What’s up everyone? My Niners are officially eliminated! It wasn’t a surprise after maybe the early weeks of the season. I’m not mad or sad. It is what it is. With so many injuries, you got to accept this being a bad year at some point. I look forward to 2025 when they get the majority of key players back and maintain their foundation through the draft and free agency.

Anyway…playoffs!!! There are two weeks left, and bubble teams are on a lifeline. The AFC’s bubble teams (Colts, Bengals, and Dolphins) must win out, but Denver and the Chargers aren’t exactly legit either unless they win Sunday. The NFC is still at war for playoff positioning, but bubble teams like Tampa and Seattle are worried in their own division. If they lose and both the Rams and Falcons win this weekend, it’s all over for Baker and Geno respectively. My underrated team, Washington, have really exceeded expectations and are a win away from locking up a playoff spot with a win. It’s been an interesting NFL season and more newness getting involved, and we should expect more as desperation sets in for every team vying for a playoff berth, home playoffs, and the overall seed, which the Chiefs could lock up with a win while Detroit, Minnesota, and Philly continue fighting for it.

TEAMS CONSIDERED

14. FALCONS

13. DENVER

12. RAMS

11. BUCCANEERS

10) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

They were off to a slow start against Denver that looked hot early. Eventually, the Chargers got it together and pulled through. What baffled me was the bizarre free field goal kick by way of a kick return penalty with no time left in the first half. I never knew that existed. Anyway, Los Angeles is one win away from a playoff berth for the second time in three seasons.

9) WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

How does Washington continue getting away with either winning in grand fashion or losing in grand fashion? Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and coach Dan Quinn may have forgotten to look up “quit” in the dictionary because they don’t know what that word means. That took every advantage they could and followed behind Jayden Daniels’ five touchdown performance to come back and win the game. They are within reach of a playoff berth.

8) PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh seen opportunities, but it wasn’t there for them at the end of the day. The run game struggled and not having George Pickens made them one-dimensional. What’s odd though is Darnell Washington not being involved at all on offense. When they won, Washington’s involvement was the difference. Pittsburgh has the toughest last two games against the Chiefs and Bengals, but they could also twist their fate. Kansas City’s trying to lock up the overall seed on Christmas Day while Cincinnati’s trying to get into the playoffs. The ball is in Pittsburgh’s court.

7) GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay made light work of a bad Saints team. It wasn’t interesting with how little New Orleans’ offense has to work with. It doesn’t lessen what the Packers did tonight which makes them a legitimate playoff threat when postseason comes. Unless Minnesota peters out in the last two games, Green Bay likely finishes at six or seven. Still, beware of the Cheeseheads in the postseason.

6) BALTIMORE RAVENS

Baltimore’s resurging as a potential AFC favorite with how well and consistent they’ve been lately against AFC opponents. They cleared out their mess with Pittsburgh with a convincing win to put them back in the conversation and hunt with Buffalo and Kansas City for a Super Bowl opportunity. Offense is still lethal, and the defense still looks intimidating to an extent as defensive players are getting healthy again and figuring it out.

5) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

It could’ve been a Philly win, but it wasn’t. Once Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion, a domino effect came into play. Kenny Pickett had some highs, but he also had some lows. They missed a field goal, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith dropped very important catches that could’ve added more points and/or ended the game, and ever since they scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, they scored only six points since (no points in 2nd quarter). Despite forcing five turnovers, they lost by way of Jayden Daniels’ five touchdowns. Similar thing happened last season in Week 17 against Arizona. They could’ve won that game, but it went the other way and lost at the end. It is what it is, but they can still close out their season strong against Dallas and the Giants.

4) MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota survives the onslaught of Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Run defense did their job against two power running backs, but the secondary continues to be a concern moving forward. The team overall could’ve lost again due to that position’s weakness. Sam Darnold cooked for another multiple touchdown day with Justin Jefferson breaking free for a big day per usual. Minnesota stays on Detroit for the NFC North title and overall seed.

3) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Kansas City inches closer to an overall AFC seed. Patrick Mahomes’ injury means nothing. He had a high-ankle sprain before and won against the Bengals in the 2022 AFC championship game. He’ll be fine, but Chris Jones’ injury is something to be aware of. If Buffalo loses or Kansas City wins on Christmas, Kansas City seals the number one seed.

2) BUFFALO BILLS

Buffalo wasn’t great against New England at home and Josh Allen wasn’t on his game, but it happens in rivalry matchups sometimes. However, his throwing hand injury is a concern moving forward. They survived against a seemingly motivated Drake Maye-led Patriots and is living on a prayer for the overall seed hoping Kansas City collapses in the last two weeks.

1) DETROIT LIONS

Detroit’s back in the driver seat for the number one seed alongside Minnesota. They spanked Chicago behind the three J’s of Detroit: Jared Goff (3 TDs, 336 pass yards), Jahmyr Gibbs (154 total yards, 1 TD), and Jameson Williams (143 rec. yards, 1 TD). That odd, fake out trick play was definitely a setup by Ben Johnson and Dan Campbell. Detroit continues conjuring zany ways to move the ball and score points. Detroit could still be in this if they can return some defensive players from injury.

They said it’s Oscar-worthy. I have to agree👏🏾