We are in the fourth quarter of the 51st NFL regular season and the best teams are solidifying their playoff position.  Many of last year’s premier teams have disappointed thus far, such as the Panthers, Cardinals, and Packers.  However, teams like the Raiders, Chiefs, and the Cowboys have had great seasons, and are at the top of the league for the first time in many years.  The Cowboys in particular have given their massive fan base a season to be excited about, as they currently hold the best record in the NFL.

I’ve made five predictions for this year’s Super Bowl, Super Bowl LI.  These matchups are based on two factors:

-Who I think will make the Super Bowl (probability)

-Who I want to play in the Super Bowl (entertainment value)

The Silver

Raiders-Cowboys:

These two teams are disliked by many, but it would be nice to see them return to the Super Bowl after an uneventful decade.  America’s team has lived up to the title this year after drafting Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. It’s hard to remember two rookies working together more efficiently and productively than Elliot and Prescott have.

The Cowboys clearly have the best offensive line in the league, but the Raiders might have the second best.  Derek Carr is an MVP candidate and has two weapons in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.  Both of these teams are strongest on offense, and that would make a high-scoring Super Bowl.    

The Predictable

Patriots-Cowboys:

Both of these teams currently have home field advantage in the playoffs.  The past two years have seen both #1 seeds in the Super Bowl, so this wouldn’t be a surprise.  This game would come down to Belichick’s ability to limit Ezekiel Elliott.  It doesn’t matter how well Tom Brady plays if the Cowboys run game keeps him on the bench for forty minutes. Belichick is often successful in developing schemes to limit star players, but it is fair to wonder if any defensive strategy can beat the Cowboys on the line of scrimmage and cover Dez Bryant.  

When in doubt, air it out

Patriots-Falcons:

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to watch Rob Gronkowski and Julio Jones after Gronkowski had season ending back surgery, but we still have elite quarterbacks and exciting skill position players to observe.  Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman provide a talented backfield for Atlanta while the 250 lb LeGarrette Blount can provide blunt trauma to any defense.  Each team also has an impressive array of recievers.  Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and Martellus Bennet can be a headache while Julio Jones is a one man wreching machine that demands double coverage.   

Defense Wins Championships

Ravens-Seahawks:

Baltimore and Seattle have run first offenses and violent defenses.  Who doesn’t want to see Steve Smith and Richard Sherman trash talking each other?  The return of Terrell Suggs has boosted the Ravens to the best total defense in the league.  Richard Sherman and Seattle’s Legion of Boom have the best scoring defense in football, to no one’s surprise.  This would likely be a low-scoring Super Bowl, but sometimes it’s nice to see a defensive battle.

The Vintage

Steelers-Giants:

Two of the most successful franchises all-time would meet in a Super Bowl that includes two of the best receivers in football.  Odell Beckham and Antonio Brown would entertain while Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger chased a third super bowl ring.  The Giants spent a quarter of a billion dollars in free agency to help rebuild their defense.  Janoris Jenkins, Olivier Vernon, and Damon Harrison have helped achieve a top five run defense and a top ten scoring defense.  Meanwhile, Pittsburgh in addition to other playmakers, has one of the best running backs in Le’Veon Bell.  Cam Heyward’s season ending injury is a big blow to the Steel Curtain, but Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave have stepped up.

If the season ended today:  The Cowboys would have homefield advantage in the NFC, the Seahawks would have a first round bye with the #2 seed, the Giants would be in the wild card at #5, and the Falcons would have the #4 seed.  In the AFC, the Raiders would have homefield advantage, the Patriots would have a first round bye with the #2 seed, the Ravens would have the #3 seed, and the Steelers wouldn’t make the playoffs while being one game behind the Ravens in the AFC North.