Ralph Vacchiano
NFL reporter
Four groups have already clinched a spot within the NFL playoffs, and 4 extra will be capable to clinch them this weekend. And there are in all probability 4 different groups which can be shut sufficient to profitable that they will really feel fairly assured.
So actually, there aren’t many NFL playoff spots actually up for grabs with 4 video games left within the common season. But imagine it or not, there are nonetheless 11 groups at the moment out of the playoff image that have not been mathematically eradicated but.
For probably the most half, their probabilities of making the playoffs are slim, however they will at the very least cling to various ranges of hope. Some of those hopes are even a bit of real looking.
So this is a have a look at the 11 groups on the bubble and their probabilities of avoiding the seemingly inevitable blowout (with playoff odds percentages from Next Gen Stats):
Their wild win over the Bills on Sunday can also have been a warning to any groups they’re chasing. They generally is a very harmful attacking group and are beginning to present indicators of slowing down. They’re only a sport behind in each the NFC West and the wild-card hunt and are able to maintaining the stress. It will not be simple with journeys to San Francisco and New York (to face the Jets) within the subsequent couple of weeks. But they find yourself with a golden alternative, with division video games at dwelling in opposition to the reeling Cardinals and the opener–Seahawks place.
Playoff Chances: 33%
View: Pretty good with Matthew Stafford’s arm, Sean McVay’s thoughts and people Rams receivers.
A month in the past they seemed just like the favorites to win the NFC South, however they have been in free fall ever since. They’ve misplaced their final 4 video games, and even worse, quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown eight interceptions and no landing passes throughout that span. They’re nonetheless just one sport out of the division lead and have the tiebreaker over the first-place Bucs, however the best way they’re taking part in proper now, one sport appears like 10.
Playoff Chances: 39%
View: Not horrible, however provided that Captain Kirk recovers from melancholy.
They could also be two video games behind in each the AFC South and the wild-card race with 4 video games to go, however the Broncos can put them out of their distress by beating them in Denver on Sunday. This is a giant step up in school for the Colts, who’re 2-4 of their final six video games with their solely wins coming in opposition to the lowly Patriots and Jets. They actually need quarterback Anthony Richardson to start out tapping into his potential, however that does not appear doubtless in opposition to Denver’s protection.
Playoff Chances: 25%
View: Not good, though in the event that they one way or the other beat Denver all the pieces would change.
They’ve received 4 of their final 5 video games and eventually appear to be the offensive juggernaut everybody anticipated them to be now that Tua Tagovailoa is again and wholesome. They merely dug a gap too large for themselves with their 2-6 begin. They have a delicate sufficient schedule (at Houston, in opposition to San Francisco, at Cleveland, on the Jets) that they’ll in all probability end with 9 and even 10 wins. They simply want the Ravens, Chargers or Broncos to fall of their route a bit of within the wild card hunt. And that does not appear very doubtless.
Playoff Chances: 14%
View: Not nice, but when one of many different contenders falters even barely, be careful.
Heck, they made an important displaying after the bye week, shedding twice in three video games to the Seattle Seahawks. They had been main the NFC West and at the moment are basically three video games again (two, plus the tiebreaker) with three to go. They’ve misplaced three straight video games and have an opportunity to repair a variety of issues over the following two weeks in opposition to the Panthers and Patriots, however once they do, there in all probability will not be sufficient time to get again into the sport.
Playoff Chances: 9%
View: They’ll kick themselves once they understand it is over.
They have not seemed alike since opening day, and it was fairly clear by week two that this season was going to be a wrestle. Yet they’re solely two video games behind. Their Super Bowl is Sunday at dwelling in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams. If they win and the Seahawks lose, their possibilities will improve considerably.
Playoff Chances: 6%
View: They higher win on Sunday.
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase could be one of the best QB-WR duo in soccer and it stays unimaginable that this group is thus far behind. They are ok, at the very least offensively, to win all their remaining video games. But they’re already three video games behind within the wild card race and have 4 left to play, so even then they’d want an excessive amount of assist. Plus, even when they received it, Zac Taylor would discover a approach to screw all of it up.
Playoff Chances: 3%
View: What a waste.
They’ve received three out of 4 video games since firing Dennis Allen, however it’s all a bit of too little, too late, particularly since they’ve now misplaced quarterback Derek Carr (once more) to damage. Furthermore, any miraculous comeback would have been undone by a late-season schedule that included the Commanders, Packers and Bucs.
Playoff Chances: <1%
View: Hey, at the very least they did not lose to the Giants.
They actually thought they may make it with the remaining schedule, however they ruined all the pieces on Monday evening with that play by Leon Lett and the crushing loss to the Bengals. The reality is, with Cooper Rush because the quarterback, a miracle would by no means have occurred. At this level, even when they win, there are too many groups forward of them that would wish to lose quite a bit.
Playoff Chances: <1%
View: Forget it, even when Jerry Jones will not.
Remember once they had been 4-2 heading into their bye week? It’s been fairly a cliff-dive since then. They’ve misplaced seven straight video games and nonetheless must face the Vikings, Lions, Seahawks and Packers? Oh. The soccer gods are clearly indignant with Chicago.
Playoff Chances: <1%
View: They have little probability of not ending the season with 11 consecutive defeats.
The variety of issues that must occur for this miracle to happen is astronomical. Their faint hopes will doubtless finish Sunday, however their probabilities of reaching the 2025 playoffs look like rising with each sport they play.
Playoff Chances: <1%
View: See you subsequent 12 months.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the earlier six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York and, earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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