For those who don’t know, my favorite time of year is right before the playoffs happen in the NFL. Mostly, because I L-O-V-E brackets. So much so that I create my own that I tinker with until we get to the playoffs.

I know that we haven’t gotten to Week 18 yet and based on what happens there across a few key games, my bracket here may not be accurate. But, for my own wishes, here is what I’d like to see happen in Week 18 in order for my bracket to remain mostly unchanged:

• In the Bucs vs Panthers game, the Bucs lose. That’s it. Why? Cause I can’t stand the smug Mayfield. Never have. Never will.

• In the Steelers vs Ravens match…this one is tough for me. As someone who was a Steelers fan for a LONG time, I’m NOT a Rogers fan. YUCK! On the other side…I don’t know if Lamar Jackson earned this one, no matter how much (or little) King Henry has done to get them to this point. So…toss a coin and let the winner be the winner. For my bracket, however, I put Ravens, simply because whether Lamar plays or not? King Henry is “King” for a reason…

• In the Seahawks vs 49ers, another interesting one for me. I’m sick and tired of NOT hearing the Seahawks in any sort of “superbowl contender” conversation. It’s like the commentators refuse to acknowledge their season. Mind you, EVERYONE is applauding Drake Maye on one hand while simultaneously agreeing they’ve had the WEAKEST and EASIEST 18 weeks of any of the other 31 teams. The math just isn’t mathing there. Anyhow, back to the Seahawks vs 49ers. I love me some Brock Purdy. Really, I do. But I’d like to see the Seahawks take this one. If only to shut up the doubters and see what they have to say when they get the bye week over “a more deserving team.” Also, I’d love it if the Dolphins can squash the Patriots in much the same way they squashed Mayfield this past weekend. Just sayin’.

I wanna add a few more notes I have about how this season went, just cause I can.

• Whoever wins the Superbowl :cough cough: LET’S GO BUFFALO! :cough cough: I don’t want one person to say, “it’s just cause Patrick Mahomes wasn’t there!” I swear! I also hope Mahomes has one or two more years of not making the playoffs if only to humble him AND those who can’t get off that train.

• Some teams I’m saddened to not see in the playoffs this year:

  • Detroit Lions - love the ENTIRE team, especially the coach. When he cries, I cry. I feel his passion for the players and the game. What a shame.

  • Cincinatti Bengals - Don’t worry Joe Burrow. You’ll be back and we’ll be here to see that magic! Damn you, turf toe!

  • Indianapolis Colts - Hey, I will now and forever bleed BLUE, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the success of our former QB Daniel Jones. They were THIS close to the playoffs and just that quickly it was gone. But, we got the comeback story of the century in Philips Rivers! So, the year wasn’t a TOTAL loss.

  • New York Giants - I don’t want to end my little NFL rant without mentioning my team, the New York Giants. It’s not the fan you are when they’re winning. It’s the fan you remain when they SUCK! Just not as much as the Raiders who did everything but step aside to let us win this past weekend so they could get that #1 draft pick. I see you Pete Carroll and I love ya, man! That being said, I miss Brian Daboll. I think what went down this season with the whole Jaxson Dart situation was grimy and unnecessary. Personally, I don’t think the child is ready. I much rather put the team in the most capable hands of Jameis Winston and let the former superbowl winner Russell Wilson be the back-up (trust me, even I can’t believe I’m saying this about RW considering the colossal play I’ll never forget that went down during the SB when Pete Carroll was there and they lost on the 1 yard line, but I digress!) QB. How HILARIOUS would it be if after ALL this nonsense the rumors are true and the Giants draft a QB in the 1st round of the Draft? Also, much love to Tommy “cutlets” DeVito who happens to be on my most hated team, the Patriots.

So, if these things happen, behold my brackets going into the playoffs.

• AFC

  • I hope nothing I’ve laid out here puts the whammy on any one team. Especially, the Buffalo Bills, who, in my estimation, should have a clear path to the finish line for the first time in what seems like, a LONG time. We just have to get through Drake Maye. Can we do it? Yes, we can!

  • Sorry Herbert and the LA Chargers, but his broken hand is going to ruin his chances this year. Especially, against the Jaguars who I think just might get ‘er done.

  • However, I’m not sleeping on the best D of this season, on the AFC side, that is. The Texans are playing each game, in my estimation, as if they are in the Superbowl. In fact, they remind me a lot of the Eagles from last season. A team NO ONE felt was a contender and was on few lips as the Chiefs were going to be the first team to be 3x Superbowl champs. HA!

  • So, am I terrified on my Bills having to face the Houston Texans in the Conference championships? Yes. But do I think the Ravens or the Jags could eliminate them? King Henry is good, but I think the Texans will stop the run. And the Jags Trevor Lawrence needs more time to cook. Much like Joe Burrows, this is not his year. We’ll see him again in 2026 though!

  • Have I mentioned that I worry about the Bills vs Texans match-up, should it come down to that? Okay, just making sure you heard me…

• NFC

  • As for the NFC? This one is truly a toss-up. However, the only guarantee I see, and boy has Caleb Williams lucked out here, is with the Chicago Bears Defense. Damn, they are good. I gotta hand it to them.

  • I don’t see any time on the roster that can find an answer to their Defense.

  • I will concede that I refused to create a bracket where the Eagles make it past the wild card round. But, because I don’t want to seem that petty, here is how the NFC could shake down should they win:

    • Rams (6) vs Eagles (3) - Eagles (3) win

    • Packers (7) vs Bears (2) - Bears (2) win

    • 49ers (5) vs Panthers (4) - 49ers (5) win

    • 49ers (5) vs Seahawks (1) - 49ers (5) win

    • Eagles (3) vs Bears (2) - Bears (2) win

    • 49ers (5) vs Bears (2) - Bears (2) win

  • Again, I ask: Who beats the Bears in this bracket? The Eagles? I don’t know. I think the Bears don’t let Saquon Barkley get 1 yard. In fact, I think they hold their running game to negative yards. And can I guess there’ll be at least 2 interceptions that Hurts throws in this game? At least. Sorry, but with their tush-push gone, so goes their run to the Superbowl.

Phew! This post was much longer than even I anticipated! Maybe next time I’ll just turn it into an email instead!

Anyone else excited for this time of year in the NFL?