RADIO
No. 1: Saquon Barkley Sets Single Season Playoff Rushing Record
While Saquon Barkley could not overtake Eric Dickerson’s regular season rushing record of 2,105 rushing yards, he should have a great opportunity to reach his single-season playoff rushing record of 408 yards.
With the Eagles being the No.2 seed, Barkley would have to play in four games if they were to go the distance. Over his past six games, the Penn State product has averaged a stellar 144.7 rushing yards per game. He could have his name in the record books if he carries this pace into the playoffs. Barkley will look to start off hot against the Green Bay Packers defense, in which he tallied 109 yards against in the season-opener.
No. 2: Jayden Daniels Becomes First Rookie to Quarterback To Win Three Playoff Games
Jayden Daniels is on his way to being the clear frontrunner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. However, Daniels could become the first rookie QB in NFL history to win three games in his first run at the playoffs.
While many have won two games, most recently Brock Purdy in 2022, none have been able to win three straight. The LSU standout has been able to turn the Washington franchise around. During Weeks 12 through 17, he averaged over 300 total yards per game with 17 total TDs. Daniels will make his first career playoff start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
No. 3: Both No. 7 Seven Seeds Pull Off An Upset
Since the NFL expanded the postseason, only one No.7 seed has pulled off the upset against the No.2 seed. The lone team was the Green Bay Packers last season when they marched into Dallas and defeated the Cowboys.
This season, the Denver Broncos will travel to Buffalo, and the Green Bay Packers will travel to Philadelphia. While the Packers could accomplish this feat again, the Broncos would have to defeat Josh Allen in Buffalo. However, the Bo Nix is coming off an impressive victory in Week 18 where he went 26-for-29 with 321 yards and four scores.
No. 4: Josh Allen Dethrones Patrick Mahomes After Three-Straight Playoff Losses
Josh Allen has been able to defeat several top teams in the AFC throughout his career, except the Kanas City Chiefs. He fell to the Chiefs three times since 2020 and has been the thorn in his side throughout his career.
However, expect this to change this time around. When Allen faced the Chiefs earlier this season, he tallied over 320 all-purpose yards with two scores. During Weeks 13 through 17, Allen tallied an impressive 17 touchdowns. Playing at this elite pace can set him up to finally dethrone the kings of the AFC. Allen will look to get out to a hot start against the Denver Broncos.
No. 5: The Top Seeds Do Not Host In The Conference Championships
Given how deep each conference is do not be surprised if both top seeds are knocked out before the conference championships. In the AFC, both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson can win a game on their own, while there is a 14-win Minnesota team, a budding rookie star, and the best running back in football in the NFC.
The last time this occurred was in the 2021-2022 season when both the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers were eliminated in the second round of the postseason. The Chiefs have struggled at times on the offensive side of the ball and the Detroit Lions have shown defensive worries throughout the season.
No. 6: Puka Nacua Breaks Larry Fitzgerald’s Single Season Playoff Receiving Record
Since returning from a PCL sprain in Week 8, Nacua has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the league. During this span, he tallied the second-most yards and targets (only behind Ja’Marr Chase in both statistics).
During this ten-game stretch, Nacua averaged a stellar 95.5 yards per game while seeing 10.2 targets per game. Given his elite usage, Nacua could have a path to breaking Larry Fitzgerald’s single-season playoff receiving record, which he posted during the 2008 NFL Playoffs, where he tallied 546 yards across four games. Nacua will start his playoff run against the Minnesota Vikings
No. 7: Josh Allen Sets New Total Touchdown Playoff Record
Despite taking a step back in Weeks 16 and 17, Josh Allen almost single-handedly got the Bills to the postseason in 2024. During Weeks 6 through 15, Allen scored an impressive 26 touchdowns while averaging over 300 total yards.
Facing the Rams and Lions in Weeks 14 and 15, Allen found the back of the end zone ten times. If he can continue to play at this incredible pace, he could be in a great position to surpass Tom Brady’s playoff touchdown record of 11 he set in 2016. Allen and the Bills will open their playoff run against the Denver Broncos.
No. 8: Rams Defense Leads Them Back To Super Bowl
The Los Angeles Rams defense has been a crucial part of their late-season surge to the playoffs. During Weeks 15 through 17, the defense allowed a maximum of nine points in one game and allowed just two total touchdowns over this stretch.
They generated an elite pass rush, tallying eight sacks over this three-game stretch. While the offense has struggled at times, the defense will lead Los Angeles back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2021 season. They will have a tall task ahead of them in the opening round against the high-flying Minnesota Vikings.
No. 9: Lamar Jackson Breaks Single Playoff Game Rushing Record
Lamar Jackson is on pace to capture his second-straight NFL MVP but has yet to put it together in the postseason. Last season, Jackson fell to the Kanas Chiefs in the AFC Championship that the Ravens hosted.
This year, they will host a Wild Card game Pittsburgh Steelers, but will have to travel to Kansas City later on. However, if Jackson were to pull off the upset, he would need to rely on his legs. While Jackson has only surpassed 100 rushing yards in one game this season, I predict that he will break the single playoff game rushing record by a quarterback, that is held by Colin Kaepernick (181 yards).
No. 10: The Kansas City Chiefs Pull Off A Three-Peat
My final bold prediction is that the Kansas Chiefs will make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive Lombardi trophies. While this may not seem like a bold prediction given that the Chiefs are the No.1 seed in the AFC, their offense has struggled through most of the season.
However, Patrick Mahomes has begun to find his footing at the right time. After throwing 11 interceptions over the first ten games of the season, he has posted a perfect 11:0 TD:INT ratio over his final six games of the season. During his final two (Weeks 16 and 17), Mahomes averaged a strong 290.0 passing yards per game and will be well-rested after his first-round bye.
