Good luck if you’re forced to play these two teams in the postseason
Some teams might be viewed as playoff contenders while others are viewed as one-and-done’s if they even make it. Then there several teams that might make a deep postseason push and upset several super teams along the way.
Last season, the Tennessee Titans took care of business behind a 7-3 Ryan Tannehill-led offense. Once in the postseason, they thwarted Tom Brady and New England before bulldozing over the Ravens defense and MVP Lamar Jackson.
New year, new team, but definitely still one to fear if they match up well in the postseason.
During FanSided’s Between the Hashmarks column, an AFC offensive coordinator told insider Matt Lombardo that teams should be cautious if facing the Las Vegas Raiders come January.
“I’d want no part of the Raiders,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, there’s a team in the west that the NFC could have fits against. Move over Seattle and Los Angeles because it’s the Arizona Cardinals that could claim not just the division title, but also the conference as a whole.
“Arizona could get really hot, really quick,” a source tells FanSided. “A team that can score is always dangerous. Especially in the playoffs.”
Both franchises are talented to win
Jon Gruden’s squad nearly pulled off the series sweep against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs late Sunday night. Derek Carr is proving to be the right guy in Sin City thanks to his 275-yard, three-touchdown outing. If not for a seven-play 75-yard drive from Mahomes, Las Vegas would be sitting at 7-3.
Kyler Murray has more yards and touchdowns and nearly the same QBR through nine games compared with Lamar Jackson in 2019, when he was voted unanimous MVP. pic.twitter.com/Oz9ITcq5N0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 19, 2020
In Arizona, Kyler Murray has shown his MVP form thanks to the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins. The second dual-threat option is on pace to rush for nearly 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with another 30 from the air. The development of Christian Kirk as the team’s No.2 also helps defenses take the pressure off Hopkins.
Neither team is a guarantee to make the postseason, but even after losing in Week 11, they looked better than several winning clubs. Once it’s time for elimination, these two might be the ones playing spoiler for franchises looking to return to Tampa.