5 Bold Predictions for NFL playoffs: Ravens-Eagles in Super Bowl LIX?

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions have looked all season like they were on a collision course for Super Bowl LIX. And of course, the Chiefs would first have to beat the Buffalo Bills in what would surely be an epic AFC Championship Game.

It's what many predicted before the start of the regular season. It's what the entire NFL world seems to be expecting.

Yawn.

When's the last time the NFL playoffs unfolded exactly as everyone expected? When's the last time the best teams in the regular season ended up in the Super Bowl? When's the last time the postseason was completely predictable? (Note: Please pay no attention to 2022).

It's better to ignore the "chalk" predictions, because nobody really wants that. What makes the NFL playoffs so exciting is when we expect the unexpected. It's the upstart teams making runs that really bring the thrills. The surprising stars, the shocking plays, the mighty underdogs — that's what makes the playoffs great.

So with that in mind, put the chalk back in the box and get ready for the surprises — like these five bold predictions for the NFL playoffs that I guarantee will come true:

1. Regime Change

The Kansas City Chiefs will NOT reach the Super Bowl this year.

That's only happened once in the last five years, but it's going to happen again. This might be the most vulnerable 15-2 team in NFL history. They have been playing with fire all season long. The fact that 11 of their 15 wins have been by one score or less shows you how close they were to being 4-13 instead. I mean they don't even have a Pro Bowl quarterback anymore.

They're lucky they're in the AFC and didn't have to live in, say, the NFC North this season. But the AFC playoffs are still going to provide some difficulties