With the 2024 common season concluded, 14 NFL groups stay in Super Bowl rivalry.
Of course, just one group will emerge unscathed. The different 13 will more than likely be victims of their very own flaws.
FOX Sports has recognized essentially the most “questionable” models (offense, protection, particular groups) of all of this 12 months’s playoff groups, which might maintain their respective groups again from a deep playoff run.
Here are our high six:
Houston Texans offense
The offense is why many anticipate Houston to be distinctive within the playoffs.
Quarterback CJ Stroud struggled – a step down from his historic rookie season – however the surrounding circumstances have been additionally unfavorable. The offensive line was a legal responsibility in each the working and passing recreation. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s recreation administration and play calling have attracted consideration, elevating questions on his future in Houston. On high of that, the Texans are with out two of their high three receivers, with Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell out for the season with torn ACLs.
The group ranked under common in most offensive metrics through the common season: scoring (nineteenth), complete offense (twenty second), complete touchdowns (35), EPA per play (twentieth) and move price. permitted stress (28°), amongst these.
Pittsburgh Steelers offense
Quarterback Russell Wilson and Pittsburgh’s offense entered a downward spiral within the last month of the season, and it is onerous to see how that might out of the blue change for the playoffs. The Steelers scored fewer than 20 factors in every of their 4 straight losses to finish the common season, a span by which that they had six turnovers. Wilson’s passer score additionally declined in every of these video games.
Aside from receiver George Pickens, the Steelers haven’t got an actual menace on the surface (their passing recreation struggled when Pickens was sidelined with a hamstring harm three video games into the common season). Pittsburgh is eleventh in speeding offense (127.4 speeding yards per recreation), however is not very environment friendly on the bottom, rating twentieth in speeding yards per try and twenty fifth in speeding EPA per play, in response to Next Gen Stats.
Detroit Lions protection
Injuries decimated Detroit’s protection through the common season, hurting a group that was a Super Bowl favourite getting into the season. Superstar Aidan Hutchinson, standout defensive deal with Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis are among the many gamers dominated out for the common season (although Hutchinson, who broke the fibula and tibia in his left leg in Week 6, left the door ajar for a doable return to the Super Bowl, ought to Detroit get there).
While defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn did a formidable job with who he had accessible — the Lions held the Vikings to 9 factors in Week 18, serving to Detroit safe the NFC North title and a first-round bye — personnel shortages there could also be too many to think about. overcome within the playoffs.
The Lions have been pressured to blitz lots late within the 12 months to generate stress: Their blitz price of 37.1% for the general season was second within the NFL, in response to Next Gen Stats. As a consequence, their passing protection suffered. Detroit ranked thirtieth in complete move protection (244.0 passing yards allowed per recreation) in 2024.
Washington commanders protection
Even with a defensive-minded coach like Dan Quinn on the helm, the Commanders have been common or under common in most defensive metrics through the common season. This consists of factors allowed (18th), third downs (fifteenth), purple zone (twenty second), EPA allowed per play (tied for seventeenth) and stress price (seventeenth).
Washington’s protection has been significantly inconsistent. This can change into particularly problematic within the playoffs, the place stopping the run is at a premium. The Commanders allowed 162.3 speeding yards per recreation over the ultimate three weeks of the common season.
Buffalo payments particular groups
The Bills have been certainly one of solely six NFL groups to permit a kickoff return landing within the common season. They allowed 30.8 yards per kick return, fifth-worst within the league.
Buffalo additionally tied for twenty second in yards allowed per punt (48.0). For the season, the group ranked twenty eighth in particular groups DVOA, which compares play to league common, bearing in mind components comparable to state of affairs and opponent high quality, in response to FTN Data.
Minnesota Vikings particular groups
Minnesota ranked twentieth in yards allowed per kickoff return (28.5) and twenty fifth in yards allowed per punt (48.4) in 2024. And just like the Bills, that they had one of many NFL’s least efficient particular groups models in total, putting twenty seventh in DVOA, in response to FTN.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, the place he was Titans beat the author for a 12 months and a half. It lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) earlier than shifting to Tennessee. You can comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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