After a grueling NFL fantasy season for most players, the regular season has come to an end. Now, fans worldwide have shifted their focus on winning the Super Bowl.
Last year, the NFL implemented a new playoff format, changing from the traditional 12-team bracket to a 14-team bracket. This means that instead of all the 1 and 2 seeded teams getting a bye past the “Wildcard Weekend”, now just the 1 seeds receive a break in their respective conferences. This year, the owners of the 1 seeds (and therefore the byes) are the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC (American Football Conference), and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC (National Football League).
The Chiefs are led by star quarterback and Vegas’ NFL MVP (Most Valuable Player) favorite Patrick Mahomes, and their star tight end Travis Kelce. The team lost an NFL top-5 receiver in Tyreek Hill earlier this year in a trade to the Miami Dolphins (another playoff team) but Mahomes has been just as explosive this season, with a league-leading 413.6 yards and 29.2 points per game. The Eagles were an unlikely contender before the year, but from the second they stepped on the field everyone knew they were legit with Jalen Hurts under center. His breakout year, the acquisition of A.J. Brown, and establishing a great defense have all been key factors in their successful campaign thus far.
“The Super Wild Card Weekend will really show me who wants it most, which will prove which teams will make it farthest in the playoffs."
Edgemont’s loyal NFL fan base also has many things to say about the upcoming playoffs, along with many bold takes, which will be analyzed. Bennett O’Reilly (‘25), claims, “The Super Wild Card Weekend will really show me who wants it most, which will prove which teams will make it farthest in the playoffs. Overall I think this is going to be a great postseason, and I’m super excited for it.” He continued to say that his prediction for the Super Bowl was the Chiefs against the 49ers.
The San Francisco 49ers are another playoff favorite. While plagued by injury and currently led by a third-string rookie-QB, Brock Purdy, they still seem like a force to be reckoned with. They have won their last 10-games, the longest win streak of the season. Their defense is also by far the best in the league, posing difficulties for the league's best offenses, making them a great pick for the Super Bowl.
Other anonymous bold picks from around the community include: “The Cincinnati Bengals will win the Super Bowl”, “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make it to the Super Bowl” and “The New York Giants will easily beat the Minnesota Vikings.”
The Bengals are a premier NFL team and did make an unlikely run to the Super Bowl last year, but regardless of their great season, they’d have to beat some great teams to win the Super Bowl. Being in a stacked AFC, they’d likely have to beat the Buffalo Bills, who are another Super Bowl favorite behind the Chiefs in their conference. Obviously they’d also have to face the Chiefs, which is a tall task, but nothing their quarterback Joe Burrow hasn’t done before.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a “down year” behind their all-time quarterback Tom Brady, staggering into the playoffs by winning their weak division. They haven't been nearly as good as anyone has expected this year, which makes this pick unlikely. Tom Brady is the GOAT (greatest of all time) for a reason though, so you shouldn’t rule them out.
The Vikings, regardless of their stellar record of 13-4, aren’t in nearly as good form as they may seem, losing to non-playoff Detroit and Green Bay in recent weeks. Their incredible offense does not match their sub-par defense. The N.Y. Giants made an unlikely playoff run this year, which will be their first appearance since 2016. The key to this has been the coaching Brian Daboll, who came in and transformed the team completely. He utilized Daniel Jones’ skills brilliantly throughout the season which has enabled them to reach their full potential.
The NFL playoffs are an exciting time for many. After a thrilling regular season, the playoffs will be an amazing spectacle. Let’s see who is truly the best team in the NFL.