The NFL season is an extensive, heartbreaking process for the millions of Americans who believe every single year that their team has what it takes to conquer the football world. For all but some, this dream comes to a brutal halt before Super Bowl Sunday. As we pass the midway point of the season, the juggernauts of the league begin to appear. With no undefeated team’s remaining, the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams are paving their way in the NFC as the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots control the AFC. 

The hometown Ravens have slipped to 4-5 after starting the season with a promising 3-1 record. Analysts have started to question their ability to be consistent and have all but written off the starting quarterback and head coach as they head into, their much-needed bye week. 

The Ravens will slip into the postseason as the 2nd wild card team. Here are my predictions for the entire NFL postseason. 

Wild Card:

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers vs # 6 Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have had an up and down season, to say the least, but with this rivalry, anything can happen. The recent history has gone back and forth in playoff meetings. With the Ravens last beating the Steelers in the wild-card game in 2014. I believe the Ravens go on the road and win in Pittsburgh. 23-20, Ravens 

#4 Houston Texans vs #5 Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers and Texans will have an interesting match-up with a great Houston defensive front vs one of the top veteran quarterbacks in the league. Phillip Rivers finally has a good enough supporting cast to step up and make a run deep into the playoffs. 27-17, Chargers 

#3 Chicago Bears vs #6 Green Bay Packers: The Bears have taken a huge step forward this year led by sophomore quarterback Mitch Trubisky and recent trade acquisition Khalil Mack, but Aaron Rodgers does special things in January and will carry Green Bay to New Orleans. 21-17, Packers 

#4 Dallas Cowboys vs #5 Carolina Panthers: It’s a stretch that Dallas makes the postseason but because of the NFC East’s down year, they have an opportunity to host a playoff game. That being said, Cam Newton and the Panthers overpower the Dallas defense. 38-20, Panthers 

Divisional Round: 

#1 Kansas City Chiefs vs #6 Baltimore Ravens: The Chiefs have proven themselves to be the best team in the AFC and rising superstars QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill, and company will prove to be too much in the end for the top-ranked Baltimore Defense. 26-20 Chiefs 

#2 New England Patriots vs #5 Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers have been overshadowed by the Chiefs this year, but this is the game that they show the entire country what they are capable of when they go to Foxborough to get a playoff victory. The Chargers have a veteran quarterback to ride behind and a young tough running back in Melvin Gordon that will cause havoc against a shaky Pats defense.  31-27 Chargers 

#1 New Orleans Saints vs #6 Green Bay Packers: The Packers and Saints have two of the greatest quarterbacks of this generation going head to head in this matchup. In the end, the Saints are the better team and I don’t expect this game to be close. 41-21 Saints 

#2 Los Angeles Rams vs #5 Carolina Panthers: The Rams have also proven themselves to be a top dog in the NFC because of a bone-crushing defense and MVP candidate Todd Gurley. The Panthers have yet to prove who they really are this season but if they get hot this could be a very tight contest. However, I believe the Rams prevail at home. 27-21 Rams 

Championship Round:

#1 Kansas City Chiefs vs #5 Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers will have the advantage of a veteran in Phillip Rivers digging deep to get to his first Super Bowl and I think that the Chargers defense will have enough to get to Mahomes and make him uncomfortable in a very chilly Kansas City. 24-20 Chargers 

#1 New Orleans Saints vs #2 Los Angeles Rams: The Saints won in the first meeting of the year in Louisiana, and Drew Brees and company will push to get back to the Super Bowl for the time since 2009. The Saints look completely unstoppable showing no mercy to any teams and completely blowing the doors off anyone who stands in their way. The secondary has shown great improvement behind a pass rush that gets to the QB very quickly. 41-31 Saints 

Super Bowl:

New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Chargers: The 53rd Super Bowl will be played in Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. This will be a great storyline of Phillip Rivers going head to head with his predecessor, while Rivers will be appearing in February for the first time. The Chargers let Drew Brees walk when he became a free agent, which led to the beginning of his established career in Nola. The Saints led by Brees and Alvin Kamara will prove too much for a young Chargers team, whose future is very bright. This will be the second title in 10 years for the Saints, who haven’t won with any other man under center. 34-27 Saints