ESPN 'chalk' simulation predicts Bills-Cowboys Super Bowl LVII matchup

An ESPN exercise has the Buffalo Bills avenging a couple of defeats from roughly 30 years ago. 

ESPN's Seth Walder shared on Thursday that one of the outlet's Football Power Index simulations which yielded a "pure chalk playoff seeding" forecasts that the Bills and Dallas Cowboys will be the final two teams standing when Super Bowl LVII gets underway in February. 

According to the simulation used to predict scores for the final 32 regular-season games through Week 18, Buffalo finishes the campaign at 14-3 to earn the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed. The Bills then defeat the Kansas City Chiefs (14-3, No. 2) to secure a berth in the Super Bowl. 

The 13-4 Cowboys begin the postseason tournament as the NFC's fifth-seeded team but eventually stun the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (15-2) in the divisional round. Dallas then beats the San Francisco 49ers (No. 2, 12-5) to represent the conference in Super Bowl LVII, a championship game Buffalo wins to erase decades of hurt and ease pain caused by losses to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII. 

For other aspects of the bracket, the ESPN simulation has the Jacksonville Jaguars beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 to claim the AFC South crown at 8-9. The 12-5 Cincinnati Bengals win the AFC North title, while the Miami Dolphins (9-8) earn the conference's final playoff spot.

Over in the NFC, the ESPN forecast has the New York Giants smashing the Indianapolis Colts to the tune of 34-0 this Sunday to punch their playoff ticket before Week 18. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold onto first place in the NFC South standings at 9-8, while the Green Bay Packers also finish at 9-8 and receive a little bit of help to somewhat trip into the postseason ahead of the 8-8-1 Washington Commanders.