I’m slowly but surely getting a sense of who’s the contender and who’s the pretender. But as the NFL season goes, there will be upsets and crazy finishes from time to time. And of course, the more NFL Redzone I watch, the more I realize that the Witching Hour does exist (God Help Me with these picks!) There are only four games left of the season, but the playoff push couldn’t have become more intense than ever before.

NFC WEST

The NFC West started out a little shaky, but now we’re seeing who’s the potential contender and controller of the division.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-4)

San Fran now won six straight games while overcoming more adversity. Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, embraces his starting role after Jimmy G goes down with an injury. With the pieces around him, even without Deebo Samuel for a bit, they could win the division and clinch the playoffs with a win over Seattle on Thursday. That’s added pressure for a rookie quarterback playing his third straight game (first on the road).

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-6)

Seattle lost three in the last four games and are desperate for a win this Thursday. A loss puts them at risk of elimination. A win keeps their hopes alive for a playoff and a possible division title if San Fran loses out. Their last four games, including this game, will be the toughest stretch after this team had such a hot start earlier this season.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-9)

Arizona probably won’t find their way to a playoff spot. Their season is pretty much over, but they could spoil Tom Brady’s Bucs, Atlanta, and even San Francisco if it came to playoff positioning and/or division title.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (4-9)

The Rams have nothing to play for. Their season is over after six straight losses and injuries piling up on the board, including Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald. So, what’s left? Just balling and finishing the season strong. But here’s the weird part, they signed Baker Mayfield out of nowhere after he was released from Carolina with only 48 hours prior to the Raider matchup. He helped the team break that drought in the final minutes of the game that will be memorable for years to come. Do they keep Baker? That remains to be seen but playing him out with Sean McVay could lead to Baker’s second chance in the NFL. Just don’t call him a savior. The Browns made that mistake.

NFC EAST

The NFC East went from least to beast this season and it’s looking to get more heated towards the end with just four games left. Every NFC East matchup left will have a storied ending somewhere. Also, are the Giants and Cowboys still interested in the Odell Beckham sweepstakes???

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (12-1)

Philadelphia avoided some obstacles against Indianapolis and Green Bay and mowed over Tennessee and the Giants. AJ Brown is enjoying his time and Jalen Hurts is playing at a high level. They are on a collision course with Dallas in two weeks, but they still need to clear past Chicago. Two of their last four games will be challenging and Dallas could determine where the Eagles stand in the NFC East and overall seed.

DALLAS COWBOYS (10-3)

The Cowboys’ defense punished their last four foes since losing to Green Bay, including a 54-19 beatdown over Indianapolis with 33 points coming in the fourth quarter alone. Their last four games present a sneaky challenge, including a Round 2 showdown with Philadelphia to potentially decide the NFC East and more. Dallas must not sleep on their last four opponents.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (7-5-1)

After starting 1-4, the Commanders won six of their last seven and tied with their rival, Giants. Taylor Heinecke is the man for Washington and Brian Robinson’s return from injury led to the team’s rise. They come off a bye for an immediate rematch with the Giants before traveling to San Francisco, host Cleveland, and then face Dallas for what could be a critical placing in the NFC East/playoff standing.

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-5-1)

The Giants lost four of their last six games, including a tie against the Commanders. Injuries are also hurting the team down the stretch. They’re slowly but surely playing themselves out of a playoff spot and a rematch with Washington will decide their fate moving forward. After them, their next three games become increasingly difficult to rebound from.

NFC NORTH

The Vikings should still win the division but landing that title will come with some turbulence now that Detroit put a wrench in their opportunity.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-3)

The Vikings lost three games by double-digits and never figured out how to finish games by double digits since upending Green Bay in Week 1. Despite a good roster, it’s unclear if Minnesota is really a good team. Their last four games will assumingly be met with challenges.

DETROIT LIONS (6-7)

Detroit won five of their last six games while nearly upsetting Buffalo on Thanksgiving. Despite losing two games after their bye, the Lions looked different. Defense is making an impact while the offense continues their ascent along with players returning from injury. They’re alive for a playoff spot and mathematically alive for the division title. Looking at Carolina, the Jets, Chicago, and Green Bay, they could win out. However, can they handle their last three road games in a four week stretch?

GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-8)

The Packers haven’t been great thus far. Offensive and defensive inconsistencies were the reason for their season, but their receivers continue to progress well. Christian Watson ‘s surge in the past four games gives the offense plenty of optimism. They’re still on the edge of elimination and must win out and defeat Detroit in the regular season finale while needing a lot of help in netting at least a seventh playoff spot.

CHICAGO BEARS (3-10)

The Bears’ season is over and their last four games will prove as confirmation. However, upsets aren’t out of the question. They could play as the biggest spoiler of the NFC North and NFL since they play Detroit and Minnesota in the last two weeks of the season. The only question is, can Justin Fields defeat a quarterback that’s not a 2021 draft pick?

NFC SOUTH

This is the parody of the division and it’s not the first time they got this far as an under .500 team. It’s technically still anyone’s division to take.

TOM BRADY’S BUCCANEERS (6-7)

The Bucs won three in the last five weeks, but they’re 1-2 since coming off a bye but they could’ve gone 0-3 if it weren’t for Tom Brady’s astounding comeback in the last few minutes of the game. They play Cincinnati, Arizona, Carolina, and Atlanta. Cincinnati, Carolina, and Atlanta will ultimately decide if Tampa Tom’s team deserves to go to the playoffs.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-8)

Excuse my French, but who the fuck are these Panthers??? They traded away Christian McCaffrey (49ers) and Robbie Anderson (Cardinals), release Baker Mayfield (Rams), and fire Matt Rhule (Nebraska’s new head coach). And yet, they’re still alive for the NFC South title after the Bucs lost to San Fran. Carolina’s last four games are winnable and with a defense, a turned-up run game, and Sam Darnold playing careful football (hopefully), they could steal the division.

ATLANTA FALCONS (5-8)

Atlanta looked like they were in control of the division, but their last two losses, including a 1-4 run since November, led to a change at quarterback with so much on the line with four games left. Desmond Ridder becomes the new starter and hopes their team can still make the playoffs. The offense will look a little different, but let’s see how the rookie does.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-9)

New Orleans are technically still alive for a division title but are reeling on the edge of elimination. They have the defense and Alvin Kamara to get the job done, but it must…start…NOW! They must win out, including defeating Atlanta and Carolina while hoping that both in back-to-back weeks hands Tom Brady the last two losses and a ticket to a nice island for vacation during postseason.

NFC PLAYOFF POSITION

1) EAGLES

2) VIKINGS

3) 49ERS

4) BUCCANEERS

5) COWBOYS

6) COMMANDERS

7) GIANTS

AFC WEST

This division is simple. The Chiefs win the division, the Chargers fight for a wild card, the Raiders are reeling for a playoff spot…again, and the Broncos are finished this season. Nothing more to explain.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-3)

Kansas City won five games in the last six weeks. However, they haven’t looked like themselves to an extent. After their big win over San Fran and a bye week, they haven’t played as strong or as consistent since. They played choppy in two games, won three games by one score and lost to Cincy after a missed field goal that would’ve tied the game. Be wary of their situation as they play at Houston, host Russell Wilson’s former and current team in back-to-back weeks, and travel to Vegas for the regular season finale.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (7-6)

The Chargers haven’t looked great coming off a bye (going 3-3), but the win over Miami was a huge boost and Keenan Allen’s and Mike Williams’ presence together again gave Los Angeles a reason to hope. Their last four games are challenging, but if their current injured players return in time, Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley can finally see a postseason!

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-8)

Vegas’s season looked over after a 2-7 run, including a loss to a Jeff Saturday coached Colts. Whatever happened after Derek Carr was emotional in his postgame press conference, the team turned a 180 and won three-straight. The first two came from walk-off overtime wins by Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs. Then, they held off the Chargers to win three-straight. When it seemed like the Raiders re-sparked their playoff run, they end up losing to the Rams in the final minutes of the game by none other than Baker Mayfield (after signing with the team 48 hours prior). The Raiders’ hopes for a playoff opportunity could have the same result as it did back in 2019 and 2020, come up short…

DENVER BRONCOS (3-10)

Denver waves their season goodbye after a close, but disappointing loss to Kansas City. It’s unfortunate because their defense did everything possible to give them a chance. What hurts more is Russell Wilson’s concussion injury with a bump on his right forehead. Like Chicago, Denver could play spoiler in the last two weeks of the season against the Chiefs and the Chargers. I doubt both want to see the Horses of Mile High again.

AFC EAST

The AFC East may have been close to having all the teams in the playoffs, but it doesn’t seem realistic and the Bills’ resurgence in that division could have ramifications for the other three.

BUFFALO BILLS (10-3)

Like Kansas City, Buffalo did not look great coming off a bye after a big win at Kansas City. They won five of their last seven, but it wasn’t convincing. Their back-to-back losses to the Jets and the Vikings in overtime showed that there were some glaring issues. Despite the loss of Von Miller, however, their defense came together and made some plays and stops in the last two games. Their last three games in four weeks will be challenging.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-5)

Miami came off a bye looking like serious contenders in the AFC East and the NFL. But after defeating Houston, Miami dropped the last two in California. San Fran rolled them, and Los Angeles made their offense look so bad that Tyreek Hill carried them for two scores, including one that was dubbed a non-offensive score. With their last four games becoming the most difficult, are the Fins going to finish with a winning record but not make the playoffs for the third straight season???

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-6)

New England went on a run with five wins in the last six games, but they’re 1-2 in the last three. At least they defeated Arizona to hold on at the seventh playoff spot, but can they hold on for four more weeks? They travel to Vegas, host Cincinnati and Miami, and travel to Buffalo for the regular season finale. The offense must stay healthy throughout or they will fall by season’s end.

NEW YORK JETS (7-6)

Robert Salah hoped to have some receipts by the end of Week 18 after the Jets 6-3 start, but maybe he should avoid doing his 2023 taxes. They lost three in the last four weeks after the bye and all of them were close. They benched Zach Wilson because he failed to take accountability after a loss to New England. Mike White took over and gave them a chance, but his turnovers cost them a Minnesota win, and then he was beat up against Buffalo but still tried bringing them back. I feel bad for White, and I will feel worse for him when he plays Detroit, Jacksonville, and travel to Seattle and Miami. It only gets worse for the J.E.T.S.

AFC NORTH

The AFC North is summed up by Baltimore and Cincinnati but who trends the furthest upward?

BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-4)

Balty won six of their last seven, including three of their last four after the bye. They also finished and won two games with Tyler Huntley after Lamar Jackson was injured. However, things become more difficult since Baltimore already struggles in the fourth quarter. They may have defeated Pittsburgh, but they play them again in Week 17. They also travel to Cleveland, host Atlanta, and travel to Cincy in Week 18 (which could be up for the primetime slot maybe). Well…good luck Ravens and pay Lamar already!

CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-4)

The Bengals may be surging at the right time as the weather turns wintry, including winning five straight. They defeated combatants, Tennessee and Kansas City, and got revenge on both Pittsburgh for the field goal gaffe and Cleveland after the Browns tore them apart on Monday Night without JaMarr Chase. They come full circle as they travel to Tampa and New England back-to-back before hosting Buffalo and Baltimore. This will be an interesting finish for the Bengals.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-8)

Pittsburgh surged after the bye week, winning three of their last five. However, they’re 0-3 in their own division after upsetting Cincinnati by luck. That luck likely runs out and Mike Tomlin will have his first losing season in his head coaching career. Not only do they face Carolina that’s battling for their own division title, but they play the Raiders, and finish their season back-to-back at Baltimore and at home against Cleveland.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-9)

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson returns to the lineup and defeats Houston in his Cleveland debut and return to against the team he played for. Unfortunately, the team still isn’t good enough to make the playoffs or even challenge for the division title. Their last four games become challenging, but if Deshaun Watson gets the rust out in time and proves himself in one of the last four at least, The Land might be optimistic in 2023.

AFC SOUTH

The AFC South should be manned by Tennessee, but the turbulence in their schedule proves otherwise.

TENNESSEE TITANS (7-6)

Tennessee is not looking good after losing three straight games. They also haven’t defeated a quality opponent since
Washington in Week 5. Injuries not only hurt the team, but offensive inconsistencies have as well. Their last four games aren’t easy, and they host Texas teams back-to-back and travel to Jacksonville in their season finale.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-8)

The Jacksonville Jaguars could stumble their way to a division title with how Tennessee has played thus far. As long as Trevor Lawrence is healthy and their defense continues to make an impact, this team is very alive for the playoffs. But like Tennessee, Jacksonville’s last four games aren’t easy either. They host Dallas and travel to Houston before hosting Tennessee in the season finale.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-8-1)

The Colts’ season is likely over but their grit and attitude after Jeff Saturday’s presence gives the team reason to hope that they can at least win out or upset a team’s season. Looking at their upcoming schedule against the Vikings, Chargers, Giants, and Texans, something could happen.

HOUSTON TEXANS (1-11-1)

Houston’s season was over for a while and likely receives the overall 2023 pick. However, they have been a thorn in nearly every opponent’s side this season. Of the 13 opponents that they have faced, 11 of them lost the next week. They may stink, especially on offense, but this team has enough might to battle with any team no matter how bad the final score looks. They could either upset, spoil, or make life difficult for any of their last four opponents.