NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Predicting the entire 2020 NFL season before training camp

By Cody Williams

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the defense of the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass against the defense of the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

AFC Wild Card predictions

7 Houston Texans at 2 Baltimore Ravens
After sneaking into the playoffs as an 8-8 team out of the AFC, the Texans get the unfriendly gift of a trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Put simply, what Houston has built is not a match for the dynamic offense led by Lamar Jackson, both in terms of stopping him on defense and keeping up with him on offense. Winner: Baltimore Ravens

6 Pittsburgh Steelers at 3 New England Patriots
Of the Wild Card Round matchups, this was the most difficult to predict, which speaks to what the Steelers and Patriots are this season. They have questions about the viability of their quarterbacks given injury history and this point in their respective careers while banking on defense. Subsequently, I’m copping out and going with the home team to win. Winner: New England Patriots

5 Cleveland Browns at 4 Indianapolis Colts
For the first time since 2002, the Browns are in the playoffs. And due to their success under Kevin Stefanski, they get a great matchup against a division-winner but also a shaky Colts club. I don’t fully buy into the Indianapolis defense and think Cleveland can control the action and pick up a postseason win, sending The Land into a frenzy. Winner: Cleveland Browns

NFC Wild Card predictions

7 Green Bay Packers at 2 San Francisco 49ers
In the simplest terms, the 49ers shellacked the Packers twice last year, once in the regular season and again in the playoffs. Green Bay hasn’t made enough notable improvements in the 2020 offseason to make you think that this matchup will turn out any differently. Winner: San Francisco 49ers

6 Seattle Seahawks at 3 Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins has somewhat shed the label that he can’t step up in big games, doing so on a few occasions last season. In the playoffs, though, I still have some doubts. And with the offense being lesser with Stefon Diggs gone, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks are going to come into this one and pull off a road postseason upset. Winner: Seattle Seahawks

5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4 Dallas Cowboys
For as high as I am on the Cowboys and what this offense can do for them — and an underrated defense — the secondary is the weakest part of the defense. Putting that up against Tom Brady and an elite group of pass-catchers is a recipe for a bad time in Dallas and an early playoff exit for America’s Team. Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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