Change Edition – Playoff Possibilities NFL *Written Prior to Playoffs*

With the NFL’s regular-season beginning to close out, we’ll start looking at teams’ chances to make the playoffs. In this article, I will be providing information about teams that are already in playoff contention. Starting with the AFC, the front runners are the Patriots, Ravens, Titans, and the Chiefs. 

The Patriots started the season out with a pretty rough patch. However, they have picked up their act by winning their last six games straight. At the start of the season, all the hype about Mac Jones being the next Tom Brady slowly faded because of the performance. Although now Mac Jones is looking really good and has won them some close games. At the moment, the Patriots are sitting at the top of the AFC East with an 8-4 record. This season, the Ravens are also performing well on top of the AFC North with an 8-3 record. 

Quarterback Lamar Jackson has had a great season. Along with the defense, they are looking like a really solid team. Taking a look at the Titans, I think of a strong team missing a big piece of their puzzle. Recently, running back Derick Henry got foot surgery on his right foot, so it’s not looking like he will be back until the playoffs. However, the Titans won enough games to make it to a possible playoff spot, so all they have to do is hold on to that spot and hope Henry can get back and healthy in time for playoffs. Lastly, we are going to look into the Chiefs. They had a lot of pressure or expectations coming into this season after getting blown out in the Super Bowl last year. After a shocking 4-4 start to the season for the Chiefs, they started picking it up. They are now 7-4 and leading the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback, has had more interceptions this year than ever before. Now, saying that still doesn’t mean he’s bad, just people expect a lot out of him, and that’s not fair to Mahomes, but it’s looking like he’s getting his groove back and ready for playoffs. As long as the Chiefs win half of their remaining games on the season, they would be guaranteed some playoff spot. 

Moving over to the NFC, the Division leaders so far are the Cardinals, the Buccaneers, the Packers, and the Cowboys. The Cardinals are 9-2 leading the NFC West. To add to this accomplishment, the Cardinals were at the bottom of many people’s lists for the NFC West coming into this season. This is one of the toughest divisions in football, with all teams coming into the season as deep playoff contenders. The Buccaneers are the reigning Super Bowl champions. They have looked great from the start of the season and have a really good shot at making it to the Super Bowl again. They are currently leading the NFC South with a record of 8-3. In the NFC South, the Packers are leading with a record of 8-3. The Packers have been the only team in that division that has looked competitive this season so to see them on the top doesn’t surprise me. Finally, the Cowboys. They are winning the NFC East with a record of 7-4 they looked good at the start of the season but have started to decline as the season goes on. In the East, it hasn’t been competitive for a long time because the last time someone won a Super Bowl from the NFC East was in 2016. If I had to choose one team from the AFC and one from the NFC to make the Superbowl these would be my picks. I would choose the Packers from the NFC because they are looking really good and so is Aaron Rodgers. From the AFC I think the Chiefs will still end up going to the Superbowl even though they don’t have the best record right now. I am excited to see what happens as the season closes out and ready to watch some playoff football.