The Post’s football experts predict the teams and players who will claim the NFL’s top prizes in the 2016 season. First, Steve Serby peers into his crystal ball for how the playoffs will unfold.
AFC
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won’t rest until they capture One For The Thumb, and the window is closing on Deflategate Tom, 39 years old all of a sudden. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall celebrate their first playoff appearance, but fail as Road Warriors against Andrew Luck. The Pats win the Deflategate Bowl against the Colts at the Razor while Big Ben and Antonio Brown win a shootout against Derek Carr and Amari Cooper. Gronk parties hearty at Heinz Field.
NFC
Ben McAdoo could not have picked a worse opponent for his playoff debut, as Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas put the clamps on Odell Beckham Jr. and Eli Manning. Adrian Peterson is stuffed in Carolina. Carson Palmer, with help from Honey Badger’s defense, has no hangover from the 2015 NFC title game and outduels Russell Wilson, while Aaron Rodgers shreds a Panthers secondary without Josh Norman. No Jeff Janis Hail Mary this time as Bruce Arians is carried off the field.
Super Bowl LI
Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are the sentimental favorites so tantalizingly close to their first rings. Arians, of course, dominates his media matchup with Belichick, although Martellus Bennett draws a crowd. Palmer, down by four, drives to the 1-yard line in the final minute, and even though David Johnson has rushed for 151 yards, Arians calls for a pass over the middle for John Brown and Malcolm Butler intercepts. And there is Roger Goodell handing the Lombardi Trophy to his former friend, Robert Kraft, and the Killer Bs.
MVP: Carson Palmer, Cardinals
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, Raiders
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Joey Bosa, Chargers
Coach of the Year: Mike Tomlin, Steelers
Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Colts
Dave Blezow
Super Bowl: Cardinals over Chiefs
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Offensive Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Steelers
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, Raiders
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars
Coach of the Year: Jack Del Rio, Raiders
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson, Packers
Mark Cannizzaro
Super Bowl: Cardinals over Patriots
MVP: Carson Palmer, Cardinals
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Myles Jack, Jaguars
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Colts
Brian Costello
Super Bowl: Patriots over Seahawks
MVP: Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Sterling Shepard, Giants
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars
Coach of the Year: Bill O’Brien, Texans
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco, Ravens
Hondo
Super Bowl: Panthers over Steelers
MVP: Cam Newton, Panthers
Offensive Player of the Year: Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Darron Lee, Jets
Coach of the Year: Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson, Packers
Bart Hubbuch
Super Bowl: Seahawks over Chiefs
MVP: Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, Rams
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Texans
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Darron Lee, Jets
Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh, Ravens
Comeback Player of the Year: Colin Kaepernick, 49ers
Paul Schwartz
Super Bowl: Steelers over Cardinals
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, Rams
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, Raiders
Offensive Rookie of Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of Year: Jalen Ramsey, Jaguars
Coach of the Year: Ben McAdoo, Giants
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson, Packers
Mike Vaccaro
Super Bowl: Packers over Chiefs
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton, Panthers
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, Raiders
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Derrick Henry, Titans
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Leonard Floyd, Bears
Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh, Ravens
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco, Ravens
George Willis
Super Bowl: Panthers over Patriots
MVP: Cam Newton, Panthers
Offensive Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Steelers
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Eli Apple, Giants
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson, Packers