LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 12: A general view of The Vince Lombardi Trophy and The Pete Rozelle Trophy during the Super Bowl Winning Team Head Coach and MVP Press Conference at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center on February 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Getting to a Super Bowl is much different than being good during the regular season. We have seen many great regular season teams falter when the playoffs roll around and some teams that don’t perform that well during the season but excel in the playoffs. Here are the 8 teams with the best chance to make the Super Bowl as of week 18.
Kansas City Chiefs:
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 12: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws the ball during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The offense looked better last week than it has basically all season. They are the number one seed in the AFC playoffs, and although they lost to the Bills head-to-head this season in Buffalo, come playoff time in KC, do we really think anyone can beat them?
Buffalo Bills:
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills passes the ball for a Touchdown to Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs #14in the game between the Buffalo Bills vs the New York Jets on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
They destroyed the Jets in week 17 and have locked down the number 2 seed in the AFC. Josh Allen needs to not turn the ball over like he has in previous post-seasons, and there is no telling how far this Bills team might go.
Detroit Lions:
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 21: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions drops back to pass during an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on January 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
They have a massive game coming up against Vikings. The winner will be the number one seed in the NFC and get a bye. The loser will be the 5th seed and have to go on the road. Lions need home field if they want to make a run.
Minnesota Vikings:
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: Aaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs for a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
They are currently the fifth seed in the NFC, but the Vikings could be above the Lions on this list, be division champs, the top seed in the NFC and have a bye if they can go into Detroit this weekend and win.
Philadelphia Eagles:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 29: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles takes the field against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
They walked, ran, and passed all over the Cowboys in week 17, even without Jalen Hurts. The Eagles are the number 2 seed in the NFC despite having a worse record than both the Lions and Vikings.
Baltimore Ravens:
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
They went into Houston on Christmas and completely demolished them. The win also gave them control of the AFC North, and they can clinch it with a win next week or a Steelers loss. The Ravens are going to be a tough team to beat in the AFC playoffs and could go into Buffalo or Kanas City and pull off an upset.
Los Angeles Rams:
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 29: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams drops back to pass during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
They have withstood key injuries but are getting healthy at the right time. They have won 9 out of their last 11 games and are NFC West champs. That win against the Bills a few weeks ago really opened up some eyes.
Green Bay Packers:
LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 09: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers gives assignments during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 9, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Their loss to the Vikings locks them into a wild-card spot. 6th or 7th is the best they can do. They play the good teams close but haven’t been able to beat them yet. Could that change in the playoffs? Let’s take it one game at a time.
