NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions: AFC/NFC Playoff Picks for Each Round

The matchups for the Conference Championships of the NFL’s 2023 postseason are set. Using the Behavior Bets sports betting model, we not only predict the outcome of those matchups, but we also make NFL playoff bracket predictions, projecting the winners and scores for future rounds all the way to crowning a Super Bowl champion.

NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions

These should be exhilarating playoff matchups, as we projected 10 of the 19 games to be decided by three points or fewer, including the Super Bowl. Speaking of the big game, we anticipate a rematch of a recent matchup and one that promises to go down to the wire.

Below we will go game by game, round by round, all the way down to the Super Bowl, scores included. To make these NFL playoff bracket picks, we used various data points such as scoring behavior rate, score prevention behavior rate, time of possession, etc.

AFC Bracket

The AFC projects to have a familiar champion in these NFL playoff bracket predictions. After taking a year off, the Kansas City Chiefs look to reclaim their crown as the conference’s rightful champion.

They sit as the conference’s top seed and got a bye week through the Wild Card round. How they end up in the big game promises to be a fantastic treat for fans, as they take on the foe who dethroned them a year ago in these NFL playoff bracket predictions.

AFC Wild Card Round

NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions Record: 3-0

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
Prediction: Bills 28, Dolphins 20

Actual: Bills 34, Dolphins 31

Bengals vs. Ravens
Prediction: Bengals 21, Ravens 17

Actual: Bengals 24, Ravens 17

Jaguars vs. Chargers
Prediction: Jaguars 21, Chargers 20

Actual: Jaguars 31, Chargers 30

Projected AFC Divisional Round

NFL Playoff Predictions Record: 2-0

Bills vs. Bengals
Prediction: Bills 22, Bengals 26

Actual: Bills 10, Bengals 27

Chiefs vs. Jaguars
Prediction: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 24

Actual: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20

AFC Conference Championship Round

Chiefs vs. Bengals
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Bengals 21

This game has even more intrigue around it, given the health of Patrick Mahomes’ ankle. That said, the way he closed in the final 17 minutes of that game gives me confidence in my Chiefs vs. Bengals prediction, keeping my NFL playoff bracket predictions intact.

NFC Bracket

For the seventh consecutive season, the NFC will not have a repeat champion. Their champion will be a familiar one, however, as the San Francisco 49ers will represent the conference for the second time in four seasons.

MORE: Early NFL Conference Championship Predictions and Picks Against the Spread

Rookie Brock Purdy is the third quarterback the team has used this season, and the 49ers scored 37% more points per minute in his five regular-season games than before he came in. Let’s examine how San Francisco gets there in the NFC side of my NFL playoff bracket predictions.

NFC Wild Card Round

NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions Record: 3-0

49ers vs. Seahawks
Prediction: 49ers 31, Seahawks 18

Actual: 49ers 41, Seahawks 23

Vikings vs. Giants
Prediction: Vikings 22, Giants 24

Actual: Vikings 24, Giants 31

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys
Prediction: Buccaneers 18, Cowboys 28

Actual: Buccaneers 14, Cowboys 31

Projected NFC Divisional Round

NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions Record: 2-0

49ers vs. Cowboys
Prediction: 49ers 32, Cowboys 22

Actual: 49ers 19, Cowboys 12

Eagles vs. Giants
Prediction: Eagles 27, Giants 24

Actual: Eagles 38, Giants 7

NFC Conference Championship Round

Eagles vs. 49ers
Prediction: Eagles 21, 49ers 24

San Francisco excels at the one thing Philadelphia’s defense struggles with, as noted in my Eagles vs. 49ers prediction. The 49ers are road underdogs, but I think they come out on top, making Purdy the first rookie to ever start a Super Bowl and keeping my NFL playoff bracket predictions alive.

Super Bowl 57 Prediction

Chiefs vs. 49ers
Prediction: Chiefs 24, 49ers 26

In the Behavior Bets NFL playoff bracket predictions, we get a rematch of the Super Bowl that took place three years ago on Feb. 2, 2020. Mr. Irrelevant Purdy could be facing off against alien-unicorn Patrick Mahomes.

The projected result is surprising to even me, but if things play out in line with these teams’ typical behavioral patterns, Kyle Shanahan may get revenge.