After Tyler Hoop’s field goal attempt sailed to the right, the NFL playoff matchups were finally ready to go.

The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) and Denver Broncos (14-3) secured the number one seeds and a first-round bye.

The Eagles (11-6), Chargers (11-6), and Packers (9-7-1) all rested their starters as they positioned themselves for the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) stole another one.

And somebody had to win the NFC South.

If defense wins championships, Houston (12-5), Seattle, and Denver are ready.

If experience matters, Stafford, Hurts, and Rodgers are your men.

If it’s time for some new faces, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are at your service.

And if the time has finally come, it could be the year for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (12-5).

A look at the NFL playoff matchups, predictions, and the eventual Super Bowl winner.

The NFC

• Los Angeles Rams (5) at Carolina Panthers (4)
Let’s see. The Rams finished 12-5, they have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, a Super Bowl-winning coach, and the best receiver in the NFL. The Panthers (8-9) had to wait for Atlanta to sneak by New Orleans just to win the division with a losing record. I’ll take the Rams in this one, 35-10.

• Green Bay Packers (7) at Chicago Bears (2)
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams have made tremendous progress in Chicago, but it’s asking a lot to pick a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2011. That being said, Green Bay comes in losers of four straight, and Jordan Love is just one hit away from having Malik Willis take the wheel. Chicago wins a close one, 21-20.

• San Francisco 49ers (6) at Philadelphia Eagles (3)
Kyle Shanahan has done a masterful job of keeping this team together, considering the injuries, and Philly is just a dysfunctional mess. But with Fred Warner out, and Lane Johnson coming back, I’ll take Hurts over a banged-up Purdy, and the defending champions move on, 24-17.

• Seattle Seahawks (1) have a bye.

The AFC

• Buffalo Bills (6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3)
Jacksonville is playing lights out right now, winning eight in a row, and Trevor Lawrence is finally playing like the franchise quarterback he was supposed to be. But Josh Allen vs Trevor Lawrence is a mismatch. Buffalo advances, 27-24.

Credit via Bleacher Report

• Los Angeles Chargers (7) at New England Patriots (2)
Mike Vrabel could be the NFL Coach of the Year, and Drake Maye is special, but their soft regular-season schedule is going to make things difficult come playoff time. I’m tempted to pick the Chargers here, but LA is playing hurt. Pats win their opener, 21-17.

• Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
Houston’s defense is unreal, their offense is coming around, and the team comes in red hot. Pittsburgh choked against the Browns, got lucky against the Ravens, and Mike Tomlin never makes it past the first round. Houston’s the pick, 17-6.

• Denver Broncos (1) have a bye.

Second Round

• Philadelphia Eagles (3) at Chicago Bears (2)
The Bears will still be hungover from their ticker-tape parade after beating the Packers. Caleb Williams has progressed, but he’s still young. I don’t love this Eagles team, but they should take care of business here, 20-13.

• Los Angeles Rams (5) at Seattle Seahawks (1)
These teams are so close that it’s hard to decide a winner. Seattle beat the Rams 38-37 in overtime on December 18th, and the Rams beat Seattle 21-19 a few weeks earlier. I believe in this Seattle defense, but not Sam Darnold. Rams are victorious, 28-27.

• Houston Texans (5) at New England Patriots (2)
Drake Maye and the Patriots are still a couple of years away from contending, as the Texans’ defense is just too much. CJ Stroud isn’t a Super Bowl-quality quarterback, but their defense is. Houston moves on, 12-9.

• Buffalo Bills (6) at Denver (1)
I hope I am wrong about this matchup happening because I believe Buffalo is the only team that can keep Denver from a Super Bowl. Pat Mahomes is rehabbing, Lamar Jackson is vacationing, but Josh Allen is still alive and well. Bills in the upset, 23-14.

Third Round

• Los Angeles Rams (5) at Philadelphia Eagles (3)
The Eagles have the talent to take out a young Bears squad and the hobbled 49ers, but Sean McVay is a different story. Los Angeles has played well all year, not just in spurts. Matt Stafford, Puka Nacua, Devante Adams, and Kyren Williams are going to the Super Bowl, 24-19.

Credit via Wikipedia

• Buffalo Bills (6) at Houston Texans (5)
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston defense secure a home game with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. But in a four-team tournament that includes Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, and Josh Allen, CJ Stroud doesn’t quite belong. Bills Mafia goes wild, 27-24.

Super Bowl LX (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara)

• Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams
Could there be a better story than Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills finally winning a Super Bowl? Probably not.

But this Buffalo team has no run defense and no wide receivers.

Credit via ESPN

Instead, the story will have to be about Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay winning their second title as the top quarterback and coach combo in the NFL, 42-28.

Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning holds up the trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won 24-10. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

As for the Broncos, I’d like to point out that the last time Denver was a number one seed was back in 2015, when the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers to win Super Bowl L.

The game was played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Go Broncos!

Image via ESPN, Bleacher Report, Wikipedia, Facebook, Colorado Public Radio

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship