The beginning of the new year means one thing for football fans: the NFL playoffs. The playoff seeding came down to the wire in week 18, with multiple games impacting the final playoff picture. The question is, who will make it to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans? Here are the predicted top five teams that could win it all.
1. Chiefs
The back-to-back defending champions Kansas City Chiefs have the ultimate x-factor in these playoffs in quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has led the Chiefs this year to a league-high 11 comeback wins this season while coming into the game without throwing an interception in his last six appearances. The Chiefs also get to play every game up into the Super Bowl at their home field Arrowhead due to them being the No.1 seed in the AFC. Furthermore, the Chiefs have upgraded their wide receiver core with rookie Xavaiver Worthy and mid-season accusation Deandre Hopkins giving Mahomes more weapons along with veteran tight end Travis Kelice and the running back duo of veteran Kareem Hunt and Isashih Pacheco.2.
2. Lions
Last season the Detroit Lions won their first playoff game for the first time since 1992. This year the team dramatically secured the No.1 seed in the final week of the regular season in an NFC North clash against the Vikings. This is the team’s first time being the No.1 seed in its 95th season in the NFL. The team will look for their running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery who have been given the nickname “Sonic and Knuckles” to lead the way for the team. Alongside the run game, quarterback Jared Goff has connected with his star receiver Amon-Ra St Brown and tight end Sam Lapporta leading to one of the top offenses which averaged 33.2 pts/g. The one knock on the Lions is the fact their defense has the injury bug with Six defensive starters getting injured since the start of the season with some out for the year like linebacker Maclom Rodrquiez.3.
3. Ravens
Although their record is 12-5, this team is clicking at the right time being on a four-game win streak. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has made his MVP case this year putting up 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Offseason acquisition running back Derrick Henry has provided a great rushing attack for the team alongside Jackson. The team’s defense is full of talent from middle linebacker Roqon Smith to defensive back Kyle Hamlition which can bail the offense out if it ever stalls out. The Ravens are coming off a wild-card win over their divisional rival Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 where the defense only allowed 29 rushing yards.
4. Bills
This team will only go as far as Josh Allen can take them. Although there are other stars on this team, Allen has put this team on his back this year doing anything to win from passing and rushing to catching touchdowns. The organization has also surrounded Allen with his best supporting squad yet with running back James Cook serving as a reliable three-down back and giving Allen reliable receivers in Kahil Shakir and Amari Cooper. The only knock on this team is can they beat the Chiefs in the playoffs? Kansas City has ended three out of the last four playoff runs for the team and if the Bills were to beat the Chiefs the Super Bowl is theirs to lose.
5. Eagles
In 2023 the Philadelphia Eagles were on the doorstep of glory but collapsed on those steps. Two years later the Eagles are looking for revenge. Led by running back Saqoun Barkley who broke 2000 rushing yards this season helped the team win their first playoff game against the Packers 22-10. For this team to go far, quarterback Jalen Hurts will need to use his legs to extend plays and find one of his star receivers AJ Brown or Devonta Smith. The team’s defense put up a great performance against the Packers getting three interceptions and forcing one fumble. The strong point of this team for the past couple of years has been the offensive line as they were rated the best offensive line in the NFL by PFF and left tackle Jordan Matilda earned a 96.6 rating which was the best of all offensive linemen.
