1 Thought on Every Playoff Team Ahead of Divisional Playoff Games

Seventy-five percent of the NFL has hit the offseason, leaving us with one hell of an elite eight that includes at least a handful of prime contenders along with some intriguing underdogs in the Commanders, Rams and Texans.

We’re on the eve of the best weekend on the NFL calendar.

With seven total games remaining before we crown a Super Bowl champion, here is one big thought per team on the verge of the Divisional Playoffs.

The good news is they’re playing a Chiefs team that has appeared more beatable this season than in recent years. The bad news is they had an underwhelming regular season (10-7 with an exactly even point differential), and they’re 0-3 on the road (and 0-5 in the C.J. Stroud/DeMeco Ryans era) against playoff teams.

It’s easy to see why they’re a clear-cut road ‘dog at Arrowhead on Saturday, even if Kansas City has struggled to put teams away, and even if Stroud’s abilities and that defense’s play-making prowess leave the door slightly open for a blockbuster upset.

Patrick Mahomes has never lost in the divisional round. And while it’s tempting to predict that streak will come to an end considering Kansas City’s issues this season, you might be better off prognosticating the Chiefs’ demise one week later against Baltimore or Buffalo.

Their opponent in this spot is coming off a nice win but has been wildly inconsistent and is unlikely to repeat that performance against the two-time defending champions on the road. Plus, they’re healthier than they’ve been in weeks as superstar defensive lineman Chris Jones looks set to return from a calf injury.

Those desperate to see the king fall may have to wait at least another week.

The Commanders are a vibe right now.

OK, so were the Vikings and that came crashing down rapidly in early January, but I think there’s a lot more to it when you consider Jayden Daniels’ overall ability as well as the unique spirit first-year head coach Dan Quinn has instilled.

How far do vibes get a team? Maybe we’ll find out Saturday, because they’ll have their hands full with the Super Bowl favorite. But the Lions are still hurting a fair bit, and the Commanders haven’t lost by a double-digit margin since Week 1. Don’t be surprised if they stick around.

In light of the Lions’ embarking on their playoff journey as a rather clear Super Bowl fave, I thought this might be a good opportunity to communicate just what the world looked like when this franchise last won a championship.

Amazing to think there are 67-year-olds who weren’t alive when Detroit last tasted football glory. Is this the year that changes?

That’s 33 total points allowed in their last four games, excluding a Week 18 loss to the Seahawks in which they threw in the towel and rested most key starters.

However, they face a bit more of a challenge Sunday in Philadelphia than they did against the imploding Vikings or any of the offenses they smothered in December, and there’s no way they’re coming close to another nine-sack performance considering the strength and experience the Eagles possess along the offensive line.

Plus, Philadelphia’s D is also on fire (more on that in a moment).

This just feels like an obvious final stop for a Rams team with a ceiling.

The Philadelphia defense has been particularly dominant at home, where the Eagles have allowed 12.8 points per game in their last six outings. They’re riding an eight-game home winning streak overall, and they gave up more than 18 points in just one of those affairs.

They’ve registered nine takeaways in their last three games (all at home), and they humiliated a talented Packers offense on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Their overall ability to crush it in every phase of the defensive game combined with Saquon Barkley’s ability to control the game on the other side of the ball makes it hard to see the Eagles falling between now and the second Sunday in February. They’re my Super Bowl pick in the NFC.

With the margin of error razor thin in Buffalo at a time like this, the Zay Flowers injury could truly cost the Ravens on Sunday. Sure, they survived without him at home against the severely overrated Steelers on Wild Card Weekend, but the Bills’ second-ranked scoring defense in Orchard Park is a whole different challenge.

Flowers might still have a chance to play despite missing practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a knee injury, but it’s hard to imagine him being close to 100 percent against a defensive unit that has really gotten its act together since bombing in the first part of December.

Giving them a chance to zone in more on Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry is far from ideal.

Quarterback A’s playoff stats: 18 games, 41 TD, 8 INT, 7.6 YPA, 105.8 passer rating

Quarterback B’s playoff stats: 11 games, 23 TD, 4 INT, 7.4 YPA, 102.3 passer rating

Quarterback B is slightly younger and riding a lot more career momentum than Quarterback A.

Regardless of whether Josh Allen (Quarterback B) will finally win his first MVP award this year, he is already making a strong bid to surpass Patrick Mahomes (Quarterback A) as the most statistically awesome playoff quarterback in NFL history.

Let’s see if he can build on that against the Ravens.