Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, but basketball remains at the top of our minds.
Even if you are focused on watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, that does not mean that you cannot have a basketball perspective on it. Having a basketball outlook could make the NFL a lot more interesting.
So, with that being said, let’s take a basketball look at the NFL, more specifically the 2022 NFL playoffs. All football players are great athletes, we’ve seen multiple players, including first-time Super Bowl appearing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, dunk on a regulation hoop.
How would the NFL playoffs work out if it were a basketball tournament? Things would shape out a lot different. In this article, we take a look at that very hypothetical.
In this scenario, every teams quarterback will be the point guard, running back as the two, two wideouts as the small and power forward, and tight end as the center. From there, we will redo the NFL playoff bracket and crown a final champion.
AFC
Wildcard Weekend
Chiefs vs. Steelers
Chiefs:
PG: Patrick Mahomes
SG: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
SF: Tyreek Hill
PF: Mecole Hardman
C: Travis Kelce
Steelers:
PG: Ben Roethlisberger
SG: Najee Harris
SF: Juju Smith-Shuster
PF: Dionte Johnson
C: Pat Freiermuth
Najee Harris is a great option at shooting guard, with dynamic moving and shifty footwork. Dionte Johnson adds some good physicality at the four as well. But Tyreek Hill at small forward will result in a lot of fast-break points for Kansas City, and Travis Kelce adds great size at the center position. Big Ben as a point guard cannot win a game. Chiefs move on.
Bills vs. Patriots
Bills:
PG: Josh Allen
SG: Devon Singletary
SF: Stefon Diggs
PF: Cole Beasley
C: Dawson Knox
Patriots:
PG: Mac Jones
SG: Damien Harris
SG: N’Keal Harry
PF: Nelson Agholor
C: Hunter Henry
Talent goes a long way in hoops. The size of Josh Allen gives Buffalo and automatic advantage in this game, and Mac Jones is not big enough to keep up with him. Hunter Henry has Knox beat on the boards, and the shooting guards will be trading buckets all game. But talent does not matter if the scheme is not right. Belichick knows how to win. Patriots sneak into the next round.
Bengals vs. Raiders
Bengals:
PG: Joe Burrow
SG: Joe Mixon
SF: Ja’marr Chase
PF: Tee Higgins
C: CJ Uzomah
Raiders:
PG: Derek Carr
SG: Josh Jacobs
SF: Hunter Renfrow
PF: Zay Jones
C: Darren Waller
Like the football game, this one comes down to the wire. CJ Uzomah and Darren Waller is a fantastic matchup in the paint, and this one could get chippy. Ja’marr Chase could prove crucial for the Bengals. In a close game, it’s Cincy’s bench that gives them the win. On an Even McPherson buzzer-beater three, Bengals take the win.
Divisional Round
Titans vs. Patriots
Titans:
PG: Ryan Tannehill
SG: Derrick Henry
SF: Julio Jones
PF: AJ Brown
C: Anthony Firkser
Patriots:
PG: Mac Jones
SG: Damien Harris
SG: N’Keal Harry
PF: Nelson Agholor
C: Hunter Henry
Bill Belichick can only win so many games on the sidelines. Derrick Henry at shooting guard is just absurd, and if he even thinks about slashing to the hole that is an easy two points. Julio Jones and AJ Brown are just too big to defend for the smaller Patriot forwards, and Mac Jones does not provide an incredible advantage for New England. Titans win handily.
Chiefs vs. Bengals
Bengals:
PG: Joe Burrow
SG: Joe Mixon
SF: Ja’marr Chase
PF: Tee Higgins
C: CJ Uzomah
Chiefs:
PG: Patrick Mahomes
SG: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
SF: Tyreek Hill
PF: Mecole Hardman
C: Travis Kelce
Ah, we meet again. In perhaps a game-of-the-year rematch, the Bengals are tasked with a red-hot Chiefs team on the hardwood. This one is simple. The matchups are very even all around, except at the point guard position. Joe Burrow has the swag, has the fan support, but unfortunately for him in this hypothetical tournament, he does not have the ability to avoid defenders like Mahomes. That brings the Chiefs to the AFC chip.
AFC Championship
Titans vs. Chiefs
Titans:
PG: Ryan Tannehill
SG: Derrick Henry
SF: Julio Jones
PF: AJ Brown
C: Anthony Firkser
Chiefs:
PG: Patrick Mahomes
SG: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
SF: Tyreek Hill
PF: Mecole Hardman
C: Travis Kelce
The Titans pure size gives them an instant advantage in the contest, but the Chiefs speed brings them right back into it. In a back and forth battle, Tennessee makes a defensive stop on the last possession as CEH cannot get passed the big body of Henry.
NFC
Wildcard Weekend
Buccaneers vs. Eagles
Buccaneers:
PG: Tom Brady
SG: Leonard Fournette
SF: Chris Godwin
PF: Mike Evans
C: Rob Gronkowski
Eagles:
PG: Jalen Hurts
SG: Miles Sanders
SF: Jalen Reagor
PF: Davonte Smith
C: Dallas Goedert
This matchup pits size against athleticism. The Bucs bring tremendous height and strength with Gronk and Evans in the frontcourt. Fournette is a physical shooting guard who will have some crucial defensive stops. In Philly, Jalen Hurts should not have trouble posting a big game on Tom Brady. However, in the final play of the game, Hurts’ full-court pass to Reagor falls through his hands and allows Brady and the Bucs to escape the upset. Sorry, Eagles fans.
Cowboys vs. 49ers
Cowboys:
PG: Dak Prescott
SG: Ezekiel Elliott
SF: Amari Cooper
PF: Michael Gallup
C: Dalton Schultz
49ers:
PG: Jimmy Garoppolo
SG: Elijah Mitchell
SF: Deebo Samuel
PF: Brandon Aiyuk
C: George Kittle
Similar to the previous game, the point guard matchup is very uneven. However, the Niners match-up very well with the rest of the Cowboy lineup. George Kittle is arguably one of the best tight ends in football, and that should bode well for the hardwood. Michael Gallup has a height advantage at the four, but Deebo should be able to take control of this game and send the Cowboys home early.
Rams vs. Cardinals
Rams:
PG: Matthew Stafford
SG: Cam Akers
SF: Cooper Kupp
PF: Odell Beckham Jr.
C: Tyler Higbee
Cardinals:
PG: Kyler Murray
SG: James Conner
SF: AJ Green
PF: DeAndre Hopkins
C: Zach Ertz
Cooper Kupp, one of the best route runners in the game, will be coming off of screens like crazy this game. Stafford to Kupp will give the Cardinals nightmares all game, but the offensive firepower is undeniable in Arizona. Hopkins at power forward is a key reason the Cardinals steal this game and move on.
Divisional Round
Packers vs. 49ers
Packers:
PG: Aaron Rodgers
SG: Aaron Jones
SF: Davonte Adams
PF: Marques Valdes-Scantling
C: Robert Tonyan
49ers:
PG: Jimmy Garoppolo
SG: Elijah Mitchell
SF: Deebo Samuel
PF: Brandon Aiyuk
C: George Kittle
The 49ers pulled off the massive upset over the Packers on the gridiron, and look to be in great shape to do so again on Lambeau Court. Deebo Samuel once again looks to present issues for the opponent, but Aaron Rodgers’ squad has much more discipline than the Cowboys. Rodgers experience comes into play, but the Packers still fall short. Niners move on.
Buccaneers vs. Cardinals
Buccaneers:
PG: Tom Brady
SG: Leonard Fournette
SF: Chris Godwin
PF: Mike Evans
C: Rob Gronkowski
Cardinals:
PG: Kyler Murray
SG: James Conner
SF: AJ Green
PF: DeAndre Hopkins
C: Zach Ertz
You could not pit a more evenly matched game in a basketball-style NFL playoff remake if you tried. Conner and Fournette match up well. The receivers and center have similar traits. But the point guards? Tom Brady in season 22 versus Kyler Murray, someone drafted in two professional sports. Cardinals will play for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Conference Championship
Cardinals vs. 49ers
Cardinals:
PG: Kyler Murray
SG: James Conner
SF: AJ Green
PF: DeAndre Hopkins
C: Zach Ertz
49ers:
PG: Jimmy Garoppolo
SG: Elijah Mitchell
SF: Deebo Samuel
PF: Brandon Aiyuk
C: George Kittle
Getting repetative though, but the MVP of this tournament, Deebo Samuel, will have yet another huge game. But the Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury make a crucial adjustment and go zone to make up for the Niners speed and slashing ability. Kyler Murray shows out, and AJ Green takes advantage of a fatigued Deebo. Cardinals are champions of the NFC.
Super Bowl
Titans vs. Cardinals
Titans:
PG: Ryan Tannehill
SG: Derrick Henry
SF: Julio Jones
PF: AJ Brown
C: Anthony Firkser
Cardinals:
PG: Kyler Murray
SG: James Conner
SF: AJ Green
PF: DeAndre Hopkins
C: Zach Ertz
It is the moment you never knew you were waiting for. If you’ve made it this far, and you like fun hypothetical articles, make sure to let us know.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. What a ride it has been. Tannehill and Murray highlight the matchup, but it will come down to AJ Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans have a comfortable lead, but Murray begins to push the pace to bring the Cardinals within 1 with 30 seconds remaining. James Conner gets a swing pass from Murray and misses the three-pointer. The rebound kicks to the weak side where 6’1” Brown and 6’1” Hopkins are fighting for it, but Brown’s 36.5” vertical just outstretches the 36” jump of Hopkins. Brown knocks down both free-throws and Murrays full-court prayer is not answered. The Titans win the Super Bowl.