The NFL’s annual playoff push is right here.
Every season contenders rise and pretenders fall, and December is usually the purpose on the calendar yr when the true separation begins.
Which makes proper now the right second to have a look at the groups that may really separate themselves from the pack this yr. Listed here are the 9 groups we at SB Nation imagine can even have Tremendous Bowl aspirations, ranked by who’s most definitely to be holding the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans subsequent February.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
We knew Jim Harbaugh was coming again to the NFL on the proper time, however the lingering query was whether or not the Chargers was the appropriate place. Now as we method the playoffs it’s clear he’s going to make all this work.
Harbaugh’s hard-nosed method to each offense and protection comes on the excellent time when the league is swinging again to the significance of line play and a robust operating recreation. Regardless of having none of these issues when taking the job, Harbs has managed to mildew the workforce in his picture shortly, and Justin Herbert is responding at quarterback to his new function.
Proprietor of the NFL’s top-ranked protection in factors allowed, the largest concern the Chargers have proper now’s scoring. In dire want of extra weapons, it would take this workforce some time to achieve its full potential — however additionally they have an out of doors probability of contending proper now. Their ninth ranked spot is extra a product of needing to combat by means of a loaded AFC within the playoffs, which might be the place the story ends for this workforce, but it surely’s a monumental achievement that we will even speak concerning the Chargers as a possible Tremendous Bowl workforce this early in Harbaugh’s tenure.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
As a lot as I really like the massive play capability of their protection, I’m undecided how really sustainable the Steelers’ offense is for a Tremendous Bowl run. Nonetheless, you too can say that their excessive variance play is likely to be the chaos ball they should go additional within the playoffs than they’ve earlier than. QB Russell Wilson is the king of excessive variance at this stage of his profession, however what he’s doing rather well is checking the ball down and getting it into the arms of the Steelers’ playmakers. Letting the Steelers’ talent place guys do the work after the catch and assist prop up Wilson throughout this run goes to be key, as a result of asking him to do it by himself isn’t going to work.
7. Inexperienced Bay Packers
The rationale I feel the Packers could make this deep playoff run is as a result of the offense is constructed and made for January soccer. With their bodily floor recreation led by RB Josh Jacobs — which was on full show within the Packers’ loss to the Lions on Thursday Evening Soccer — they’ll grind groups down with their physicality and simply effectively schemed up and designed run recreation. In addition they have a QB who can mild up the scoreboard in Jordan Love, who doesn’t take any checkdowns in any respect. Their receiver group, whereas extremely younger, has a lot selection and has been led by the robust play of Romeo Doubs. This workforce has an offense constructed for making a run. The issue is the inconsistent move rush and total defensive play. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has achieved an important job with this protection, however the move rush can typically disappear at important occasions. If they’ll’t get constant move rush, it is likely to be an uphill battle, however I’m greater than effective believing on this offense.
6. Minnesota Vikings
If there’s ever a yr for the Vikings to make an unpredictable playoff run, it’s this one. Minnesota got here out of the gates scorching when no person anticipated they might, they usually’ve continued to trip that wave. Sam Darnold is doing every thing requested of him at quarterback, however let’s face it: Life is fairly simple when you may have guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson (amongst others) to make life simpler for you.
The largest distinction maker this season for the Vikings has been defensive coordinator Brian Flores. This group hasn’t struggled to attain in recent times, however the concern has at all times been a middling protection that compelled each recreation right into a shootout.
In two seasons Flores has taken the Vikings from twenty eighth within the NFL in factors allowed, to fifth this season. Using essentially the most artistic fronts and blitz packages within the league has allowed Flores to craft a protection that causes nightmares, even with a sub-par group of expertise — notably within the secondary.
That’s what makes Minnesota so intriguing as we method the playoffs. It’s one factor to scheme week-to-week, however the concept of Flores having time to organize a technique to stuff opposing offenses might make this workforce the Cinderella of the NFL this season, and it actually wouldn’t be shocking to see them make a run from the Wild Card to the sector in New Orleans.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Let’s begin with the plain: the Ravens have arguably the perfect offense within the sport. With a QB enjoying at an MVP stage in Lamar Jackson, a bodily and menacing run recreation that includes Derrick Henry and offensive coordinator Todd Monken drawing up the performs, this offense can take Baltimore to the place they haven’t been since 2012. Nonetheless, the protection is the larger downside. They’ve handled accidents, sure, however the passing recreation has been wrought with protection busts and inconsistent move rush. Justin Tucker is extra inconsistent than earlier years, so additionally they lose their particular groups benefit. But, this workforce continues to be ok to win the Tremendous Bowl, on the again of an offense that may put up factors on anybody.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Keep in mind just a few weeks in the past, when Nick Sirianni was on the recent seat and the Philadelphia Eagles appeared destined for a disappointing season?
A lot has modified since then.
Many will level to Saquon Barkley as a motive behind the Eagles’ rise. Philadelphia runs the ball greater than anybody within the NFL, with a operating play proportion creeping in direction of 60%. That pattern has accelerated in latest weeks, with the Eagles operating the soccer on greater than 61% of their performs over their final three video games.
However what can be important to their success in latest weeks is the improved play of their protection. Vic Fangio’s unit is third-best within the league in relation to Anticipated Factors Allowed per Run, and that group confirmed precisely what they’ll do in opposition to Baltimore final week.
Final yr Philadelphia crashed down the stretch, finally out of the playoffs in embarrassing trend. Proper now, they appear able to do one thing totally different this postseason.
3. Buffalo Payments
This was alleged to be a transition yr. It was alleged to be the season that the window closed on this present model of the Buffalo Payments.
As a substitute, they’ve asserted themselves as one of many high contenders within the league.
Definitely Josh Allen performs a job. The Payments passer has put himself into the MVP dialogue along with his play of late, and is on tempo to place up huge numbers for Buffalo as each a passer, and a runner. However they’ve additionally assembled a robust supporting solid round him, leaned into the operating recreation past what #17 does along with his legs, and look primed to win video games down the stretch with what they’ll do up entrance on each side of the soccer. Their protection is among the many league’s finest in Anticipated Factors Added in opposition to each the run and the move, and they’re on the high of the offenses within the league in each these classes.
That often provides as much as a profitable season.
2. Detroit Lions
No person within the NFL is extra well-rounded or harmful than the Detroit Lions. Sitting at 12-1 after a hard-fought win over Inexperienced Bay Thursday night time, the workforce is poised to symbolize the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl this season, and deservedly so. Detroit at present leads the league in factors scored, they’re 2nd in factors allowed — whereas additionally boasting a High 5 dashing offense and run protection.
All the pieces is clicking for the Lions this season. A fruits of what Dan Campbell has been constructing since arriving within the metropolis. It’s a testomony to how effectively organized and coached the Lions are that each offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are seeing their names pop up in head teaching rumors, which makes this season maybe the final we see this workforce fully intact because it’s been.
Shifting ahead there are two main pitfalls the Lions must keep away from: Their move protection, which ranks twenty fifth within the NFL, and their relative inexperience in huge video games. They’ll must mitigate different groups’ capability to assault them within the air, whereas additionally making certain their comparatively younger roster doesn’t get overwhelmed with the expectations being positioned on them.
If the Lions can do that then there’s a really actual probability they’re hoisting the Lombardi Trophy come February.
1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
There are two methods to view the 2024 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Essentially the most optimistic viewing of the 11-1 Chiefs is that it is a veteran, examined workforce that has discovered methods to win in each single recreation however one. They’ve discovered methods to win with their offense, their protection, and even with particular groups.
Whereas final season the massive query going through Kansas Metropolis was how they might fare when compelled to go on the street within the AFC playoffs, this yr has been concerning the Chiefs going through the monumental process of a three-peat, one thing that has by no means occurred within the Tremendous Bowl period. Lots of issues have to interrupt your technique to pull that off, however this yr’s Kansas Metropolis workforce has discovered methods to drive the problem, and bend the breaks of their path.
The extra pessimistic method? The Chiefs are the worst 11-1 workforce in NFL historical past, because of their +54 level differential this season.
For now, Kansas Metropolis has earned the good thing about the doubt.
Sadly for them, within the playoff push one unhealthy break may be the distinction between a three-peat, and falling quick.