2024 NFL playoff bracket projection: 49ers edge Ravens in Tremendous Bowl LVIII, predictions for each recreation – CBS Sports activities

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NFL Playoff Time!
The NFL playoffs are lastly right here, and it is time to discover out who’s the very best of the very best. The journey started on Saturday with what we affectionately name “Tremendous Wild Card Weekend.” C.J. Stroud takes on Joe Flacco, Tyreek Hill returns to Kansas Metropolis, Mike McCarthy hosts his former staff whereas Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff face off in opposition to their former golf equipment in what is certain to be a memorable Motor Metropolis showdown. 
Let’s get forward of ourselves earlier than any postseason soccer is definitely performed and try to predict all the NFL playoff bracket. Are the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers destined to satisfy in Vegas because the NFL script writers foretold in their color scheme? Might Patrick Mahomes lead a Kansas City Chiefs rebound and get again to the Large Sport? Possibly the Buffalo Bills shock the world and get to Vegas. Let’s discover. 
Odds courtesy of SportsLine consensus
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo try for free) 
Shoutout to the Texans, who accomplished a worst-to-first turnaround by successful the AFC South after ending in final place in 2022. Stroud, who will win NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months, led the league in passing yards per recreation (273.9), and is first in EPA/dropback vs. zone protection this season. Sounds nice, besides the Browns play man protection on the highest charge within the NFL (41%). 
The Browns protection may assist Cleveland make a official run. They allowed the fewest yards per recreation (270.0) for the reason that 2014 Seattle Seahawks, who made the Super Bowl. Cleveland had the best three-and-out proportion (48.6%) for the reason that 2005 Tennessee Titans, the fewest yards per drive allowed (20.7) for the reason that 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers and the fewest first downs allowed per recreation (14.9) for the reason that 2009 New York Jets. This protection can comprise Stroud and Nico Collins.
As for the Browns offense, Texans followers possible nonetheless have nightmares about what Flacco and Amari Cooper did to them earlier this 12 months. In a dominant victory, Flacco accomplished 27 of 42 passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, whereas Cooper caught 11 passes for a franchise-record 265 yards and two touchdowns, and have become the second participant in NFL historical past to document a 200-yard receiving recreation for 3 completely different groups.
Flacco is tied with Tom Brady for probably the most highway playoff wins by a beginning quarterback in NFL historical past with seven. He has additionally lined the unfold in seven straight playoff begins, which is tied for the longest streak by a quarterback previously 25 seasons. Give me the Browns. 
The decide: Browns -2.5
Projected rating: Browns 27-23
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Peacock)  
The Chiefs haven’t appeared nice as of late, I am conscious. However it’s not just like the Dolphins have been nice both. The No. 1 offense within the league hasn’t scored greater than 22 factors in three straight video games now. This weekend, the Dolphins should journey to a hostile atmosphere, in primetime, in opposition to the No. 2 protection within the league … and it should be COLD.
Weather.com says Saturday in Kansas Metropolis will function circumstances that embody a excessive of 8 levels, and a low of -6 levels. At kickoff, the temperature is predicted to be proper round 5 levels with a wind chill of -10, according to the National Weather Service. The Dolphins have misplaced 10 straight video games when the kickoff temp is under 40 levels, which is the longest lively streak within the NFL. Tua Tagovailoa has misplaced the 5 coldest begins of his profession, and he is 6-13 in video games beneath 70 levels.
Throw in the truth that the Dolphins are coping with quite a few accidents on protection, and I will take the Chiefs.
The decide: Chiefs -4.5
Projected rating: Chiefs 23-17
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox, fubo try for free) 
The tendencies on this matchup are worrisome. The Packers are 4-0 SU and ATS all-time vs. the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium regardless of being underdogs in all 4 matchups, Dak Prescott is 1-5 ATS in his six playoff begins whereas Dallas is 0-4 ATS in its final 4 residence playoff video games.
Jordan Love has been taking part in some good ball, however the Packers deliver within the youngest playoff staff for the reason that 1974 Payments, with a median age of 25 years, 214 days. The Cowboys have famously been dominant at residence this season. Dallas is an ideal 8-0, and 6 of these victories have come by 20+ factors. The Cowboys have an opportunity to alter the narrative in the case of their current postseason failures, they usually know this. Prescott and Co. start the 2023 postseason with an announcement victory.  
The decide: Cowboys -7.5
Projected rating: Cowboys 30-20
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
The Steelers have had a enjoyable run with Mason Rudolph, and Najee Harris has been on fairly a sizzling streak, having registered back-to-back 100-yard speeding video games for the primary time in his profession. Nevertheless, not having T.J. Watt on protection is actually going to harm. The Steelers are 1-10 when Watt would not play. One other factor working in opposition to the Steelers is that they’re double-digit underdogs. Double-digit underdogs within the wild card spherical are 0-11 straight up all-time, and 2-9 in opposition to the unfold. 
That is one other matchup that’s anticipated to function notable climate with excessive winds. Meaning we’re in for lots of working. The Payments are going to win this recreation in my view, however I feel I will go in opposition to the development and take the Steelers to lose by lower than double digits. 
The decide: Steelers +10
Projected rating: Payments 17-10
Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo try for free) 
That is the sport of the weekend in my view. Stafford returns residence, whereas Goff additionally will get to face off in opposition to his former staff. I see this matchup as one which options two explosive offenses, however two defenses which might be very inconsistent. The Lions move protection ranks sixth-worst within the league, and the scoring protection is backside 10. As for the Rams, properly, they’ve allowed seven passing touchdowns on throws 20+ air yards down the sphere over the past 5 video games, which ranks most within the NFL. 
The Lions are higher on paper, however they’ve struggled at residence. Detroit followers actually need to overlook what occurred on Thanksgiving. I lean in the direction of Stafford and the Rams in an upset. 
The Lions have a prime 5 offense in complete yards and factors, however the Rams offense is fairly good too. Once they have their “massive 4” on the sphere, with Stafford, Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, they common 6.8 yards per play. L.A. is 6-2 with these 4 gamers on the sphere, they usually common 28.5 factors per recreation and 398.9 complete yards per recreation. That foursome may discover massive success in opposition to the Lions protection. 
The decide: Rams +3
Projected rating: Rams 41-35 in OT
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN, fubo try for free) 
The Buccaneers are 5-1 for the reason that begin of December, whereas the Eagles are 1-5. It is robust to be ok with Philly proper now. The Eagles are the sixth staff to make the playoffs after going 1-5 or worse within the last six video games of the season. They’ve a +5 level differential this 12 months, which is the fifth-worst all-time by an 11-win staff. The offense has appeared disjointed, A.J. Brown is coping with a knee harm, DeVonta Smith missed final week because of an ankle harm and the protection has not been as dominant as they have been in 2022. Philly completed with the third-worst scoring protection within the league with 25.2 factors surrendered per recreation.
I do not see the Buccaneers as official contenders, and Baker Mayfield is coping with a ribs harm that clearly affected him within the regular-season finale. However I do have religion Mayfield and Mike Evans plus the remainder of this passing assault can discover success in opposition to Philly’s secondary. The Eagles have did not cowl in six straight video games, which is the longest lively streak within the NFL. I will should take the Buccaneers at residence. 
The decide: Buccaneers +3
Projected rating: Buccaneers 26-20
What a recreation this was again in Week 10, the place Deshaun Watson and the Browns scored 16 unanswered factors to win in Baltimore, 33-31. These are two of the very best defenses within the league, so it actually comes right down to which offense shall be more practical.
If I am John Harbaugh, I am reminding my staff in regards to the 2019 season this complete bye week. It is deja vu. The Ravens gained the AFC North, earned the No. 1 seed within the convention and Lamar Jackson gained MVP. What occurred that 12 months? Baltimore was shortly ousted from the postseason by that 12 months’s Cinderella staff, the Titans. The Ravens will not let that occur once more. 
Projected rating: Ravens 24-21
One other Chiefs-Payments postseason matchup. Yep. We’re again. After a 12 months off in 2022, we resume this playoff rivalry. I feel this matchup could be very possible. These two groups confronted off only a month in the past, with the Payments escaping Arrowhead with a three-point win due to Kadarius Toney lining up offsides.
Successful in Buffalo is not not possible. We noticed Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals embarrass the Payments within the snow final 12 months. The factor is, I am nonetheless curious if the Chiefs offense can return to kind within the playoffs. The climate helped them out in Kansas Metropolis in Tremendous Wild Card Weekend. Can the Chiefs put up extra factors than Buffalo in Buffalo?
The Payments have gained six straight video games by this level, which is the longest streak within the NFL. They’re the primary staff since seeding started in 1975 to earn a prime two seed after being .500 or worse with 5 or fewer video games remaining. Is that this a staff of future factor? Buffalo has put collectively a pair impressed performances at residence, such because the 32-6 win over the Jets after Ken Dorsey was fired, or the 31-10 beatdown of the Cowboys that basically opened the eyes of the NFL world. I will lean in the direction of the Payments, however may find yourself flipping subsequent week. 
Projected rating: Payments 24-23
I feel this could possibly be a detailed recreation. When these two groups confronted off in Week 2, the 49ers pressured two second-half turnovers to interrupt a tie recreation, and Sean McVay kicked a meaningless area aim to cowl the unfold for us, dropping 30-23. Brock Purdy threw for 206 yards and nil touchdowns, whereas Stafford tried a whopping 55 passes for 307 yards, one landing and two interceptions. 
Kyle Shanahan is 10-5 vs. Sean McVay, however the final loss got here within the regular-season finale — an immediate traditional that includes Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz at quarterback. San Francisco is undoubtedly the higher staff, so I will take the 49ers to advance.
Projected rating: 49ers 31-24
It was a pleasant run for the Buccaneers, who upset the Eagles within the first spherical of the playoffs, however the No. 23-ranked protection will not have the ability to cease Dallas in AT&T Stadium.
Projected rating: Cowboys 24-18
The final time these two groups performed was final 12 months in wet Baltimore. The Payments scored factors in all 4 quarters, and overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Ravens, 23-20, due to a Jordan Poyer interception on the aim line, after which a 21-yard Tyler Bass game-winning area aim. Jackson threw for 144 yards, one landing and two interceptions, and led Baltimore in speeding with 73 yards. Allen scored two complete touchdowns, and likewise led his staff in speeding with 70 yards. I wager we may see each quarterbacks run a good quantity on this matchup, however there may be one massive distinction between final 12 months’s Ravens staff and this 12 months’s Ravens staff, and that is offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
The Ravens completed this season with the very best level differential vs. successful groups in NFL HISTORY (+178). They completed the 12 months ranked sixth in complete offense, and fourth in scoring offense. To deliver up the protection once more, Baltimore additionally turned the primary staff in NFL historical past to steer the league in scoring protection, sacks and takeaways. Ravens to the Super Bowl. 
Projected rating: Ravens 27-17
It is a reoccurring nightmare for Prescott. The Cowboys have misplaced three straight to the 49ers, with two of these losses coming within the playoffs back-to-back years, and the opposite within the type of a 42-10 beatdown again in Week 5. The 49ers offense had no drawback in opposition to the Cowboys protection, and the Cowboys offense could not do something in opposition to the 49ers protection. Prescott threw for 153 yards, one landing and three interceptions, whereas Purdy threw for 252 yards and 4 touchdowns. I am not taking the Cowboys to upset the 49ers now, however congrats to Jerry Jones for his first NFC Championship look since 1995.
Projected rating: 49ers 31-23
Sunday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount+)
A No. 1 seed vs. No. 1 seed Tremendous Bowl? Sorry I could not make the bracket extra attention-grabbing, however I do really really feel like these are the 2 finest groups within the NFL. Possibly the Browns shock the Ravens for the second time this season within the divisional spherical, possibly an unlucky harm derails San Francisco’s postseason run for the second straight 12 months. Anticipate the sudden. 
I suppose that Christmas evening matchup was certainly a Tremendous Bowl preview. The Ravens have been so profitable in that 33-19 victory over the 49ers as a result of the protection pressured turnovers and the offense scored persistently. Baltimore pressured three interceptions within the first half and scored on 4 of 5 first-half possessions — a streak that was prolonged to seven straight scoring drives within the third quarter. It was dominant, and fairly stunning to see in opposition to among the finest defenses within the league. 
I’ll let you know this, although. The 49ers love these revenge video games. Bear in mind what they did to the Eagles earlier this 12 months? Although they have been on the highway in a hostile atmosphere in opposition to a sizzling staff? I imply, San Francisco could have damaged Philly with that 42-19 win. My guess is that the 49ers do not lose two straight to the Ravens. 
Projected rating: 49ers 27-24
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