The 2019 NFL playoffs kick off this weekend with four games on the way to Super Bowl LIV.
We asked 10 of our ESPN NFL experts to fill out a postseason bracket and predict the winners for each matchup, from wild-card weekend all the way through the Super Bowl.
Teams had to receive a majority of our experts' votes to move on to the next round, and we reset the bracket after each round. Here's how the bracket ended up, with analysis from our group of experts
Jump to a playoff round:
Wild card | Divisional
Conference title | Super Bowl LIV
Wild-card round
No. 3 New England Patriots vs. No. 6 Tennessee Titans
Our prediction: Patriots (8 votes) over Titans (2)
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: The Titans franchise hasn't won at New England since 1993, when the team was known as the Houston Oilers. Since then, the Oilers/Titans are 0-6 in the state of Massachusetts, including the playoffs. The Patriots are 19-3 all time in the postseason at Gillette Stadium. And at the very least, this year's Titans team is untested against good teams on the road. It played only one road opponent that finished the season with a winning record: the Houston Texans, who rested many of their key players on Sunday in the Titans' 35-14 victory. While the Patriots have had some struggles this season, and the Titans are 7-3 since elevating quarterback Ryan Tannehill, there are plenty of reasons to suggest a victory for the home team.
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 5 Buffalo Bills
Our prediction: Bills (6 votes) over Texans (4)
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: In some ways, the Texans and Bills have opposite identities. Houston's offense can explode at any time, but it has been inconsistent; and the defense has allowed 6.1 yards per play, which is tied for worst in the league. Buffalo, on the other hand, is the steady Eddie in this matchup, especially with Josh Allen cutting back on turnovers in recent weeks. If Will Fuller were completely healthy, I might roll the dice on the Texans. But I think the Bills' excellent pass defense -- which has done a terrific job limiting the sort of deep pass plays Deshaun Watson specializes in -- will come out on top this Saturday and propel Buffalo to the next round.
No. 3 New Orleans Saints vs. No. 6 Minnesota Vikings
Our prediction: Saints (8 votes) over Vikings (2)
Mike Clay, NFL writer: The Saints went 13-3 during the regular season, which would mean a bye for most teams; but losing a tiebreaker to Green Bay and San Francisco means New Orleans will get a shot to avenge its Minneapolis Miracle loss from two seasons ago. New Orleans reached 13 wins for the second consecutive season, despite losing Drew Brees to injury for six games, and it averaged a dominant 32.4 points per game in Brees' 10 starts. The Vikings, meanwhile, enter the playoffs at 10-6, though they went 1-4 against playoff teams. Even more concerning, Minnesota went 4-4 on the road (0-3 against playoff teams).
This matchup sets up very well for the Saints, as Brees' top offensive weapon, Michael Thomas, will be able to feast on a struggling Minnesota pass defense that has allowed the second-most receptions and 18 touchdowns to wide receivers this season. The Vikings' offensive strengths are running back Dalvin Cook and perimeter receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, though New Orleans is allowing only 3.6 yards per carry (third lowest) and just added Janoris Jenkins to team up with Marshon Lattimore at outside corner. We expect the Saints to get the job done.
No. 4 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 5 Seattle Seahawks
Our prediction: Seahawks (7 votes) over Eagles (3)
Field Yates, NFL Insider: This matchup pits two quarterbacks whose will to win has been on full display this season. Russell Wilson was a magician throughout 2019, and Carson Wentz shredded defenses during the final four games of the regular season while many of his top pass-catchers were spectators from the sideline. Philadelphia boasts home-field advantage, but the Seahawks have been oddly unaffected by the road atmospheres this season, winning seven of eight games away from Seattle. Ultimately, this profiles as two teams who are a quite comparable match; their perceived weaknesses on paper are often overcome by an innate resilience and a mental toughness that allows them to be competitive in nearly every game. Ultimately, the brilliance of Wilson will push the Seahawks past the Eagles. Narrowly.
Divisional round
No. 1 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 5 Buffalo Bills
Our prediction: Ravens (9 votes) over Bills (1)
Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders editor-in-chief: The Bills are a worthy playoff team with an excellent defense. They have become better over the course of the season. But the 2019 Ravens are a juggernaut. Based on Football Outsiders' defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) metric, the Ravens are the seventh-best regular-season team of the past 35 years. Baltimore ranks in the top 10 in all three phases of the game this season. The Ravens had the best offense in the league -- and it was the first offense since 2003 to lead our metrics for both running and passing efficiency. The Bills have the worst quarterback of any playoff team, and they're going to face a Ravens team that has the best pass defense in the league since Week 8. The Bills kept things close when the Ravens came to Buffalo a few weeks ago. It will be hard for the Bills to do so again -- this time on the road against a team with an extra week of rest.
No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 3 New England Patriots
Our prediction: Chiefs (8 votes) over Patriots (2)
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: If you thought the Patriots dynasty was going to end in a wild-card loss to the Titans in Foxborough, you have no sense of real drama. No, the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick combo lives to fight another week, and it makes a lot more sense for it all to come down in Kansas City against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Andy Reid with an extra week to prepare, Mahomes sizzling at the end of the season, Steve Spagnuolo's defense one of the surprise turnaround stories of the year ... all of it ends up being too much for as undermanned a Patriots team as we've seen in any January in a decade. It might not be a passing of the torch, since it's possible neither Mahomes nor anyone else ever accomplishes what Brady has. But it's not not that.
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 5 Seattle Seahawks
Our prediction: 49ers (9 votes) over Seahawks (1)
Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL writer: Considering these teams played two of the year's most hotly contested games to a split, this one will go down to the last second, last inch, last hit. The 49ers missed George Kittle in the first matchup, but they controlled the pace throughout a rematch that featured Kittle heavily. Expect more of the same against a Seahawks lineup ravaged by injuries. The 49ers' second-ranked defense will get Dee Ford back just in time to bolster a pass rush that produced 48 sacks. Kyle Shanahan's scheme can get rushing yards on any team. Seattle is all heart, but San Francisco is too much for it.
No. 2 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 3 New Orleans Saints
Our prediction: Saints (7 votes) over Packers (3)
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: The strength of this Packers team has been its disruptive defensive front, led by pass-rushers Za'Darius Smith (13.5 sacks) and Preston Smith (12 sacks). But the Saints' passing offense has been among the least disrupted in the NFL this season. Be it with Drew Brees or Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, the Saints have the second-lowest pressure rate (17.9%) and sacks per dropback rate (4.7%) in the league. In other words, the Saints can neutralize the Packers' best attribute. If that's the case, nothing short of a takeover by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers could reverse the expected outcome.
Conference championships
No. 1 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs
Our prediction: Ravens (7 votes) over Chiefs (3)
Bill Barnwell, NFL writer: The Chiefs comfortably handled the Ravens in Week 3, entering the fourth quarter up 30-13 before a surge by the Ravens made the final score look closer than it seemed. The league's 29th-ranked rush defense by DVOA somehow found a solution for Lamar Jackson, holding the presumptive MVP to 46 yards on eight rush attempts. The Ravens' halfbacks rushed 24 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns, though, and our panel thinks that Jackson will have more success in a mouthwatering playoff rematch.
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 3 New Orleans Saints
Our prediction: Saints (6 votes) over 49ers (4)
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: With Sean Payton's ability to scheme guys open versus any coverage, expect quarterback Drew Brees -- who led the NFL with a completion rate of 74.3% -- to attack the open windows against the 49ers' zone-heavy defense. During a Week 14 matchup, Brees tossed five touchdowns in a 48-46 loss to San Francisco, and the offensive script won't change here. However, for the Saints to advance to the Super Bowl stage, Dennis Allen's defense has to produce some stops. In addition to playing with sound run fits versus all the misdirection Kyle Shanahan throws at opposing defenses, look for New Orleans to test the decision-making process of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on third downs. Dial up the pressures, use late coverage rotation and try to steal a possession or two while matching rookie safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to 49ers tight end George Kittle. You want points? You'll get them in this game. But I'm betting on the Saints' defense -- lead by linebacker Demario Davis -- to take the ball away at a critical moment in this one.
Super Bowl LIV
Baltimore Ravens vs. New Orleans Saints
Our prediction: Ravens (6 votes) over Saints (4)
Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior writer: Ravens head coach John Harbaugh quickly realized he had something unique in quarterback Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh bought in fully, and he has been rewarded spectacularly. The crowning payoff of this season will occur as Jackson confounds one last defense. Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman will continue to do what he has done since Week 1 by putting Jackson in the best possible position to attack in a scheme that has provided the foundation for a 14-game winning streak (including playoffs). Of course, with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees on the other sideline, the Ravens' defense will face a massive challenge. Saints head coach Sean Payton will force Baltimore defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale to contend with a whole lot, including superstar wideout Michael Thomas, who is fast approaching all-time-great status. In the end, however, Jackson and the Ravens will cap an incredible campaign with the franchise's third Super Bowl championship. Then many other teams will have a long offseason to contemplate a question: Why didn't we draft Jackson?