Ralph Vacchiano
NFL reporter
We’re not even midway via the season but, however the NFL playoff image is beginning to take form.
At least that is true on the high of the league the place the Chiefs, Texans, Lions, Steelers, Bills and even the stunning Commanders seem on monitor for a postseason berth. Everyone else is simply jockeying for place proper now forward of what may very well be a wild second-half playoff run.
Here’s a take a look at the NFL playoff image, together with the groups with the most effective postseason odds, after Week 8:
NFC
1. Detroit Lions (6-1)
There merely is not a greater or extra full staff within the NFL proper now than the Lions. And they’re clicking on all cylinders after defeating the Tennessee Titans. No staff has a greater 1-2 working again than David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Jared Goff was almost flawless at quarterback. In the final 4 video games they’ve averaged 43 factors. It shall be troublesome to beat them and so they understand it.
Playoff Odds: 94%
2. Washington commanders (6-2)
If anybody would not consider in Jayden Daniels proper now, nothing will persuade them. He received a win out of a positive loss on Sunday with a game-ending 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown. He additionally badly outplayed Caleb Williams, who was picked one spot forward of him within the draft, finishing 21 of 38 passes for 326 yards and a landing and speeding eight instances for 52 yards. He’s actual, and so, apparently, are the commanders. They have all of the elements to remain within the working.
Playoff Odds: 71%
3. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)
They’ve turned the division round by beating the Bucs twice within the final 4 weeks, although simply barely every time. Kirk Cousins actually has Tampa’s quantity as he threw for 785 yards, eight touchdowns, and only one interception in these two video games. Now, if he and the offense can try this in a few of their different video games, they’re going to actually have one thing going for them.
Playoff Odds: 77%
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-4)
It was a great signal that the offense lastly took over within the 28-27 win at Miami, with QB Kyler Murray taking part in his finest recreation (307 yards, 2 touchdowns) and the offense placing scoring essentially the most factors since Week 2. We’re fortunate they’re in a division the place nobody is on monitor but. They received 3 of 4, however did not look spectacular doing so. And their protection continues to be an enormous drawback.
Playoff Odds: 32%
5. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Yes, Malik Willis led the Packers to a win over the Jaguars in aid, however they know their long-term fortunes depend upon the standing of QB Jordan Love. He suffered a groin damage Sunday and performed so long as he might, finishing 14 of twenty-two passes for 196 yards and an interception. But he was pulled within the third quarter and Green Bay will now wait to see how lengthy he is out.
Playoff Odds: 68%
6. Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
They’ve misplaced two in a row since beginning 5-0, which is alarming provided that the final time they began 5-0 (in 2016) they completed 8-8 and missed the playoffs. In equity to them, the final couple of weeks have been troublesome. They narrowly misplaced to the Lions (31-29) after which misplaced at Los Angeles simply because the Rams received receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua again. The program is about to get rather a lot simpler.
Playoff Odds: 83%
7. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
After an uneven begin to the season, they’ve lastly began to look good within the final couple of weeks. Their protection has began to carry out higher beneath new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. And new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has leaned into their sturdy floor recreation. Quarterback Jalen Hurts additionally appears to be like like he used to. He and Saquon Barkley are proving to be the dynamic duo everybody anticipated. They are scorching on the heels of the rising commanders after two straight wins after the bye.
Playoff Odds: 77%
From the skin wanting in: THE Chicago Bears (4-3) he had a foul loss, falling to Washington throughout a Hail Mary by Jayden Daniels. They have a ok protection to compete, so long as rookie QB Caleb Williams performs higher than he did Sunday (10-of-24, 131 yards). … THE Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) they’re on fireplace offensively, even within the loss to Atlanta on Sunday. But they misplaced Chris Godwin for the season and Mike Evans for a month, and with out their two finest WRs it may very well be a battle. … It’s a testomony to Kyle Shanahan and his protection that regardless of all of the accidents, the San Francisco 49ers (4-4) they’re nonetheless first within the NFC West. But they’re going to want RB Christian McCaffrey again quickly, particularly with Brandon Aiyuk out for the yr. … THE Seattle Seahawks (4-4) that they had a foul impression towards the Bills and are actually going within the mistaken path, having misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games. … Los Angeles Rams (3-4) may very well be lurking as a harmful staff now that they’ve injured receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua again of their lineup. … THE Dallas Cowboys (3-4)in the meantime, do not look harmful in any respect. The solely benefit of their staff is the Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb connection, and which may not be ok.
Josh Jacobs on recovering from Jordan Love’s loss to the Jaguars
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
They not appear to be the giants they as soon as had been, they may use a #1 receiver. 1 and one thing nonetheless appears off with Travis Kelce. But they’re undefeated and have a top-10 protection and offense, so doubt them at your peril. They nonetheless have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, and that is actually greater than sufficient to make them Super Bowl favorites till somebody knocks them out of the working.
Playoff Odds: 99%
2. Houston Texans (6-2)
The Texans received some much-needed separation within the AFC South by topping the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. However, you do not make issues simple. They have a well-balanced assault, supported by a powerful protection, however their struggles within the purple zone almost price them. However, CJ Stroud is nearly as good as he was as a rookie and the Texans have received 4 of 5.
Playoff Odds: 97%
3. Buffalo payments (6-2)
They are what they’re for a number of years now: a formidable staff able to blowing up anybody thanks largely to an MVP-caliber quarterback in Josh Allen. It looks like they put a foul three-game highway journey behind them (loss in Baltimore, slim loss in Houston, slim win in New York towards the Jets). They additionally opened up area within the AFC East. But all eyes are on the massive house take a look at towards the Chiefs in three weeks’ time.
Playoff Odds: 96%
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
Give Mike Tomlin credit score. His controversial determination to start out QB Russell Wilson and bench Justin Fields actually gave their offense a jolt final week. And they’ve an excellent probability to proceed their momentum Monday evening at house towards the New York Giants. They’ve received two straight now, but it surely’s clear that their destiny depends upon how properly this quarterback transfer works.
Playoff Odds: 85%
5. Denver Broncos (5-3)
No one has achieved a greater job as a coach within the NFL this season than Sean Payton, who in some way managed to get the Broncos to wins 5 of six video games after an 0-2 begin. They’re doing it with top-of-the-line defenses within the NFL. But do not look now: rookie QB Bo Nix simply had the most effective recreation of his profession (28 of 37, 284 yards, 3 touchdowns). He has additionally thrown only one interception in his final six video games. The competitors, nevertheless, will increase within the subsequent two matches.
Playoff Odds: 63%
6. Baltimore Crows (5-3)
Sunday’s disappointing loss to Cleveland slowed what had been the NFL’s most spectacular exhibiting: 5 straight wins after an 0-2 begin. This could be a short lived hiccup, although. For some purpose, the Ravens solely handed the ball to Derrick Henry 11 instances on this recreation (73 yards). The final 5 video games ought to have proven them that when he begins, they do too.
Playoff Odds: 87%
7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
The Chargers quickly positioned themselves within the playoffs by beating the decimated New Orleans Saints. But they will not keep there lengthy if they cannot get their offense going. Despite having Justin Herbert at quarterback, they’ve in some way averaged simply 16.8 factors over their final 5 video games and topped 23 simply twice. This will not work in an offensive league.
Playoff Odds: 68%
Outside groups wanting in: THE Indianapolis Colts (4-4) they slipped out of the highest 7 after they narrowly missed defeating the Houston Texans on Sunday. They will not catch the Texans within the AFC South and keep within the playoff race with out some offensive enhancements. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is struggling, and his offense has averaged simply 285.3 yards during the last three video games. … THE Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) They even have offensive issues. After getting blown out by the Eagles on Sunday, they’ve averaged simply 269 yards and 18 factors over the previous three weeks — embarrassing for a staff with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase. But they’re clearly able to extra, which makes them harmful.
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Bills QB Josh Allen
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York and, earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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