The NFL season is flying by, as week 14 is upon us.
Playoffs are near as we enter the month of December.
This NFL season feels like no other. There does not feel like a team that truly is the favorite.
Here are the four division leaders in the AFC entering week 14:
- 1. New England Patriots (11-2)
- 2. Denver Broncos (10-2)
- 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
- 4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
The three AFC Wild Card teams entering week 14:
- 5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- 6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
- 7. Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Three AFC teams that are still in the hunt entering week 14:
- 8. Houston Texans (7-5)
- 9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
- 10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Here are the four division leaders in the NFC entering week 14:
- 1. Chicago Bears (9-3)
- 2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- 3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- 4. Tampa Bay Buccanneers (7-5)
The three NFC Wild Card teams entering week 14:
- 5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- 6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
- 7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Three NFC teams that are still in the hunt entering week 14:
- 8. Detroit Lions (7-5)
- 9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
- 10. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
Below is the AFC and NFC playoff picture and the most dangerous teams in each conference.
AFC Playoff Picture
With the playoffs approaching, certain teams feel like they are true Super Bowl contenders.
It feels like any team in the AFC can make it to the Super Bowl this year, as no team is a true favorite. However, certain teams are in a much better position than others.
Of the four current division leaders, the Broncos and Patriots feel like they are Super Bowl contenders. Jacksonville is having a good season; however, they do not feel like a team that can go on a playoff run and make it to the Super Bowl. The Ravens are the major question mark among the current division leaders. They have the best QB out of the division leaders. However, Lamar has not played nearly as well as he usually does, and one has to question if he is fully healthy. A week 14 matchup against the spiraling Steelers is a good game for Lamar to get back on track.
The Chargers, Colts, and Bills are all 8-4 and in a wild-card position. Of these teams, the team that has the best chance to go on a playoff run is Buffalo because of Josh Allen. Allen is one of the best QBs in the league. Los Angeles has a good team, but the offensive line is missing Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. This will be too much to overcome in the playoffs. For the Colts, Daniel Jones is coming back down to earth and is a liability in the playoffs.
The Texans, Steelers, and Chiefs remain in the hunt in the AFC. Houston’s defense is elite, which makes them a Super Bowl contender. The Texans also have QB C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins, which gives them a formidable offense. This is a very good Texans team. The Steelers are spiraling, with fans at Acrisure Stadium chanting to fire Tomlin in their week 13 home loss against the Bills. Pittsburgh is no threat at all in the AFC. With Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the Chiefs will always be a dangerous team.
Most Dangerous AFC Teams
Six AFC teams feel that if they make the playoffs, they can go on a run.
- New England Patriots
- Denver Broncos
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
New England is having a tremendous season. They are in the top 10 in points scored per game and points allowed per game. Drake Maye is the slight favorite to win MVP over Matthew Stafford. With Mike Vrabel as the head coach, the Patriots improved tremendously very quickly. The Patriots have a very good QB and head coach, which is always a recipe for success in the playoffs.
Denver’s defense is elite, leading the league with a whopping 51 sacks on the season. They rank fourth in points allowed per game. The offense has been about average, but Bo Nix and the offense have come through when needed this season. This is a tough Broncos team that can defeat anybody in the AFC.
Houston is very similar to Denver. A tremendous defense that no team wants to face. C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins give the Texans a formidable offense as well. No team in the AFC will feel good about facing Houston if they make the playoffs.
Baltimore, Buffalo, and Kansas City are in the same spot. They are dangerous come playoff time because of their QBs. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes will always be dangerous in the playoffs.
NFC Playoff Picture
While the AFC has six dangerous teams that can make a playoff run, the NFC is different. Every team in the NFC playoff picture feels like it can make a playoff run, with the exception of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.
Tampa Bay is spiraling and banged up. They do not feel like a team that can go on a playoff run. Carolina has improved quite a bit from last season, but still, with Bryce Young at QB, they are at a major disadvantage in a stacked NFC.
Besides Tampa, the other current division leaders (Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia) all feel like Super Bowl contenders. The Bears have a great rush attack and create takeaways on defense. It feels like the sky is falling in Philadelphia, but this team is still too good to disregard. They have a very good defense and a ton of playmakers on offense to say they are not true contenders. The Rams may be the most complete overall team in the league.
Seattle, Green Bay, and San Francisco are all Super Bowl contenders as well. The only thing worrisome about Seattle is QB Sam Darnold come playoff time. Green Bay has one of the best defenses in the league, a good rush attack with Josh Jacobs, and QB Jordan Love can get the job done. San Francisco is dealing with season-ending injuries to their top two defensive players, but is still finding ways to play well on defense and is 9-4. Kyle Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the league. The 49ers can beat any team in the NFC.
Detroit and Dallas are still in the hunt and are both dangerous if they make the playoffs. They both have a lethal offense that can score on any team.
Most Dangerous NFC Teams
Unlike the AFC, each team that makes the playoffs in the NFC can make a playoff run, except the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers.
The NFC is stacked with a bunch of really good teams.
Eight teams in the NFC can make the Super Bowl. Chicago feels like it is a year early, but with their rushing attack, the defense being able to create takeaways, and Ben Johnson as the head coach, the Bears can make a playoff run.
Except for the Bucs and Panthers, all eight other teams that are in a playoff spot or in the hunt in the NFC can make it to the Super Bowl.
