The 2016 Football Regular Season has come to a close and the 2017 NFL Playoffs are ready to begin! As a big football fan, this is my favorite time of the season, and I decided to make a post outlining my predictions with analysis for every playoff game, starting with next week's wild-card games, and what playoff games I predict will follow, all the way to Super Bowl LI:

http://i.imgsafe.org/9e12d1070d.png

AFC + NFC Wild-Card Rounds (January 7-8): (Note: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons all have 1st-Round Byes)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins:

Analysis: The #3 seed Pittsburgh Steelers host the #6 seed Miami Dolphins in the first AFC Wild-Card Game. In their only regular season meeting, the Dolphins won at home early in the regular season. The Steelers are currently on a roll, having won their last seven games leading to the playoffs, and momentum is definitely on their side. The Dolphins have limped into the playoffs, losing their season finale against the Patriots, and playing without their star QB Ryan Tannehill, with his status questionable for the postseason. With the Steelers playing their best football of the season at the current moment and the Dolphins faltering, I expect the Steelers to advance comfortably.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10 Miami Dolphins

Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders:

Analysis: The second AFC Wild-Card Game puts the #5 seed Oakland Raiders on the road against the #4 Houston Texans. The Raiders have been the surprise team in the NFL this season, racking up 12 victories in 16 contests, and were on the verge of a first-round bye until losing their quarterback Derek Carr to injury for the rest of this season. Oakland also lost their season finale to the Broncos, forcing them to play in the Wild-Card game against the Texans. Houston is a team that has flown under the radar all season long, clinching the AFC South. These two teams met once this season, with the Raiders winning by a touchdown. This game is tough to call, but I am going with the Texans in an upset, with Houston playing at home and the Raiders playing with a backup QB.

Prediction: Houston Texans 14-13 Oakland Raiders

Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions:

Analysis: The #3 seed Seattle Seahawks host the first NFC Wild-Card Game against the #6 Detroit Lions. The Seahawks have had an up-and-down season, but still managing to finish with ten wins and home-field advantage in their first-round playoff game. The Lions are in free-fall, ending the regular season with three consecutive losses, barely making it to the postseason. I expect the Seahawks to win this game, with playing at home being the main reason why. Seattle has the loudest fanbase, and that should propel them to victory.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 28-20 Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants:

Analysis: The second NFC Wild-Card Game is a matchup between the #4 seed Green Bay Packers and #5 seed New York Giants. This is the marquee game of the Wild-Card round, as both teams are playing their best football right now, and both teams are Super Bowl contenders. The Packers are on a remarkable six-game winning streak and are playing the best football out of all teams, while the Giants are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, their last Super Bowl victory. The Giants and Packers have met once this season in Green Bay with the Packers winning by a touchdown. This is another game that I could see going either way, but playing at Lambeau Field is a huge advantage for Green Bay, and I think the Packers will win it with a last-second field goal.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 20-18 New York Giants

AFC + NFC Divisional Rounds (January 14-15):

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers:

Analysis: The Kansas City Chiefs have had another successful season finishing at 12-4 and earning a first-round bye, and I expect them to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Round. The Chiefs and Steelers played once in the regular season in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers handing the Chiefs their worst loss of the season, 43 to 14 behind five TD's from Ben Roethlisberger. Even though this playoff game would be played in Kansas City and the Chiefs have the better overall record, I think the Steelers are in better form and will win this game on the road, advancing to the AFC Championship Game.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 30-20 Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans:

Analysis: The New England Patriots are the team to beat this postseason. The Patriots have been the best team in the AFC for most of the regular season, ever since Tom Brady came back from his four-game suspension. The Patriots have an elite offense and defense, going 14-2 in the regular season, and dominating in most of their victories. If the Texans do end up defeating the Raiders, I don't see them being any match for New England. They met once in the regular season and the Patriots won 27-0 unsurprisingly. This game might be the biggest mismatch of the playoffs. The Patriots are better than the Texans in every aspect, and should have no problem advancing to yet another AFC Championship.

Prediction: New England Patriots 38-7 Houston Texans

Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers:

Analysis: If the Patriots are the team to beat in the AFC, the Dallas Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC. The Cowboys have controlled the top seed in the NFC throughout the entire season and finished with a 13-3 overall record, good for second best in the NFL. I have the Cowboys meeting the red-hot Packers in the NFC Divisional Round, and this might be the toughest game for the Cowboys in the NFC. I don't think the Cowboys will be intimidated playing against the Packers and their history, as they have already defeated the Packers in Green Bay by two touchdowns. I expect this game to be closer than that matchup but still have the Cowboys being victorious, advancing to the NFC Championship.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 24-20 Green Bay Packers

Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks:

Analysis: The Atlanta Falcons won their final four regular season games to earn a first-round bye, finishing the season with an 11-5 record. The Falcons have been led by quarterback Matt Ryan, who is putting up MVP numbers all season long, and I have them going up against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. These two teams have met once earlier this season in Seattle, with the Seahawks winning 26-24. While the Falcons will be the favorites playing at home with a better overall record, the Seahawks are being underestimated by many and I feel they will pull off a small upset in a close game, meeting the Cowboys in the next round of the playoffs.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 28-27 Atlanta Falcons

AFC Championship Game (January 22):

New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers:

Analysis: While the Patriots have been the runaway best team in the AFC all season long, I feel that the Steelers have snuck into the number two spot in the closing weeks of the regular season, and that is why I think these two teams will pair up in the AFC Championship Game. If this prediction is proven to be reality, this would be their third meeting in the AFC Championship (2001 and 2004 previously) with the Patriots winning both times prior. These two teams met once earlier this season, with the Patriots winning that one as well, 27 to 16. The Patriots will have everything going for them in this game, including playing at home and that will lead to them advancing to their second Super Bowl in three seasons.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31-17 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Championship Game (January 22):

Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks:

Analysis: If my NFC playoff predictions are correct, the top seed Dallas Cowboys will face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. It has been a while since the Cowboys and Seahawks met in a meaningful game, the last time being in the 2007 NFC Wild-Card Game, best remembered for Tony Romo bobbling an extra-point try that would have tied the game late. This time around, Romo is the Cowboys' backup QB, and rookie Dak Prescott now leads the offense, and he has looked sensational all season long. With Dallas playing at home the rest of the playoffs, I don't think they will have any trouble advancing to their first Super Bowl in more than twenty years.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 35-17 Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl 51 (February 5):

New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys:

Analysis: Both the Patriots and Cowboys have illustrious history in Super Bowls, with both teams reaching the NFL Championship Game a total of eight times each (Patriots winning four and Cowboys winning five). All season long, the Patriots and Cowboys have been the best team in their respective conferences, and I expect that trend to continue in the playoffs. If these two teams do end up meeting in the Super Bowl, it will be a battle of experience against youth. The Patriots have had a dynasty for the past 15 years under the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady combo, while the Cowboys have had lackluster results in that same timespan, that is until this season, when they have had incredible rookie success from both quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. I expect this game to be a tough back-and-forth battle with many lead changes, but the Patriots prevailing in the last few minutes behind a late Tom Brady touchdown to seal the victory.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31-27 Dallas Cowboys

I am by no means an expert when it comes to predicting sports outcomes, I'm just a writer who has a passion for sports. Thank you for reading and please leave a comment with your own predictions on these upcoming football playoff games. Can't wait for playoff football!