As discussed during Part 1 of our unique prognostication collaboration of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the SportsChump and I are having a draft in which we pick all the playoff teams, then explain why each has a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. We list the current Super Bowl odds and by the end, I’ll compare our teams and add a few random stats. Feel free to chime in via the comments section as to why you agree or disagree with any (or all) of our picks. But enough chit-chat, let’s dive right in – again.

Oh, but before we continue, remember that the draft goes like this: 1 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 1

Here’s a quick recap from Part One:

Part One Recap

  • Pick 1: SportsChump (Deferred from TWHS) – Kansas City Chiefs
  • Pick 2: The Wife Hates Sports – Detroit Lions
  • Pick 3: The Wife Hates Sports – Buffalo Bills
  • Pick 4: SportsChump – Baltimore Ravens
  • Pick 5: SportsChump – Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pick 6: The Wife Hates Sports – Minnesota Vikings
  • Pick 7: The Wife Hates Sports – Los Angeles Chargers

Drafting the 2025 NFL Playoffs (and a Winner): Part 2 of 2

Selections 8 and 9: SportsChump

Picks: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams

We aligned a gentleman’s agreement to ensure that each of us had our favorite NFL team, which would be the Bucs for the Chump and the “Commander-skins” for me.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2500)

In the history of the NFL playoffs, I’m not sure a 3-seed has been more slept on than these Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  If you look at their record, they’re just as viable a candidate to reach the Super Bowl as any other NFC team, and their path, dare I say, is easier.  People forget that this is a team that beat Detroit in Detroit, handled Washington, dismantled the Chargers in SoFi, beat the Philadelphia Eagles as they tend to do, and for one quarter, were beating the tar out of the Baltimore Ravens until Mike Evans dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone and re-injured his hamstring. Had any other team in the NFL put forth this resume, we’d be lauding them as contenders yet, for some reason, the Bucs get overlooked. 

Perhaps it’s because their defense, to be fair, is pretty shoddy, or at least a shell of its former self.  While their run defense remains top five in the league, it’s their pass defense that keeps this team from being mentioned amongst the teams we routinely consider when mentioning potential Super Bowl champions.  This Baker Mayfield-led offense, however, is fun to watch and can score on anyone with regularity.  The Bucs rank top five in both scoring and yardage per game.  They have multiple weapons in the ground game, which includes Baker Mayfield, who ranked 8th among quarterbacks in rushing yards.  Despite them not showing up for three quarters in the final game of the season, the Bucs have proven to be a well-prepared team that can execute, particularly when they have the ball.  This is a team no one wants to play and one that’s confident they can play, and beat, anyone, anywhere.

Los Angeles Rams (+4500)

With all the teams remaining on the board, the Rams would not have been my next pick but the way the brackets set up with teams Kevin and I had already selected, they made the most sense.   I liked the Packers but had already taken the Eagles so choosing Green Bay didn’t add up.  I liked the Steelers but had already taken the Ravens so that also was counterintuitive.  Matchup-wise, either the Rams or Texans were the sensible choice.  So, I opted for the veteran coach and the hotter team. 

The Rams ended up atop the NFC West, the NFL’s most dysfunctional division.  Throughout the season, every team led this division, until the Niners succumbed to injury and the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals realized they weren’t up to the task.  The Rams also spent much of their season injured and even started off their season1-4 before closing out strong.  That means this team finished 9-3.  Not too bad.  It wasn’t all that long ago that this team won a Super Bowl.  They still have Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp.  They’ve added Kyrien Williams and Puca Nacua.  And they have home field advantage in the first round although no one is giving them a shot against the Vikings. 

They’re one of two home underdogs in the opening round.  Houston’s the other.  If we see the Vikings team we saw Sunday night, the Rams should have no problem.  The Rams turned their season around when they showed America they could play with the big boys, beating the Bills 44-42.  People had largely written L.A. off until that point. After that, they held the Niners, Jets and Cardinals to under ten points each.  The more I talk about them, the more I like them.  This is a team that won’t make mistakes and could force the Vikings into tightening up on the road.  Sean McVay is 7-4 career in the playoffs.  Don’t be surprised if the Rams pull off an upset at home in the first round, then shake up the world when Matt Stafford faces his home team.

 

Selections 10 and 11: The Wife Hates Sports

Picks: Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers

Two intriguing quarterbacks, including the likely Rookie of the Year? Yes, please.

Washington Commanders (+4500)

  • Twelve Pack – As the six seed, Washington finished 12-5 this season. They find ways to win tight games (e.g. Hail Mary in Chicago, failed two-point conversion in New Orleans). Let’s not forget that only five teams had more wins than the Commanders during the regular season.
  • Marshon Lattimore – One of Washington’s weaknesses was getting beaten in the secondary. Adding a healthy Lattimore is huge, and a way that Washington could have success in the playoffs. Shutting down top receivers and that will start with Mike Evans. It also helps stud rookie Mike Sainristil.
  • Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin – Washington’s offense is 7th in total yards, 3rd in rushing, and fifth in scoring. McLaurin has been lights out this season and Daniels is an explosive player that is extremely difficult to plan against.
  • Dan Quinn – I admit, I questioned the hire – and I was wrong. Players love DQ and he has the Commanders believing. You could argue he’s right there with Dan Campbell as far as pushing a team to another level. Forget that Super Bowl collapse. He’s evolving and has a great staff around him. The Commanders will be a dangerous out.

Green Bay Packers (+2200)

  • Point Differential – This Packers team has talent on both sides of the ball and they can wear you down. Green Bay’s +122 point differential for the season was the 4th best in the NFL. Only the Lions, Bills, and Eagles had a higher mark.
  • Jordan Love – It feels like eons ago that we questioned Love being drafted while Rodgers was QB1 in “Cheese-land”. The Packers have injuries in its WR room, but Love spreads the ball around and tossed 13 TD’s in seven games against playoff teams.
  • Josh Jacobs – Talk about a workhorse. In his first season with the Packers, Jacobs had 1,671 total yards, 16 total TD’s, 301 carries, and 36 receptions. He has the ability to take over a game.
  • Balance – Again, there’s a reason for the point differential. It’s balance on offense and defense, and the Packers may have that more than any other team. Green Bay ranks fifth in total yards on offense (370.8) and sixth in yards allowed on defense (315.6).

 

Selections 12 and 13: SportsChump

Picks: Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers

We are running out of teams, but that doesn’t mean that either of these rosters can’t find a way to shock the world – but will they?

Houston Texans (+9000)

Let’s be honest.  Nobody in their right mind expects the Houston Texans to do much.  They’re in the playoffs at 10-7 by virtue of winning the AFC South which is like being the tallest guy in a hobbit contest.  For the most part, these Texans have failed to live up to the expectations we’ve set for them.  And they’re injured.  They’ve got no Tank Dell and no Stefon Diggs which makes them limited offensively.  Expect a heavy dosage of Mixon and Pierce but if they can’t get anything going on the ground against a well-coached Jim Harbaugh team, these young Texans might have a problem. 

But I’m here to talk about the good as this is a team that I’ve selected to win the Super Bowl.  Nico Collins is always dangerous, and the young CJ Stroud has another year under his belt.  They are playing at home, as an underdog, and essentially their season starts now.  Maybe that’s enough motivation to squeeze by the visiting Chargers.  Or at least, I’m hoping so.  Besides, if I’d have given you the Texans at 75 to 1 back in September to win the Super Bowl, you’d have been all over it.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+9000)

Remember back when we were touting this as the year the Steelers finally got over the hump?  It wasn’t all that long ago.  We all marveled at Mike Tomlin as he continued his dominance over Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. We watched in amazement as he took two quarterbacks that nobody wanted (one of them for whom another team was footing the bill) and led them to a 10-3 record.  Then they played three games in eleven days, all against playoff teams, and lost their division lead and their mojo to boot. 

They lost their last four games of the season, proving unable to move the ball against any of those teams.  And this is where we all feared the Steelers would end up, heading in the wrong direction in the playoffs and staring a five-game losing streak squarely in the face.  The good news is that they’re in the playoffs and play their first-round matchup against a team that they traditionally own.  It wasn’t until their last matchup, less than a month ago, that the Ravens finally covered a number against the Steelers. 

The bad news for Pittsburgh is that most feel they’re going to do so again.  Don’t think, for one moment, that there’s a Ravens fan in that stadium who isn’t at least a little nervous about Steelers-Ravens history.  Would it shock anyone if the Ravens got past Pittsburgh?  Of course not.  They’re nine-point favorites.  But would it surprise anyone if Mike Tomlin and the Steelers do what they do and have done against Baltimore over the years?  If you ask me, the Steelers at 75 to 1 is incredible value for a team that wasn’t long ago considered one of the best in football.

 

Selection 14: The Wife Hates Sports

Pick (Kinda): Denver Broncos

That leaves me with the Denver Broncos, and that’s ok with me. Honestly, I would have taken the Broncos before both the Texans and Steelers.

Denver Broncos (+5000)

  • Point Differential – I like this stat as a measurement of success. The Broncos were +114 on the season, behind only the Lions, Eagles, Bills, and aforementioned Packers. Only the Chargers and Eagles allowed fewer points during the regular season.
  • Bo Nix – If not for Jayden Daniels, Denver’s rookie QB would have been a lock for Rookie of the Year. Nix had an impressive first season (3,775 passing yards, 29 TD, 12 INT) and has had plenty of poise, as I expected. Of the twelve interceptions, nine of them came in four games. Four of those came in the opening two weeks. That means Nix had just three INT’s in a combined thirteen regular season games. He’s a winner in every spot he’s been in and has the perfect head coach as a mentor.
  • Defensive Numbers – The Broncos allowed the 7th fewest yards during the regular season (317.1). They also ranked third against the run, which is key when facing the mobile QB’s in the AFC.
  • Sean Payton – Denver’s HC is a seasoned veteran and has been in this position before. Payton has coached in seventeen playoff games, going 9-8 during that stretch. He’s an offensive mind with a roster that doesn’t allow a lot of points (or yards). That’s a lethal playoff combination.

 

2025 NFL Playoffs: Draft Summary

Team Rosters and Stats

The Wife Hates Sports

  • Detroit Lions – 1 Seed – 15-2 (+295)
  • Buffalo Bills – 2 Seed – 13-4 (+650)
  • Minnesota Vikings – 5 Seed – 14-3 (+1500)
  • Los Angeles Chargers – 5 Seed – 11-6 (+3000)
  • Washington Commanders – 6 Seed – 12-5 (+4500)
  • Green Bay Packers – 7 Seed – 11-6 (+2200)
  • Denver Broncos – 7 Seed – 10-7 (+5000)

SportsChump

  • Kansas City Chiefs – 1 Seed – 15-2 (+350)
  • Baltimore Ravens – 3 Seed – 12-5 (+550)
  • Philadelphia Eagles – 2 Seed – 14-3 (+700)
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 3 Seed – 10-7 (+2500)
  • Los Angeles Rams – 4 Seed – 10-7 (+4500)
  • Houston Texans – 4 Seed – 10-7 (+9000)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers – 6 Seed – 10-7 (+9000)

Combined Record

  • The Wife Hates Sports: 86-33
  • SportsChump: 81-38

Average Seed

  • The Wife Hates Sports: 4.71
  • SportsChump: 3.29

Average Odds

  • The Wife Hates Sports: +2449
  • SportsChump: +3800

 

If you have a surprise Super Bowl pick, who would it be? Share with us in the comments!

Chime in with your predictions for the 2025 NFL Playoffs picks and thank you for visiting The Wife Hates Sports!

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