The Los Angeles Rams clinched the NFC West, the Green Bay Packers fired Mike McCarthy, and other coaches are starting to feel their seats warm as the 2018 NFL playoff picture starts to become clearer.
Although the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl last season, defeating the New England Patriots in truly memorable fashion, they are far from the NFL’s best team in 2018.
By upsetting the New Orleans Saints, previously regarded as the NFL’s best team after dismantling the Los Angeles Rams weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys have become the easy favorites in the NFC East at 7-5, while Philadelphia and Washington (led by Colt McCoy following Alex Smith’s horrific injury) are at risk of missing the postseason.
Meanwhile in the NFC West, the Rams have locked up the division by defeating the Detroit Lions 30-16 in Week 13, making short work of the last-placed team in the NFC North. The Rams have dominated the NFC West this season, but the 7-5 Seattle Seahawks are quietly starting to look scary, blowing out the 49ers in Week 13 after their epic come-from-behind win over Carolina in Week 12.
At 6-6, the Panthers playoff hopes are starting to fall apart. Once one of the league’s hottest teams, the Panthers are on a four-game losing streak, and underperforming head coach Ron Rivera could be on the chopping block. He’s wasted one of Cam Newton’s best passing seasons, and the Panthers defense has been a massive problem throughout the season. The NFC South is well and truly the New Orleans Saints defense, just as the Rams have locked up the NFC West.
The Packers have no hopes of making the playoffs as even a Wild Card, as they sit third in the NFC North with a 4-7-1 record. Firing Mike McCarthy makes a statement, but it won’t help the Packers catch up to the 8-4 Bears. Once Mitchell Trubisky returns, the Bears will resume being one of the NFC’s top teams.
With Washington, Minnesota, and Seattle above .500, the NFC Wild Card race isn’t easy to predict, but the Vikings and Seahawks have looked like the most dangerous teams.
The AFC Wild Card picture isn’t quite as muddy, but that’s only because the 9-3 Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the NFL’s best outfits; they just have the misfortune of playing in the same division as Patrick Mahomes and the 10-2 Kansas City Chiefs. Los Angeles have somehow found a third strong running back in Justin Jackson, and they just might have the deepest skill position players in the league.
Baker Mayfield dominated the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals through the air, but the Houston Texans picked him off three times despite failing to get beyond the Browns offensive line. Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense was at its best, with Lamar Miller quietly producing at an elite level over the last few weeks. At 9-3, the Texans are a budding powerhouse in the AFC, as they’ve been better than the AFC North-leading Steelers (7-4-1).
Going over the AFC East’s NFL playoff picture is barely worth it, because the New England Patriots are always a cut above the rest. Josh Gordon scored again, and the 9-3 Patriots picked up a convincing 24-10 victory over the cocky Adam Thielen’s Vikings.
Lamar Jackson has given the 7-5 Baltimore Ravens a real spark, and this running game, buoyed by Jackson and UDFA rookie Gus Edwards, cooked push John Harbaugh to his first playoff berth in years.
Andrew Luck, Frank Reich, and the Indianapolis Colts looks like Baltimore’s stiffest competition, but the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans are also right in the mix at 6-6. And despite being quarterbacked by Case Keenum, the Denver Broncos are also 6-6 and look dangerous, thanks to a strong running game, defense, and rising wideout Courtland Sutton.