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14 groups entered the postseason, and with a snap of a finger, almost half have fallen into the abyss of the offseason after Wild Card Weekend. Quickly sufficient, we’ll be all the way down to lower than a handful of groups nonetheless vying for a visit to Santa Clara for Tremendous Bowl LX. Earlier than we get to that time, nonetheless, we nonetheless have the divisional spherical to look at unfold.
As we gear up for an additional jam-packed weekend of playoff soccer, it is an interesting time to take a snapshot of the remaining eight groups left within the race. In fact, every considered one of them is among the many easiest within the NFL, however who stands above the remainder on this elite bunch? Beneath, you’ll find our rankings of the ultimate eight playoff groups earlier than the divisional spherical commences.
If San Francisco had been firing on all cylinders and wholesome, they’d seemingly rival for the highest spot on these rankings versus being on the backside. That is simply not the case, nonetheless. The Niners have been snakebitten all season with accidents, and had been simply dealt a crushing blow on offense as tight finish George Kittle went down with a torn Achilles towards Philadelphia. Among the many playoff groups this 12 months, San Francisco has endured probably the most participant video games missed on account of harm (together with playoffs). Kyle Shanahan has put collectively an impeccable teaching efficiency to persevere via these accidents up to now, however the expertise on the roster is beginning to change into remarkably skinny. Whereas Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey will spearhead the offense, Purdy will now need to throw to the likes of Demarcus Robinson and Jake Tonges to advance past the divisional spherical.
If we simply instructed the Bears that each quarter was the fourth quarter, they’d be No. 1. For no matter cause, Chicago actually solely appears to come back alive simply when their backs are pressed firmly to the wall. Ben Johnson has pulled the strings of his crew masterfully to get them atop the NFC North and to the divisional spherical, however there are some cracks. Caleb Williams has, at occasions, made throws that I am unsure every other quarterback might make, together with a sensational fourth-down move to Rome Odunze that went for 27 yards to assist spark the comeback towards Inexperienced Bay final week. Then there are some moments the place he badly misses a layup throw, which is puzzling. The largest concern for Chicago’s prospects to maneuver past the divisional spherical, nonetheless, comes on protection. Misplaced within the glory of the comeback over Wild Card Weekend was Jordan Love throwing 4 touchdowns to 4 totally different move catchers. As Chicago faces better offenses — like this week towards the Rams — the extra these deficiencies on protection may very well be highlighted. Or they merely do what they at all times do and bend however not break en path to a chaotic comeback. The Bears are really a roll of the cube.
Houston’s protection is top-notch, and its dominance was on full show on Monday evening towards Pittsburgh. Taking away something that the Texans offense did in that playoff matchup, the Houston protection gained, 13-6, thanks to 2 turnovers going again the opposite means for touchdowns. The truth that one aspect of the ball can singlehandedly win you a sport is a scary proposition for the remainder of the league, significantly after an everyday season the place they allowed 17.4 factors per sport (second-lowest within the NFL). We cease wanting placing the Texans contained in the top-five remaining playoff groups, nonetheless, due to an array of questions on offense. As a result of Houston was excellent defensively on Monday, it shaded how poorly C.J. Stroud performed. The third-year quarterback was fully out of sync and had 5 fumbles on the evening (two misplaced). He additionally had a brutal interception within the pink zone, giving him three turnovers over the competition. The protection bailed him out and allowed simply three factors off of these turnovers, however that kind of play isn’t sustainable for a deep playoff run. Houston can also be down prime wideout Nico Collins on account of a concussion for the divisional spherical, which might damage the offense even additional.
Josh Allen is the good equalizer of those NFL playoffs. Whereas Buffalo could also be ranked fifth on this listing, it would not be stunning to see them within the winner’s circle and with a Lombardi Trophy of their arms when it is all mentioned and performed. Why? As a result of they’ve the very best quarterback left within the playoffs in Allen, who can seemingly will his crew to victory at a second’s discover. Towards the Jaguars, it felt like Jacksonville had them within the crosshairs. That was till Allen placed on the Superman cape within the fourth quarter. He accomplished 9 of his 11 move makes an attempt within the last interval for 103 yards via the air, one passing landing, and added 21 yards and one other rating on the bottom. When you have got a quarterback able to that, the sky is the restrict. That mentioned, the remainder of the roster nonetheless does have some questions. James Cook dinner is a robust operating mate for Allen within the backfield, however the pass-catching group is missing, needing to lean on the likes of Brandin Cooks, who arrived in late November. Defensively, Buffalo is weak towards the run, which may very well be their undoing in some unspecified time in the future as effectively.
4. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams offense has been on an absolute heater. Since Week 7, L.A. leads the NFL in factors per sport (34.3), complete yards per sport (405.8), and passing yards per sport (269.8). That is giant partly due to Matthew Stafford taking part in at an MVP stage over that stretch and Puka Nacua persevering with to place himself atop the dialog as the very best receiver within the NFL. The wideout was as soon as once more clutch within the Rams win over the Panthers on Wild Card Weekend, catching 10 balls for 111 yards and two touchdowns (one speeding and one receiving). Nacua’s 108.3 receiving yards per sport common within the playoffs is probably the most all-time (min. 4 video games performed). With that type of firepower and Sean McVay urgent the button on the sideline, the Rams are as scary because it will get this time of the 12 months.
One side of Los Angeles that forestalls them from vaulting a lot larger, nonetheless, is questions on protection. Whereas they’ve a formidable move rush headlined by Jared Verse, you possibly can throw towards them when given sufficient time within the pocket, as evident in Bryce Younger posting 31 factors final week, together with Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan combining for 14 catches, 215 yards, and a landing. That requires Stafford and Co. to be excellent on offense. For the majority of the season, they’ve been, but when they’re knocked off kilter, it may very well be disastrous for the Rams hopes of one other Lombardi Trophy.
Denver enters the playoffs because the No. 1 seed within the AFC and boasts probably the greatest defenses within the NFL. This 12 months’s unit notched a franchise report 68 sacks, which is tied for the fifth-most in league historical past. Additionally they had the third-highest strain price amongst groups this season. With that elite play on the defensive aspect of the ball of their again pocket and the consolation of taking part in at Mile Excessive via the AFC Championship, due to incomes the highest seed within the convention, Denver does not have to ask its offense to do an excessive amount of aside from not flip the ball over. That mentioned, Bo Nix has been in a position to make performs, significantly when falling a bit out of construction. The Broncos second-year QB has probably the most completions out of the pocket (80) since Patrick Mahomes in 2018. He was additionally eleventh amongst all quarterbacks this season in EPA per dropback, so we’re taking a look at a signal-caller knocking on the door of being top-10 within the league. Denver’s speeding assault might want to enhance with RJ Harvey, as they’ve struggled within the aftermath of dropping J.Okay. Dobbins, however there are sufficient items in place for the offense to place up sufficient factors and carry the baton from the protection.
New England checks a number of bins for a crew that may advance far within the playoffs, if not win all of it. Drake Maye is a legit MVP candidate and is coming off an everyday season the place he led the league in completion proportion, yards per try, and passer ranking. In the meantime, Mike Vrabel is among the many prime coaches remaining within the playoffs and has orchestrated a outstanding turnaround with New England now 15-3 this season (together with playoffs) after a 3-14 marketing campaign beneath a earlier regime in 2024. Whereas New England has the coach and quarterback combo crucial for playoff success, possibly the largest growth of their hopes of a Tremendous Bowl journey got here on Sunday evening when the protection ignited. The unit was not unhealthy all through the common season, however it actually leveled as much as elite standing over Wild Card Weekend, holding the Chargers to a mere subject purpose and sacking Justin Herbert six occasions within the contest. If that’s what New England’s protection is evolving into, it is the third pillar to a bona fide championship contender.
Seattle is the betting favourite to win Tremendous Bowl LX at DraftKings Sportsbook, and for good cause. The Seahawks protection is second-to-none, rating first within the NFL in factors per sport allowed (17.2), yards per rush allowed (3.7), and third down effectivity (32.1 conversion price allowed). They had been additionally second within the league with 4.6 yards per play allowed. That is the kind of play defensively that Seattle has seen get to Tremendous Bowls up to now. In the meantime, the offense has been buzzing beneath offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who’s among the many hottest head teaching candidates this cycle. Seattle averaged 28.4 factors per sport over the common season, which ranked third within the league.
Seahawks have the NFL’s finest protection once more: How the autumn of the ‘Legion of Growth’ led to the ‘Darkish Aspect’
Douglas Clawson
Sam Darnold does present a bit little bit of uneasiness when fascinated about their championship aspirations on account of his historical past, however the Seahawks quarterback has been largely stellar this 12 months. He was top-10 within the NFL in completion proportion (67.7), passing yards (4,048), and passing touchdowns (25) in the course of the common season. He has one of many prime receiving weapons at his disposal in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a backfield duo of Keneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. With that protection holding it down on the opposite aspect, there may be sufficient offense to make them the Tremendous Bowl favourite.
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