Most Likely 1pm Games

Vikings @ Bears (WINNER: Vikings)

The Bears might have Justin Fields but they also have only three wins. The Vikings should win this easily.

Texans @ Colts (WINNER: Texans)

Both teams are out of the AFC South race and two of the worst teams in the league. While this game should be competitive, the Texans have the momentum to win this game.

Chargers @ Broncos (WINNER: Chargers)

The Broncos’ ride this season has been very rough this season and it will end with the Chargers electrocuting the ride.

Cardinals @ 49ers (WINNER: 49ers)

The Cardinals came into this season as a team poised for the playoffs. Now they are team poised for the draft. 49ers will win this game with another stellar Brock Prudy performance.

Rams @ Seahawks (WINNER: Seahawks)

Can’t believe that the reigning Super Bowl champions are out of the playoff hunt already. Baker Mayfield should be a wildcard to this matchup so it will be close, but the Seahawks will want to win to potentially sneak into the playoffs.

Chiefs @ Raiders (WINNER: Chiefs)

This AFC West matchup would have been compelling had the Raiders not been a team prone to collapsing in games. The Chiefs are going to win this game and try to clinch the AFC bye.

Most Likely 4pm Games

Patriots @ Bills (WINNER: Bills)

While this game might not seem compelling at first glance due to the team’s records, this game will mean a lot to both teams. The Patriots will try and clinch the last spot in the AFC playoffs while the Bills will try and clinch the AFC bye. It will be a fun game to watch.

Lions @ Packers (WINNER: Lions)

Week 17 will determine how important of a game this will be but this game will be against two teams trying to desperately make the playoffs and salvage their mediocre seasons. However, the Lions are trending upwards and should give Aaron Rodgers a chance to spend some time with his family this winter.

Cowboys @ Commanders (WINNER: Cowboys)

The Cowboys will be looking to end the regular season strong against a Washington team that will be trying to secure a wildcard spot. The Cowboys should win this game, but Dak is prone to throwing the game away so this will be a good game nonetheless.

Most Likely Saturday Night Game

Titans @ Jaguars (WINNER: Jaguars)

Not only is this a heated AFC South rivalry, this game will decide who will win the AFC South. This should be an intense game but the Jaguars are red hot and will clinch their second ever AFC South title, first since 2017.

Most Likely Sunday Night Game

Ravens @ Bengals (WINNER: Bengals)

No matter if Lamar Jackson plays or not, this game will be a heated AFC North battle. Both teams are going to be fighting for the divisional title and a chance to host a playoff game. The Bengals will most likely win this game, especially if Lamar Jackson is not playing.

Possible 1pm or 4pm Games

Buccaneers @ Falcons (WINNER: Buccaneers)

The NFC South could be still undecided in this game and this would be a chance for Tom Brady to clinch the playoffs after an abysmal season. The Buccaneers should win this game but the Falcons will try to make it close.

Browns @ Steelers (WINNER: Steelers)

Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season in his career, but this game could decide if he does. It could also decide whether or not the Steelers could sneak into the playoffs. It’s a longshot, but the Steelers should win and look to the results of other games in the AFC to see if they are a playoff team.

Possible 4pm or Saturday Afternoon Games

Giants @ Eagles (WINNER: Eagles)

The Giants and Eagles will be playoff teams and this NFC East rivalry game will still have some intensity as the both teams will want to lock their playoff seeding. The Eagles should win this and enter the playoffs with a bye and a lot of momentum.

Jets @ Dolphins (WINNER: Dolphins)

The Jets are collapsing right now, but both teams are still in the playoff hunt. This game could decide which team gets that last wildcard spot in the AFC. Even though Tua is always in concussion protocol, the Dolphins should win this game and secure their spot in the playoffs.

Panthers @ Saints (WINNER: Panthers)

Not only could this game decide the NFC South, but this could also decide who gets the last playoff spot in the NFC. This should be a close game but the Panthers should edge this one out.

The post Best Predictions for a Competitive NFL Week 18 Schedule appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The 2022 NFL season is mightily approaching and it’s nearly time for Carrie Underwood to deliver an intense preview for Sunday Night Football. Each NFL team has a clean slate in pre-season and every NFL ring leader wants to inject their team with an aspiration of reaching the Super Bowl. Although, there are undoubtedly many NFL squads that are superior to other NFL teams. With that stated, I’m going to untwine the 10 best Super Bowl contenders in 2022.

Buffalo Bills

Let’s be honest – the Buffalo Bills are the most well-rounded NFL team in the league. The Bills have a Thor-like figure at QB with Josh Allen, as he possesses an unusual combination of arm talent and running ability. The Bills GM Brandon Beane also nicely brought in RB James Cook and TE O.J. Howard to aid Allen.

Of course, the Bills pass rush will really shine with the future Hall of Famer Von Miller – who picked up his second Super Bowl ring last season. I trust that Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau will take the next step in the upcoming season, too.

According to The Lines, the Bills carry the best odds of winning Super Bowl LVII.

Los Angeles Rams

It’s true that many NFL fans would find it boring to picture the Los Angeles Rams winning their second-straight Super Bowl ring. Nonetheless, Sean McVay and Les Snead found a way to maintain a stunning, Super Bowl-contending roster this off-season. As widely enunciated, the Rams brought in the mythical Bobby Wagner and the athletic freak Allen Robinson. Barring an illogical late-game comeback from TB12, I foresee the Rams representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVII.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The GOAT of athletes, Tom Brady, is most likely gearing up for his last ride in 2022. The Bucs still showcase fantastic weaponry for Brady — as they have Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Playoff Lenny, Rachaad White, Russell Gage, and the ole-reliable Cameron Brate. The Bucs defense carries an intimidating, top-tier front seven – which is led by Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett. The Bucs also brought in Akiem Hicks (3.5 sacks, 9 QB hits in 9 games last season. Ray Lewis once commanded that his squad would leave everything out on the line in his final playoff gauntlet & I anticipate Brady’s brotherhood also leaving everything out on the field for him in the 2022 playoff tournament.

Los Angeles Chargers

I feel an infinite amount of passion for the Los Angeles Chargers direction. I expect the Chargers QB Justin Herbert, who has impressively climbed the ladder over the past two seasons, to have his best single-season output in 2022. I would be shocked if the Chargers don’t have one of the best pass defenses in football after they inked J.C. Jackson and highly gifted pass rusher Khalil Mack in the recent free agency period. After the Cincinnati Bengals surprised the NFL world last season, I believe the Chargers will turn heads in the 2022-2023 season.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals had an under-dog, Rocky Balboa-like attitude in their journey to the Super Bowl last season. The Bengals rightfully upgraded their offensive line for Joe Burrow – as they brought in La’el Collins and Alex Cappa. I imagine that Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will take care of their part in the passing game. On the flip-side, I have confidence in the Bengals ability to make life miserable for opposing passing offenses. The former Saints DE Trey Hendrickson unleashed 14 sacks in 2021 – after unveiling 13.5 sacks in 2020. It won’t be easy for the Bengals to return to the Super Bowl, but they have more beef than last season and unlimited potential on offense.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have a healthy Michael Thomas, a likely un-suspended Alvin Kamara in 2022, and potentially a Top-3 defense in the NFL. The Saints also know how to defeat the ageless wonder in Brady better than any other club. Most impressively, the Saints have the faces on defense (Tyrann Mathieu, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Marshon Lattimore) that can make life hell for opposing QBs in the pivotal playoff contents.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs always have a chance to win the Super Bowl with Patrick Mahomes at QB. The Chiefs don’t only display Mahomes, but they also yield the Top-3 TE Travis Kelce and the shiny and illustrious WR JuJu Smith-Schuster on offense. On defense, the Chiefs will ask their three-time Pro Bowl DT Chris Jones and three-time Pro Bowl DE Frank Clark to constantly harass opposing signal-callers.

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have their John Lennon-like QB Aaron Rodgers, but they shipped away their two-time All-Pro WR Davante Adams. I may have expressed more confidence in Mahomes after KC traded away Hill. Although, the Chiefs weapons are still more potent than the Packers receiving weapons. The Packers will likely have growing pains at the WR spot, but A-Rod should find ways to make his magic work in big moments. The Packers secondary (led by Jaire Alexander) will be a force to be reckoned with moving forward.

Indianapolis Colts

I am a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts new look from a season ago. Matty Ice has a ton of gas left in the tank and his friend Jonathan Taylor will also stride for his second-straight All-Pro season. The Colts defense leveled up this off-season with the additions of Yannick Ngakouye and Stephon Gilmore. The Colts may not have a young QB with a rocket launcher arm, but they are quite well-rounded and I believe they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos can break down opponents by a thousand cuts with their dual-threat QB Russell Wilson and their superb RB duo (Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams). The Broncos WR group isn’t less than dangerous after Tim Patrick’s ACL injury. DEN portrays Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and the electric wideout KJ Hamler. The Broncos defense wasn’t able to reunite with Von Miller, but the Broncos defense can still lean on the first-year Bronco and speed rusher, Randy Gregory, and veteran edge-rusher Bradley Chubb to bury opposing signal-callers in the dirt.

The post Ranking the 10 best Super Bowl contenders in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.