The Big Lead's 2014 NFL Playoff and Super Bowl Predictions
By Jason Lisk
Our regular season predictions did not all play out. Nobody did better than 4 of 6 playoff teams in the AFC (Houston, Baltimore and Pittsburgh were had by many). Three writers picked 5 of 6 NFC playoff teams. We averaged 8 playoff teams predicted out of 12 as a group, thanks to many being on Philadelphia and not having much faith in teams like Atlanta. Almost everyone thought Rex Ryan would be the first coach fired; he’s still standing. We will take another crack now that the playoff matchups are set.
Here are our random guesses for the upcoming playoffs and the Super Bowl that will end in New York in early February.
Jason Lisk
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over Kansas City
Cincinnati over San Diego
New Orleans over Philadelphia
San Francisco over Green Bay
Divisional Round
Denver over Indianapolis
Cincinnati over New England
San Francisco over Carolina
Seattle over New Orleans
Championship Games
Cincinnati over Denver
Seattle over San Francisco
Super Bowl
Seattle over Cincinnati (because it only seems fitting these two franchises that have never won a title would meet in the New York Super Bowl.)
Bonus Question: What will the weather be like for the New York Super Bowl?
41 degrees at kickoff, no precipitation, with a bonus forecast that the media will complain about the weather.
Jason McIntyre
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis 23, Kansas City 17
Cincinnati 20, San Diego 16
Philadelphia 27, New Orleans 23
Green Bay 27, San Francisco 24
Divisional Round
Denver 38, Indianapolis 13
New England 13, Cincinnati 12
Carolina 20, Green Bay 17
Seattle 38, Philadelphia 27
Championship Games
Denver 30, New England 22
Seattle 23, Carolina 6
Super Bowl
Seattle 31, Denver 27
Bonus Question: What will the weather be like for the New York Super Bowl?
24 degrees at kickoff, snow on the ground from a day or two prior.
Ty Duffy
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over Kansas City
Cincinnati over San Diego
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Green Bay over San Francisco
Divisional Round
Denver over Indianapolis
New England over Cincinnati
Philadelphia over Carolina
Seattle over Green Bay
Championship Games
Denver over New England
Seattle over Philadelphia
Super Bowl
Seattle over Denver
Super Bowl Weather
38 degrees at kickoff. Rain that feels like someone is pelting you with ladles of soup. Welcome to New York in February
Stephen Douglas
Wildcard Round
Kansas City over Indianapolis
Cincinnati over San Diego
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Green Bay over San Francisco
Divisional Round
Denver over Kansas City
New England over Cincinnati
Philadelphia over Carolina
Seattle over Green Bay
Championship Games
Denver over New England
Philadelphia over Seattle
Super Bowl
Philadelphia over Denver
Super Bowl Weather
Blizzard. Chaos. Just kidding. No-to-light snow with millions of people furiously refreshing Weather.com from Wednesday to Sunday evening.
Tim Ryan
Wildcard Round
Kansas City over Indianapolis
San Diego over Cincinnati
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Green Bay over San Francisco
Divisional Round
Denver over San Diego
New England over Kansas City
Carolina over Philadelphia
Seattle over Green Bay
Championship Games
Denver over New England
Seattle over Carolina
Super Bowl
Denver over Seattle
Super Bowl Weather
18 degrees at kickoff to honor Peyton Manning and the great Mike Tomscazk. Pointing and laughing from the comfy confines of the Goldman Sachs suite will be Miles and Braxton and the rest of the gang. It’s going to be hilarious.
Mike Cardillo
Wildcard Round
Kansas City over Indianapolis
Cincinnati over San Diego
Philadelphia over New Orleans
San Francisco over Green Bay
Divisional Round
Denver over Kansas City
Cincinnati over New England
Philadelphia over Carolina
Seattle over San Francisco
Championship Games
Denver over Cincinnati
Philadelphia over Seattle
Super Bowl
Denver over Philadelphia
Super Bowl Weather
Meh. Think a Stringer Bell derided 45-degree day, or the opposite of whatever Mike Francesa picks.
Michael Shamburger
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over Kansas City
San Diego over Cincinnati
New Orleans over Philadelphia
Green Bay over San Franciso
Divisional Round
Denver over San Diego
New England over Indianapolis
Carolina over Green Bay
New Orleans over Seattle
Championship Games
Denver over New England
New Orleans over Carolina
Super Bowl
Denver over New Orleans
Super Bowl Weather
28 degrees and snowy because that’s how it should be.
Kyle Koster
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over Kansas City
Cincinnati over San Diego
New Orleans over Philadelphia
Green Bay over San Francisco
Divisional Round
Denver over Indianapolis
New England over Cincinnati
New Orleans over Carolina
Seattle over Green Bay
Championship Games
Denver over New England
Seattle over New Orleans
Super Bowl
Denver over Seattle
Super Bowl Weather
43 degrees with a light mist. Not enough to impact the game, but enough to make Newman abandon his mail route.
Ryan Glasspiegel
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over Kansas City
Cincinnati over San Diego
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Green Bay over San Francisco
Divisional Round
Indianapolis over Denver
New England over Cincinnati
Green Bay over Seattle
Carolina over Philadelphia
Championship Games
New England over Indianapolis
Green Bay over Carolina
Super Bowl
Green Bay over New England
Super Bowl Weather
17 degrees and no snow.