And then there were 14…
The first ever 17-game, 18-week NFL regular season is in the books. It’s now time for the…second-ever 14-team postseason tournament.
The field will be cut down to eight after this weekend. Unlike most years, the race for this year’s Super Bowl is wide open.
How will everything play out? We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, here’s how all 14 playoff teams stack up in our Super Wild Card edition of the power rankings.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (17)
Two heart-pounding finishes and perhaps the biggest upset of the 2021 NFL season led to the Steelers squeaking out the final playoff berth in the NFC.
First order of business: The Indianapolis Colts were humiliated by the NFL’s worst team in a must-win game. Chris Boswell provided the OT heroics in Baltimore. Now all Pittsburgh needed was a NON-TIE finish between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
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The Steelers’ longtime rivals played nice and actually went for the win, and Daniel Carlson’s game-winner in overtime sent Pittsburgh to the postseason – and the Chargers packing.
And so, by the absolute slimmest of margins, Ben Roethlisberger’s career lives to fight another week. Up next, a trip to Arrowhead to take on Patrick Mahomes and the surging Kansas City Chiefs.
Pittsburgh, of course, was blown out 36-10 right in this stadium back in Week 16. The defense – the heart and soul of this team – got absolutely nothing going against Mahomes and company that night.
But crazier things have happened. The two-time Super Bowl champ can still make plays when it matters most, as we saw in Baltimore on Sunday. Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson will give KC some troubles. And hey, we know TJ Watt and that fierce front seven can take over a game at any minute.
Chances are, Big Ben’s limitations and the wear-and-tear on his body will lead to an early postseason exit. But at least the Steelers gave themselves a chance to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. And Roethlisberger wouldn’t want it any other way. If the Hall of Fame run ends at Arrowhead, so be it.
Better than having to watch the entire postseason from the couch…
13. Las Vegas Raiders (14)
We don’t make the final decision, but Rich Bisaccia certainly earned the opportunity to take over the full-time head coaching position.
For the first time in five years, the Raiders are postseason bound. Given all of the hardships and tragedies that plagued this team off the field, it was simply incredible to see this resilient team rally together and claim the AFC’s final playoff spot.
Vegas’ Week 18 OT win against the Chargers will certainly go down as one of the NFL’s all-time greatest games. The defense blew it big time, but Derek Carr and the offense made just enough plays to sneak in. As a double-whammy, they sent an arch-rival home!
And these Raiders are more than capable of going on a run. Carr, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow and Josh Jacobs round out a potent offense. The Maxx Crosby-led front seven can easily make up for the shortcomings in the secondary, as we saw in Week 18.
There’s little time to celebrate, however. The Raiders are now on to Cincinnati – see what we did there? – to take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Back in Week 11, the Bengals dominated the Raiders at the Death Star, cruising to a 32-13 win. But the Raiders enter with victories in each of their final four games, and we know Carr can keep pace with just about any other quarterback on any given day.
Never count out a mentally tough and battle-tested team like the Raiders. Now, if they could just at least win their first postseason game in 19 years…
12. Philadelphia Eagles (12)
Having already clinched a playoff spot, the Eagles were happy to rest several key starters in Saturday’s Week 18 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles’ most likely playoff opponent turned out to be their actual opponent: The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s easy to predict a lopsided victory for Tampa here, but we caution you not to rule the feisty Eagles.
When these two teams met in Week 6, Tampa narrowly escaped with a six-point victory. And at the time, the Eagles’ defense had to account for Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. If star corner Darius Slay can limit Mike Evans’ production…and if this usually-stout front seven can get to Tom Brady?
Not to mention that Tampa’s rush defense has looked awfully vulnerable in the second half. And the Eagles just so happen to have the NFL’s top rushing attack.
Don’t fully rule out these Eagles. Last time they were viewed as an underdog with no chance, they went on to win the Super Bowl. That was only four years ago. This revamped Eagles squad is playing with a lot of poise and swagger.
11. New England Patriots (10)
The Patriots aren’t exactly entering the postseason with momentum. They dropped three of their final four games, with the lone victory coming against the NFL’s worst team in the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mac Jones has hit the unfortunate rookie wall and the Pats’ rush defense has been gashed time and time again during their mini slump.
Then again, it’s the Patriots. They didn’t look strong heading into the postseason three years ago, and we know how that turned out. And oh, they just so happen to get a matchup against the Buffalo Bills on wild card weekend.
In case you forgot, New England won in Buffalo back in Week 13 even though Jones only completed two passes…on three attempts.
The Pats usually save their best football for December and January. Can Bill Belichick bring out the good ol’ postseason magic yet again? Or will the new kids on the Block in the AFC East send the longtime division bullies home? Should be a fun one!
10. San Francisco 49ers (11)
Thanks to a ferocious comeback and some good ol’ Matthew Stafford blunders, the 49ers are headed back to the postseason.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel ripped apart the Rams’ defense. The San Fran front seven looked every bit like the 2019 group that powered this team to a Super Bowl appearance two weeks ago.
This year’s 49ers are undoubtedly the recipient of the “wild card team nobody wants to play” title. A mostly-healthy San Fran team is a bonafide championship contender.
The 49ers will next visit the Dallas Cowboys in a throwback to the rivalry that headlined the NFL in the ‘90s. This will be the first playoff matchup between Dallas and San Fran since 1994.
Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons against Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and San Francisco’s high-powered ruhing game. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner vs. a star-studded offensive line. Yep, this is going to be a must-watch thriller.
9. Arizona Cardinals (8)
The Redbirds’ defense put up a giant stinker at home against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, and it only cost them the NFC West division and a home playoff game.
And so, Arizona will instead have to travel to Los Angeles to visit the Rams on Monday Night Football. Yes, Arizona won at SoFi Stadium in Week 4, but their offensive and defensive units have both endured several concerning slumps over the second half.
Fortunately for Arizona, the recent play of Matthew Stafford can’t inspire a TON of confidence from the Rams’ sideline, either. If Stafford doesn’t shake out of his porous play, the Cardinals won’t even have to bring their A-Game to win this one.
The Cardinals are more than capable of going on a deep run here. Whatever happens, let’s call this a year of progress. It’s their first playoff season since 2015, after all.
8. Los Angeles Rams (2)
Suddenly, we’re very worried about the Rams.
A 17-point lead over the 49ers evaporated in Week 18. Stafford closed out the season with an interception in four straight games. EIGHT TOTAL. And seven of those happened over the final three contests.
And the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense from a year ago hasn’t been spectacular, either. They were bullied by the 49ers in every aspect on Sunday. A week after barely getting past a Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens team.
The Rams gave up a TON of money and capital to field a top-heavy roster anchored by Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey. There’s no sugarcoating it: A loss to Arizona would make 2021 a disastrous season in LaLa Land.
Or, you know, Stafford could just bust out of his slump, the defense could find its form and maybe LA enjoys another deep run in January? Stay tuned to find out!
7. Cincinnati Bengals (5)
The Bengals were happy to sit their starters and essentially take the No. 4 seed. They fortunately avoided a matchup with the New England Patriots and instead got a more manageable opponent in the Raiders.
2021 was a massive success regardless of what happens in the postseason. Nobody picked Cincy to win the gauntlet that is the AFC North, and few thought they’d compete for a playoff berth.
A Super Bowl would be fun, no doubt. But for now, the focus is on beating the Raiders and clinching the franchise its first postseason win since 1990.
6. Dallas Cowboys (9)
The Cowboys’ win over the Eagles and the Rams’ collapse vs. San Fran led to America’s Team claiming the No. 3 seed. Now it’s time to focus on the 49ers.
Winning the NFC East and returning to the postseason after a three-year absence is cause for a mini celebration, no doubt. But it’s practically a championship or bust mentality every year in Big D.
And this is the best team Dallas has fielded since the 2007 squad. This season won’t be reflected upon fondly if the Cowboys go one-and-done. This team can hang with anybody in the NFC. We don’t doubt their ability to embark on a Super Bowl run.
But the 49ers will not be an easy matchup on either side of the ball. Dallas is going to have to earn this one.
5. Buffalo Bills (7)
The Bills clinched a second straight division title. And it’s only fitting that their quest to a Super Bowl begins against the arch rivals who embarrassed them for nearly two full decades.
Having made the AFC title game a year ago, the Bills simply aren’t here to celebrate division crowns. They know anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will be viewed as a disappointment.
Regardless of their record, the Bills are the most complete team in the AFC. Josh Allen is back to his MVP-form. The rushing offense has semi-regained life during the four-game winning streak. And Buffalo only finished first in both yards and scoring defense.
The pieces are there for Buffalo to make a run. But can they actually finish the job this time?
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4)
A blowout win over the hapless Carolina Panthers and a 49ers’ OT win over LA propelled Tampa to the NFC’s second seed. Things just always find a way to work out for Tom Brady and company…
We don’t know how many healthy bodies Tampa will have against Philly on Sunday. But as we outlined earlier, the Eagles’ underrated defense and top-ranked rushing game could pose some troubles. The Bucs struggled against the New York Jets and for one half against Carolina, so slow starts cannot happen come playoff time.
Will Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski provide enough firepower for TB12 in the NFL’s elite? Will the front seven make up for the issues in the secondary? This Tampa team hasn’t played grade-A football over the second half, but you can never count out a defending champion.
They’re still a team nobody wants to play this month.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6)
The Chiefs avoided a mega upset at the hands of the Denver Broncos and closed out the regular season with a 12th victory. They finish as the No. 2 seed but will have to play on wild card weekend for the first time in the Mahomes era.
Kansas City has an overly-favorable matchup here against a flawed Pittsburgh team that needed a ton of luck to sneak into the postseason. Get past the Steelers, and KC will be just one more home win away from a FOURTH straight AFC Championship Game appearance.
But like the Bills, KC is in the Super Bowl or bust territory. Such is life when you’ve made it to the big dance two years in a row.
2. Tennessee Titans (3)
The Titans need just TWO HOME VICTORIES to reach their first Super Bowl in 22 years. Think about that. And they didn’t have Derrick Henry for most of the regular season. Not to mention that Taylor Lewan, Julio Jones and AJ Brown all missed valuable time as well.
The Titans get the much-needed bye as Henry enjoys even more time to rest up ahead of his return. With a physical, imposing defense and a balanced offensive attack, Tennessee really has the tools to go all the way. And let’s not forget they already beat the Chiefs and Bills this season.
Tennessee isn’t scared of anybody in the AFC.
1.Green Bay Packers (1)
Don’t overreact to their meaningless loss to the Detroit Lions. It worked out perfectly for Green Bay. Their starters got some playing time to avoid any potential rust ahead of the Divisional Round.
With the bye in place, the Packers now sit back and hope for the returns of Jaire Alexander, David Bakhtiari and Za’Darius Smith. The NFL’s best regular season team is getting reinforcements. Good luck, NFL.
Everybody knows what this Green Bay team is capable of, but can they finally get over the hump? Or will they be stunned again in January? The Pack have lost four conference championship games since their last Super Bowl victory 11 seasons ago.
Only time will tell how this all plays out. But it’s the same story as 2019 and 2020: Green Bay has the rock star quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, the league’s top wideout in Davante Adams, a two-headed monster at running back and a quality defense. Now it’s time to put it all together for three more weeks.
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