Group that shall be most missed within the playoffs
Cincinnati Bengals. That is the plain reply, because it’s a bummer when the group with one of many NFL’s finest quarterbacks (Joe Burrow), the receiving triple crown winner (Ja’Marr Chase) and the NFL’s sack chief (Trey Hendrickson) are on the skin trying in. Plus, it might be enjoyable to observe opposing offenses torch the Bengals’ iffy protection. As it’s, we’ll have to attend till subsequent season to know whether or not a defensive overhaul (together with the firing of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo) will bear any dividends. Doug Farrar
Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow delivered an MVP-caliber season and Chase achieved the uncommon triple crown of receiving, however the Bengals’ five-game win streak to finish the common season wasn’t sufficient to cancel out their 4-8 begin, inconsistent play on each traces and a dismal 4-7 report in one-score video games. Bryan Armen Graham
Cincinnati Bengals. I’m nonetheless salivating on the notion of a Bengals-Payments wildcard showdown that can by no means be. Thanks lots, Kansas Metropolis. Whether or not intentional or not, all the AFC owes Andy Reid just a few new Hawaiian shirts. Denver are a high quality addition however let’s be actual: Burrow and Chase would draw considerably extra curiosity. New rule proposal: a group with one of the best wideout in soccer who proves it by successful the triple crown will get a free move to the postseason. Melissa Jacobs
Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks deserved higher than to have their season finish after successful six of eight video games down the stretch. It means Geno Smith, the NFL’s perennially most improved franchise QB, is denied an opportunity to pursue his revenge towards the Vikings after coming three factors brief towards them final month. As a substitute, his future will dangle within the steadiness because the Seahawks ponder their contemporary course below new coach Mike Macdonald – who simply reduce Smith’s coordinator free. Andrew Lawrence
Excessive-seeded group susceptible to going out early
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. It’s typically a nasty thought to guess towards Reid, Steve Spagnuolo and Patrick Mahomes when the playoffs come round. However this yr’s Chiefs have put so many wins along with spit and baling wire, and one by no means is aware of how sustainable that’s, even after they’re setting information with it. The Chiefs’ middling passing recreation has loved a gentle rebirth with the Week 16 debut of receiver Hollywood Brown, and Spags will at all times discover a solution to get it performed, however the margins for error are awfully slim this time round. DF
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Regardless of their offensive prowess, the third-seeded Bucs have a protection that has proven vulnerabilities, notably towards cellular quarterbacks like Washington’s Jayden Daniels. On the AFC facet, the second-seeded Payments seem certain for an awfully harsh divisional-round conflict with the Ravens. BAG
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. How a lot fairy mud is left for the defending champions? They’re the brand new Patriots within the sense that it is best to by no means rely them out within the postseason, particularly with home-field benefit. However they’ve extreme points with their rotation at offensive deal with; in the event that they preserve Joe Thuney at LT, it undercuts their inside line. There are numerous AFC playoff groups able to exposing this weak spot, particularly with this present model of Mahomes and his not-exactly-spectacular cadre of weapons. MJ
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. It’s been a bizarre yr for the Chiefs. They’ve been so removed from on kind, and but they saved stacking wins. Nonetheless, their blowout loss to the Broncos within the season finale reveals how susceptible they may very well be in the event that they have been to lose even one in every of their stars – Mahomes, not least. AL
Lengthy shot to win
Inexperienced Bay Packers. The 11-6 Packers completed third within the NFC North behind the Lions and the Vikings, which has them on the skin trying in from a preferred perspective, and it doesn’t assist that they begin their playoff run by touring to 14-3 Philadelphia. However it’s essential to notice that as Matt LaFleur’s offense has actually centered round operating again Josh Jacobs, that offense has risen from eighth to second in DVOA (opponent-adjusted effectivity). Furthermore, Inexperienced Bay’s protection, led by first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley, has seen an identical DVOA bump since Week 10, going from 14th to fifth. You by no means know when the suitable wildcard group will shock, nevertheless it’s typically the one with the new hand, and the seventh-seeded Packers do qualify at this level. DF
Minnesota Vikings or Inexperienced Bay Packers. How good was the NFC North this yr? The Lions, Vikings and Packers completed with a mixed 34-5 report towards the opposite 29 NFL groups. Meaning the No 5 and No 7 seeds on the NFC facet, also-rans almost at all times, have much more believable Tremendous Bowl hopes than in typical years. BAG
Los Angeles Chargers. Who’s obtained it higher than the Chargers? No one. Jim Harbaugh reworked a squad that went 5-12 in 2023 into a powerful 11-6 contender. Positive, there are higher all-around groups and even quarterbacks in these playoffs, however the Harbaugh magic is actual. In his 4 years helming San Francisco, the 49ers went to a few convention championship video games and one Tremendous Bowl. The Chargers protection wants a lift; maybe a perfect opening-round tilt towards the Texans will do the trick. However, all of the weaknesses together with an inconsistent offense apart, there’s something additional ruthless and intimidating a few Harbaugh-led group within the postseason. MJ
Washington Commanders. Rookie QB Daniels has made something doable in Washington, harking to halcyon days when RGIII had soccer followers contained in the Beltway and past dreaming of one other Lombardi. However the place Robert Griffin performed like a person tempting destiny, Daniels is the image of management: unflappable and unsurprised by the pressures that overwhelm him. His knack for the second, mixed along with his veteran teammates and a Tremendous Bowl-caliber head coach in Dan Quinn, will take these reborn Commanders additional than anticipated. AL
Most essential participant this postseason
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old might do extra to construct on his legacy on this postseason than some other participant, as a result of Jackson’s playoff performances have typically been lower than stellar. However that is additionally a unique Lamar. He’s at all times been supremely athletic and he’s been a significantly better pocket passer than folks suppose, however this season – his second below offensive coordinator Todd Monken – Jackson has risen to the uncommon standing of the opponent-proof quarterback who can scald any protection it doesn’t matter what it throws at him. Now’s the time to show it, as soon as and for all. DF
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions. The typical soccer fan is just not conditioned to take the Lions critically given their dismal historical past going again many many years, however this Detroit group are the present Tremendous Bowl favorites on benefit and their gifted signal-caller is among the largest the explanation why. After swerving one damage after one other to lock down the NFC’s prime seed, the Lions will depend on Goff’s decision-making, expertise and nous as they bid to succeed in their first Tremendous Bowl ever and first NFL title recreation in 67 years. BAG
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings. The clock struck midnight after which some with Darnold’s stinker of a recreation towards the Lions on Sunday evening. That model of Darnold was jittery and misfired all through. One other a type of and the Vikings’ season shall be over and Darnold probably looking out for yet one more group. However a rebound recreation would say lots about Darnold’s resilience, doubtlessly cementing his future in Minnesota. MJ
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The place he goes, so goes the three-peat. AL
AFC Championship Recreation
Ravens over Chiefs. DF
Ravens over Chargers. BAG
Payments over Chargers. MJ
Chiefs over Payments. AL
NFC Championship Recreation
Lions over Eagles. DF
Eagles over Vikings. BAG
Lions over Eagles. MJ
Lions over Commanders. AL
Your Tremendous Bowl champion shall be …
Ravens over Lions. If the Lions have been even remotely wholesome on protection, I would reverse this end result. However as a lot as Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has performed to mitigate his personnel shortfalls this season (and he’s performed an incredible job), it’s onerous for me to think about that the mix of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry gained’t give the Lions just a few extra bruises than they’re outfitted to deal with. All it takes for a protection to lose to Baltimore’s offense is for one man to take the fallacious angle, and issues are inclined to snowball from there. DF
Eagles over Ravens. A mere 12 months after the wildest in-season unravelling in NFL historical past, Philadelphia will attain their second Tremendous Bowl in three years behind a protection that’s been fully reinvented below Vic Fangio. The primary Eagles group to rank No 1 in complete protection since Bud Carson’s epochal 1991 unit, they’re younger and quick and athletic in any respect three ranges with a chemistry and togetherness that appear to be enhancing week to week. And that’s earlier than you get to an offense tricked out with the star wideout tandem of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, plus an imposing floor assault led by 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley and the NFL’s finest offensive line. Fangio and Co made Baltimore’s vaunted offense look common after they met in December they usually’ll do it once more after they run again their I-95 showdown within the Large Simple. BAG
Payments over Lions. C’mon, who doesn’t desire a Buffalo-Detroit Tremendous Bowl? This has all of the making of a basic, however the Payments will prevail because of the presumptive NFL MVP. I’m unsure how Detroit can neutralize Josh Allen, who’s taking part in on a unique degree this season. The Lions’ send-the-house strategy that rattled Darnold in Week 18 gained’t work on Allen. Buffalo’s run protection has had points all season, and containing Sonic (Jahmyr Gibbs) and Increase (David Montgomery) shall be a tall process. However the protection simply must shore up on third-down performs a bit and let Allen do his factor. MJ
Lions over Chiefs. Within the battle of banged-up juggernauts, Detroit runs roughshod over the twice-reigning champions and brings glory to a long-suffering fanbase. Ben Johnson’s relentless offensive scheme proves so overpowering that head coach Dan Campbell solely gambles on fourth all the way down to run up the rating, clearing a path for Goff’s Tremendous Bowl-MVP redemption. It goes to indicate that the Lions’ shut win over the Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2023 season was no fluke, but additionally heralds the mind drain to come back as Johnson and defensive coordinator Glenn are snapped up for head teaching jobs amid the falling confetti. It’s a shining second for a typically beleaguered metropolis, however – like their neighbor throughout Lake Michigan within the early 80s – in the end one-and-done. AL
