2018 NFL Season: Updated outlook for playoffs and #1 pick race
By Erik Lambert
The 2018 NFL season is five weeks old and people are already exhausted. That’s how thrilling and unpredictable it’s been. Maybe the best in years.
At least in terms of excitement. The two big stories that are finally coming into focus are the playoff chase and the “tank season” where teams start to position for that #1 pick in the 2019 draft. There is still time for teams to save their seasons yet but based on recent evidence their odds are getting longer by the minute.
First though, it’s time to discuss the postseason outlook. Things can change a lot over the next couple of months but there are some hard truths coming into focus. The two teams at the top? They score a lot of points, just the way the NFL wants it. However, defense still has a place too and there are some good ones lurking in the background.
The Current Playoff Picture
NFC
- Los Angeles Rams
- Chicago Bears
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Redskins
- Carolina Panthers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s no surprise the Rams are tops in the NFC. They were the heavy favorites coming in after their massive overhaul in the offseason. They have the league’s best offense. However, the far bigger surprise is the Bears. A team that went 5-11 last year is suddenly 3-1 and boast one of the best defenses in football. Aside from that, this is further confirmation of just how stacked the NFC South division is with three teams in the running.
AFC
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- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- New England Patriots
- Tennessee Titans
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
Patrick Mahomes had his first tough game against the Jaguars but the Chiefs keep right on rolling anyway. New England will figure things out like they always do. The big mystery is Tennessee. They’ve beaten some good teams this year but also just lost to Buffalo. Nobody can figure them out. As for the Chargers and Ravens? They’ve got talent to be playoff teams but also a bad habit of playing down to their competition.
2019 NFL Draft Top 10 projection
- New York Giants
- Indianapolis Colts
- San Francisco 49ers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Oakland Raiders
- Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New York Jets
- Buffalo Bills
It would seem the Giants’ decision to ride it out with Eli Manning while trying to rebuild the roster on the fly isn’t working out. Indianapolis remains too much of a one-man team with Andrew Luck. San Francisco was sunk the moment Jimmy Garoppolo went down. The Falcons and Raiders have huge defensive problems they need to figure out. As for Philadelphia? They clearly have lost some of that edge they played with last season. Super Bowl hangover? It’s possible.