NFL Playoff Picture

Better Luck Next Year

Baltimore Ravens (2-6)

Without Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs, and currently sitting two and a half games back in the AFC North, it would take a small miracle for the Ravens to make the playoffs. Add in the game in Cincinnati later this season and you can bury this team.

Cleveland Browns (2-7)

Cleveland sits in last place in the AFC and has lost four straight games. Going into week 10, the Browns still do not have a healthy or competent quarterback. It is safe to say that their season is over.

San Diego Chargers (2-7)

The Chargers have lost five straight and the list of injured players that they have is longer than the list of teams who aren’t making the playoffs. Players drop every game and the Chargers continue to stack losses. The Chargers just cannot turn it around quick enough to make noise.

Detroit Lions (1-7)

With a new offensive coordinator, general manager and president, Jim Caldwell has a lot on the line in the next eight games. Unfortunately, the playoffs are not one of those things.

Chicago Bears (3-5)

At 3-5, the Bears are not anywhere near mathematically eliminated. However, with home losses to the Vikings and Packers, and sitting three games behind each in the NFC North, there is no time to catch up.

New Orleans Saints (4-5)

In any statistical way you look at it, the Saints have the worst defense in the league. They need to be more focused on firing Rob Ryan than making the playoffs. They have a lot of ground to make up anyway.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)

Due to the Buccaneers’ conference and division records, they have more life than the Saints. However, with a rookie quarterback and a weak pass defense, they are five games out of first place in the NFC South. They are also three games out of the wild card spot. Teams that stand between them and that wild card spot are the Packers, Falcons, Rams, Seahawks and Eagles. There is just too much to climb.

San Francisco 49ers (3-6)

The 49ers are back three games in the NFC West and have to face the Seahawks and Cardinals in consecutive weeks. That should effectively end their season.

Playoff Pretenders

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

It’s been a while since the Jaguars were a relevant team and it continues to be that way. Although they have some players that look to bring positive upside to the team, such as rookie workhorse TJ Yeldon, they are still at least a couple of years away from being serious contenders.

Houston Texans (3-5)

What happened to that preseason team with the shut-down defense and relentless line-play that was going to take the league by storm? Although DeAndre Hopkins looks to be a Pro Bowl wide receiver, the loss of Arian Foster and inconsistent performance by their quarterbacks has led to a struggling offense. Add on a lackluster defense, and the Texans are looking at mediocrity.

Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Marcus Mariota is looking good coming off of his injury, but he can’t carry the whole team. Delanie Walker has emerged as a solid receiving option, but the offense lacks the balance it needs to be really successful. Although the AFC South is arguably the weakest division in the NFL, the Titans will have to do a lot more than they currently are to be taken seriously.

Miami Dolphins (3-5)

Going into this season, the Dolphins were favored by a lot fans. The Jets and Bills both added new coaches and the Patriots had an off-season to forget. However, so far this season, the Dolphins have underwhelmed and have not been the team they’re capable of being. The offense has had its moments with Jarvis Landry and Lamar Miller, but the Patriots are on a terror and in a tough AFC, they don’t have what it takes to pull a wild card spot.

Dallas Cowboys (2-6)

The Cowboys came into this season with a team that really opened some eyes. Their offensiove line has been dominant. They lost DeMarco Murray, but Jerry Jones proved his point to be valid when he said that the offensive-line made the running back. With big injuries to key players plaguing them again, they’ve really dug themselves into a hole. The Cowboys are currently in last place in the poor NFC East, and by the time the “real” Cowboys hit the field, it’ll be too late.

Washington Redskins (3-5)

The Eagles stole the divisional show this off-season with all of the moves made by Chip Kelly. The Redskins themselves didn’t make too many moves, and they even lost arguably their best player in Brian Orakpo. Desean Jackson has been dealing with injury issues again and their running game is as big of a question as their quarterback situation. Still though, somehow the Redskins are hanging around in the NFC East. Unfortunately, with the players that they have and the capabilities of the other teams in their division, the Redskins are the biggest pretenders of them all.

Playoff Contenders, Super Bowl Pretenders

Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

With injury issues plaguing Andrew Luck and a suspect offensive line, the Colts will have a hard time protecting their quarterback. Although they currently sit at first place in the AFC South, they only hold a half game lead over the Houston Texans. Expect a quick exit from the Playoffs for the Colts.

Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams are getting healthier as the season goes on. Due to tie breakers, the Bills currently sit in the five seed in the AFC. If their run defense can get a healthy Kyle Williams back, they could be in line for a road game against the AFC South champion. That could be favorable to them, but in the grand scheme of things, they have already lost to the Patriots and Bengals at home. They would need to be fully healthy to make it past any divisional round game.

New York Jets (5-4)

The Jets are a team that is tough to figure out. The home loss to Buffalo may kill them in tie breakers, but a meeting with the Bills in in week 17 will likely control their destiny. In the big picture, with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Chris Ivory apparently playing through injuries, the Jets would need a good draw to avoid a one and done playoff game being their best case scenario.

Kansas City Chiefs (3-5)

The Chiefs continue to hang around in the playoff discussion. They’ve done a good job of protecting the football and maintaining a positive turnover ratio, but the lack of explosive playmakers on offense hurts their chances. Obviously, losing Charles to a season-ending knee injury was catastrophic. Sitting a game and a half back of a wild card spot, the Chiefs have some work to do in order to make a playoff push.

Oakland Raiders (4-4)

The Raiders have taken some big steps so far this year and have regained some respect. Oakland is currently only a half game out of the wild card and the team has continued to improve as the season has gone on. Their main concerns are their inexperience on offense with rookie star Amari Cooper and young Derek Carr, along with their defensive secondary. 39-year-old Charles Woodson is the only bright spot in the defensive secondary, but should have a good veteran-influence on the locker room.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

Currently tied with Green Bay for first place in the NFC North, the Vikings may be the biggest surprise so far this year. Their third-down defense has been solid all season and they’ve been winning games with a strong running game and time of possession. They could make a run in the playoffs if they can improve their passing game. Teddy Bridgewater only has six touchdown passes along with six interceptions and opposing teams are out-gaining the Vikings on average. Unless the Vikings can top the Packers and win the NFC North, their chances of making it past the divisional round of the playoffs are not good.

Atlanta Falcons (6-3)

The Falcons have one of the best offenses in the NFL, fifth statistically. Devonta Freeman has made a name for himself and Julio Jones has lived up to his. However, the Falcons have a -7 sack ratio so far this year and struggle to protect Matt Ryan. Their lack of a solid number two wide receiver will hurt their offense even more in the playoffs as opposing teams will likely key on Jones to shut him down. With the Panthers two and a half games ahead of the Falcons, a wild card spot seems likely. A matchup against the NFC East champion would likely mean a playoff victory, but any other NFC playoff team would be a favorite against Atlanta at this point.

New York Giants (5-4)

The Giants have the best turnover ratio in the NFL at +11. The closest team to them are the Patriots at +7. However, the Giants’ turnover ratio is more due to Eli Manning’s care with the football than the defense’s ability to create takeaways. The Giants are also 24th in the league in rushing. The divisional title will likely come down to a week 17 matchup against the Eagles, but don’t expect the Giants to make it very far if they do make the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)

The Eagles trail the Giants by a half game for first place in the NFC East. So far, the Eagles have lost at home against Dallas (with Tony Romo) and on the road against Washington. Last week, they beat the Cowboys in Dallas, but only by six points. Philadelphia’s offense has struggled on third-down, converting only 30.8 percent of the time. Their playoff hopes will come down to their final two divisional games, specifically their week 17 matchup against the Giants.

St. Louis Rams (4-4)

Todd Gurley has exceeded expectations in his rookie season and the Rams are ranked fourth in rushing in the NFL. However, they are 31st in total offense, 30th in scoring offense and the worst passing team in the league. Enough said.

Super Bowl Contenders

Cincinnati Bengals (8-0)

The Bengals have had their best start in the franchise’s history by starting the season 8-0. This is a deep and talented team that has been led by the play of Andy Dalton, which has the Bengals ranked second in DVOA for offense. The offense has been clicking and their defense has been playing like a top ten defense. The big question is if Andy Dalton can shake the proverbial monkey off his back in the playoffs. Dalton has gone 0-4 in the playoffs with a touchdown to interception ratio of 1:6. If the Bengals can find ways to rely less on Andy Dalton in the playoffs, then they have a shot at winning it all.

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

The Steelers have been a roller coaster ride of emotions this season. There were high expectations for the Steelers, but sadly, they were all on the field at the same time for a total of a quarter and a half this season. Suspensions and injuries have plagued this team, but they have managed to churn out a 5-4 record. This is still a very talented offense even without Le’Veon Bell, and their defense has surpassed expectations by ranking 12th in DVOA for Defense. If the Steelers can win the games they’re supposed to win and get healthy before the playoffs, then this will be a team even the Patriots won't want to face.

New England Patriots (8-0)

The Patriots have retaliated against their fines and accusations by starting the season 8-0 and scorching opponents by scoring an average of 34.5 points per game. The Patriots’ remaining schedule is a cakewalk and it wouldn't be surprising if they went undefeated in the regular season. This Patriots team is wickedly good in a mediocre league, evidenced by their DVOA in which they rank first in offense, eighth in defense and first in special teams. It’s a safe bet to say the Patriots will be playing their first playoff game in the divisional round. They’re currently front-runners to win the Super Bowl.

Denver Broncos (7-1)

The Broncos have been a very intriguing team to say the least. Peyton Manning’s touchdown to interception ratio is 9:13, which is by far the worst start of his career and has this offense ranked 31st in the DVOA rankings. The inexperienced offensive line and the lack of feeling in Peyton's fingers have been burdens all season, but the Broncos do have a shining spot. They have the league’s best defense, allowing only 17.4 points per game. With depth, a physical front seven and a shutdown secondary, the defense is ranked first in the DVOA rankings. The Broncos have the best game manager in the league, even if he isn't at 100 percent, and they have a historically great defense to back them up. Will Peyton have one last great push for a Super Bowl run before Father Time takes another?

Green Bay Packers (6-2)

The Packers started the season 6-0, but have lost two straight. This could be due to playing back to back road games against the best defenses in the league. Even without his top playmaker and an underperforming offensive line, Aaron Rodgers has been efficient in distributing the ball and not turning the ball over, which is why their offense ranks fifth in the DVOA rankings. As for their counterpart, the Packers have been one of the better defenses in the league, ranking 11th in the DVOA rankings. The Packers’ remaining schedule will be a tough one, but if they can shake Minnesota and get Lacy going on the ground, they'll have a much easier time getting a first round bye in the playoffs. As for their Super Bowl aspirations, the Packers always have a chance as long as Rodgers is at the helms.

Carolina Panthers (8-0)

‘Haters gonna Hate’, and hate people have on the Panthers. Questions loomed in the preseason about their lack of offensive weapons. They lost their best wide receiver before the season began and now their best wide receiver is their tight end, yet Cam Newton has been making it work. Newton has been leading the way with his MVP-like play. Cam has been a dual-threat gladiator that has the offense ranking 14th in passing and fifth in rushing. Complementing the Panthers’ offense is a very stout and efficient defense that ranks second only to Denver’s defense in DVOA rankings. This is a balanced team that needs to stay focused and finish out the season strong. The Panthers will need to try to get home field advantage for the playoffs so they don't have to make any trips to Lambeau or out west.

Arizona Cardinals (6-2)

The Cardinals may have one of the most balanced teams in the NFL where they rank third in offense and defense in the DVOA rankings. Their offense is putting up a blazing 32.4 points per game while their defense is only allowing 19.1 points per game. The leading catalyst for this team has been Carson Palmer, who may be having the best year of his career. He’s averaged nearly 300 passing yards per game, has a touchdown to interception ratio of 20:6 and leads the league with 9.2 yards per attempt. Not only have they been hot on offense, their defense is one of the best at preventing big plays ranking second against the deep ball. The Cardinals have a rough remaining schedule and close out the season