All right, the tournament is about to start. Time to pick 'em and stick 'em. Let's just cut to the chase.
GIARDI
WILD CARD ROUND
Rams 27, Panthers 16
Bears 23, Packers 20
Jaguars 23, Bills 20
Eagles 17, 49ers 16
Patriots 27, Chargers 20: Fascinating matchup that wouldn't be happening if LA were healthy (they'd be a higher seed). But they aren't, and the Pats cause that offensive line just enough trouble to keep Justin Herbert in chase mode all game. Drake Maye enjoys the bright lights, throwing for two TDs and running for another.
Steelers 17, Texans 14
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Patriots 24, Jaguars 23 - The Jags are the second-best team in the AFC, just a hair behind the Pats. Trevor Lawrence is erratic in the cold, and Maye is not.
Broncos 20, Steelers 16
Rams 24, Seahawks 20
Eagles 20, Bears 13
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Patriots 23, Broncos 16 - I'm not a believer in Bo Nix or that offense. Pats turn him over twice and escape Mile High with a rare win.
Rams 20, Eagles 17
SUPER BOWL
Rams 27, Patriots 24 - Matthew Stafford to Davante Adams for the game-winner with under 30 seconds to play. Andy Borregales gets a 66-yard field goal as time expires, but it falls short.
BEDARD
I'm not as fancy and thorough as Giardi, so here's my bracket and the thoughts on the Patriots.
WILD CARD ROUND
Patriots 24, Chargers 17: A few Josh McDaniels specials are the difference in a tight contest.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Patriots 20, Texans 10: I've seen CJ Stroud a few times on crossover films and, while he will make 2-3 sensational throws a game, he gets pretty jittery and the Texans' offensive line is not that good. And there's no way Nick Caley is coming into Gillette and outwitting Mike Vrabel/McDaniels.
Note: If this is the Jaguars, I'm still picking the Patriots. Trevor Lawrence is still shaky if you minimize the run game.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Broncos 23, Patriots 20: This defense is good and fast enough to shut down Drake Maye, at least a bit, and as opposed to the Texans, Sean Payton can find enough offense to win in front of that home crowd. The magical run dies in New England's house of horrors.
SUPER BOWL
Rams 20, Broncos 13: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams find enough offense, as Box Nix comes crashing back down to Earth.
__________________
The AP NFL All-Pro team was announced, and Drake Maye finished a semi-distant second to Matthew Stafford. The MVP voting could definitely be different, as it was last year when Lamar Jackson was first-team and Josh Allen was second, but won MVP. Sometimes voters split their vote. The split last year was similar to last year. In fact, Maye got the exact same number of first-team votes as Allen:
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore, 109 (30); Josh Allen, Buffalo 78 (18); Joe Burrow, Cincinnati 13 (2).
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, 111 (31); Drake Maye, New England, 83 (18); Josh Allen, Buffalo, 6 (1).
Other Patriots:
WR Stefon Diggs: 1 point.
TE Hunter Henry: 3 points.
RG Michael Onwenu: 4 points, 1 first-team.
CB Christian Gonzalez: 20 points, 2 first-team.
SCB Marcus Jones: 1 point.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: 4 points, 1 first-team
KR Antonio Gibson: 1 point (played five games ... did someone just watch the Dolphins' game?)
Punt returner Marcus Jones (second team): 71 points, 17 first-team.
ST Brenden Schooler: 1 point.