PFT’s 2020 season predictions

Posted by Mike Florio on September 9, 2020, 10:56 PM EDT
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We’ve waited as long as we could, although we’d like to wait even longer.

This year, unlike any other, will be a crapshoot of prognostication. Who’s good? Who isn’t? Who knows?

The PFT writers have made their picks for the playoffs teams and the playoff tree. Regardless of who wins the Super Bowl, the mere fact that there will be a Super Bowl will be a win for everyone.

The picks appear below. As you’ll see, half of the staff believes the Chiefs will repeat.

Josh Alper
AFC

1. Chiefs; 2. Ravens; 3. Titans; 4. Patriots; 5. Steelers; 6. Bills; 7. Colts.

Wild card: Ravens over Colts, Titans over Bills; Steelers over Patriots.

Divisional round: Chiefs over Steelers, Ravens over Titans.

Conference championship: Chiefs over Ravens.

NFC

1. Seahawks; 2. Cowboys; 3. Saints; 4. Packers; 5. Buccaneers; 6. 49ers; 7. Cardinals.

Wild card: Cowboys over Cardinals; 49ers over Saints; Buccaneers over Packers.

Divisional round: Seahawks over 49ers; Buccaneers over Cowboys.

Conference championship: Seahawks over Buccaneers.

Super Bowl: Chiefs over Seahawks.

Curtis Crabtree
AFC

1. Chiefs; 2. Ravens; 3. Bills; 4. Titans; 5. Steelers; 6. Raiders; 7. Browns.

Wild card: Ravens over Browns. Bills over Raiders. Steelers over Titans.

Divisional round: Chiefs over Steelers. Ravens over Bills.

Conference championship: Chiefs over Ravens.

NFC

1. Saints; 2. Cowboys; 3. Seahawks; 4. Lions; 5. Buccaneers; 6. 49ers; 7. Cardinals.

Wild card: Cowboys over Cardinals. Seahawks over 49ers. Buccaneers over Lions.

Divisional round: Buccaneers over Saints. Cowboys over Seahawks.

Conference championship: Cowboys over Buccaneers.

Super Bowl: Chiefs over Cowboys.

Mike Florio
AFC

1. Chiefs; 2. Patriots; 3. Ravens; 4. Titans; 5. Steelers; 6. Chargers; 7. Colts.

Wild card: Patriots over Colts. Ravens over Chargers. Steelers over Titans.

Divisional round: Chiefs over Steelers. Patriots over Ravens.

Conference championship: Patriots over Chiefs.

NFC

1. Cowboys; 2. Buccaneers; 3. Seahawks; 4. Vikings; 5. Saints; 6. Falcons; 7. 49ers.

Wild card: Buccaneers over 49ers. Seahawks over Falcons. Vikings over Saints.

Divisional round: Vikings over Cowboys. Buccaneers over Seahawks.

Conference championship: Buccaneers over Vikings.

Super Bowl: Buccaneers over Patriots.

Darin Gantt
AFC

1. Chiefs; 2. Ravens; 3. Colts; 4. Patriots; 5. Bills; 6. Titans; 7. Texans.

Wild card: Ravens over Texans; Colts over Titans; Patriots over Bills.

Divisional round: Chiefs over Patriots; Colts over Ravens.

Conference championship: Chiefs over Colts.

NFC

1. Saints; 2. Seahawks; 3. Cowboys; 4. Packers; 5. 49ers; 6. Buccaneers; 7. Vikings.

Wild card: Seahawks over Vikings; Buccaneers over Cowboys; Packers over 49ers.

Divisional round: Buccaneers over Saints; Packers over Seahawks.

Conference championship: Packers over Buccaneers.

Super Bowl: Chiefs over Packers.

Michael David Smith
AFC

1. Chiefs; 2. Ravens; 3. Patriots; 4. Colts; 5. Steelers; 6. Titans; 7. Browns.

Wild card: Ravens over Browns, Patriots over Titans, Steelers over Colts.

Divisional round: Chiefs over Steelers, Ravens over Patriots.

Conference championship: Ravens over Chiefs.

NFC

1. Saints; 2. Seahawks; 3. Cowboys; 4. Vikings; 5. Buccaneers; 6. Eagles; 7. 49ers.

Wild card: Seahawks over 49ers, Cowboys over Eagles, Buccaneers over Vikings.

Divisional round: Saints over Buccaneers, Seahawks over Cowboys.

Conference championship: Saints over Seahawks.

Super Bowl: Saints over Ravens.

Charean Williams
AFC

1. Ravens; 2. Chiefs; 3. Bills; 4. Titans; 5. Steelers; 6. Texans; 7. Colts.

Wild card: Chiefs over Colts, Bills over Texans, Steelers over Titans.

Divisional round: Ravens over Steelers, Chiefs over Bills.

Conference championship: Ravens over Chiefs.

NFC

1. Saints; 2. Seahawks; 3. Cowboys; 4. Vikings; 5. Buccaneers; 6. 49ers; 7. Lions.

Wild card: Seahawks over Lions, 49ers over Cowboys, Buccaneers over Vikings.

Divisional round: Saints over 49ers, Buccaneers over Seahawks.

Conference championship: Buccaneers over Saints.

Super Bowl: Ravens over Buccaneers.

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72 responses to “PFT’s 2020 season predictions”

  4. Two people left the Pats totally out of the playoffs. The teams they picked to supplant them are borderline.

  7. The bucs arent going anywhere. Too many new pieces, old pieces, schemes to put together in a wonky training camp and preseason.

  10. I like Florio’s predictions for the most part…. he just got the Super Bowl winner reversed……lol
    Go Pats!!!

  11. hey!! you guys didn’t pick the jags to the afc championship this year–good job! chargers tho florio? over the raiders? not even in a parallel dimension!!!!!

  16. Hahaha everyone has the Cowboys? Why? Their abundance of spectacular 8-8 seasons? Another one is coming

  17. Seahawks over Chiefs.
    Chris Carson leads the league in rushing.
    Mahomes leads the league in TD passes.
    Russ only throws 4 picks.
    Russ has highest QBR in the league.
    Russ wins league MVP
    DK Metcalf wins OPOY

    Hot Takes

  20. All you fools on bucs. Brady is too old. He was well below average last year. I don’t think they make the playoffs.

  21. Hopefully this time it will post with each category in a separate line to make it easier to read.

    AFC: 1. Chiefs 2. Texans 3. Patriots 4. Steelers 5. Ravens 6. Titans 7. Browns

    NFC: 1. Packers 2. Seahawks 3. Saints 4. Cowboys 5. Buccaneers 6. Rams 7. Bears

    AFC Wild Card: Texans over Browns, Patriots over Titans, Ravens over Steelers

    NFC Wild Card: Seahawks over Bears, Saints over Rams, Buccaneers over Cowboys

    AFC Divisional: Ravens over Chiefs, Patriots over Texans

    NFC Divisional: Packers over Buccaneers, Seahawks over Saints

    AFC Championship: Ravens over Patriots

    NFC Championship: Packers over Seahawks

    Super Bowl: Packers over Ravens

  22. Hopefully this is finally in a readable format:

    AFC: 1. Chiefs 2. Texans 3. Patriots 4. Steelers 5. Ravens 6. Titans 7. Browns
    NFC: 1. Packers 2. Seahawks 3. Saints 4. Cowboys 5. Buccaneers 6. Rams 7. Bears
    AFC Wild Card: Texans over Browns, Patriots over Titans, Ravens over Steelers
    NFC Wild Card: Seahawks over Bears, Saints over Rams, Buccaneers over Cowboys
    AFC Divisional: Ravens over Chiefs, Patriots over Texans
    NFC Divisional: Packers over Buccaneers, Seahawks over Saints
    AFC Championship: Ravens over Patriots
    NFC Championship: Packers over Seahawks
    Super Bowl: Packers over Ravens

  23. AFC: 1. Chiefs 2. Texans 3. Patriots 4. Steelers 5. Ravens 6. Titans 7. Browns
    NFC: 1. Packers 2. Seahawks 3. Saints 4. Cowboys 5. Buccaneers 6. Rams 7. Bears
    One last attempt to overcome the format issue:

    AFC Wild Card: Texans over Browns, Patriots over Titans, Ravens over Steelers

    NFC Wild Card: Seahawks over Bears, Saints over Rams, Buccaneers over Cowboys

    AFC Divisional: Ravens over Chiefs, Patriots over Texans

    NFC Divisional: Packers over Buccaneers, Seahawks over Saints

    AFC Championship: Ravens over Patriots

    NFC Championship: Packers over Seahawks

    Super Bowl: Packers over Ravens

  27. The national disrespect for a 49ers team that was a one-foot overthrow away from a Super Bowl title last year is absolutely unreal

  31. Only one of six analysts is picking the Eagles to make the playoffs?

    And as a wildcard to lose their only playoff game?

    Either I’m blinded by loyalty or you guys are missing something here.

    We’re easily one of the top seven teams in the NFC.

    Fly Eagles Fly!

  33. How does everyone have the Seahawks over the 49ers in their own division, let alone the league? They have 3 new starters on the OLine and no foreseeable pass rush. Maybe they did get better in the secondary, but the trenches are where the game is won or lost, and we regressed, if that’s even possible.

  35. Not sure they are even looking at the Pats schedule. It will be a miracle if they make the playoffs.

  36. Happens every year. What team that is highly rated gets punched in the mouth and what team rises from the ashes?

    I can’t say the 49ers have done anything to lose their place atop of the NFC.

    Is Philip Rivers going to lead the Colts to the playoffs or will he lead them to where he lead the Chargers last year?

    The Bills should be a player. Diggs and Moss are good additions.

    My Browns are mystery. Baker is surround with talent, but can he be a 67% completion passer who throws less than 10 ints?

  37. The NFC West could be really good this year. All of those teams have a legit playoff shot.

    SB: Seahawks over Ravens (two teams I despise, BTW).

  39. Chiefs and Ravens in the AFC. No surprises in the AFC IMO.

    Saints, Seahawks or 49ers in the NFC. Maybe Philly or TB as a surprise.

  40. “Baker is surround with talent, but can he be a 67% completion passer who throws less than 10 ints?”

    No, he can’t. He and his fragile ego will never achieve that.

  43. Nice list of predictions from some good folks.

    Gonna be fun watching it all play out.

    Welcome back NFL……Thank the Lord I can now have some real sports to keep me entertained.

  44. Lol the bRowns in the playoffs ahahahahaha come on man. Stefanski playoff “run” is a by product of kubiak’s advisory role in the organization.

  46. I love how everyone always thinks the Cowboys are going to be great coming into every season. It makes it all that much sweeter when they under perform and miss the playoffs.

  48. I’m still optimistic because only one of you picked the Cowboys to actually make it to the Superbowl so that leaves me still hopeful they can get there. A little surprised at how consistently you all picked them pretty high in the final seedings. OK. But the Patsies in the Superbowl. C’mon!

  49. lmaooooo the cowboys were 3-8 against teams not named NY giants washington and miami and now they’re gonna be world beaters….not sure what’s funnier, that or all these guys picking the ravens to win a playoff game….that clock has struck midnight on mr jackson

  50. I predict that the season will be suspended after a few weeks.
    The bug will rear its ugly head and that will be that.
    (I really hope I’m wrong.)

  51. touchback6 says:
    September 9, 2020 at 11:21 pm
    Two people left the Pats totally out of the playoffs. The teams they picked to supplant them are borderline.

    —–

    Just remember, when the Pats don’t win their division, you are leaving here forever….

  53. Lol. C’mon Man! Bucs in SB? Lions winning division? I mean, I know it’s 2020 and all, but……just stop.

  54. and I won’t be watching a minute of this, or any game. That’s a prediction you can take to the bank…

  55. AFC: 1. Ravens, 2. Chiefs, 3. Texans, 4. Bills, 5. Patriots, 6. Titans, 7. Steelers
    NFC: 1. Seahawks, 2. Packers, 3. Eagles, 4. Saints, 5. 49ers, 6. Bucs, 7. Cowboys

    Wild Card: Chiefs over Steelers, Titans over Texans, Patriots over Bills, Packers over Cowboys, Bucs over Eagles, and 49ers over Saints
    Divisional Round: Chiefs over Patriots, Ravens over Titans, Seahawks over Bucs, and 49ers over Packers
    Conference Championships: Ravens over Chiefs and Seahawks over 49ers
    Super Bowl: Seahawks over Ravens

  56. jdubkc says:
    September 10, 2020 at 10:20 am
    Ravens will not even make the payoffs…

    —————-

    Almost half the league makes the playoffs under the new format. And you think the Ravens are in the bottom half of the AFC? I suppose you think the Jaguars and Bengals are in contention….

  59. steelcurtainn says:
    September 9, 2020 at 11:03 pm
    Steelers over anybody

    ===========
    Apparently perogies cause delusions.

  61. AFC: 1. Kansas City 2. Baltimore 3. Indy 4. Buffalo 5. Houston 6. New England 7. Steelers NFC: 1. Saints 2. 49ers 3. Vikings 4. Cowboys 5. Seahawks 6. Buccaneers 7. Green Bay

    Wild Card: Baltimore 27-17, New England 25 – 17, Buffalo 17 – 10, San Francisco 35 – 10, Minnesota 33 – 30, Seattle 30 – 20

    Divisional: Kansas City 29 – 27, Baltimore 20 – 9, San Francisco 27 – 17, Seattle 35 – 33

    Conference Championship: Seattle 33 – 27, Baltimore 30 – 28

    Super Bowl: Seattle 35 – 32

  63. jshawaii22 says:
    September 10, 2020 at 5:06 am
    How does everyone have the Seahawks over the 49ers in their own division, let alone the league? They have 3 new starters on the OLine and no foreseeable pass rush. Maybe they did get better in the secondary, but the trenches are where the game is won or lost, and we regressed, if that’s even possible.
    ******************************************
    Russell Wilson! That would be my guess. I’m not saying they’re right. I think the 49ers are awesome. I guess the 49ers came out of nowhere last year, so maybe everyone kind of thinks it’s a fluke. I think Kyle Shanahan is as good, if not better than any coach in the league, and he also understands the personnel side of it better than most. He looks young, but he’s like a wise old man. Kind of like his old man, Mike Shanahan.

  64. beebebackribs716 says:
    September 9, 2020 at 11:26 pm
    No love for the Bills the way we like it

    ———–

    Alot of the Bill’s fanbase think they are automatically going to win the AFC East. Yeah they have a solid roster,but they still have to play on the field. If Buffalo don’t have a good season, there are going to be some hurt feelings in northern NY. Don’t eat the cheese.

  66. The patriots beat the Ravens and Chiefs and made it to the SuperBowl ahahahah ahahaha haha. Yo mike I need some of that goodies you on

  67. 49ers won’t even make the playoffs this year. I don’t know why everybody’s bent out of shape over them.

  68. Cowboys in the Super Bowl? They’re an 8-8 team that just lost Travis Frederick, Byron Jones, and Robert Quinn. They signed Gerald McCoy and Clinton Dix to make up for some of those losses — and then cut them both. Where is the math that’s taking the Cowboys from .500 to the Super Bowl? I guess you really have to believe that Mike McCarthy is going to make that big of a difference.

  69. Crabtree the only one actually taking risks here. Just picking teams who were good last year and the Bucs… boring.

  70. Otto Graham’s Lip Rip says:
    September 10, 2020 at 11:39 am
    steelcurtainn says:
    September 9, 2020 at 11:03 pm
    Steelers over anybody

    ===========
    Apparently perogies cause delusions.

    ————————

    Pierogi. Pierog is singular; pierogi are plural. One pierog, two pierogi. C’mon, even a dumb [insert epithet for person of Polish descent here] knows that

  71. I have the Washington team in an upset! Not sure why nobody is talking about all of the injuries on the Eagles O-Line or the fact that Carson Wentz having a groin injury! Those injuries are huge.Chase Young,Montez Sweat and Jonathan Allen are coming and they mean business!This defense wont be like last years Defense when former co ordinator Gregg Manusky had his best pass rushers dropping back in to coverage!….On the other side Haskins has made huge strides and rookie Antonio Gibson will be a night mare matchup! Washington 24 Eagles 10!

  72. I have to call my shot before the first game. This cuts like a knife but I see the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the Super Bowl. Don’t waste time giving me a thumbs up or down.. leave your own prediction and then hit the star and save this web page (if PFT posts it) so you can back up your prediction with PROOF and rub it in all of our faces. Good Luck. Let’s have fun with this. Too much hate on the internet.

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