'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Now that the NFL regular season is over, 20 teams will be preparing for the off season and 12 teams will be preparing for a chance to win a Super Bowl. The NFL playoffs weren't the greatest last season, but maybe the playoffs will be better this season.
The Super Bowl last season went to overtime and it was the first in Super Bowl history. Let's take a look at who will represent the AFC and NFC this season in Super Bowl LII in Minnesota on February 4th:
#6 Buffalo Bills
Why the Bills will win the Super Bowl: Tyrod Taylor doesn't turn the ball over and he will be better at completing his passes. LeSean McCoy is one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL. The Bills defense will win the turnover battle and stay disciplined. Buffalo plays with pure heart and leave it all out on the field.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Tyrod Taylor becomes a turnover and LeSean McCoy's ankle isn't healthy. Buffalo becomes undisciplined and they don't win the turnover battle.
#5 Tennessee Titans
Why the Titans will win the Super Bowl: Marcus Mariota takes his game to another level and the wide receivers finally take their game to another level. They have a solid rushing game with Derrick Henry and De Marco Murray. Tennessee might have the best offensive line in the postseason. Their front seven creates pressure and forces turnovers. Kevin Byard is an x-factor on the defense.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Mariota's road struggles continue and the defense doesn't force turnovers. Taylor Lewan loses his cool and gets himself tossed and it would take a big hit on the offensive line. The secondary gets shelled.
#4 Kansas City Chiefs
Why the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl: They are peaking at the right time and the Chiefs have won four games in a row. Alex Smith has found his touch ever since Andy Reid handed off the play calling duties to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Running back Kareem Hunt turns on the jets and Tyreek Hill stays healthy.
The defense has finally found a pass rush and Marcus Peters is playing a shutdown corner again. They also have confidence to beat New England on the road again.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Alex Smith becomes a turnover machine and they have to put Patrick Mahomes into the game. Travis Kelce becomes a hot head and gets himself ejected. The pass rush disappears and the secondary gets exposed.
#3 Jacksonville Jaguars
Why the Jaguars will win the Super Bowl: They have the best defense in the NFL and they can create a pass rush and force turnovers. Blake Bortles plays turnover free football as Jacksonville went 8-0 this season when he didn't throw an interception in a game. Leonard Fournette takes his game to another level in the backfield.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: The offense is starting to crack a little bit and Blake Bortles is becoming turnover prone now. Leonard Fournette can't stay healthy and the defense has to be on the field longer than it needs to be.
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers
Why the Steelers will win the Super Bowl: They avoid the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Ben Roethlisberger continues to be an excellent leader that he is. JuJu Smith-Schuster takes pressure off of Antonio Brown and it causes defenses not to double team Brown anymore. Le'Veon Bell stays healthy in the backfield and he gets a steady diet of carries. The defense continues to pressure the quarterback and force turnovers.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: They have to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Todd Haley calls the wrong plays for the Steelers offense and it leads to turmoil for the Steelers offense. The secondary gives up big plays when the game is on the line.
#1 New England Patriots
Why the Patriots will win the Super Bowl: New England continues to be the mentally sharpest team in the NFL. They don't beat themselves when the game is on the line. Tom Brady continues to ball out and Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL. The defense continues to limit the big play as well.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Tom Brady constantly takes a beating by opposing team's pass rushers. The Patriots defense gives up the big play. New England breezes through a weak AFC and they get roughened up by a NFC team in the Super Bowl.
NFC
#6 Atlanta Falcons
Why the Falcons will win the Super Bowl: Matt Ryan returns to MVP form of last season. The Falcons running back tandem in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman help out the passing game. Julio Jones is the best wide receiver in the NFC and he needs to play more consistent. The Falcons defense starts to force turnovers and they learned from last year's mistakes.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: They are over matched against the Los Angeles Rams in the first round and the Falcons are out of gas. Atlanta has to play away from home for the entire playoffs.
#5 Carolina Panthers
Why the Panthers will win the Super Bowl: Cam Newton stops being inconsistent and plays at an MVP level. The running game continues rack up yardage and Devin Funchess/Greg Olsen carry rack up the receiving yardage. The Panthers defense doesn't give up the big play often and they are fundamentally sound.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Cam Newton continues to be inaccurate and the running game all of a sudden stops working. The defense gets caught napping and they are on the field more often than they are supposed to be.
#4 New Orleans Saints
Why the Saints will win the Super Bowl: Drew Brees has won a Super Bowl before back in 2009. He is the second best quarterback in these playoffs other than Tom Brady. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram continue to be wrecking balls in the backfield for the Saints. Michael Thomas is a top five to ten receiver in the NFL and he isn't a stranger to playoff football either. Marshon Lattimore continues to be a shutdown corner in the secondary.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Drew Brees turns the ball over and the Saints offense starts relying on one guy to win instead of the team as a whole. The defense doesn't force a pass rush and they don't force any turnovers.
#3 Los Angeles Rams
Why the Rams will win the Super Bowl: Todd Gurley continues to play at an MVP level in the backfield. He rushed for 1,305 yards on 279 carries and 13 touchdowns along with 64 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns. Jared Goff continues to play with confidence at quarterback. Aaron Donald continues to be an anchor on defense and the defense forces turnovers.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Jared Goff plays scared and the defense gives up the big play. The Rams inexperience may not help them and they have a 31-year old head coach in Sean McVay. Missing Greg Zuerlein in the kicking game.
#2 Minnesota Vikings
Why the Vikings will win the Super Bowl: They might have the most ferocious defense in the NFL. The Vikings are not scared to get in your face. The Vikings have the most underappreciated secondary in the NFL.
Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes quietly is one if the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen is the most underrated wide receiver duo in the NFL and they continue to out muscle defenders.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: Case Keenum becomes a turnover machine and the running game becomes stagnant. The Vikings kicking game haunts them once again.
#1 Philadelphia Eagles
Why the Eagles will win the Super Bowl: Nick Foles experience as a starting quarterback and the running game helps out the offense. The offensive line holds up and Nelson Agholor continues his emergence at wide receiver.
Why they won't win the Super Bowl: They miss Carson Wentz's ability to move in the pocket and Nick Foles becomes turnover prone. The defense has been giving up a lot of big plays lately and the defense doesn't make a big stop when it needs to.
