The 2023-24 NFL Season is almost halfway over, and it’s still anyone’s league. Some teams like the Panthers and Cardinals have suffered loss, after loss this season, and won’t be making a postseason run any time soon. While others like the Chiefs and Eagles look like a lock for the playoffs yet again.
This time of year, many teams are “in the hunt” for playoff contention, and they’re the most exciting story lines of the second half of the season.
Here are ten NFL teams that still have a chance to make the playoffs this year.
10. Buffalo Bills
Who let the Bills take a step back this year? Despite having the third best offense, and fifth best defense in the NFL in terms of points scored, the Buffalo Bills are 5-3 after a bye in week eight and are second place in the AFC East. Does this team have enough to overthrow the Dolphins and win the division?
9. New York Jets
Staying in New York, and in the AFC East, the New York Jets have had a whirlwind of a season so far. Sitting at 4-3, the Jets have kept themselves afloat this year after losing Aaron Rodgers in the first game of the season (would have loved to have seen that episode on Hard Knocks). Still, the Jets have beat tough teams, like Philadelphia and Buffalo. Sitting middle of the pack in the AFC, and with a fairly easy remaining schedule, we may see Zach Wilson in a playoff game if the Jets make the playoffs and Rodgers doesn’t return.
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8. Las Vegas Raiders
In a tough AFC West Division, Head Coach Josh McDaniels has his team sitting pretty. Realistically, the Chiefs are probably going to win the division, so the Raiders will be fighting for a wildcard spot. The Raiders have struggled putting up points this season, and their defense hasn’t been a whole lot better. In addition, the Raiders have already gone through three quarterbacks this season due to injuries. Still, the Raiders have always been a tough and scrappy team, who provides themselves opportunities to win games. In a fairly open conference there is still a chance that this team can claw their way into the playoffs.
7. Los Angeles Rams
Over in the NFC, the LA Rams are one of three teams in the NFC sitting with three wins after week eight. Having already taken down the Seattle Seahawks, who now lead NFC West, the Rams hold the tie breaker over their division rivals. The offense and defense have played alright, and in terms of points for and against, both side of the ball has been in the middle of the pack. However, the Rams offense is the healthiest it has been all season, and Matthew Stafford just got Cooper Kupp back from injury. Kupp, paired with Puka Nacua could mean trouble for opposing defenses.
6. Minnesota Vikings
We can’t blame this season on Kirk Cousins because he has been an absolute beast this season. Only issue is that he’s done fro the season and who knows if their backup can save them. Still, the offense is in the bottom half of the league, same with the defense. The defense has allowed an average of 21.7 points per game, while the offense has only managed to put up an average of 21.6.
Despite Kirk Cousins leading all NFC quarterbacks in passing touchdowns with 18, the team kept finding ways to lose games early in the season. However, the Lions, who currently lead the division in the NFC North have shown weakness, and the Vikings have been able to string together a few wins in the past two weeks.
If healthy, the Vikings are able to make a move to overthrow the Lions in the NFC North, and that needs to start now.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield may be turning into the Next Ryan Fitzpatrick; an awkward quarterback that balls out on occasion, but then produces massive letdowns when he sings a large contract. Still, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit third in their division at 3-4 as of week eight, behind the Falcons. The Buccaneers are a game and a half behind the Falcons, who previously beat the Buccaneers 13-16 in Tampa Bay. Still, Baker Mayfield has shown flashes that he could be a legitimate starter in the NFL, and the Buccaneers defense has been a top ten unit in terms of points allowed, and takeaways. This is helpful considering the Offense has not put up more than 25 points in a game this season. But still, in a competitive NFC South anything can happen.
4. New Orleans Saints
Another NFC west team sitting at 4-4 is the New Orleans Saints. Despite losing four of their last six games, the Saints are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Derek Carr has performed about as well as you would expect Derek Carr to perform, and after serving a three-game suspension, Alvin Kamara is back in the lineup. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Kamara turn into a workhorse for the remainder of the season. The week six loss to the Texans, and week seven loss to the Jaguars were both within one possession on the scoreboard. The Saints have the potential to be a good team, and just need to put it all together in the final half of the season.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a winning record after their first seven games and are sitting at 4-3 with the second-place spot in the AFC North. Their offense has been a bottom feeder this year, averaging 17.2 points per game. Their Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been under fire all season long, and as a run first team, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have only one touchdown each, and less than 500 rushing yards combined between the two backs. Still, the Steelers Defense has kept games close enough for the offense to win, with the exception of blowout losses to the 49ers and Texans. Still, the Steelers have a winning record, and only sit a game back behind the Baltimore Ravens for top of the division.
2. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have shown that they can compete when the going gets tough, and are still in the running to win the AFC North. The Defense has been led by Myles garret, who has become an absolute gamebreaker this season. While the offense as found its rhythm under quarterbacks P.J Walker and Deshaun Watson. However, the Browns lost to the Steelers and Ravens already this season, so they do have to make up some ground if they want to win the division. But the remainder of the Browns’ schedule sets them up perfectly to take control of their own future.
1. Houston Texans
Everyone likes a good underdog story, and C.J Stroud took it personally when the Panthers selected Bryce Young over him in the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie year, Young has thrown nine touchdowns to only one interception, and has been a contestant to break multiple rookie passing records. The Texans’ ground game has not been good at all, as Dameon Pierce is the only running back that has found the endzone all season. The defense has exceeded expectations this year, and despite being towards the bottom if the league in terms of takeaways, the Texans Defense has held strong, only allowing opponents an average of 18.8 points per game. This has allowed the Texans too remain at .500 through the first six games and has allowed for the potential to make the playoffs this season.
