2015 NFL Predictions: Playoffs Final Four Rematches

The NFL Playoffs Final Four has two great matchups, and we crown a champion of our 2015 NFL Predictions. Is it Seattle, New England, Green Bay, or Pittsburgh? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

We have reached the final four of our NFL Playoffs March Madness bracket. This group includes the two heavy NFC favorites, Green Bay and Seattle, and two of the top few AFC squads, New England and Pittsburgh. Because of the way the seeding shook out, we do not have conference peers facing each other though. With this fearsome foursome left, I think it’s worth having each of us pick winners through the finals rather than alternate. Although we may not have both gotten to this same quartet, it’s a good group to finish with.

Prior to the bracket shaking out, I felt as though Seattle and Green Bay were the two best teams in football. I see no reason to change that mindset. Because of that, I will have an all-NFC championship game.

Catch up on all the early round action.

Elite Eight
Sweet Sixteen:
Part one – Part Two
Round of 32:
1 – Seattle Seahawks division
2 – Green Bay Packers division
3 – Denver Broncos division
4 – Indianapolis Colts division

Check out Round one for full seeding and explanations.

Seattle versus New England in one semifinal is interesting because of the Super Bowl rematch. However, isn’t it fair to say this Patriots team is much worse than last season’s? Even assuming a healthy Rob Gronkowski through the whole year and a Tom Brady fresh off suspension ready to crush skulls, the defensive secondary is going to be a train wreck.

The passing game may be the Seahawks only real weakness. If New England doesn’t have the horses to really gain an edge in that matchup, then where are the Patriots winning this? It could be argued that Seattle now has the closest tight end competition to Gronk anywhere in the league as well with Jimmy Graham. Seattle is the all-around better club.

In the other semifinal, rather than an all-around juggernaut muscling its way through, Green Bay versus Pittsburgh is a game of strength against strength. The Packers are elite on offense, as should be the Steelers. Both squads are also average or perhaps worse on defense depending on how a few players develop. Can anyone beat GB at its own game though? Wouldn’t the vanquisher need to excel at what Green Bay cannot? Pitt is good at everything the Packers can do, but it isn’t better. The Packers advance.

My Finals pits the Seattle Seahawks versus the Green Bay Packers.

January 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver

Jermaine Kearse

(15) catches a 35 yard pass from quarterback

Russell Wilson

(not pictured) for the game winning touchdown ahead of Green Bay Packers cornerback

Tramon Williams

(38) during the overtime period in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

To start off the Final Four, Seahawks versus Patriots is a fun matchup, but I agree, I don’t think these two teams are nearly as close as last season in the Super Bowl. Seattle has the advantage on offense, in the running game, and on defense, in the passing game. New England has to prove itself on defense this season, but I think it falls short of stopping the Seahawks.

Closing the gap at the Tight End position solidifies Seattle’s victory. The Seahawks look like one of the most complete teams in the NFL entering the season, so its fitting they advance to our bracket Finals.

The second Final Four matchup feels like a solid 2016 Super Bowl prediction. Packers versus Steelers is as good as advertised, and just like you said. Its strength versus strength on offense, with these two passing attacks. But its Pittsburgh’s ability to run the ball that outshines what Green Bay has in store this season. The Steelers’ balanced attack can outplay Aaron Rodgers and his Packers.

I don’t see either the Packers’ or Steelers’ defense as top ten, but they both will hold their own throughout the year. That makes Pittsburgh‘s advantage on offense the reason they squeak out a victory in this matchup.

I have the Seattle Seahawks versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in my championship matchup. It’s hard to argue with these two offenses. Time for the Finals.

Aug 14, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger

(7) signals to his team mates they are going for a two-point conversion in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

TODD:

More from NFL

As for my championship matchup, this is so tough. Seattle versus Green Bay is the stuff of impossibility because the two could never face off for a title, but they do feel like the two best teams. Normally I would side with the more well-rounded team. Seattle is the better club overall in terms of all three facets of the game. It should be much better than the Packers on defense while at least holding its own in the other departments.

But I’m not ready to say that automatically wins anymore. Instead, I think I have to ask what team has the best overall unit, AKA, the strongest strength. That would be the Packers’ offensive attack. If this were to play out this way, I also feel as though there would be immense pressure added on the Seahawks, even more so than playing in a championship should bring. This could be the last hurrah for this iteration of Seattle. With mounting salaries and new, heavy contracts kicking in, this team is going to begin to look awfully different starting in 2016. Wouldn’t that add a bit of pressure to, for lack of a better non-retirement term, go out on top?

It’s not a clear pick. In fact, either club could lose in the hypothetical semifinals easily enough. For my champion though, I’m taking the Green Bay Packers.

DAN:

Green Bay is an excellent choice for our champion, but I see them as the second best team, having lost in my bracket to the eventual champion.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Seattle Seahawks, the pressure will all be on Seattle to win two of three titles. Pittsburgh, however, will be riding high on the back of their dominant, two-pronged, offensive attack. That is enough momentum to carry them to a victory.

Seattle is excellent on both sides of the football. Yet the Steelers defense proved versus Aaron Rodgers and the Packers that they can handle any offense. That carries them against the Seahawks passing game. Conversely, Pittsburgh’s running game is just enough to keep Seattle’s defense on its heels, and open up the field to Antonio Brown and Matarvis Bryant.

The Steelers are my champion of NFL Playoffs March Madness. I won’t say if they are my Super Bowl prediction just yet, but it’s coming next week.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.

Next: 2016 Super Bowl Predictions Packers or Cowboys

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/NFL