Monday night’s Seahawks win over the Vikings essentially cemented Seattle’s spot in the playoffs; they are two games ahead of the closest non-playoff teams and two of their three remaining opponents are three-win teams. Now with Seattle in, five teams in each conference either have clinched or are very close to clinching. However, the NFL Wild Card races are still tight, due to both conferences having many teams hovering around the six seed.
In the AFC, Baltimore, Miami, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Denver are all within one game of each other for the six seed. In the NFC, Minnesota, Carolina, Philadelphia, Washington and even Green Bay are fighting closely for the last playoff spot. All these teams have a chance at the postseason, but remaining schedules will play a huge factor in deciding who makes it.
Here are short breakdowns for each team in the Wild Card races:
AFC
Baltimore Ravens
Record: 7-6 Remaining Schedule: vs Buccaneers, @ Chargers, vs Browns
The Ravens are the only team fighting for the six seed that also has a realistic shot of winning its division, only a half game behind the Steelers. Right now, Baltimore holds the final playoff spot due to tiebreakers over the Dolphins, Colts, and Titans.
Baltimore’s defense is the number one overall defense in both yards allowed and points allowed. In addition, starting quarterback Joe Flacco, who was having a solid season before getting injured, will most likely be back for their last three games. The defense along with Flacco will allow the Ravens to beat the Buccaneers and Browns without much of a problem. While they are underdogs against the Chargers, if Baltimore can just win two of their last three games, they could get the last wild-card spot. However, they might actually win the division over Pittsburgh, who has to play both the Patriots and Saints.
Miami Dolphins
Record: 7-6 Remaining Schedule: @ Vikings, vs Jaguars, @ Bills
Somehow, some way, with a point differential of -55 and a miracle win over New England, the Miami Dolphins have a winning record with three games to go. Their schedule is actually fairly weak, with games against struggling Jacksonville and Buffalo teams after a date with the reeling Vikings. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been playing well since his return from injury with 8 touchdowns and only one interception in those three games.
This team simply finds ways to win close games, with four crazy victories (Week 1, Week 3, Week 6, Week 14). They don’t have the talent that other teams have, but the one tough game left actually plays to their strength. Miami’s strength is their secondary, and Minnesota’s offensive strength is their receiving corps. If Xavien Howard plays next game and helps slow down Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, the defensive line will have a chance to create pressure. That is the key to beating the Vikings; if Miami can create consistent pressure up front, they will be able to win this game. Then, they would have a clear path to the playoffs with only the Jags and Bills to play.
Indianapolis Colts
Record: 7-6 Remaining Schedule: vs Cowboys, vs Giants, @ Titans
This year’s Colts, as they have for years, go where their quarterback goes. And this year, Andrew Luck looks like his old self after coming back from shoulder surgery, with almost 3,800 yards and 34 touchdowns on the season. Indy stopped the hottest team in the NFL by beating the Houston Texans fairly convincingly and now face another team from Texas on a hot streak, the Dallas Cowboys. In order to make the playoffs, they have to play their next three games more like this week than last, during their pathetic 6-0 loss to the Jaguars.
Tennessee Titans
Record: 7-6 Remaining Schedule: @ Giants, vs Redskins, vs Colts
Tennessee is possibly the most intriguing team in the NFL. One week, the Titans blow the Patriots out by 20 points and another, they lose to the Colts by almost 30. One week, Derrick Henry has 40 rushing yards against the New York Jets, another he has over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense.
That said, Tennessee’s record at the end of the season is unpredictable; it just depends on how the team feels like playing for the next three weeks. All of these Wild Card contenders are dangerous, but this team might have the most upset potential if they make the tournament, based on their proven high ceiling. However, they must avoid the low floor they have also shown this year (multiple blowout losses) in order to actually make the postseason.
Denver Broncos
Record: 6-7 Remaining Schedule: vs Browns, @ Raiders, vs Chargers
Denver cost themselves with a huge loss this week; fortunately for them, though, they could certainly win out their remaining three games. This would be assuming that the Chargers are locked into the 5th seed before Week 17 and rest their starters for the playoffs.
Of course, the Broncos just lost to the 49ers, so they need focus on the Browns and Raiders first. The loss of Emmanuel Sanders really hurts the offense because now their two biggest playmakers are both rookies (running back Philip Lindsay and wide receiver Courtland Sutton) who don’t have experience in meaningful late-season NFL games.
NFC
Minnesota Vikings
Record: 6-6-1 Remaining Schedule: vs Dolphins, @ Lions, vs Bears
Minnesota thought they had fixed their offensive inconsistency when they signed Kirk Cousins to throw to their myriad of weapons. However, the true problem is still yet to be fixed. That problem is the offensive line, which is among the worst in the league. As shown in last night’s Seahawks game, it has not given Cousins much time to operate in the pocket and allow routes to develop.
Minnesota’s path to the playoffs is nothing to sneeze at, but they should be the frontrunners for the NFC six seed. While the Dolphins and Lions are opponents that can pull something out of you know where when least expected, they do not have nearly the amount of talent on either offense or defense that the Vikings do. All Minnesota has to do is play within itself and it should be able to win those games. Their last challenge is a big game against Chicago, but the Bears may be resting players at that point if they have no seeding to play for.
The Vikings are currently ahead of the pack by half a game and have the easiest road; the only thing that can stop them is that offensive line and the recently sputtering offense.
Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-7 Remaining Schedule: vs Saints, vs Falcons, @ Saints
The Panthers, while still in the thick of the wild-card race, are really not contenders at this point. They are on a five-game losing streak during which there have been APBs out for any offensive player not named Christian McCaffery. Crazy stat: In those five games, Carolina has scored 13 touchdowns; Eight of them have been by McCaffery.
Two games against the New Orleans Saints, who are fighting for home-field advantage for the playoffs, are the worst possibility for Carolina right now. The way the Panthers have been playing recently, it is more likely that they lose all three of these upcoming division games than find a way to sneak into the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-7 Remaining Schedule: @ Rams, vs Texans, @ Redskins
Philadelphia’s loss to Dallas effectively killed their division chances, but Minnesota’s loss Monday night puts them in the playoff hunt. While the Eagles have the toughest schedule of any of these teams in the Wild Card races, they are also one of, if not the most, talented. Their best chance of making the playoffs is to go 2-1 in their remaining three games, beating the Texans and Redskins at home. They also have to hope the Panthers and Vikings both lose multiple games.
Both the Rams and Texans are going to be tough games. Both teams have young quarterbacks who can throw the ball deep on this depleted Eagles’ secondary. The reason they have a better chance of beating the Texans is that first of all, it’s at home. Second, the Eagles top 10 run defense should be able to stop Houston’s rushing attack, but won’t be able to stop Todd Gurley. It’s a tough road, but the defending Super Bowl champs still have a chance to make the playoffs.
Washington Redskins
Record: 6-7 Remaining Schedule: @ Jaguars, @ Titans, vs Eagles
If a Redskins playoff run became improbable the moment Alex Smith went down for the season, they became nonexistent after Colt McCoy’s injury. This team has so many offensive line injuries and Mark Sanchez has neither the arm talent nor the mobility to make up for it. It is tough to see Washington beating either the Titans or Eagles, much less both, but that is what must happen if the Redskins are to make the playoffs. Their defense, especially the secondary, needs to step up big time and hold the inconsistent offense they will be facing to under 21 points. Offensively, Adrian Peterson has to pull off a couple of vintage performances with big plays to make up for what Mark Sanchez lacks at quarterback.
Green Bay Packers
Record: 5-7-1 Remaining Schedule: @ Bears, @ Jets, vs Lions
The Packers must win out if they want a chance at the playoffs – it’s as simple as that. That’s a lot to ask for when their next game is at Soldier Field, where the Bears not just beat, but absolutely shut down the Rams. But as we have found out before, with Aaron Rodgers, anything is possible. Win at Chicago and the Packers have two winnable games to put them at 8-7-1 with an opportunity to slide into the six seed. However, this would count on Minnesota losing two games and everyone else losing at least one, though.
Featured image by Getty Images
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Pranay!
“From Our Haus to Yours”