NFL Playoff Predictions: 2017 match ups, winners, and Super Bowl champion
By Keith Rivas
Giants vs Chiefs
With the world watching, Super Bowl LI will feature Eli Manning’s New York Giants and Alex Smith’s Kansas City Chiefs.
New York will ride their defense to this point, while the route the Chiefs have to take is a little more complicated.
Kansas City depended on a bad opponent in the divisional round and a lapse of judgment here and there from the best quarterback of all time.
New York, on the other hand, straight up earned it.
Pushing their way first through Green Bay, then through Atlanta before finishing off Detroit, the Giants won’t be on anyone’s wish list.
The Chiefs will see success the franchise hasn’t tasted in far too long, but they’ll fall short — and possibly hard — against New York.
Giants Defense:
— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) January 5, 2017
1st in TDs allowed
1st in red-zone %
2nd in PPG
2nd in DVOA
2nd in passer rating
3rd in rushing
New York has been the best in the business when it comes to stopping team’s inside of the red zone. They’ve allowed the fewest touchdowns and are in the top three in other major categories.
On paper, it shouldn’t be close.
Where Kansas City will have an edge is their mental toughness. Playing in the AFC West gave them an edge that’s hard to compare elsewhere in the league.
Sure, you could argue New York is in the same boat since they didn’t win the division — but would you really say they weren’t the best team?
They took down Dallas twice, with the Cowboys starting their best players, and did so in convincing fashion. Don’t let the regular season records fool you.
I see the Giants taking a big early lead while Kansas City doesn’t connect until a bizarre second half and tremendous fourth quarter.
They don’t say defense wins championships for nothing.
Prediction:
Final. 27. 124. 31. 31