Predicting every playoff matchup — all the way to Super Bowl LIII

September 6, 2018 at 1:48AM
(Brian Stensaas/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Mark Craig's Predictions

AFC Wild Card

No. 3 Jaguars (11-5) over No. 6 Chiefs (9-7)

No. 4 Chargers (11-5) over No. 5 Texans (10-6)

AFC Divisional

No. 3 Jaguars over No. 1 Patriots (13-3)

No. 2 Steelers (12-4) over No. 4 Chargers

AFC Championship

No. 3 Jaguars over No. 2 Steelers

NFC Wild Card

No. 6 Packers (10-6) over No. 3 Rams (11-5)

No. 5 Saints (10-6) over No. 4 Eagles (10-6)

NFC Divisional

No. 1 Falcons (12-4) over No. 6 Packers

No. 2 Vikings (11-5) over No. 5 Saints

NFC Championship

No. 1 Falcons over No. 2 Vikings

Super Bowl LIII

Jaguars over Falcons

Honors

MVP: Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

Coach of the Year: Anthony Lynn, Chargers

Defensive Player of the Year: Harrison Smith, S, Vikings

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bradley Chubb, OLB, Broncos

Comeback Player of the Year: David Johnson, RB, Cardinals

Biggest surprise: Jaguars upset No. 1 seed Patriots in divisional round.

Biggest disappointment: Jameis Winston's once-promising career in Tampa Bay.

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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