Expert Predictions for NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl 2023

Before this wild and wacky NFL season, the infamous Selby Crystal ball that presaged a Super Bowl matchup between the Bills and 49ers was removed in time for the playoffs.

Of course, a lot has changed for both teams: Trey Lance (ankle) lost in Week 2, Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) lost in Week 13, and the football world introduced Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. it was done.

The Bills on a near-tragic emotional roller coaster to the uplifting, inspirational and heartwarming story of Dumar Hamlin, who was surprisingly released Monday from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after suffering a cardiac arrest in a tackle with the Bengals. endured. Tea Higgins.

Will the Bills be the team destined to win their first Super Bowl in five tries? Can Purdy become America’s Mr. Related? Will Patrick Mahomes get a second win? Will Joe Burrow smoke a cigar after the match?

In Serby Crystal Ball, everything is clearly focused.

Super Wildcard Weekend

Saturday

49ers Seahawks

Meet Jeno Smith, Nick Bosa. Meet Kenneth Walker III, Fred Warner. America, it’s a hot playoff He’ll never melt under the lights Young Mr. He’s Purdy He lost twice to the Niners and the Seahawks scored his one offensive touchdown. And the Niners rushed for 189 yards (without Christian McCaffrey) and 170 yards.

49ers 31, Seahawks 17

jaguar charger

The Golden Boys matchup at quarterback, Justin Herbert vs. Trevor Lawrence. Brandon Staley chose Tom Coughlin over Brian Daboll in the regular season finale. Herbert has played Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) together in just four games from start to finish. If Joey Bosa (groin) is okay with teaming with Khalil his Mac, Bolt is josh he beats Allen and rookie Travon Walker he can pass rush he can enjoy an edge increase. Forever Trevor needs Travis Etienne to counter the 28th-ranked Ran Defense.

Chargers 27, Jaguars 24

Sunday

Dolphins at Bill’s

The Tua Tagovailoa Dolphins were toe-to-toe and snow-to-snow with the Bills in a 32-29 loss in the final two seconds on December 17. Will Tua be cleared? If not, expect Teddy Bridgewater (pinky) instead of Skylar Thompson as the rookie. The long-range forecast is for clear skies (28 degrees) and winds of 8 mph, allowing Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to dine. But Josh Allen threw 4 TDs last time and he ran for 77 yards.

Win one for Damar.

Bills 33, Dolphins 17

viking giant

Daniel Jones faces the league’s 31st-ranked pass defense with confidence. Saquon Barkley rests and prepares for the 20th place rush defense. Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale are dangerous to opponents the second time he encounters them (see Commanders). Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams included Dalvin Cook, Wink won’t let Justin Jefferson (12-133-1 TD) and He TJ Hockenson (13-109-2 TD) destroy the game. Xavier McKinney is back (and Adley Jackson?). This time, Graham Gano walks away instead of Greg Joseph.

Giants 27, Vikings 24

Bengals Ravens

When Lamar Jackson is quarterback, their mantra “play like a raven” is much easier. He hasn’t practiced in his 5 weeks (PCL). Barrow didn’t have Higgins in their early-season loss to Baltimore. He now has him with Ja’Marr Chase. The defending AFC champion is on his eight-game winning streak. Passing for the Ravens his game never recovered from his Brown deal in Hollywood. The red zone was their dead zone. With quarterbacks Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown, everyone sings “Who Dey?” A rusty Lamar return and MLB Rocan Smith crippling Joe Mixon, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters dominating Chase and Higgins, and JK Dobbins doing well in a vicious chippy steel cage match. Guess the maniac defense led by Mark Andrews.

Ravens 24, Bengals 21

Monday

buccaneers cowboys

Brady (who has seven rings) is 7-0 against the Cowboys. Dak Prescott intercepted seven straight games. Ezekiel Elliot hasn’t been eating much lately. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are going to be a problem, but Brady will get the ball out quick to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin against rookie corner Daron Bland. Potentially successful against the No. 22 rushing defense, and if center Ryan Jensen (knee) can come back, it could be a huge lift. Brady vs. Dan Quinn…of Super Bowl 51 The Falcons HC blew that 28-3 lead to GOAT, FWIW.

Bucks 24, Cowboys 21

division round

AFC

Ravens at Chiefs

Lamar had 107 yards and 2 TDs in a 36-35 victory over Baltimore in early 2021, defeating Mahomes for the first time with four tries. Steve Spagnuolo and Chris Jones will never let that happen again. Magic Mahomes no longer has Tyreek Hill, it doesn’t matter. Jerrick McKinnon and Isaiah Pacheco give Andy Reed the balance, rookie safety Kyle Hamilton owns size and range, but Travis Kelce is too familiar for him. Kadarius Tony: 1 TD, 1 hamstring tweak.

Chiefs 34, Ravens 17

bills charger

The long-range forecast calls for light snow on January 21st and snow on January 22nd. Austin Ekeler should be a weapon in the passing game against a Rank 5 rushing defense (104.6 yards). Allen, Devin Singletary and James Cook lead his 150-yard charge. He wins one more for Damar.

Bill 33, Charger 21

NFC

eagles giants

Beating 3 rivals in one season is not easy.

Davis Webb lobbied to get this started, citing chemistry with Kenny Golladay, and Daboll telling the media that he’ll be sitting down with GM Joe Schoen to discuss everything on Friday night ( eye roll). Anyway, even with Barkley catching his eight passes and gaining 130 total yards, healthy he’s top-ranked passing with Jalen Hurts. Proving too much.

Eagles 27 Giants 17

49ers Bucks:

Brady vs. his boyhood team. Brady vs Purdy. What was Brady’s last game as a back before going to the Raiders? What was Brady’s last game before going to the Foxes? Purdy has George Kittle. Brady doesn’t have him Gronk. Purdy has Kyle Shanahan. Brady doesn’t. Demeko Lyons has the second-best rushing defense (77.7 yards).

49ers 31, Bucks 17

NFC Championship

Eagles 49ers

Garoppolo defeated the Eagles 17-11 at the rink early in 2021. Will Purdy blink? Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradbury are no slouch. But if there’s a team built to win physical battles away, it’s these 49ers. Hearts will have some success against the Niner secondary, which will target AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goudart, but Warner, Dre He will greenlow, Aric Armstead will have Miles He overwhelm Sanders, Nick he makes Siriani his one dimension.

49ers 27, Eagles 24

AFC Championship

bills vs chiefs

The next Allen Mahomes dream showdown. Spooky surroundings at a neutral site — Halfway between Buffalo and Kansas City is Indianapolis. Gabe Davis will not catch four TD passes against the Chiefs this time around, but Stephon Diggs will couple up against a group of young, inexperienced cornerbacks, including No. 1 draft pick Trent McDuffie. The last person with the ball wins. Allen is the last person with the ball.

Let’s win one more for Damar.

Bills 33, Chiefs 30

super bowl 2023

49ers-Bills

In the two weeks between the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl, Shanahan ponders the same questions Bill Belichick pondered before Super Bowl 36: Brady or Drew Bledsoe? Healed Purdy or Garoppolo. And like Belichick, he stays with hot hands.

But when Purdy suddenly develops yips, Garoppolo is called off the bench to bring the Niners back from the first half hole. McCaffrey and Devo Samuel start imposing their will that night, while Marv Levy and Jim Kelly are sweating in their owner’s box. But Allen gathered at the start of the drive late in the fourth quarter, looked up at the stands and said, “Look, it’s Will Smith and Chris Rock!” That eased the tension and Allen engineered a 98-yard drive, jumping the end his zone to his third as he culminated in a goal from three.

Won Damar’s Big One.

Bills 33, 49ers 27