NFL Playoff Predictions: 2017 match ups, winners, and Super Bowl champion

Lions vs Seahawks

Matthew Stafford has been a pleasant surprise this season, but now the tests are coming for him and the Detroit Lions.

After seeming like they’d pull away with the NFC North, the Lions saw that all crumble as the Packers snatched it from them in the final game.

Consequently, the Lions lose out on getting to have a playoff game at home and will instead be taking a trip to Seattle.

Playing the Seahawks in front of their home crowd isn’t an easy feat to tackle. The league’s best players have had trouble there in the past, but this time around things could be different.

Stafford’s confidence late in games needs to show in order for the Lions to see the second round.

They managed to play sound football as a team for most of the season, and can’t let the Week 17 loss to Green Bay stick with them.

Consequently, playoffs have to be a different story.

Then, looking at the Seahawks, they’re out on a mission to return to the Super Bowl. Russell Wilson and company have another strong team ready to make anybody nervous.

This doesn’t come without strings, however.

Seattle clearly struggled in their regular season game against Tampa Bay — a game the Bucs won 14-5. While Tampa Bay didn’t make the post-season cut, there are plenty of things that the Lions can use from that game to try and gain an edge.

Also, the Lions could even learn a thing or two about which defensive pressures work best from the Los Angeles Rams, who also beat Seattle this season.

Expect a shootout.

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