As the NFL season begins to come to a close, the most exciting football we’ve all been waiting for comes to fruition: the playoffs. Now, in week 17, the playoff picture is set. The Chiefs will receive the AFC’s first seed, while the Lions and Vikings will fight in this final week of action for the NFC’s first seed.
Most of the powerhouse teams everyone was expecting to be in are in the playoffs. Some of those teams being the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Steelers, Eagles, Lions, and the Vikings. However, a couple of these teams are not at full strength anymore.
The Lions have been absolutely decimated by injuries in a year that was looking sure to be theirs. Although that hasn’t seemed to phase them, they’ve gone on to claim the best record in franchise history: 14-2. Many of these other teams are missing many key role players as well.
However, we’re talking about some of the best teams in football now. These teams are going to have the depth and coaching to immortalize themselves in NFL history.
However, the playoffs are a long road where overlooking any opponent can easily cost you a trip to the Lombardi. Here are some teams you do not want to see your team overlook in this playoff picture. The Denver Broncos, if it weren’t for the Chiefs also being in the AFC West this division might be theirs for the taking.
They have come out this year and showed that they are a legit team. At the beginning of the year, a lot of doubt was around their quarterback position with rookie Bo Nix, many thought he wouldn’t be able to get it done for this team. However, Nix has truly stepped up after a rough start to the year the rookie’s playing like he’s been in the league for a couple of years leading his team to close games and good wins.
Nix has taken the Broncos team to a decent 9-7 record against a tough schedule. The Broncos have one of the best defenses in all of football and will be hungry to take down whoever they face next.
However, they are still in the hunt for a secured spot in the playoffs. Nix and the Broncos will need to play the best football they have this whole year if they want to land a shot in the playoffs. Anything is possible and they are a likely playoff team but no matter how this plays out for them this season was nothing short of a huge step up for the Broncos.
Another team you do not want to see your team playing in the first round is the Buccaneers. If the Bucs clinch a playoff spot they could cause serious problems for the whole NFC. There’s just something different about playoff Baker Mayfield, he takes everything to the next level and lifts all of those around him to a new level.
I mean just last year the Bucs snuck into the playoffs with a 9-8 record with no expectations set. Then what does Baker do – he comes out and works the Eagles beating them 32-9. Then in the next round, they played the Lions extremely well, only losing by one score and making many fans extremely nervous that Baker might pull it off. Now Baker is in a very similar position but without one of his top receivers, but if the Bucs can get their running backs healthy for playoffs and fix some things on their defense this is going to be another team you do not want your team playing in the first round.
Another AFC team you don’t want to see your team playing is the Cincinnati Bengals. Their record doesn’t show this team’s talent whatsoever; Joe Burrow is playing at an MVP level putting his team on his back week in and week out.
Ja’Marr Chase is one of those game-changing wideouts. He’s been Burrow’s favorite target and been one of the best receivers in all of the NFL. As of now, he’s on pace for the triple crown leading the league in receptions, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards.
The only thing holding this great offense back is its lackluster defense. This defense has performed the worst out of any playoff-contending team by far; statistically being the 27th-worst defense in the entire NFL.
However, if this Bengals offense gets hot it will be near impossible for defenses to stop, and will beat any team that isn’t playing at their best. If the Bengals end up getting into the playoffs, this could easily be a team that flips the script and takes down the top-seeded teams. However, as of now, this is all a hypothetical scenario, as the Bengals are not yet in the playoffs yet and need a lot of things to go right for them to sneak in.
