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For followers of NFL teams which can be at the moment beneath .500, it is vital to do not forget that it is nonetheless September, in spite of everything, and that there are nonetheless 15 weeks remaining within the 2024 common season.
There are at the moment 18 groups which have shedding data coming into Week 4, with three groups nonetheless in quest of their first victory. However whereas issues might look bleak now, there are a number of shedding groups which have a reliable likelihood at being one of many 14 groups which can be nonetheless enjoying when the playoffs start in January.
With that in thoughts, we determined to rank every of the NFL’s shedding groups’ possibilities at making the playoffs. The checklist consists of the defending NFC champion (49ers), the crew that employs the NFL’s highest-paid participant (Cowboys) and a crew that hasn’t had a shedding season since 2020 (Bengals).
It is clear that the Ravens battle to carry on to leads; they needed to dangle on in Dallas regardless of constructing a 28-6 cushion. This got here every week after they blew a double-digit lead within the fourth quarter at house towards the Raiders.
Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Baltimore’s offense have been nearly as good as marketed thus far. The issue, although, is a protection that’s among the many league’s worst towards each the run and the cross. Till that will get mounted, Baltimore’s playoff prospects are considerably murky.
Like a number of different groups, accidents have finished a quantity on the 49ers within the season’s first month. But when anybody can face up to accidents, it is Kyle Shanahan’s crew. The 49ers have immense depth that features working again Jordan Mason and wideout Jauan Jennings, who’ve each stepped up not too long ago. However the crew can’t afford many extra important accidents from right here on out.
Dallas’ protection has been atrocious thus far this season after it was one of many league’s finest beneath new Commanders coach Dan Quinn. It’ll be a protracted 12 months if this continues and Dak Prescott has to spend each fourth quarter enjoying catch up. Two wins of their subsequent three video games (at Giants, at Steelers and residential vs. Lions) could be paramount for the Cowboys, who return from their bye with street video games at San Francisco and Atlanta earlier than internet hosting Philadelphia and Houston.
The Cowboys’ schedule, although, makes it affordable to marvel if “America’s Crew” will likely be watching with the remainder of the nation when the playoffs start. They may actually be if their protection and working recreation would not enhance.
Why do not Kirk Cousins-led groups win extra video games? It is actually an enigma. However as soon as once more, a crew beginning Cousins is failing to reside as much as expectations. The constructive for the Falcons is that they play within the NFL’s most wide-open division. On that observe, the Falcons have enormous upcoming house matchups with the Saints and Buccaneers, video games that may assist decide how that division shakes out.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense appeared good on Monday evening, and that alone ought to give Cincinnati followers some hope. However Cincinnati has no extra margin for error after beginning 0-3, making Sunday’s recreation in Carolina towards former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton a should win. The Bengals protection must rebound after not forcing a punt or a turnover in Monday evening’s loss to Washington.
Arizona’s offense has been prolific, led by Kyler Murray, James Conner and Marvin Harrison Jr. However the protection must get higher in a rush if the Cardinals are going to contend for a playoff spot this 12 months. At this level, it appears just like the Cardinals will likely be on the skin trying in until they’ll win every of their remaining winnable video games (their schedule consists of video games towards New England, Chicago, Miami and Carolina) whereas getting an upset or two alongside the way in which.
Indianapolis must get extra from its passing recreation and run protection (which is at the moment thirty first within the NFL). The Colts get an enormous check this week with the 3-0 Steelers coming to city. Indianapolis will undoubtedly transfer up just a few pegs if it could beat Pittsburgh, however to take action, quarterback Anthony Richardson goes to must take higher care of the ball after throwing a league-high six picks within the season’s first three weeks. The Colts do have a stud in working again Jonathan Taylor, so there’s hope.
It is clear to everybody in Cleveland that the crew has a dire drawback at quarterback. Deshaun Watson is struggling, and it may be time for Kevin Stefanski to think about making a swap. Not serving to issues is the Browns’ mounting accidents, as 16 gamers have been on final week’s damage report.
The Rams confirmed on Sunday that, regardless of their laundry checklist of accidents, they’re nonetheless able to clawing out wins like they did towards the 49ers. However is that sustainable for 14 extra weeks? In all probability not. The Rams protection is second-to-worst within the NFL in factors allowed, and assist would not look like on the way in which.
Caleb Williams undoubtedly has promise, however his penchant for turning the ball over is hurting the Bears and it could very nicely hold them from being a playoff contender this 12 months. The problem is that Williams would not have a working recreation to show to, because the Bears are at the moment one of many league’s worst groups in that space.
Chicago’s protection is sweet, however that will not be sufficient this 12 months until the offense will get higher in a rush.
Denver’s sixth-ranked scoring protection provides them a puncher’s likelihood at making the playoffs. Bo Nix, although, goes to must play considerably higher if the Broncos are going to be in playoff competition two months from now. Nix performed higher in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, however he’s nonetheless in quest of his first profession regular-season landing cross.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)
You are not a playoff crew when you do not have stability at quarterback. That is the present actuality in Las Vegas as Gardner Minshew II struggled in Sunday’s loss to Carolina. Not serving to issues is a protection that’s at the moment close to the underside of the league in a number of main classes.
Daniel Jones and Co. confirmed indicators of life in Cleveland, however the crew’s upcoming gauntlet schedule (with video games towards the Cowboys, Seahawks, Bengals, Eagles and Steelers) could also be an excessive amount of to beat. The Commanders‘ current rise actually would not assist Huge Blue’s playoff possibilities. That mentioned, the Giants seem to have one thing particular in rookie wideout Malik Nabers.
New England got here again right down to earth the final two weeks after its upset win in Cincinnati in Week 1. The Patriots have been aggressive in an OT loss to Seattle in Week 2, however leaky cross safety was an enormous cause why they have been by no means aggressive towards the Jets final Thursday evening.
The Patriots weren’t anticipated to make a playoff push this 12 months, however as they confirmed in the course of the season’s first two weeks, they’re actually able to enjoying the position of spoiler. It will be fascinating to see if (or when) Jerod Mayo decides to present Drake Maye the keys to the offense.
If the Panthers can defeat the winless Bengals this weekend, I will hop on the bandwagon. However till then, I do not contemplate the Panthers to be a playoff contender regardless of Sunday’s spectacular win over Las Vegas with veteran QB Andy Dalton main the way in which. Dave Canales could be clever to proceed giving the ball to working again Chuba Hubbard, who’s averaging a whopping 5.2 yards per carry.
You may put a fork within the Jaguars, who did not trouble to point out up Monday evening in Buffalo. Jacksonville is 1-9 since getting out to an 8-3 begin final 12 months. The offense has been downright abysmal, particularly relating to the passing recreation.
Clearly, the destiny of the Dolphins’ playoff hopes rests on Tua Tagovailoa and his standing for the rest of the season. Primarily based on what we have seen thus far, there’s little to counsel that the Dolphins are going to make a severe playoff push with Skylar Thompson — or every other QB at the moment on the roster — beneath heart. The crew’s different mounting accidents have not helped, both.
Upcoming video games towards Tennessee (0-3) and at New England (1-2) might decide whether or not or not the Dolphins will nonetheless have any playoff hopes heading into their Week 6 bye.
A nasty development has developed in Nashville. The Titans cannot rating over 20 factors they usually persistently enable over 20 factors. A cause why has been Will Levis‘ carelessness with the ball that has ruined drives and has put his protection in unhealthy spots.
