The NFL postseason has arrived, and The Game Day’s football betting analysts are all over NFL playoff predictions. The AFC and NFC brackets kick off Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday, January 15, then the Divisional Round and Conference Championship Games before Super Bowl 56 on Sunday, February 13.
We surveyed our NFL writers to get their picks for Super Bowl winner; AFC and NFC Championship Games; sleeper teams ready to make a deep run; and highly seeded teams set to bust.
Are any of your NFL teams on here? What are your picks?
NFL Playoff Picks 2022
| Bust | Sleeper | AFC Champ | NFC Champ | Super Bowl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Ammirante | Rams | Bills | Bills def Titans | Packers def Bucs | Bills def Packers |
| Anthony Cervino | Rams | Bengals | Chiefs def Bengals | Packers def Cowboys | Chiefs def Packers |
| Nate Hamilton | Titans | Bengals | Bengals def Bills | Cowboys def Packers | Cowboys def Bengals |
| Adam Kramer | Titans | 49ers | Chiefs def Bengals | Packers def 49ers | Packers def Chiefs |
| Kev Mahserejian | Titans | 49ers | Chiefs def Bengals | Rams def 49ers | Chiefs def Rams |
| Marcus Mosher | Cowboys | 49ers | Titans def Bengals | Packers def Rams | Packers def Titans |
Sleeper NFL Playoff Team
Buffalo Bills
The Bills’ offense is as good as any team when Josh Allen is rolling. Their defense is among the most improved units in the league. The Bills will go deep this postseason. —FRANK AMMIRANTE
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Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals came out of nowhere in 2021. Sure, they had the talent, but many believed it was too early for them to pop. With the proverbial ball bouncing in their favor in the AFC North, the Bengals won the division and earned the No. 4 seed in the NFL Playoffs.
Joe Burrow is a top-five quarterback in the NFL right now and will show it in January. Burrow will lead his Bengals to their first AFC title game since 1988.
The Bengals will likely meet the Titans in the Divisional Round. While the Titans pack a punch, they will struggle to keep up with the Bengals in a shootout. The Titans struggle from a deficit. They also don’t have the secondary to contain Burrow and his elite arsenal of weapons. —ANTHONY CERVINO
Although the Bengals are the AFC’s #4 seed, I don’t believe many feel this young team has a chance to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Bengals defeated the Chiefs (34-31) in Week 17 and are catching fire at the right time.
I expect the team with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Mixon to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. -NATE HAMILTON
San Francisco 49ers
They have everything. As long as Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t lose them games, I think San Francisco could knock out Dallas and Tom Brady’s Bucs. —ADAM KRAMER
The first, and only upset of the Wild Card Round belongs to SF. They topple the Cowboys, embarrass a Packers’ team they historically own, then face off against division rival Los Angeles. Their path is clear enough to pave a rematch of Super Bowl LIV but in all likelihood, fall short. —KEV MAHSEREJIAN
The 49ers went just 9-8 this season, but this is one of the most battle-tested teams in the NFL. They are built for the postseason and they are finally healthy on both sides of the ball. If they can run the ball with any sort of success, they are going to be a tough out in the playoffs for any NFC opponent. —MARCUS MOSHER
NFL PLAYOFFS BET PICK: 49ers To Win Super Bowl
Team To Lose In Round 1
Los Angeles Rams
FRANK AMMIRANTE: Matthew Stafford has been struggling lately, which is bad news for a Rams team that will have to deal with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals in the first round.
ANTHONY CERVINO: I never bought into Stafford to the Rams. You can take the quarterback out of Detroit, but a Lion is still gonna Lion.
Stafford logged eight turnovers in the final three games of the regular season. While they won two of those games, the Rams didn’t overcome Stafford’s woes in the season finale.
You can’t make those mistakes in big spots. The 49ers showed everyone why. Stafford’s struggles will continue into the postseason and ultimately cost the Rams in the Divisional Round against a superior Packers team in Green Bay.
Download our NFL Playoff Printable Bracket to make your own 2022 football postseason picks.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are the #1 seed in the AFC and it feels weird. Although, they finished the season with a 12-5 record, I don’t believe they will have enough to defeat anyone in the second round. Ryan Tannehill and the Titans’ offense have been inconsistent this year and the defense has given up a ton of points. The Titans may be one of the weakest #1 seeds I’ve seen in a long time. -NATE HAMILTON
I just don’t trust Tennessee. Although the potential return of Derrick Henry is intriguing, I just can’t get behind Ryan Tannehill making a Super Bowl run. —ADAM KRAMER
Possibly the most undeserving Bye team of all time. No one looks at the Titans and sees a contender despite their plus record versus playoff opponents. They fall to Cincinnati in the Divisional Round. —KEV MAHSEREJIAN
Our NFL experts are split on how Derrick Henry’s return will impact the Tennessee Titans’ 2022 NFL playoffs run. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Dallas Cowboys
MARCUS MOSHER: The Cowboys got a tough draw in Round 1 as they’ll face the 49ers in Dallas. The Cowboys don’t match up well on the offensive and defensive line and this could be a game in which the 49ers run all over Dallas. If the Cowboys can win this game, they do match up well against the likes of Green Bay and Tampa Bay. However, this is going to be a tough game for the Cowboys to win in Round 1.
AFC Championship
Tennessee Titans defeat Buffalo Bills
FRANK AMMIRANTE: The Titans get a bye then get to face the winner of Bengals vs. Raiders. Tennessee finds a way to win games and they’re getting healthy at the right time. The Bills are better than their record and knock off Tennessee due to their advantage at quarterback.
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Kansas City Chiefs defeat Cincinnati Bengals
ANTHONY CERVINO: Despite their 2021 ebbs and flows, the Chiefs are the cream of the crop in the AFC. They’ll figure it out and advance to the AFC Championship game. Been there. Done that. Experience matters.
However, there is always one team that makes a run that we don’t expect. Cue the Bengals. Cincinnati checks off all the boxes and has already defeated Kansas City while clinching their own division, showing they can beat good teams with something on the line.
When it is all said and done, however, the Bengals won’t get it done a second time against the Chiefs. Burrow will fall short, but this will be the birth of a rivalry between two AFC powerhouses for years to come.
KEV MAHSEREJIAN: A matchup of two titans (pardon me, Titans fans) who advance on the brute force of their offense. It is easy to impose your will on teams when your high-pedigree QB has multiple star receivers at his disposal and despite winning the first matchup, Cinci falls to the Chiefs in KC during this rematch.
Tennessee Titans defeat Cincinnati Bengals
MARCUS MOSHER: The Titans are the No. 1 seed in the AFC and yet, no one seems to think they can make it to the Super Bowl. They will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and will be getting Henry back for the final three weeks.
With Tennessee having one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, they are built for playoff football. Look for them to win the AFC, no matter who they are matched up against in Rounds 2 and 3.
NFL PLAYOFFS BET PICK: Titans To Win AFC
NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FRANK AMMIRANTE: A rematch of last year’s NFC Championship between two future Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks. This time, the Packers are deeper and the Bucs are banged-up at wide receiver. Packers win.
Green Bay Packers defeat Dallas Cowboys
ANTHONY CERVINO: Rivalries rekindled in the NFC again. We’ve seen it on Wild Card Weekend with the 49ers-Cowboys and now the Packers and Cowboys, two of the NFL’s most storied franchises will face off to earn a trip to the dance.
I am a Cowboys fan, but I don’t trust them to win in Green Bay. They can do it. They will put up a valiant effort, but have you seen the Cowboys win big games facing teams outside the NFC East? It’s been a while. They normally fall short. Like, three points short.
I hope I am wrong, but this is the Packers’ year. Through the turmoil, Aaron Rodgers once again dominated the NFL. He also has good luck against the Cowboys in his career. Rodgers finds a way to get it done in his third straight NFC Championship game appearance.
Green Bay Packers defeat Los Angeles Rams
The Packers are the best team in the NFL and they are suddenly getting healthier on defense. However, one team that could give them some problems are the Rams. Still, look for the Packers to win both of their home games and reach the Super Bowl. —MARCUS MOSHER
Los Angeles Rams defeat San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers advance to the NFCC Game in a “Cinderella" way thanks to the surge of a healthy Aiyuk. Deebo, and Kittle while Los Angeles benefits from a lighter playoff schedule. SF did sweep the Rams this season but LA will take advantage of learning from their mistakes in the most recent game that was in their control. —KEV MAHSEREJIAN:
Super Bowl 56 Pick
Buffalo Bills defeat Green Bay Packers
The Bills are good enough to be a one-seed when they’re rolling, with several double-digit wins this season. They squeak out a win over Green Bay due to their advantage on defense. —FRANK AMMIRANTE
Green Bay Packers defeat Kansas City Chiefs
The Packers will win, finally getting over the hump following their third straight Conference Finals appearance, leading to an offseason the media-elite have dreamed of and one burning question: Will Aaron Rodgers leave the Packers after winning a Super Bowl? —Anthony Cervino
It feels like Aaron Rodgers’ year. Homefield will be huge for the Packers, and I expect the most polarizing player of the season to deliver a sensational finish. -ANTHONY CERVINO
Green Bay Packers defeat Tennessee Titans
It feels chalky, but this is the right pick. More often than not, both No. 1 seeds end up making the Super Bowl as their route to the game is just so much easier now than ever.
This would be a fantastic matchup, but the Packers should be able to expose the secondary of the Titans in the Super Bowl. Take Green Bay to win the 2021-2022 Super Bowl over Tennessee, 31-17. —MARCUS MOSHER
NFL PLAYOFFS BET PICK: Packers To Win Super Bowl 56
Kansas City Chiefs defeat Los Angeles Rams
The Rams in the scenario I envision do not have to play through Green Bay, thus, foregoing the toughest matchup possible for them in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Chiefs skate through the AFC and wind up taking down a Rams team that may start off hot but eventually, fizzle in its home stadium. —KEV MAHSEREJIAN
Dallas Cowboys defeat Cincinnati Bengals
This seems like one of the unlikeliest of Super Bowl picks, but anything can happen in the playoffs. The Bengals and Cowboys are two of the most well-rounded teams heading into the postseason. —NATE HAMILTON
