NFL Playoff Picture

With the end of the NFL season rapidly approaching, anticipation surrounding the playoffs and qualifying teams continues to grow. What a season it’s been in terms of surprises: our last power rankings article already looks to be severely incorrect, which shows how unpredictable a year for football it is. Now, without further ado, here is our list of teams we see making the playoffs as of the end of week 13.

NFC:

#1 Seed (First Round Bye): Los Angeles Rams - Matthew Stafford is playing at an MVP level, leading the league in touchdown passes. The Rams' balanced offense and strong defense make them the most complete NFC team.

#2 Seed: Green Bay Packers -   Jordan Love has developed into a steady leader, and the team has a steady run game going as Josh Jacobs gets a touchdown almost every game. Furthermore, their pass game has elevated heavily after Christian Watson’s return from IR. 

#3 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles - Despite a midseason stumble, they remain atop the NFC East thanks to Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat ability and clutch wins (besides the Cowboys, Chargers, and Bears). Also, their defense remains among the top of the league, limiting the run and pass game. 

#4 Seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -  At 7–7, they’re inconsistent but still tied for the NFC South lead. Baker Mayfield’s offense keeps them competitive. The only thing keeping them back is their horrible rush defense. Emeka Egbuka has also been slumping, but with the return of Mike Evans, that is no problem for Baker. 

#5 Seed: Seattle Seahawks - Their 11–3 record shows consistency. Sam Darnold and a strong defense have them firmly in wild-card control. Also, JSN has really shone, as he is aiming to beat Calvin Johnson’s record for the most receiving yards. 

#6 Seed: San Francisco 49ers - Injuries have slowed them, but their defense and Christian McCaffrey’s versatility keep them alive. Now that Brock Purdy is fully healthy, we can start seeing what he has to offer in the playoffs. 

#7 Seed: Chicago Bears - A resurgent defense and Caleb Williams’ improved passing have them in playoff contention. Their defense leads the league in forced turnovers, with Kevin Byard III having 6 interceptions.

Possible Wild Card Teams:

Detroit Lions - At 8–5, they have a 54% playoff chance. Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown lead a dangerous offense. Jahmyr Gibbs has also really elevated their run game, rushing for 3 touchdowns every other week. 

Dallas Cowboys - Sitting at 6–7–1, their defense has collapsed, leaving Dak Prescott needing perfection. Their playoff odds are slim at 1%. 

Carolina Panthers - At 7–7, they’re inconsistent but still tied for the NFC South. Bryce Young flashes potential, but inconsistency hurts.

AFC:

#1 Seed (First Round Bye): Denver Broncos -  – At 12–2, they’re the AFC’s best team. Bo Nix has emerged as a reliable QB, and Sean Payton’s system is thriving. Also, their elite defense is locking down wide receivers and leads the league in sacks. 

#2 Seed: New England Patriots -  Drake Maye is playing at an MVP level, and Mike Vrabel has revitalized the team. They lead the AFC East at 11–3. Drake “Drake Maye” Maye is excellent at throwing the deep ball and also has the occasional rushing touchdown. 

#3 Seed: Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence is on fire, throwing five TDs and rushing for one on the ground versus the Jets. They’ve won five straight and lead the AFC South. The only thing stopping them is the Texans and their mighty defense being the breaking point for this offense. 

#4 Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Rodgers, in his 21st season, has stabilized the offense. At 8–6, they lead the AFC North. However, the race is tight as the Ravens are slowly catching up. 

#5 Seed: Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert has battled through injury but still has 3,191 passing yards. At 10–4, they’re firmly in the wild card. Also, their secondary has been very good, getting four picks against the Eagles and then two against the Chiefs back-to-back weeks. 

#6 Seed: Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen and James Cook power one of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses. At 10–4, they’re chasing the Patriots in the AFC East. However, their horrible defense has been bringing them down. 

#7 Seed: Houston Texans - C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins lead a balanced offense. Their defense is elite, allowing just 16.3 points per game. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter haunt the dreams of the QBs that they face as they both have 11+ sacks on the season, showing just how elite this defense is. Topping off that, their secondary is lockdown with the likes of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter.

Possible Wild Card Teams:

Indianapolis Colts - Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor have kept them competitive at 8–6, but recent losses have hurt their chances. And now that Daniel tore his ACL and Phillip Rivers is playing, it will be interesting to see where they end up at the end of the season. 

Baltimore Ravens -  At 7–7, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry keep them dangerous, but inconsistency has plagued their season. Despite Lamar Jackson’s slump, the Ravens are still winning, but this can’t keep up forever. At some point, Lamar will have to step up and start leading this team. That starts with limiting the interceptions and fumbles.