The NFL common season is nearing its stretch section with a number of groups in good place to make a run on the playoffs because the decrease seeds. While it’s tough to emerge from the underside of the group, the contenders play a sort of ball that enables them to problem the elites in a single-elimination match that highlights every workforce’s greatest flaws. Additionally, the darkish horses within the playoff area have some blue-chip gamers who can flip the sport round with one large play that tilts the sport of their workforce’s route.
Given a while to take a look at the potential playoff area, let’s determine which darkhorse groups have the potential to stay round within the postseason match for some time. Here are my contenders and pretenders for 2024:
The addition of Kirk Cousins was anticipated to take the Falcons’ offense to the following degree. Although the veteran gunslinger has stabilized an important area place for the Dirty Birds, the Falcons stay a maddeningly inconsistent workforce that may’t string collectively wins in opposition to the league’s heavyweights. If the offense fails to attain greater than 30 factors, the protection does not have the damaging potential to show the sport round with a game-changing turnover or splash play. Unless the protection transforms down the stretch, the Falcons appear to be a “one and carried out” playoff participant.
Verdict: Suitors
Credit Jonathan Gannon for turning the Cardinals right into a playoff contender in his second season on the job. The energetic tradition builder has remodeled the “Bird Gang” into an rising contender by embracing a complementary soccer method that mixes Kyler Murray’s spectacular playmaking skills with a quick, vigorous offense and blue-collar protection. While the Cardinals’ old-school recreation plans lack pizzazz, the workforce continues to rack up wins in a aggressive division. With the workforce constructed to play within the playoffs because of their three-dimensional method, the Cardinals can be robust in a single-elimination match.
Verdict: contenders
The Ravens are undoubtedly title contenders with a spectacular offense led by a two-time league MVP and two-time NFL dashing champion. While few defenses are able to slowing the Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry freight practice, the Ravens’ self-inflicted errors may derail the practice earlier than it rumbles down the playoff tracks. The mixture of penalties, turnovers and massive performs allowed on blown assignments may stop the Ravens from realizing their championship potential. Considering that the majority playoff video games are determined primarily based on errors and errors, the Ravens have to keep away from beating themselves earlier than specializing in eliminating their opponents.
Verdict: contenders
Bo Nix’s emergence as an Offensive Rookie of the Year favourite coincided with the workforce’s rise into playoff competition. The first-year quarterback has discovered his groove in Sean Payton’s offense, posting spectacular numbers as a recreation supervisor/playmaker in a ball-control offense. With Nix main all rookies in offensive touchdowns (19), posting a powerful 14:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio since Week 4, the Broncos’ offense completely enhances a top-five protection with stifling potential. If the rookie quarterback continues to run the offense effectively with minimal errors and turnovers, the Broncos may make life depressing for opponents as an underdog with key parts (operating recreation, protection, quarterback playmaking) to a championship puzzle .
Verdict: contenders
The Packers have the expertise and potential to defeat a heavyweight in a “win or go dwelling” recreation. A gritty operating recreation and a flashy aerial assault may hold defensive coordinators up at night time. Additionally, the Packers have a playmaking quarterback (Jordan Love) with the potential to impress out and in of the pocket. With a protection that focuses on taking the ball away with Xavier McKinney main the best way, the Packers can arrange their offense with brief fields and glorious scoring alternatives in essential moments. In a high-pressure playoff atmosphere the place video games are routinely determined by one rating or much less, the Packers’ star energy may tilt the sport of their favor.
Verdict: contenders
Despite the hype surrounding the Texans for the reason that offseason, the Texans have been a little bit of an enigma this season. As CJ Stroud faces his second stoop, the Texans’ offense has grow to be a “grind-it-out” workforce with Joe Mixon main the cost. While the H-town operating recreation has produced some wins, the Texans will not be capable to attain a postseason degree with out their QB1 enjoying at an elite degree. Perhaps the return of Nico Collins can carry out the most effective in Stroud, however till the second-year professional regains his Pro Bowl type, the Texans appear to be a “one-and-done” candidate within the match.
Verdict: Suitors
Jim Harbaugh continues to stay to an old-school recipe that has helped him win at each degree. The Chargers’ mixture of run-game excellence, environment friendly quarterback play and defensive dominance has catapulted the workforce into title competition, with few opponents able to managing a 60-minute battle with the rising bully. While the workforce’s expertise does not rival the celebrity ranges of a number of the league’s heavyweights, the Chargers’ gritty mentality and unwavering confidence make them a nightmare to face within the match. With a celebrity quarterback within the bullpen to bail them out in each state of affairs, the Chargers may surprisingly win all of it as a wild card workforce.
Verdict: contenders
An elite coach and quarterback are all the time a risk to run, however the Rams’ Sean McVay-Matthew Stafford mixture will battle to hold a workforce filled with younger gamers into the ultimate levels of the playoffs. Sure, the offense can management the sport with Stafford throwing darts to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua or hitting Kyren Williams and Blake Corum between the tackles on varied energy runs, however the workforce’s general youth and inexperience may stop the Rams from end the mission. While it is laborious to disregard the influence of the Rams’ distinctive workforce leaders, the NFC playoff area will demand greater than Los Angeles can muster this season.
Verdict: Suitors
The aftermath of the Super Bowl left the 49ers dazed and confused for a lot of the season. The perennial heavyweights look nothing just like the workforce that routinely pummels opponents with a blistering operating recreation and suffocating protection. Injuries, inconsistent execution and waning enthusiasm hold the 49ers from imposing their will on opponents regardless of their superior expertise. Maybe Kyle Shanahan can discover a technique to flip the swap down the stretch, however the 2024 model of the 49ers seems to be like a washed-up fighter hanging on for pricey life within the championship rounds.
Verdict: Suitors
After stunning the soccer world with a powerful begin behind a red-hot rookie quarterback, the Commanders are again on Earth as their opponents determine methods to maintain Jayden Daniels beneath wraps. The Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate is able to single-handedly main the Commanders to victory, however he’ll want his supporting solid to placed on Cinderella’s slippers for Washington to gentle up the scoreboard in opposition to elite opponents. If the offense fails to regain its potent potential, the Commanders protection should step up with extra turnovers and well timed stops for the workforce to win with out participating in a shootout.
Verdict: Suitors
Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He additionally analyzes the sport for NFL Network and as a co-host of the “Moving the Sticks” podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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