine the anxiety and turmoil many of the Rams’ players are feeling as their communities burn. The Vikings have been the better team all season, and while they lost to the Rams earlier this year, I believe they’ll get their revenge in Round 1.

The Eagles will take care of business against the Packers. They’re at home, more talented, and more experienced, with higher highs and better consistency throughout the season. Even with the coaching disadvantage, the Eagles should prevail.

The Buccaneers vs. Commanders matchup is tricky. The Bucs have been inconsistent all year, largely due to injuries, but they have far more playoff experience than the Commanders. Jayden Daniels is a rookie quarterback, and rookies typically struggle in their first playoff games—especially on the road. For those reasons, and because I think the Buccaneers are the more well-rounded team, I’ll take Tampa Bay.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell yelling on the sidelines.

That would set up a third meeting between the Lions and Vikings in Round 2 of the playoffs. Unfortunately, I think the Lions will complete the sweep. They’ll be at home with a raucous crowd and a fired-up Dan Campbell ready to bite his opponents' kneecaps off. While their defense is depleted by injuries, they found a blitzing formula that worked in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed on the line. I believe they’ll find a way to return to the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.

There, I think they’ll face the Eagles. While I love Baker Mayfield, I don’t think he and this Buccaneers team are equipped to win multiple playoff games, especially against a team with the talent the Eagles possess. I also think the Eagles will be out for revenge after last year’s playoff loss to this very team.

That means the Lions would host the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. I’m taking the Lions in that matchup as well. I just think they’re a team of destiny–to a degree. The season they’ve had has been remarkable, and the personality of this team—spearheaded by head coach Dan Campbell—is so easy to root for. It’s not just the vibes on their side; they have home-field advantage, the better coach, and the better quarterback. I like the Lions to come out of the NFC.

Super Bowl Prediction

That would set up a Chiefs-Lions Super Bowl, which is exactly what I predicted before the season began. Both teams finished the regular season with the best records in the NFL (15-2), which is fitting, as they’re the league’s two top teams.

Unfortunately, I think the Chiefs will spoil destiny and end the Lions’ magical run. They’re simply too good—too clutch, too calm, too composed. It’s hard to be anything but that when you have arguably the greatest coach and quarterback of all time.

I have the Chiefs winning this year’s Super Bowl, making it three in a row and cementing themselves as one of if not the, greatest NFL team of all time.

Patrick Mahomes will hoist the Lombardi Trophy for a 4th time.