Favorites For The Super Bowl 2015

As the playoff bracket for this season takes shape, we can now try to assess and predict which teams will make it to the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl. Most playoff ties seem like straight forward affairs, but in sports you can never be certain if what you predict will actually transpire on the field. However, we’ll put our necks on the line to try and predict which two teams based on their current form will most likely play it out for the Vince Lombardi trophy.

To do this, we’ll take the playoff bracket game by game and determine which team will come out on top from their respective ties, until we are left with the last two teams.

 

Wildcard Playoffs 

Ravens vs. Steelers

First we’ll look at the wildcard round in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, their hated rivals. The outcome of this game perhaps depends on the fitness of Le’Veon Bell, who suffered a knee injury recently. If the wide receiver is fit to play, the Steelers might have the advantage as he was in great form this season. However, it looks highly unlikely he’ll be fit to play, and thus the Ravens should be able to progress. Nonetheless this one is too close to call, considering both teams split the series they played earlier this year.

Winner: Ravens

 

Cardinals vs. Panthers

The Arizona Cardinals have been drawn against the Carolina Panthers. It can be said without a doubt that the Panthers are playing their best football of the season currently. They are on a four game winning streak and have conceded only 10.7 points per game during this span. With their defense finally looking in shape, it will be really hard for the Cardinals to edge past the Panthers. The Cardinals had quite the opposite end to the season; they lost their last two games and will be without Andre Ellington. So expect a Panthers win in this tie.

Winner: Panthers

 

Bengals vs. Colts

The Colts versus the Bengals seems like a straightforward tie. Since Andrew Luck is a better big game QB as compared to Andy Dalton, we can assert that the Colts will out play the Bengals. Sure, the Colts are not without their weaknesses, but on the whole it would seem they have what it takes to edge past the Bengals. There is also the small fact that the Colts have won five of their last six games coming into this tie, and you can expect them to add another win to their streak.

Winner: Colts

 

Cowboys vs. Lions

This is another game too tight to call. Both teams have been average at best this season but they do have certain qualities which have helped them book a place in the playoffs. The Cowboys have the most balanced offense in the league, while the Lions can claim to have the most ferocious defensive line. However, the absence of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will deplete the Lions’ defense, a fact which the Cowboys will exploit. So expect a Dallas victory in this one, though it’ll be tight game.

Winner: Cowboys

 

Divisional Playoffs

Based on the predictions above, the ties for the division playoffs would turn out to be: Colts vs. Broncos, Ravens vs. Patriots, Panthers vs. Packers and Cowboys vs. Seahawks. So let us look at them individually.

 

Colts vs. Broncos

This game should be another close contest, but the outcome seems pretty clear. Last year’s runner ups should have no problem defeating the Colts, who will have to dig in really deep to get past Peyton Manning and co.

Winner: Broncos

 

Ravens vs. Patriots

As always this will be another highly charged game, with both rivals expecting a win. However, this season Brady and Co look stronger compared to their rivals and you should expect a Patriots victory.

Winner: Patriots

 

Panthers vs. Packers

This is another no brainer. Despite their excellent run of form, it seems really hard for the Panthers to defeat the Green Bay Packers, who have not lost at home this season. Expect the Packers to comfortably move on to the conference finals.

Winner: Packers

 

Cowboys vs. Seahawks

The defending champions should have no trouble dispatching the Cowboys and are unlikely to lose a division round tie. The Seahawks are one of the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl and a comfortable victory can be expected from them.

Winner: Seahawks

 

Conference Championships:

Based on our predictions, the AFC Championship game should feature the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots. The NFC Championship should feature the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks.

 

Broncos vs. Patriots:

This tie will feature another historic matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Even though the Patriots won when the two teams met earlier this season, it is pretty obvious that the Broncos have evolved as a team. Defensively they are solid and C.J. Anderson’s running game could cause all sorts of problems for the Patriots. However, the Patriots should be ready to deal with the threat, so you never know. However, if we are to pick a winner, then the Patriots take the edge, since they look more solid than the Broncos as a team.

Winner: Patriots

 

Packers vs. Seahawks:

This game is another really exciting prospect for the playoffs. Green Bay lost 16-36 against the Seahawks in their first game of the season, but have rallied well since then. They finished the regular season with seven wins in eight games. The defending champions though seem untouchable right now and are on a six game winning streak. Once again this is a difficult one to call, but based on current form you have to give the Seahawks the edge. Their defense is as solid as ever and you have to think they will win this game.

Winner: Seahawks

So there you have it, our favorites for the Super Bowl this year: the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The defending champions look to be heading to their second consecutive Super Bowl and we think they might just win it too.

Let us know what you think of our predictions in the comments below, and if you have your own predictions, we would love to hear them.