Just in time for the playoffs, the infamous Serby Crystal Ball, which predicted a Super Bowl meeting between the Bills and 49ers before this wild and crazy NFL season, has been dusted off.
Naturally, a lot has changed for both teams: Trey Lance (ankle) and Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) were lost in the second and thirteenth weeks, respectively, and Brock Purdy was presented to the football world as Mr. Irrelevant.
The story of Damar Hamlin, who miraculously left the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Monday, one week after experiencing cardiac arrest while making a tackle against the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, caused the Bills to experience an emotional roller coaster that ranged from a close call to an uplifted, moving, and heartwarming experience.
Can the Bills finally win the Super Bowl after five tries by being a Team of Destiny? Can Purdy replace Mr. Relevant in America? Can Tom Brady win his ninth championship? Will Patrick Mahomes be able to win again? Will Joe Burrow smoke smokes after the game?
It’s all in sharp focus thanks to the Serby Crystal Ball:
Saturday of Super Wild Card Weekend: Seahawks vs. 49ers
Nick Bosa: Geno Smith, welcome. Fred Warner, welcome to Kenneth Walker III. Meet young Mr. Purdy, who won’t melt in the scorching playoff lights, America. The Seahawks scored one offensive touchdown in each of their two defeats to the Niners. In addition, the Niners gained 189 and 170 yards on the ground sans Christian McCaffrey.
49ers 31, Seahawks 17
Jaguars vs. Chargers
Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence will face off at quarterback in this Golden Boys matchup. In the final game of the regular season, Brandon Staley chose to play more like Tom Coughlin than Brian Daboll, and he may have avoided trouble because WR Mike Williams (back) should be able to play. Williams (ankle) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) have only played as a unit for four games under Herbert. The Bolts will have an experience pass-rush advantage over The Other Josh Allen and rookie Travon Walker if Joey Bosa (groin) is able to join with Khalil Mack. Travis Etienne must perform spectacularly to beat the 28th-ranked run defense for Forever Trevor.
Chargers 27, Jaguars 24
Sunday
Dolphins at Bills
One for Damar, please.
Dolphins 17 vs. Bills 33
Vikings against. Giants
In his battle against the league’s 31st-ranked passing defense, Daniel Jones will be well-prepared. With a day of rest, Saquon Barkley is prepared to face the 20th-ranked run defense. The moment Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale encounter an adversary, they become dangerous (see Commanders). Dalvin Cook will be contained by Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, and Wink won’t allow T.J. Hockenson (13-109-2 TDs) and Justin Jefferson (12-133-1 TD) to ruin the game this time. Adoree’ Jackson is back, too, is Xavier McKinney. Instead of Greg Joseph, Graham Gano walks it off this time.
Vikings 24, Giants 27
Bengals at Ravens
their adage When Lamar Jackson is the quarterback, Play Like A Raven is considerably simpler. He has not worked out in five weeks (PCL). In the early-season defeat to Baltimore, Higgins was absent; he is now playing opposite Ja’Marr Chase for Burrow. The AFC champions in contention are on an eight-game winning streak. After Hollywood Brown was traded, the passing game for the Ravens never fully recovered. For them, the red zone has been a no-go area. Sing “Who Dey” if Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown are the quarterback. In a brutal, chippy steel cage bout, let’s assume that a rusty Lamar return, a frenzied defense lead by MLB Roquan Smith neutralizes Joe Mixon, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters limit Chase and Higgins, and J.K. Dobbins and Mark Andrews perform admirably.
Bengals 21, Ravens 24
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers on Monday
Brady is 7-0 all-time versus the Cowboys (including his seven rings). Dak Prescott has a streak of seven straight interceptions. Recently, Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t been eating a lot. Even though Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will face rookie CB DaRon Bland, Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence will pose challenges for Brady. Playoff When facing the 22nd-ranked rush defense, Lenny Fournette can succeed, and if center Ryan Jensen (knee) can return, that will be a significant boost. Dan Quinn versus Tom Brady In Super Bowl 51, the Falcons’ head coach squandered a 28-3 advantage to the GOAT.
Bucs 24, Cowboys 21
Divisional Round
AFC
Ravens at Chiefs
Lamar defeated Mahomes for the first time in four tries with a 36-35 victory in Baltimore early in 2021 after rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Jones and Steve Spagnuolo won’t permit that to occur once more. Magic Tyreek Hill is no longer with Mahomes, but it makes no difference. While rookie safety Kyle Hamilton has size and range, Jerick McKinnon and Isaiah Pacheco provide Andy Reid better balance. Travis Kelce will be too shrewd for Kyle Hamilton. Kadarius Toney: One touchdown, one hamstring ache.
Chiefs 34, Ravens 17
Chargers at Bills
On January 21 and 22, there will likely be light snow, according to the long-range prediction. A passing game weapon against the fifth-ranked rushing defense will be required of Austin Ekeler (104.6 yards). James Cook, Devin Singletary, and Allen will be in charge of a 150-yard rushing attack. One more victory for Damar.
Bills 33, Chargers 21
NFC
Giants at Eagles
Beating a divisional foe three times in a season is not simple.
In an effort to get this one started, Davis Webb touts his chemistry with Kenny Golladay, and Daboll informs the media that he and GM Joe Schoen will have a meeting and go over everything on Friday night (eye roll). Nevertheless, even though Barkley catches eight passes for a total of 130 yards, a healthy Jalen Hurts and the top-ranked pass defense prove to be too much for Jones.
Eagles 27, Giants 17
Bucs at 49ers:
Brady and the team from his boyhood. Purdy versus Brady Brady’s final contest with the Bucs before joining the Raiders? The final game Brady played before joining Fox? George Kittle is at Purdy. Gronk is not with Brady. Kyle Shanahan is with Purdy. Brady refuses. The second-best rushing defense (77.7 yards) belongs to Demeco Ryans.
49ers 31, Bucs 17
NFC Championship
49ers at Eagles
Early in 2021, Garoppolo defeated the Eagles 17-11 at the Linc. Will Purdy glance up? Do not forget that James Bradberry and Darius Slay are not weak cornerbacks. But if any team is designed to prevail in tough road matches, it’s these 49ers. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are among the Niners’ secondary players who Hurts will be able to target with some success, but Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Arik Armstead will stymie Miles Sanders and make Nick Sirianni a one-dimensional player.
Eagles 24, 49ers 27
AFC Divisional Round: Bills vs. Chiefs
The next Allen-Mahomes fantasy matchup. In case you didn’t know, Indianapolis is the location halfway between Buffalo and Kansas City. Stefon Diggs will bring in a few passes against a collection of young, inexperienced cornerbacks, including No. 1 draft pick Trent McDuffie, in place of Gabe Davis, who won’t catch four touchdown passes against the Chiefs this time. Whoever has the ball last wins. Allen has the ball in last place.
Damar gets another victory.
Chiefs 30, Bills 33
Super Bowl 2023
49ers-Bills
During the two weeks between the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl, Shanahan ponders the same question that Bill Belichick pondered prior to Super Bowl 36: Brady or Drew Bledsoe? For Shanny, it’s Purdy or Garoppolo, whose foot has finally healed enough. And like Belichick, he stays with the hot hand.
But when Purdy suddenly develops the yips, Garoppolo is summoned off the bench and brings the Niners back from a first-half hole. McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel begin imposing their will on the night, and Marv Levy and Jim Kelly are sweating bullets in the owners’ box. But Allen, in his huddle at the start of a late fourth-quarter drive, looks up in the stands and says: “Hey look, it’s Will Smith and Chris Rock!” It eases the tension, and Allen engineers a 98-yard drive that culminates in him leaping over the end zone third-and-goal from the 3.
Won the Big One for Damar.
Bills 33, 49ers 27
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