Sports The time has arrive ultimately. The in fashion season is over, and now, we’re going as a plot to flip our attention to the playoffs and the march to Nice Bowl LIX, which would per chance occur at the Caesars Nice Dome in Contemporary Orleans on Feb. 9.
The creep to the Massive Straightforward begins with a six-sport slate on wild-card weekend. To salvage you prepped for the tremendous games. FOX Sports activities NFL Newshounds Greg Auman and Eric D. Williams take an in-depth sight at the strengths, question marks and X-factors for all 14 playoff teams.
NFC
No. 1 seed: Detroit Lions (15-2)
Wonderful power: Here’s the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 33.2 points per sport, up 6.1 from last season when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson used to be being courted for head coaching jobs. The upper the stakes, the greater the Lions are: fourth in third-down conversions, fourth in crimson-zone success and 2nd in purpose-to-toddle conversions, getting touchdowns 89% of the time. Factual sight at the Pro Bowl presence on offense: quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, take care of Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow were all chosen on the true ballot. Gibbs is vastly underappreciated; he rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns with a stellar 5.6-yard moderate, catching every other 52 passes with four more ratings.
Wonderful question designate: Injuries maintain decimated Detroit’s defense, with a pair of starters misplaced to essential injuries, from edges Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to defensive take care of Alim McNeill and corner Carlton Davis. That save the Lions in excessive-scoring shootout late in the year, giving up 34 points to the 49ers and 31 to the Packers in shut wins, and 48 in a loss to the Funds. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has performed wonders to preserve that aspect of the ball patched together neatly ample to net 15 games, but the defense will save stress on the Detroit offense intellectual it may per chance well most likely per chance per chance also take 35 points or more to net in opposition to elite offenses.
X-ingredient: Third-year receiver Jameson Williams has emerged as an elite deep threat. His moderate of 17.3 yards per earn is easily the NFL’s most efficient among gamers with 50-plus catches. He’s had 5 performs of fifty-plus yards this season, and supreme the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley has more. If St. Brown is the workhorse of the passing sport, gripping the chains continuously, Williams is the harmful downfield threat opponents deserve to legend for, and he’s collected supreme 23 years veteran.
Why the Lions maintain a shot to dethrone the Chiefs No. 2 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Wonderful power: The NFL’s No. 2 running assault, led by Pro Bowl back Saquon Barkley. The Eagles averaged 179 rushing yards per sport, 2nd-most efficient in the league, and they moderate 4.91 yards per raise, fifth-most efficient. Barkley topped 2,000 yards in 16 games, and his fixed dominance is why the Eagles led the NFL in time of possession at 32 minutes, 23 seconds per sport. Easiest once in NFL historical past has a participant rushed as many times as Barkley has this season and averaged more yards — Adrian Peterson in 2012. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has rushed for every other 630 yards and 14 more ratings. You know the plot the Eagles are going to assault you, and or no longer it is collected sophisticated to cease.
Wonderful question designate: Operating the ball so neatly has meant passing the ball necessary less. The Eagles rotten twenty ninth in passing yards per sport, with the 2nd-highest sack price in the league. High receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith left out three games every with injuries, but Jalen Hurts in actuality has the highest passer ranking of his younger profession, and almost about his most efficient yards per strive. The question is whereas you may per chance per chance per chance also by hook or by crook net Barkley on the ground, can the Eagles beat you thru the air? So the divulge of affairs falls on Hurts to conceal he can collected sling it downfield if he needs to.
X-ingredient: With new coordinator Vic Fangio and a revamped secondary, the Eagles maintain arguably the most improved defense in the NFL: No. 1 in entire yards, No. 1 in passing yards and No. 2 in scoring defense, this after ranking thirty first in opposition to the toddle last season. Rookie corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean had been tremendous, and linebacker Zack Baun will likely be the free-agent bargain of the year, making the Pro Bowl in a breakout season with 150 tackles after totaling 88 in four years with the Saints.
No. 3 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
Wonderful power: Tampa Bay’s offense is vastly improved under first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and its bustle sport is the most improved in the league, going from thirty 2nd last year to fourth in 2024. Some of that surge comes from an upgraded offensive line, including rookie center Graham Barton, but give credit to rookie running back Bucky Irving, a 1,000-yard rusher and the crew’s most efficient tremendous-play bustle threat since Doug Martin a decade up to now. Baker Mayfield has had a profession year, with 41 landing passes and 4,500 yards, easily the most efficient non-Tom Brady passing season in Tampa Bay historical past.
Wonderful question designate: The toddle defense has been decimated by injuries all season, and the Bucs will likely be with out corner Jamel Dean and both starting safeties in Antoine Winfield and Jordan Whitehead. Tampa Bay has been necessary improved since its Week 11 bye, ranking among the league’s stingiest defenses, but that is additionally arrive in opposition to lesser rivals, with the Chargers as the accurate playoff crew the Bucs maintain faced in the last seven games. They maintain got supreme seven interceptions this year, the bottom entire in franchise historical past, and Todd Bowles’ defense relies on stress and takeaways.
X-ingredient: 2nd-year defensive lineman Calijah Kancey bought a late beginning attributable to missing the first 5 games with a calf ruin, but he’s arrive into his possess in the last two months. Within the past eight games, he has 6.5 sacks, which ties for the seventh-most in the NFL. Linemate Vita Vea is the one headed to the Pro Bowl, but Kancey has excelled as a three-methodology and is arguably Tampa Bay’s most efficient sack threat in the postseason.
No. 4 seed: Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Wonderful power: The flexibility to net shut games. The Chiefs are the NFL’s most efficient there, 11-0 in a single-win games, but the Rams maintain performed more one-win games than someone and are 8-5 in those games, and 7-2 since a late first month. Los Angeles is no longer dominating on offense or defense but performs neatly with the sport on the road. After a tough beginning, the Rams were 9-3, and 7 of those wins were by a single win. They’ve shown they can net shut at both finish of the scoring spectrum, as they edged the Funds 44-42, and then obtained three games since with out scoring even 20 points in any of them.
Wonderful question designate: Can Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua set wholesome? Noteworthy of their early-season stumbling came with both top receivers out, and since Week 8, with both of them taking part in every week, they’re 8-3 with wins over the Vikings and Funds. The two most modern a outlandish divulge of affairs to opposing defenses after they’re both on the sector, so the secret is getting both of them to handbook obvious of ruin and power opponents to mirror who to leave in a single-on-one matchups downfield.
X-ingredient: No person has counted on inexperienced persons in all places the sector bigger than the Rams, who maintain two Defensive Rookie of the one year candidates in a pair of defensive linemen from Florida Instruct, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. There are inexperienced persons in the secondary, inexperienced persons on the offensive line — at one level the Rams were carrying 18 on their fifty three-man roster. The question is whether or no longer the younger of us will likely be large-eyed making their playoff debut or in the event that they don’t blink and serve taking part in at a excessive degree on the bigger stage.
No. 5 seed: Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Wonderful power: Brian Flores’ defense led the NFL with 24 interceptions and tied for the league lead with 33 takeaways, finishing fifth in points allowed. Two free-agent signees, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, both had double-digit sacks, and linebacker Blake Cashman is one of staunch three gamers with at the least 100 tackles and four sacks. The Vikings are 14-0 after they take care of opponents to fewer than 30 points, 0-3 after they don’t, which is excessive bar to divulge.
Wonderful question designate: As mountainous as Sam Darnold has been — 35 touchdowns and 4,153 passing yards — he’s never taken a snap in a playoff sport, so whereas he’s 27 and has 72 profession starts, he’s a postseason beginner. The Vikings maintain shown they can overcome his sinful days, as they obtained both games the build he had a pair of interceptions this season. Darnold has plenty of incentive to play neatly, as the deeper a playoff bustle he can lead, the more likely the Vikings will pay to re-signal him in preference to give the keys to J.J. McCarthy subsequent season.
Has Sam Darnold confirmed he’s the Vikings’ franchise QB? X-ingredient: Opponents will exit of their methodology to limit All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, but that opens a window for 2nd-year expert Jordan Addison, who has caught 19 landing passes in his first two seasons. Within the past decade, the accurate gamers with more landing catches in their first two seasons were Odell Beckham Jr. (25) and Ja’Marr Mosey (22). Addison has arrive on of late, with 5 landing catches up to now four games.
No. 6 seed: Washington Commanders (12-5)
Wonderful power: Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been electrical in main Washington into the playoffs. He’s a heavy popular to net Rookie of the one year and an unparalleled fragment of why the Commanders maintain a top-5 offense in entire yards and rushing yards. Rookie quarterbacks a hit in the playoffs is a uncommon feat. It be came about supreme twice up to now decade, but in every of the past two seasons, with San Francisco’s Brock Purdy in 2022 and Houston’s C.J. Stroud in 2023.
Wonderful question designate: There are vulnerabilities in Washington’s defense, which is vastly improved from last year total. But or no longer it is collected backside-5 in opposition to the bustle, ranking thirtieth in yards/raise allowed (4.85) and twenty eighth in rushing yards allowed (136), which will likely be anguish facing the Bucs, and if the Commanders salvage the Eagles. Washington is 22nd in crimson-zone defense, giving up touchdowns 60% of the time, and as a crew the Commanders maintain supreme seven interceptions, tied for fourth-lowest and among the worst for playoff teams.
X-ingredient: No person in the NFL is more healthy at converting fourth downs than the Commanders — 20-for-23, or 87%. An unparalleled chunk of that is Daniels, who’s 8-for-8 passing on fourth down with seven conversions and has rushed nine times with eight conversions, so he’s 15-for-17 himself. Easiest Bears rookie Caleb Williams transformed more first downs between passing and rushing this season. The Commanders are in the head 5 in conversions, so they’re confident ample to switch for it more recurrently than most teams as neatly.
No. 7 seed: Green Bay Packers (11-6)
Wonderful power: The addition of Josh Jacobs in free company has upgraded the Packers’ bustle sport. He has rushed for more yards (1,329) and touchdowns (15) than Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon totaled last year (1,269 and 4). As such, Green Bay jumped from 15th in rushing last year to fifth this year, easing the burden on Jordan Like, who’s thrown 15% fewer passes in 2024. The fashion in the bustle sport additionally speaks neatly for the Packers’ offensive line, which has allowed the league’s third-lowest sack price at 4.3%.
Wonderful question designate: Corner Jaire Alexander staunch went on injured reserve. Green Bay is 6-1 with the 2-time All-Pro on the sector this season and 5-5 with out him. Alexander used to be graded as the NFL’s No. 12 corner by Pro Football Focus this season, and the last corners are necessary lower: Carrington Valentine is Forty fourth, Keisean Nixon is 58th and Eric Stokes is 71st. Green Bay gave up 10 landing passes in its four games in opposition to the Lions and Vikings, in express that is an plight opponents will strive to milk even more in the playoffs.
X-ingredient: Can security Xavier McKinney come all but again to his ballhawking ways? He had an interception in every of the first 5 games this season, then totaled staunch three in the last 12 games. The Packers maintain a stable defense in terms of takeaways — they compelled 29 turnovers, third-most in the NFL — but McKinney used to be an unparalleled spark in that early on and less so down the stretch. The Packers are additionally third-most efficient in turnover margin, so or no longer it is something they will count on as an advantage, whether or no longer McKinney leads that fee or no longer.
AFC
No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
Wonderful power: Every little thing with the Chiefs starts with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but head coach Andy Reid is a shut 2nd. One key motive the Chiefs maintain obtained an NFL-file 16 straight one-win games is Mahomes’ outlandish skill to attain down the stretch. He has a 98.3 profession passer ranking in the fourth quarter and further time throughout the in fashion season. And that jumps to a 105.8 passer ranking in the playoffs. With among the snatch quarterbacks in NFL historical past paired with a future Corridor of Standing coach taking part in in frigid stipulations in Kansas City, the Chiefs will likely be a complex out as they drag an unprecedented third straight Nice Bowl victory.
Wonderful question designate: Though the Chiefs went 15-2 this season, they have not been dominant, main the NFL with 11 comeback victories. Can they serve a hit shut games? Additionally, the Chiefs may per chance per chance per chance maintain an extended layoff between games in the postseason, with their first sport in the divisional spherical slated for Jan. 18 or Jan. 19. While older gamers take care of Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and Mahomes can exercise the further leisure, Reid will deserve to guard in opposition to his crew developing rust and starting slowly. Nonetheless, the Chiefs maintain obtained 10 straight house games, including playoffs, with their last loss coming on Christmas Day 2023 to the Raiders.
X-ingredient: Mahomes rightly earns top billing right here, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has all over all but again save together among the efficient items in the league. The Chiefs allowed 19.2 points per sport in 2024, fourth-most efficient in the NFL. Attributable to the beginning of the 2023 season, Kansas City has the No. 1 scoring and entire defense in the league. Spagnuolo is the first coach in NFL historical past to net four Nice Bowls as a defensive coordinator. For any crew to beat the Chiefs in January, its offense must establish out strategies to continuously switch the soccer in opposition to among the efficient defensive minds in the sport.
No. 2 seed: Buffalo Funds (13-4)
Wonderful power: MVP entrance-runner Josh Allen leads among the explosive offenses in the league. Allen done with 42 entire touchdowns in 2024, becoming a member of Aaron Rodgers as the accurate gamers in NFL historical past with at the least 40 entire touchdowns in 5 NFL seasons. Buffalo’s offense is rolling heading into the postseason, averaging 38 points per sport throughout the month of December. The Funds additionally created a balance on offense with running back James Cook, a Pro Bowl snub who done with 1,009 yards and tied for a league excessive with 16 rushing touchdowns. With WR1 Stefon Diggs gripping on, Khalil Shakir picked up the slack. He leads Buffalo with 76 receptions for 821 receiving yards. The Funds done with a league-excessive eight gamers with a pair of touchdowns in 2024.
Wonderful question designate: Buffalo’s defense struggled in opposition to playoff teams. The Funds were 2-3 in opposition to teams that maintain reached the playoffs, permitting 108 more yards per sport in opposition to playoff teams vs. non-playoff teams. Buffalo’s defense additionally allowed 33 points a contest vs. playoff teams, the fourth-most all time by a playoff crew. The specific teams in 2024 to permit more points per sport vs. most modern playoff teams were the Patriots, Titans and Bengals — and they’re all on gallop already. The Funds must salvage more fixed play from the defense to develop a deep playoff bustle.
X-ingredient: Allen has had his most efficient season in avoiding turnovers with staunch eight giveaways. As a crew, the Funds maintain a league-most efficient plus-24 turnover margin — the most efficient turnover differential by any NFL crew since 2012. Buffalo done tied for the fewest giveaways (8) in any season since 1990. If Allen and the Funds can continue to take care of the soccer in the postseason, it bolsters their possibilities of reaching the Nice Bowl for the first time since 1994.
No. 3 seed: Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Wonderful power: Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson had his most efficient season statistically as a expert in 2024, and plenty of that needed to manufacture with the addition of bruising runner Derrick Henry. Jackson done with 915 rushing yards, eclipsing Mike Vick as the main rushing quarterback in NFL historical past. Henry, among the efficient free-agent additions this offseason, totaled 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first season with the Ravens, incomes a Pro Bowl nod. As a crew, the Ravens led the league by averaging 187.6 yards per sport. The Ravens’ skill to play the sport on their phrases by running the soccer will toddle an extended methodology to determining how a ways they reach in the postseason.
Has Lamar Jackson performed ample to net MVP this season? Wonderful question designate: One in all the most efficient kickers in NFL historical past, Justin Tucker had his worst season as a expert in 2024. Tucker made a profession-low 74.1% of his field targets, including staunch 6-of-11 (54.5%) from beyond 50 yards. At some level of his 13-year profession, Tucker has made 82% of his field targets throughout the postseason. Can he come all but again to his more fixed ways, or will the accurate last member of Baltimore’s last Nice Bowl winner conceal a liability for this postseason?
X-ingredient: Baltimore struggled defensively for the first half of the season but appears to be like to maintain grew to vary into things around heading into the playoffs. The Ravens allowed 295 passing yards per sport and 22 passing touchdowns thru the first 10 weeks of the in fashion season, both last in the NFL. However, Baltimore is tops in points allowed per sport (16.3) and entire yards allowed per sport (267.0) since Week 11. Defensively, the Ravens maintain allowed a league-most efficient 171.2 passing yard and staunch four touchdowns since Week 11. Can the defense serve up this degree of performance in the postseason?
No. 4 seed: Houston Texans (10-7)
Wonderful power: Led by defensive guru DeMeco Ryans, or no longer it is no shock the Texans possess among the efficient defenses in the league. Houston done the season among the head-10 items in yards allowed per sport (315.0) and supreme allowed 11 rushing touchdowns all season, tied for fifth in the league. The Texans held opposing quarterbacks to an 83.7 passer ranking, third-most efficient in the league and the most efficient for Houston since 2014. The Texans additionally done tied for fourth in sacks with 49.
Wonderful question designate: Quarterback C.J. Stroud experienced a sophomore hobble after a hit Offensive Rookie of the one year in 2023. He averaged 44 fewer passing yards in 2024 and threw 12 interceptions after finishing with staunch 5 as a rookie. Pointless to yelp, the Ohio Instruct product used to be sacked 52 times in 16 games after being sacked staunch 38 times his rookie year. Thanks to Stroud’s inconsistent play and Houston’s inability to continuously defend him up entrance, the Texans are struggling to win points. They averaged 21.8 points per sport in 2024, and staunch 17 points per sport accurate thru the last 5 games of the in fashion season.
X-ingredient: With Stroud struggling to switch the ball thru the air, the Texans will deserve to rely on free-agent addition Joe Mixon and the bustle sport. Mixon led the Texans with 1,016 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns and 1,325 scrimmage yards. His four seasons with at the least 1,000 rushing yards since 2018 is tied for 2nd-most over that time. Mixon left out three games attributable to an ankle ruin in the first half of the season, so his staying wholesome in the postseason will likely be severe for Houston’s success.
No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Wonderful power: With mainly the same personnel, new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter fully modified the fortunes of L.A.’s defense. The Chargers held opponents to a league-low 17.6 points per sport and done No. 1 in the NFL at 44.74% in crimson zone defense. The Los Angeles defense additionally performed neatly early in games: The Bolts allowed seven or fewer points in the first half of 12 games this season, the most by any crew in a single season since 2018.
Wonderful question designate: Can Justin Herbert ultimately salvage a postseason net? The No. 6 total pick in the 2020 draft has but to net a playoff sport, even even though he hasn’t had many alternatives. Herbert’s lone chance came after the 2022 season, when the Chargers led the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-0 in the 2nd quarter but misplaced 31-30. This time, Herbert has a playoff-experienced head coach with Jim Harbaugh main the Bolts. And even even though Los Angeles performs on the road, the Chargers is no longer going to deserve to take care of inclement climate in the first spherical, facing the Texans indoors at NRG Stadium.
X-ingredient: J.K. Dobbins done with a profession-excessive 905 rushing yards in his first season with the Chargers, serving as a catalyst for an offense directed by OC Greg Roman that desires to bustle the soccer. The Bolts averaged forty five more rushing yards a contest when Dobbins used to be on the sector throughout the in fashion season. He left out four games this season with a sprained knee, and the Chargers were 8-4 with Dobbins on the sector and a pair of-2 with him on the sideline.
No. 6 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Wonderful power: The Steelers maintain limped into the postseason with a four-sport losing plug, but they are collected a crew led by a stingy defense. Edge rusher T.J. Watt done with a crew-excessive 11.5 sacks, but did no longer maintain a sack or a quarterback hit in his last three in fashion-season games. Cornerback Donte Jackson leads the Steelers in interceptions with 5. Pittsburgh done tied for tops in the NFL with 33 takeaways on the year. Head coach Mike Tomlin has no longer obtained a playoff sport for the reason that 2016 season, and for the Steelers to spoil that plug, the defense must play neatly.
Wonderful question designate: Will Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh offense conceal up? The Steelers averaged staunch 14.3 points throughout the crew’s four-sport losing plug. Pittsburgh had averaged 28.4 points a sport in Wilson’s first seven starts of the year, going 6-1, but he had staunch four passing touchdowns throughout his last four games. All thru his first seven starts, he totaled 12 landing passes and three interceptions, averaging 8.4 yards per strive over that stretch, in comparison with 5.7 yards per strive accurate thru the last four games. Mr. Unlimited must come all but again to developing explosive performs.
X-ingredient: For Wilson to come all but again to developing chunk performs down the sector, he needs deep threat George Pickens to reemerge as a fixed playmaker. Per Next Gen Stats, Pickens done 2nd in the league on deep passes, with 15 receptions for 515 receiving yards. He totaled 13 receptions of at the least 30 yards. However, Pickens has been slowed by a lingering hamstring speak that compelled him to toddle over three games. He has staunch four receptions for 50 yards and two drops in two games since his return from the ruin. For Pittsburgh to be more harmful on offense, they need Pickens wholesome and at his most efficient throughout the playoffs.
No. 7 seed: Denver Broncos (10-7)
Wonderful power: DC Vance Joseph has save together among the head defenses in the NFL. The Broncos led the league in sacks with 63, the most in their historical past. Nik Bonitto led Denver with 13.5 sacks after totaling 9.5 in his first two seasons in the league. Defensive take care of Zach Allen leads the NFL with 40 quarterback hits and had a profession-excessive 8.5 sacks in 2024. Denver additionally has among the head quilt corners in the league in Patrick Surtain, who leads the Broncos in interceptions (4) and toddle breakups (11).
Wonderful question designate: It be Denver’s first time in the playoffs for the reason that 2015 Nice Bowl season. The eight-season playoff drought following a Nice Bowl net is the longest in NFL historical past. So even though head coach Sean Payton has a title on his résumé, how will his crew with little postseason skills answer on the road facing Buffalo in a no longer easy atmosphere?
X-ingredient: Rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s spectacular play has him in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the one year. With 29 landing passes, Nix topped Washington’s Jayden Daniels (25) for the most TD passes by a rookie this season. Nix additionally grew to vary into staunch the fourth rookie in the general draft know-how to maintain at the least 10 wins after being chosen open air the first 5 quarterbacks in his draft class, becoming a member of Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson and Kyle Orton. Nix has a stable arm, is correct and may per chance per chance also develop performs along with his toes, as evidenced by his 430 rushing yards in 2024. But he must take care of the soccer in the postseason. Six of his 12 interceptions came in his last 5 games after staunch two interceptions from Week 3 to Week 12.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He previously spent a decade covering the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You will likely be ready to prepare him on Twitter at @gregauman .
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for bigger than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Recordsdata Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams .
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