As the NFL regular season ended in dramatic fashion, many fans around the nation were ready for some postseason football, the time of year that most sports fans cannot wait for.
Starting with the AFC. The number one seed is a very tough and well-oiled team, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have managed to maintain a 13-4 record in a tough AFC conference. They are the fan favorite to win it all this year. With another year of Lamar Jackosn bullying teams, it will be interesting to see if he can lead this team deep into the playoffs.
“The Ravens are just that team… no one wants to play them, and every time they play a ‘Super Bowl’ contender team, they boat race them,” LHS sophomore Dreyden Smith said.
At the number two seed is an interesting team, the Buffalo Bills, led by superstar quarterback Josh Allen. Although the team has an 11-6 record, they should not be counted out because they have not lost a game since Dec. 10. This team is on a streak right now. Could they possibly advance further into the playoffs?
The third seed is the Kansas City Chiefs. This year, we have not seen the same team seenlast year at all. The offense without Tyreek is just not the same, and it shows. Also, how is Patrick Mahomes supposed to compete at a high level when his Receivers have the number one dropped pass rating in the league?
Though this team is nowhere close to the team last year, they have still managed to win the AFC West for the eighth consecutive year. They go into the playoffs with an 11-6 record, just like the Bills.
The fourth seed is quite surprising. With head coach DeMeco Ryans being there for his first-ever year, he has coached this team to the playoffs. The Houston Texans have overcome adversity and secured themselves a playoff berth with a 10-7 record. If you had told sports fans that this team would have even had a winning record this year, they would have laughed in your face. But this team, led by a rookie C.J. Stroud, can manage to win some ball games. This is not a team to count out, as Stroud is a very likely candidate for OPOY and OROY. This Texans team is not a team that I would like to play against in the playoffs.
Coming out of the AFC North is a tough team in the Cleveland Browns. Although this team lost starting running back Nick Chubb early in the season due to injury, this Browns team has somehow managed to keep an 11-6 record throughout this year. They also lost their starting quarterback and their backup to injury. They are now stuck with Joe Flacco at QB. But I definitely would not count this team out, as we all know what Flacco can do in the playoffs. This Browns defense is very good, and it is going to be fun to watch them face off against a young team in the Texans.
As a surprising sixth seed is the Miami Dolphins. Coming into the year, everyone thought that this was the team to beat, especially after signing star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Though this team should be a higher seed, they still have an 11-6 record and are still a threat to play against. They went to Denver earlier in the year and embarrassed Sean Payton. This Miami team is not one to count out, and it is going to be exciting to see what they can do while they travel to Kansas City and face a tough Chiefs team.
Rounding up the AFC with the number 7 seed is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers, who are coached by Mike Tomlin, always find themselves either in or just missing the playoffs. With a 10-7 record, this Steeler team is going to have to fight through some challenges and adversity if they want a chance to be in a Super Bowl game. Though their record is not phenomenal, they are still one of those teams that are just tough in the playoffs.
Now, with NFC, at the number 1 seed spot is the San Francisco 49ers. WOW, what a season this team has had so far. They have many offensive and defensive threats, and the sky’s the limit for these guys. Holding a respectable 12-5 record in a tough NFC division, the 49ers should have no problem getting to at least a conference championship. This team did get embarrassed by the Ravens earlier in the year, but they are still a dangerous team.
At a well-deserved two seed is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have had an interesting season, to say the least. They have their ups and downs every year, but this is not a team that you would want to play in the playoffs. At any time, this team can flip a switch and dominate. With a respected 12-5 record, they just missed the top seed as the 49ers beat them 42-10 in the regular season.
The Detroit Lions are the third seed going into the playoffs with a 12-5 record as well. The Lions will have their hands full with a tough six-seed the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions have started to play better, but at times, it does not look promising for this talented group. Though they have lost some games they should not have, this team can be very scary to play at times. Just like the Cowboys, they can flip that switch at any time and make the game a blowout.
The four seed is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Does this team still exist? Yes, they do indeed. After a rough regular, they managed to maintain a sloppy 8-9 record while winning the NFC South as well as beating some talented teams. It is good to see that Baker Mayfield found success somewhere. This team is also gonna have their hands full with the Philadelphia Eagles. Though both teams have been struggling to win games, it should be a good matchup. You should not count this team out, though.
Coming in as the five seed in the AFC is the Philadelphia Eagles. This team started off the year very dominant and were definitely fan favorites to have an easy way to the Super Bowl. Though they have not been playing their best ball recently, this team has a lot of chemistry, and after all, they were in the Super Bowl last year, so they do know how to win in the postseason. It is gonna be interesting to see what star QB Jalen Hurts, along with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, can draw up on the chalkboard. This team should have a good shot in the playoffs as long as their defense can step up.
At the six seed spot is the Los Angeles Rams. With a respectable 10-7 record, this team has fought through many injuries and hate. This team does not really have any business being in the playoffs, but it is going to be interesting to see what Rookie Puka Nacua and the offense can bring to the table facing off against a tough defense in the Detroit Lions. This matchup is gonna be interesting as both QBs got traded to the opposite team, and now they are paying their ex-teams in the playoffs. Is this in the script?
Coming in as the seventh seed is the Green Bay Packers. Let us be honest: After Aaron Rogers got traded, everyone kind of forgot about this team, but somehow, in some way, Greenway inched their way into the playoffs and found themselves facing off against the Cowboys. This matchup is going to be historic, as when both teams last faced off in the playoffs, the game came down to the controversial Dez Bryant incomplete pass call… Let us hope no game comes down to this this year. This Packers team is not a team I would want to play in the playoffs, either.
