{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"index":"","title":"NFC NORTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Nagy_Matt_usatoday2.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
2. Chicago Bears (10-6)
3. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
4. Detroit Lions (7-9)

The Vikings win the division via tiebreaker in Week 17, leaving the Bears clinging to the final playoff spot as the first ever No. 7 seed in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers’ relationship with the Packers starts to sour, while the Lions are competitive, but struggle within the division.

STANKEVITZ

1. Minnesota Vikings (12-4)
2. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
3. Chicago Bears (9-7)
4. Detroit Lions (7-9)

I’m a believer in Gary Kubiak’s offense and Mike Zimmer’s defense, so I'm a believer in the Vikings. The Bears’ playoff chances will come down to the final game of the season against Green Bay, which…hasn’t historically gone very well for them.

","credit":"USA TODAY "},{"index":"1","title":"NFC EAST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/McCarthy_M_USATOday.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
3. New York Giants (4-12)
4. Washington Football Team (3-13)

I’m buying a rejuvenated Mike McCarthy in Dallas with a lot of talent. The Eagles will be better than most think.

STANKEVITZ

1. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9)
3. Washington Football Team (3-13)
4. New York Giants (3-13)

Dallas replacing Jason Garrett with Not Jason Garrett gets them a division title, and the Eagles’ brutal injury luck drops them below .500.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":2,"title":"NFC SOUTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Brady_T_Gronkowski_R_GettyImages_1228285712.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
3. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
4. Carolina Panthers (1-15)

The Saints have the best roster in football, while Tom Brady leads the Bucs into the playoffs.

STANKEVITZ

1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
3. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
4. Carolina Panthers (4-12)

If continuity is key in 2020, the Saints returning Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas and a really good offensive line counts for a lot – in this case, the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

","credit":"Getty Images"},{"index":3,"title":"NFC WEST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Garoppolo_J_Wilson_R_USATSI_13852003.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
3. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
4. Los Angeles Rams (6-10)

A strong division on paper disappoints as the 49ers deal with the dreaded Super Bowl hangover and the Rams continue their downward trend. Seattle runs away with the division, while Kyler Murray nearly leads the Cardinals into the playoffs.

STANKEVITZ

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1)
3. Los Angeles Rams (8-7-1)
4. Arizona Cardinals (6-10)

I'm not betting against Kyle Shanahan and Russell Wilson. I'm a little wary about Arizona's O-line, which negates a lot of the excitement I have to see Kyler Murray throw to DeAndre Hopkins.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":4,"title":"AFC NORTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Jackson_L_USATSI_13649456.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
3. Cleveland Browns (6-10)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

The Steelers make things tougher in the North, but the Ravens should be even better. Chemistry issues haunt the Browns, while Joe Burrow makes the Bengals somewhat watchable.

STANKEVITZ

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
3. Cleveland Browns (7-8-1)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-13)

The Steelers have an easy schedule and a healthy (and slimmed down!) Ben Roethlisberger. They might be the third-best team in the AFC, but unfortunately for them play in the same division as Lamar Jackson.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":5,"title":"AFC EAST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/White_T_USATSI_13769564.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
2. New England Patriots (7-9)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
4. New York Jets (2-14)

Bill Belichick will put a scare into the Bills, but the Patriots’ roster just isn’t good enough. Tua Tagovailoa will have the Dolphins’ arrow pointed up, while Jets GM Joe Douglas has his hands full in New York.

STANKEVITZ

1. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
2. New England Patriots (9-7)
3. Miami Dolphins (5-11)
4. New York Jets (2-14)

The Bills have a better roster than the Patriots, and finally, Bill Belichick is unseated atop the division – but New England still shows up in the playoff picture. Adam Gase gets fired by Week 8.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":6,"title":"AFC SOUTH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Rivers_P_USATSI_14820173.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
2. Tennessee Titans (10-6)
3. Houston Texans (7-9)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)

Philip Rivers, Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner make the Colts real contenders in the AFC. Deshaun Watson does everything in his power to keep the Texans from falling apart, while the Jaguars make a run at 0-16, but get a win in Week 17 when the Colts rest their starters.

STANKEVITZ

1. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)

Philip Rivers is a perfect fit on a great roster in Indianapolis, while DeShaun Watson is good enough to barely get an imperfect Texans roster back into the playoffs.

","credit":"USA TODAY "},{"index":7,"title":"AFC WEST","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Mahomes_Patrick_USATSI_13991077.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
2. Denver Broncos (9-7)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (4-12)

Nothing is going to slow down Patrick Mahomes. Von Miller tries to make a January return as the Broncos earn the last playoff seed.

STANKEVITZ

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (6-9-1)
3. Denver Broncos (6-10)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)

Vic Fangio's Broncos are probably a year away, especially with Von Miller’s injury, so this division should be a cakewalk for the defending Super Bowl champs.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":8,"title":"NFC PLAYOFFS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Thomas-M_USATSI_13827957.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

Wild Card Round

No. 7 Bears over No. 2 Seahawks
No. 3 Cowboys over No. 6 Eagles
No. 5 Buccaneers over No. 4 Vikings

Divisional Round

No. 1 Saints over No. 7 Bears
No. 5 Buccaneers over No. 3 Cowboys

NFC Championship

No. 1 Saints over No. 5 Buccaneers

STANKEVITZ

Wild Card Round

No. 2 49ers over No. 7 Packers
No. 3 Vikings over No. 6 Seahawks
No. 5 Buccaneers over No. 4 Cowboys

Divisional Round

No. 1 Saints over No. 5 Buccaneers
No. 3 Vikings over No. 2 49ers

NFC Championship

No. 1 Saints over No. 3 Vikings

","credit":"USA TODAY "},{"index":9,"title":"AFC PLAYOFFS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Jackson_J_Chiefs_USATSI_13397732.jpg","caption":"

HOGE

Wild Card Round

No. 2 Ravens over No. 7 Broncos
No. 3 Colts over No. 6 Titans
No. 5 Steelers over No. 4 Bills

Divisional Round

No. 1 Chiefs over No. 5 Steelers
No. 2 Ravens over No. 3 Colts

AFC Championship

No. 2 Ravens over No. 1 Chiefs

STANKEVITZ

Wild Card Round

No. 2 Ravens over No. 7 Texans
No. 3 Colts over No. 6 Patriots
No. 5 Steelers over No. 4 Bills

Divisional round

No. 1 Chiefs over No. 5 Steelers
No. 2 Ravens over No. 3 Colts

AFC Championship

No. 2 Ravens over No. 1 Chiefs

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":10,"title":"SUPER BOWL 55","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Brees_D_USATSI_11492939.jpg","caption":"

HOGE: Saints 24, Ravens 20

After years of heartbreak in the playoffs, Drew Brees and Sean Payton are able to put it all together for a second Super Bowl run. Loaded at the skill positions and on defense, the Saints outlast a very good Ravens team in a memorable Super Bowl.

STANKEVITZ: Ravens 31, Saints 30

Drew Brees will be 42 when Super Bowl 54 kicks off, and he comes so close to bringing a second Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans. But the Saints, for the fourth consecutive season, suffer an absolutely gutting playoff loss when Lamar Jackson leads a magical last-ditch drive to set up a championship-winning 50-yard field goal by Justin Tucker.

","credit":"USA TODAY"},{"index":11,"title":"AWARDS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/09/09/Wilson_R_Mahomes_P_USATSI_11895179.jpg","caption":"

MVP

Hoge: Russell Wilson
Stankevitz: Patrick Mahomes

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Hoge: DeAndre Hopkins
Stankevitz: Dalvin Cook

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Hoge: Khalil Mack
Stankevitz: Tre'Davious White

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Hoge: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Stankevitz: CeeDee Lamb

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Hoge: Chase Young
Stankevitz: Patrick Queen

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Hoge: Alex Smith
Stankevitz: Ben Roethlisberger

COACH OF THE YEAR

Hoge: Mike McCarthy
Stankevitz: Frank Reich

","credit":"USA TODAY"}]}

2020 NFL Season predictions: Super Bowl winner, playoff teams, MVP