POST’S ANNUAL PLAYOFF CRYSTAL BALL
Serby’s Crystal Ball: Allen will end decades of Bills misery
SOMEHOW, some way, the NFL has converted one fourth-and-long after another across a treacherous 100-yard pandemic minefield. Now the pandemic playoffs begin Saturday as 14 masked teams as desperate to stay socially distanced from a diabolical virus for the ages as they are to march toward Tampa and Super Bowl LV steel themselves for the ultimate game of “Survivor.”
Already the Browns, in the playoffs for the first time since 2002, were punched in the solar plexus when coach/play-caller Kevin Stefanski and left guard Joel Bitonio were placed on the COVID-19 list and declared out for their wild-card showdown against the Steelers.
Here’s what the Serby Crystal Ball sees:
WILD-CARD ROUND
SATURDAY
COLTS (7) at BILLS (2): The pain from blowing a 16-point lead in an overtime loss to the Texans in last year’s wildcard round has driven coach Sean McDermott’s streaking division champions, and the 6,772 members of the Bills Mafia who will be allowed to attend.
Prediction: Bills 27, Colts 21. Buffalo’s first playoff win since the 1995 season.
RAMS (6) at SEAHAWKS (3): If Jared Goff (thumb surgery) can’t go, Sean McVay will turn to John Wolford. Seattle coach Pete Carroll’s defense needs safety Jamal Adams (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (oblique), who recorded two sacks in a 20-9 Week 16 win.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Rams 17. Russell Wilson finds a way.
BUCCANEERS (4) at WASHINGTON (7): Washington rookie defensive end Chase Young wanted the surging Tom Brady, now he’s got him. Even without rookie linebacker Devin White, Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowl es fields a No .1 run defense that will slow RB Antonio Gibson and force Alex Smith to operate a one-dimensional offense under duress.
Prediction: Bucs 28, Washington 17. Brady will hope Bill Belichick is watching. SUNDAY
RAVENS (5) at TITANS (4): Hide the women and children. A rematch of last year’s divisional round upset by the Titans in Baltimore, when Derrick Henry tumbled for 195 yards and they forced Lamar Jackson to play catch-up. The emergence of rookie RB J.K. Dobbins gives Jackson a partner in crime.
Prediction: Ravens 30, Titans 24. A blood bath end. to the
EARS (7) at SAINTS (2): The pass rush of Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagan oh as slumped lately, and Drew Brees was sacked only once (Khalil Mack ) in 41 passing attempts in the Saints’ 26-23 OT win in November in Chicago. Chicago RB David Montgomery faces the No. 4 run defense.
Prediction: Saints 27, Bears 13. Brees begins a last Super Bowl run.
BROWNS (6) at STEELERS (3): The visitors have lost 17 consecutive times in Pittsburgh, not that Baker Mayfield cares about that. But he will care that Stefanski and Bitonio won’t be there to help.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Browns 24. Big Ben and Mike Tomlin know how to win these games.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
RAVENS ( 5) at CHIEFS (1): The Chiefs own the No. 21 rush defense, which could spell trouble against Jackson if he can keep Patrick Mahomes on the sidelines. But the defending champs will be rested following the bye while the Ravens could be worn to a frazzle from the wildcard game. Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale couldn’t stop Mahomes (385 yards and four TDs) from outdueling Jackson (97 yards passing, 83 yards rushing) in a 34-20 Chiefs victory in September.
Prediction: Chiefs 30, Ravens 24. Kansas City coach Andy Reid is 5-2 after bye weeks in the playoffs and 18-3 in the regular season.
BUCCANEERS (4) at PACKERS (1):
A rubber match between Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay RB Aaron Jones will have tough sledding running against this bunch, and the loss of elite left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) could make Davante Adams less dangerous. A resurgent Packers pass rush, an arctic Lambeau Field and the brilliance of A-Rod make the difference.
Prediction: Packers 27, Bucs 24. Belichick exhales.
STEELERS (3) at BILLS (2): Doubt that JuJu Smith-Schuster will be dancing on the Bills logo this time. Leslie Frazier’s Buffalo defense stuffed James Conner (10-18 rushing) and intercepted Big Ben twice in a 26-15 home win last month.
Prediction: Bills 26, Steelers 24. Josh Allen has his guys believing.
SEAHAWKS (3) at SAINTS (2): Adams gives the Hawks a growing Legion of Boom mindset and a swagger on defense. Rookie LB Jordyn Brooks could stalk Kamara. Trey Hendrickson and Cam Jordan bring the heat, but Wilson can still be Houdini.
P rediction: Seahawks 27, Saints 24. The last time Brees, Thomas and Alvin Kamara played a full game together came in Week 9. I see an upset.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
BILLS (2) at CHIEFS (1): Dream quarterback matchup. Last one with the ball wins. There goes Tyreek Hill. There goes Stefon Diggs. A no-look Mahomes pass to Travis Kelce. Anyone seen John Brown?
Prediction: Bills 35, Chiefs 33. Allen has the ball last.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
SEAHAWKS (3) at PACKERS (1): A rematch of last year’s 28-23 Packers divisional victory in which Davante Adams and Lockett were unstoppable.
Prediction: Packers 28, Seahawks 23. If it snows, advantage Rodgers. If it doesn’t, advantage Rodgers.
SUPER BOWL LV
BILLS vs. PACKERS: Rodgers quickly throws TD passes to Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But these Bills refuse to be haunted by their tortured Super Bowl history.
Allen responds with TD passes to John Brown and Dawson Knox before Rodgers finds Adams in the end zone. Allen yawns, and answers with a TD bomb to Diggs. Jones catches a TD pass. Allen ties it with a TD run. Mason Crosby boots a field goal. Last one with the ball wins. And it’s Allen — with a lastsecond, tackle-eligible TD toss to Dion Dawkins. Kelly is sobbing tears of joy.
Prediction: Bills 35, Packers 31. Wings for the Bills Mafia and a lifelong prayer answered.