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NFL Notebook, Week 17: Playoff predictions, coaching carousel and more

By Zach Cohen

(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 11: Darius Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield while defended by Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots during the first quarterat Nissan Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 11: Darius Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield while defended by Devin McCourty #32 of the New England Patriots during the first quarterat Nissan Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

AFC Wild Card Predictions

I can’t believe the regular season is already over. Where has the time gone? As a way of coping, I figured I try to predict how the first round of games will shape up. I’m sure I’ll be wrong, but hey, you win some, you lose some.

Patriots def. Titans

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I was extremely tempted to take Tennessee. Titans’ coach (and former Patriot linebacker) Mike Vrabel has done an excellent job with a team I outed as a sleeper. The emergence of Ryan Tannehill bodes well for an offense that was so reliant on Derrick Henry. After all, Henry leads a backfield that averages 4.9 yards per carry, the sixth-best rate in the league.

Nonetheless, if I’ve learned anything in the last two decades, it’s to never count out Tom Brady and the Patriots. I’ll admit, New England hasn’t looked the same in 2019. This was the first time Brady has ever had a losing record in December, so this game could be closer than you think.

Texans def. Bills

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Bills are overrated. They beat only one team that finished with a winning record when they defeated the Titans on Oct. 6, 14-7. They’re a well-coached team who have certainly exceeded expectations, but I just can’t be confident enough in them to succeed in their second playoff game since 1999.

By the way, what Josh Allen can do, Deshaun Watson can do better. Both are good, shifty runners, but Watson is by far the better passer. Allen’s completion percentage ranks dead-last among 32 eligible players, per Pro Football Reference. Obviously, it helps having DeAndre Hopkins, though this isn’t an Allen-Watson debate. It’s another reason Houston should beat Buffalo at home.

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