As Week 17 continues on Sunday, the Super Bowl is looming, and the playoff picture is eerily close to being formed. 10 of the 14 positions have been filled; one remains in the AFC, three remain in the NFC. With two weeks left, it leaves room for some early postseason predictions.
Will the Lions’ depleted roster cost them a Super Bowl? Yes. They control their own destiny to win the one seed, but they must get through Minnesota to do so, and with how banged-up they are, it’s a game they could drop very quickly. Their playoff goal is sealed, but in a game as big as the Super Bowl, a team with less snaps may flounder against a more polished foe. The question of Dan Campbell being an elite head coach will be answered this postseason.
What can stop the Eagles right now? Themselves. On paper, they have the most complete roster in the league, as well as the most talent. The roster would say this is a Super Bowl-winning team. To get the one seed, they need to win out against the Cowboys and Giants, Detroit must lose out, and Minnesota must lose to Green Bay. The only thing containing the Philadelphia is their chronic case of underachievement, especially in the playoffs.
How possible is a playoff berth? Likely. After their win over the Cardinals yesterday, the Rams now must rely on strength of victory to win the west over Seattle, unless they beat Seattle next week. It’s an odd tiebreaker, but it’s more likely Los Angeles just beats Seattle to claim a spot the easy way and likely face an NFC opponent. While the NFC West wasn’t as competitive as years past, it’s still a very successful season for the Rams. As long as Matthew Stafford is their quarterback, they’ll be a dark horse Super Bowl contender.
How possible is a playoff berth? Unlikely. The jury is still out on Michael Penix Jr., but it’s move that doesn’t scream “Super Bowl-bound”. They have the Commanders and the Panthers, two dangerous games if they aren’t careful, especially with Tampa Bay right on their heels. They have the four seed right now, but Tampa Bay looks ready to swoop in.
Can Sam Darnold take Minnesota to the promised land? No. Darnold has done an amazing job coming in for an injured J.J. McCarthy. He has earned a short-term extension from Minnesota, depending on McCarthy’s recovery, or could get a long-term contract with a different team, like Las Vegas or Cleveland. However, against the best of the best, there’s been notable struggle from him. We could see him and the offense level off on their momentum.
Are the Packers a legitimate Super Bowl contender? Yes. The Packers are playing their best ball at the best time. Toyotathon is here, so Jordan Love is playing at his best. The team is getting healthier, with Jaire Alexander being saved for a Super Bowl run. With a banged-up Detroit team, a Philly squad that gets in their own way, and the Vikings fizzling out, the sky is the limit for the cheeseheads. Plus, the gap between 1996 and 2010 is 14 years, just like the gap between 2010 and 2024; if Love is the next generational Packers quarterback, it would be fitting that he keeps up with the Super Bowl tradition.
How possible is a playoff berth? Very likely; it’s win-and-in. The only way they don’t make the playoffs is if they lose out and Tampa Bay wins out. Tampa plays Carolina and New Orleans, but Washington plays the Falcons and Cowboys, two games they can win. If Green Bay loses out, Washington could get the four seed as well. With a rookie QB, the Commanders are playing with house money, much like Denver.
How possible is a playoff berth? Unlikely. The Rams beat the Cardinals, while the Seahawks embarrassingly beat the Bears. The two teams play each other next week. There’s a lot of minutiae to get Seattle into the playoffs, making it less of a chance they show up. Seattle’s in a strange spot; With Geno Smith under center at 34, they aren’t moving backwards, but they aren’t going forward, either. What Seattle does this offseason will be pivotal for the future of the franchise.
How possible is a playoff berth? Likely. As said before, Atlanta holds the division right now, but Tampa can get in through the NFC South or the wildcard. If they win out and Washington loses out, they get the seven seed. If they have more wins than Atlanta in these last two games, they run the division. It seems like a matter of time before they quickly shuffle into this complicated playoff picture.
The NFL playoff picture is updated here: https://www.nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture
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