NFL Playoffs Round 2 Predictions and Ohio State vs Notre Dame prediction

 

     Another great weekend of football is upon us! In the NFL, we have narrowed it down from 32 Super Bowl hopefuls to 8. There are 4 games this weekend, two on Saturday and two on Sunday, and a win this weekend means you are one win away from playing in the Super Bowl. So it's fair to say things are getting real. In addition to 4 NFL playoff games, the National Championship for college football will be played Monday evening in Atlanta between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Both teams were ranked outside of the top 4, so their respective runs to the title game justify the need for an expanded playoff beyond the previous 4 team format. 

     So today is just gonna be a quick write-up predicting the 4 NFL playoff games and the college football national title. We will go in the same order that the games are being played.

#4 Houston Texans @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday @ 4:30

     After getting the week off last week, Kansas City's true quest for a historical 3-peat starts tomorrow. Houston got here by defeating the Chargers last week 32-12 in a game where the defense set the tone with 4 interceptions.

     For Houston to have any chance in this game, they are going to have to play a near-perfect mistake free game. One thing that could help their chances is if KC shows any rust from the extended time off since most of the starters haven't played a snap since Christmas day (they rested in week 18 and then were off last week with a first round bye). If it does take the Chiefs a couple possessions to knock the rust off then perhaps Houston can keep the game close early and even get out to a quick start.

      I highly doubt that happens though, as Kansas City has had the first-round bye a handful of times in the Mahomes era and in every single one of them they have gone on to win in this round, many times convincingly. More often than not, the team benefits from the extra rest and extra week of preparation and comes out of the gate as if they were fired out of a cannon. If history could be any more unpleasant to the Texans, they are 0-5 in the Divisional round in their 22 year history.

     There's a small path where Houston could pull an improbable upset. The defense will need to continue to be relentless and the offense needs to play a clean, mistake-free game, and if we're being honest most of Kansas City's games end up being close anyways. But my belief is that the Chiefs will flip the switch now that the playoffs are beginning and will take care of business in this round.

Chiefs 27 Texans 16

#6. Washington Commanders @ #1 Detroit Lions
Saturday @ 8:00 

     Much like Kansas City, I expect Detroit to benefit from the week of rest and not come out too rusty. The Lions pride themselves on being physical and they'll feed off of the energy of a raucous home crowd. I believe the experience gained last season will be beneficial as well, especially relative to Washington, who just won its first playoff game in 20 years and is led by a rookie QB.

     To be fair, Jayden Daniels is no ordinary rookie. He's done and accomplished things we haven't seen from rookie QBs and he's composed well beyond his years, which will help with dealing with the raucous atmosphere. But this isn't just a QB competition. Detroit boasts a dominant offensive line and physical running game that can wear a defense down and set things up for big pass plays.

     This feels like a "Super Bowl or bust" year for the Lions, whereas Washington has already greatly exceeded expectations just by being here (2nd worst team in the NFL last year). For that reason I expect Detroit to come out with a greater sense of urgency to meet those high expectations, whereas anything further for Washington is icing on the cake to an already highly successful season. You could argue that this benefits the Commanders, as the pressure is on the Lions whereas Washington is playing with house-money. But this Lions team has the experience and mindset to handle these types of situations.

     I can see it being high-scoring, especially given some of the injuries to Detroit's defense, but ultimately think the Lions pull away in the 2nd half, as they did to Minnesota in a critical game two weeks ago and have done to many others this season. Unlike Kansas City, who played a plethora of one-score games, Detroit was incredibly consistent and dominant throughout the season and outscored their opponents by a league-best 222 points (an average of 2 TD per game). They will keep it rolling this week and book their ticket to the NFC Championship game.

Lions 37 Commanders 20 

#4. Los Angeles Rams @ #2 Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday @ 3:00

     The Rams are a great story and seem truly galvanized by the devastation happening in Los Angeles with the wildfires, and it feels like they're playing for more than just the game. The extra motivation can be a dangerous thing, but the Eagles are going to be a tall-task.

     Philly is at their best when they establish the run and ride Saquon Barkley like a horse. Barkley is a generational talent at running back and the Eagles have a massive offensive line that should be able to win in the trenches against a Rams team that is small inside. The run-first attack will also be beneficial in Philadelphia's outdoor weather elements, where they're projecting cool temperatures and possible snow. 

     For the Rams to overcome all of this, they need to lean on the experience of QB Matt Stafford and head coach Sean McVay, as well as a young defense trying to pick up where they left off after forcing 9 sacks and 2 turnovers (including a pick-six) against 14-win Minnesota last weekend.

     I do think this game is closer than people think. The Rams have had a lot of success with Stafford and McVay leading them. They have two legitimate receivers in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and a running back who scores a lot of touchdowns in Kyren Williams. Stafford gets the ball out of his hands super quickly and that should help minimize the effect of the Eagles' talented defensive line.

      But ultimately I think Philly's talent and depth wins out. The Eagles have two elite pass-catchers of their own in AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, and the compliment one another well as Brown is a physical big-bodied possession reveiver while Smith a crisp route-runner with good speed, and the offensive line and defense have been good for Philadelphia all year. As long as QB Jalen Hurts can make good decisions and take care of the football, I feel that Philadelphia will hold serve at home and set up a date with Detroit next weekend.

Eagles 24 Rams 20

#3. Baltimore Ravens @ #2 Buffalo Bills
Sunday @ 6:30

     The last game of the weekend also happens to be the most exciting. This is an epic match up between two teams that absolutely could win the whole thing and either will present a great challenge to Kansas City (assuming they take care of Houston). Both QB's, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, have put together monster seasons and are front runners for the MVP award. If the winner of this game goes on to win the whole thing, this could be a legacy defining game.

     The teams actually played all the way back in Week 4 in Baltimore, with Ravens stomping the Bills 35-10. The margin of victory is almost impossible to ignore, but at the same time this was such an uncharacteristic way for Buffalo to loose that it could possibly just be chalked up as a bad day. The home field advantage, plus Josh Allen, pretty much guarantees a much closer contest this time around.

     Because of how much of the spotlight the 2 QB's receive, it often gets lost that both teams have star running backs as well. Derrick Henry (Baltimore) and James Cook (Buffalo) tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns on the season. 

     It feels like this is bound to be a high scoring affair with very few punts and turnovers. In true Buffalo fashion, the Sunday night forecast is calling for temperatures in the "teens" and snow showers. It may very well come down to who gets the ball last or who makes the fewest mistakes. I do feel like at least one road team will pull off a win this weekend, despite the 4 home teams having incredibly difficult places to play. This feels like the realistic choice to roll the dice on. I do believe Baltimore is the more physical and more complete team, while Buffalo is a little more dependent on Allen's star power. Baltimore has one of the better coaching staffs in the league and I do trust that they can put their heads together and develop some sort of gameplan to make things tougher on Allen and slow him down just a tad.

     Both of these teams have been knocking on the door for years and have been unable to get over the hump that is the Chiefs. But only one of them will have the chance to do so this year. I think it's nearly a toss up pick, but I will cautiously pick Baltimore.

Baltimore 30 Buffalo 27

Notre Dame vs Ohio State

Monday @ 7:30

     Last but not least, we get to the grand finale of the 2024-25 college football season, which features the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams truly earned their way here, with each beating 3 top-10 teams en route to the title game.

     For Ohio State, is seems like this group is peaking at the right time and finally playing to their full potential. The Buckeyes were always loaded with a lot of individual NFL talent, but it wasn't always cohesive and working together. But these playoffs have turned a page, and Ohio State seems to finally have figured out how to put it all together and things are humming. Perhaps the biggest turnaround has been the play of the offensive line. The Buckeyes tried several different combinations over the course of the season, but finally seem to have found the right one as they have only allowed 2 sacks over the 3 playoff games. They're winning the battle on the other side as well as the defense has generated 16 sacks against their opponents in that same 3-game span.

     Notre Dame is peaking at the right time as well. The Irish are at their best when they run the ball and play sound defense. Doing so Monday night would help them control the clock and keep Ohio State's more explosive offense on the sideline. Defensively they have to be able to generate pressure on Buckeyes QB Will Howard. Howard can pick defenses apart when given a clean pocket and time to throw, but he's more susceptible to mistakes and errant throws when teams can generate pressure.      

     Notre Dame can keep this close if it sticks to it's tried and true gameplans. But ultimately, Ohio State's firepower, explosiveness, and collection of NFL talent has been too much to handle thus far for all of its playoff opponents, and I'm just not confident that Notre Dame can either keep up or suppress it altogether.

Ohio State 30 Notre Dame 20

      

      

     

 

NFL Power Rankings

 

     The calendar has now turned to December, a time of year highlighted by Christ, family, gift-giving, beautiful lights and decorations, yummy baked goods, matching PJ's, themed films and music, and so much more! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and the icing on the cake is it also features the home stretch of the NFL regular season.

     With only 3 weeks remaining before the playoffs, the time is now for teams to make a playoff push. The races for home field advantage, division titles, and wild cards are all heating up, and it promises to be a fun finish.

     So far, 7 teams have already secured playoff births (Detroit, Kansas City, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Houston) and only three of those have already locked up its division (Kansas City, Buffalo, Houston). There are only 9 teams that have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention at this point (Giants, Raiders, Jaguars, Patriots, Jets, Titans, Browns, Panthers, Bears). This leaves 16 teams left competing for 7 playoff spots. Three teams have already fired head coaches (Bears, Saints, Jets) but there are several others on the hot seat that may not survive the end of the season.

     Normally I do a few power rankings throughout each season, but have yet to do so this season. But alas, no time like the present! We'll rank the teams from 32 to 1 and separate the pretenders from the contenders and sort them into tiers along the way.

     Before diving in, it's worth taking a quick glance at the current standings. Recall that there are two conferences, AFC and NFC. For each conference, the 4 division winners will make the playoffs and be the top 4 seeds and host at least 1 playoff game. The top overall seed gets a first-round bye and home field advantage up until the Super Bowl. Additionally, the 3 best non-division winners from each conference get into the playoffs as well as the "wild cards" and will be seeded 5, 6, and 7 and will play road playoff games in round 1 against teams who won their divisions.

Current Standings:

AFC

AFC East

1. Buffalo 11-3

2. Miami 6-8

3. New York Jets 4-10

4. New England 3-11

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh 10-4

2. Baltimore 9-5

3. Cincinnati 6-8

4. Cleveland 3-11

AFC South 

1. Houston 9-5

2. Indianapolis 6-8

3. Jacksonville 3-11

4. Tennessee 3-11

AFC West

1. Kansas City 13-1

2. Denver 9-5

3. Los Angeles Chargers 8-6

4. Las Vegas 2-12

NFC

NFC East

1. Philadelphia 12-2

2. Washington 9-5

3. Dallas 6-8

4. New York Giants 2-12

NFC North

1. Detroit 12-2

2. Minnesota 12-2

3. Green Bay 10-4

4. Chicago 4-10

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay 8-6

2. Atlanta 7-7

3. New Orleans 5-9

4. Carolina 3-11

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams 8-6

2. Seattle 8-6

3. Arizona 7-7

4. San Francisco 6-8

Tier 1: Better Luck Next Year

#32. New York Giants
2-12; last place in NFC East

     The Giants continue to be a mess of a franchise and one of the laughing stocks of the NFL. They have only made the playoffs twice since 2011, and have the worst record in the NFL in that same time span. After 6 long underwhelming years, the organization decided to finally part ways with quarterback Daniel Jones and his massively overvalued contract, and will look to find it's future quarterback in April's NFL Draft. It seems like head coach Brian Daboll is also more likely than not to get the axe, in his 3 years the team is getting worse instead of better. There's some young talent here that the roster can build around moving forward, most notably 6th overall pick Malik Nabers looks like he could be a difference maker at wide receiver if given the right quarterback. But this is a team destined for change, headlined by a new coach and new quarterback, as New York looks poised to once more tear it down and try again.

#31. Las Vegas Raiders
2-11; last place in AFC West

     Antonio Pierce became the interim coach in the middle of last season following the firing of Josh McDaniels, and the team appeared to play harder and finished stronger than they started, leading to Pierce being promoted from the interim to the permanent head coach. Unfortunately for him, this year has been quite the opposite, as the Raiders are tied with the Giants for the worst record in the NFL. Star wide receiver Davante Adams caught wind early on of Vegas' underlying problems, which resulted in him using a "hamstring injury" to sit out games before being traded to the Jets. The team only has two star-caliber players, edge rusher Max Crosby and rookie tight end Brock Bowers, and the organization has tried and failed time after time to find a solution at quarterback. Pierce's future remains to be determined, but the Raiders desperately need an infusion of young talent, to the point where it may even be worth trading Crosby for a haul of draft picks to accelerate the rebuild.

#30: Jacksonville Jaguars
3-11; Last place in AFC South

     This one feels a little more injury driven than lack of talent driven. I'm in no way shape or form saying the Jags would be in the playoff hunt with a healthier roster, but I do believe at bare minimum another win or two could have been in the cards. Unlike the other two, the Jaguars have a competent quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who lacks consistency but the talent and tools are there. The Jaguars are well positioned to draft somewhere in the top 5 and with Lawrence already in place they could draft the highest rated non-quarterback prospect in the class. Add Doug Pederson's name to the list of coaches on the hot seat. Similar to Daboll, Pederson managed to get the Jaguars into the playoffs and even reached the 2nd round in year 1, but then the team had an epic collapse in the second-half of last season to miss the playoffs last year. and now they're amongst the NFL's worst teams in year 3. Pederson seemed like a great hire initially, having led the Eagles to a Super Bowl in 2018. But Jacksonville is trending in the wrong direction which spells trouble for Pederson.

#29. Tennessee Titans
3-11; 3rd place in AFC South

     Another team that didn't have the highest expectations but probably hoped to be more towards the middle of the pack rather than the bottom 5. The biggest concern is it still seems unclear whether second-year QB Will Levis is the answer moving forward or no. There are occasional throws and moments that keep you interested, but not enough consistency and growth yet to make you feel fully confident. If the Titans do end up with a top-5 draft pick, conversations will be had about whether to try again for a QB, or stick it out with Levis and use the pick on a different position. Like New England, Tennessee hired a new coach last offseason and thus don't really think they are at risk of being fired after one season. 

#28. New England Patriots
3-11; Last place in AFC East

     This one was a little more expected than the 4 teams that came before. The Patriots hit the reset button in the offseason and decided to start fresh with a new GM, head coach, and quarterback. This is a team that's been struggling to find its identity ever since Tom Brady left cold and snowy New England for the sunshine and beaches of Tampa in 2020. This was expected to be a transition and rebuilding year and that's exactly what it has been. 3rd overall pick Drake Maye has shown flashes of potential at times as the QB of the future in New England, but there's still growth and development needed there and the team still needs to build the roster around him as well.

#27. Cleveland Browns
3-11; Last place in AFC North

     Cleveland is an interesting one due to how inconsistent they are. They have surprise wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh but then head scratching losses to teams like the Giants and Raiders. Jameis Winston has instilled more life into the offense, but in typical Jameis fashion more turnovers as well. The Browns were a playoff team last year so this season has to be a disappointment and one where they fell far short of their goals.

#26. Carolina Panthers
3-11; Last place in NFC South

     Despite their record, the Panthers are a better team than they were last season when they were worst in the league. This year has showed some signs of life and reasons of optimism which were not present in Carolina last season. It seems like second-year QB Bryce Young actually benefitted from his mid-season demotion to the bench and came back better than before his benching. Credit to rookie head coach Dave Canales, who is showing some signs of optimism as his own, for making that tough call. There's still a ways to go when it comes to building this roster into a contender but they're a bit closer than they were a year ago.

#25. New York Jets
4-10; 3rd place in AFC East

    One of the biggest disappointments has to be the New York Jets. I mean that both in terms of this season but also in regards to the Aaron Rodgers experiment as a whole. It's always a risk going all-in on an aging quarterback, but the Jets had real optimism after signing the 4-time MVP and former Super Bowl champion, especially after seeing how well it worked out for Brady/Tampa in a similar situation. Unfortunately the Jets' own situation has been the polar opposite. After tearing his Achilles just 4 snaps into last season, the Jets still felt confident that with a healthy Rodgers returning to the team they could be a playoff team and even contend with the Bills for a division title, but the Jets continued their losing ways. This resulted in the firings of their head coach and GM, and Rodgers' own future seems murky as well. Expect the Jets to take a quarterback towards the top of the draft, regardless of whether Rodgers remains with the team or not.

#24. Chicago Bears
4-10; Last Place in NFC North

     The offseason hype train was real for the Bears in the offseason after drafting Caleb Williams with the #1 overall pick. Many thought Williams would adjust quickly and that Chicago could be a playoff team, however Williams is going through his own growing pains, as most rookies do, and the Bears have the misfortune of being in the NFC North division, where the Lions, Packers, and Vikings have all been awesome. Some of this is just bad luck, it isn't their fault that the other 3 teams in their division are incredibly strong. But the reality is the Bears are falling short of their preseason expectations. Head coach Matt Eberflus was shown the door after a terrible time-management blunder on Thanksgiving Day that cost the Bears the chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds against the Lions. Chicago's coaching search will be a critical one as the Bears need to hire someone who can groom Williams and help him tap into his full potential.

#23. New Orleans Saints
5-9; 3rd place in NFC South

     The Saints threw in the towel earlier in the year when they fired head coach Dennis Allen after a loss to Carolina that capped a 7 game losing streak and dropped the team to 2-7. Things got a little interesting afterwards when they won 3 out of the last 4 and pulled within 2 games of the NFC South, but a (literal) last second loss to the Commanders this weekend felt like the official nail in the coffin to their slim playoff hopes. Like Chicago, the focus now shifts to a coaching search to find a new leader in the Big Easy.

#22. Dallas Cowboys
6-8; 3rd place in NFC East

     Weeks after signing a contract extension worth $240 million, Dak Prescott suffered a season ending hamstring tear, which in turn put a damper on Dallas' playoff hopes. The Cowboys were hoping to build off of last season when they won 12 games, won the division, and were the 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, but the offense has stalled out with the loss of it's quarterback and those goals won't be attainable this year. The team will certainly be better next year when Dak returns to the line up, but whether or not head coach Mike McCarthy is still along for the ride remains to be seen.

Tier 2: No Room for Error

#21. Indianapolis Colts
6-8; 2nd place in AFC South

    The Colts had a critical game against Denver this past weekend and had they won would have been within 1 game of the wild card, but they came up short and now those playoff hopes are fading. Indy's slim playoff hopes now require winning all of their remaining games plus help in the form of one of the current AFC wild card teams (Ravens, Broncos, Chargers) losing most or all of their remaining games. The former part is very doable considering the Colts' final 3 opponents are the Titans, Giants, and Jaguars,. But unless one of the 3 aforementioned teams stumbles down the stretch, winning out won't be enough to get the Colts in. 

#20. Miami Dolphins
6-8; 2nd place in AFC East

     I feel bad for Miami because I genuinely think they would have 2 or 3 more wins if Tua hadn't missed time after suffering another concussion earlier in the season, which would put them right in the wild card mix. But that's life, injuries are part of the game (the worst part), and similar to Dallas, Miami's offense just lost its explosiveness without it's QB. Miami's narrow path into the playoffs is essentially the same as the Colts', winning out and having one of the 3 teams ahead of them collapse down the stretch. It's not impossible but the odds are stacked against them. 

#19. San Francisco 49ers
6-8; Last place in NFC West

     After Thursday night's loss to the Rams, last year's Super Bowl runner-up is at legitimate risk for missing the playoffs entirely. To be fair, the 49ers have been decimated by injuries, probably moreso than any other team in the league. Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk are done for the season and Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and other key members have all missed time. I fully believe this is a team that would be winning its division and headed back to the playoffs if they were healthier, but luck has not been on their side in that department this season. Still, if there's one team capable of going on a run at the very end, I still believe it could be them due to their championship pedigree and the amount of talent on the roster as guys get healthier down the stretch. But their playoff hopes are basically on life-support at this point.

#18. Cincinnati Bengals
6-8; 3rd place in AFC North

    Cincinnati actually has a top 5 offense, in fact Joe Burrow would probably be an MVP candidate if the team had a better record, but unfortunately they refuse to play a lick of defense, and it has cost them several games. In 6 of their 8 losses they have scored 25 points or more, and 4 of those 6 they had 33 or more, which should be enough to win most weeks, but the inability to play defense is offsetting what has been a very efficient offense. The Bengals playoff hopes are basically and copy and paste of Miami and Indianapolis' own situations. They may have dug themselves a hole to deep to climb out of this season, but if Cincinnati can make some moves in the offseason to bolster their porous defense then this can be an improved team in 2025.

Tier 3: Very Much in the Playoff Hunt

#17. Atlanta Falcons
7-7; 2nd in NFC South

     Atlanta made a big splash signing Kirk Cousins in the offseason, hoping that would be the missing piece of the puzzle that would push them atop the division and back into the playoffs. A month and a half ago that appeared to be the case, with the Falcons holding a comfortable 3 game lead in the NFC South. But a 4 game losing streak, in conjunction with a 4 game winning streak by Tampa, has the Falcons now 1 game behind the Buccaneers. The Falcons do own the tie-breaker, by virtue of their 2 head-to-head wins over Tampa, so if the two teams end up finishing with the same record then Atlanta wins the division. But for that to happen, the Falcons need to stop the bleeding and recollect themselves for the final stretch, starting with Cousins who leads the league in interceptions. Atlanta did finally get back in the win column after beating the Raiders on Monday night, but will need to keep that momentum going if they hope to leapfrog Tampa and win the NFC South.

#16. Arizona Cardinals
7-7; 3rd in NFC West

     The NFC West is a tight cluster right now, with all 4 teams only separated by 2 games. Arizona sits only 1 game behind the Rams and Seahawks, who are tied atop the division at the moment. The Cardinals actually led this division in late November but 3 straight losses caused that lead to slip away. A win over lowly New England this past weekend allowed Arizona to finally put an end to the losing streak, and what remains is road trips to Carolina and the Rams, and then a home finale against the 49ers in the final week. The Panthers game seems like a likely win, which would bring Arizona to 8-7 entering two pivotal games against division rivals that will likely decide their fate. 

#15. Seattle Seahawks
8-6; 2nd in NFC West

     Prior to Sunday, Seattle was on a hot streak, having won it's last 4 games before the loss to Green Bay ended the winning streak. But do they have the legs to fend off their division rivals and reach the finish line? It won't be easy. Seattle's next game is against the Vikings, one of the NFL's strongest teams, and the playing status of QB Geno Smith is in question after Smith exited Sunday's game with a knee injury. Early tests suggest it's non-serious, but the time table at this point is unknown. Even if Smith plays, beating Minnesota is a tall task, but without him it's highly unlikely. The game the following week against the Bears is much more winnable, and then Seattle travels to LA to play the Rams in Week 18 in a game that could likely decide the division.

#14. Los Angeles Chargers
8-6; 2nd in AFC West

     Jim Harbaugh continues to prove himself as a great coach who can succeed at any level. Last year he led Michigan to a national title, and this year after deciding to jump back to the NFL he has taken a Chargers team that finished 5-12 last year and has them at 8-6 and on the precipice of a playoff birth. Statistically, the Chargers have the NFL's best defense, entering this week they were only allowing just under 16 points per game, but allowing 40 to the Buccaneers was a bit of a head scratcher. A great defense can take a team a long way and keep them in just about any game, and such has been the case with the Chargers considering all but 2 of their losses are by 7 points or less. A Thursday night road test against Denver is next, which will likely play a factor in Wild Card seeding, but with the final 2 games coming against the Patriots and Raiders it seems likely that the Chargers will indeed earn one of the 3 AFC wild cards and hold off the teams chasing them.

#13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7-6; 1st place in NFC South

     Atlanta's write up segues into Tampa's own situation nicely. The Bucs battled injuries throughout the season, but persevered and now find themselves atop the division entering the home stretch. The belief was always that following the bye week, Tampa would need to win at least 6 of its final 7 to get to 10 wins and return to the playoffs. They are 4/4 so far following easy wins over the Giants and Raiders, and then a not-so easy win over Carolina where the Bucs needed to rally in the final seconds to force overtime and eventually win, followed by a surprise road win over the Chargers last weekend. Following the win in LA, Tampa's playoff chances look very strong entering their final 3 games against Dallas, New Orleans, and Carolina. As aforementioned, Tampa needs to finish at least 1 game ahead of Atlanta to win the division since the Falcons own the tiebreaker. There is also a path where the Bucs could lose their division but still get in as a wild card, seeing as the Bucs only trail the Commanders by a single game and would own the tiebreaker via their head-to-head win back in week 1.

#12. Los Angeles Rams
8-6: 2nd in NFC West

     Many of us wrote off the Rams went they got off to a 1-4 start. Similar to Tampa, the Rams were victims of key injuries to star receivers like Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. But as the team got healthier, the Rams quietly went on a run and have now won 7 of their last 9 games, probably not so quietly anymore after the surprise victory over the Bills two weeks ago. The Rams still have multiple paths into the playoffs, they sit 1 game behind in both the division (Seahawks) and the wild card (Commanders). Adding to the intrigue, the Rams play Seattle in the final game of this season, meaning if the race remains close that game could possibly decide the division. 

#11. Denver Broncos
9-5; 3rd in AFC West

     One of the biggest surprises of 2024 has been the Denver Broncos. Almost everyone, myself included, pegged them as a bottom 5 team entering year 1 of a rebuild. Boy were we wrong. Denver currently sits at 9-5, which would be good enough for a wild card birth if the season ended today. Much of this can be attributed to the play of rookie QB Bo Nix. Some thought Nix would be a bust when the Broncos selected him 12th overall in April's draft, but Nix has silenced the doubters and been one of the best performing rookies of the season. Denver is still going to have to earn it considering their final 3 games come against the Chargers, Bengals, and Chiefs, but just winning 1 of those 3 should be enough to secure Denver a seat at the table.

#10. Washington Commanders
9-5; 2nd in NFC East

     Like Denver, Washington is a team led by a rookie QB that's massively exceeding its preseason expectations. The Commanders were the 2nd worst team in football last year (ahead of only Carolina), and thus held the 2nd overall pick in April's NFL Draft. The Commanders used the pick on Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, and like Nix, Daniels has adjusted quickly and taken the league by storm. The division is probably out of reach for Washington, who trails red-hot Philadelphia by 3 games, so the focus is hanging on to the final wild card spot down the stretch. If Washington does end up hanging on, it will largely be due to 3 games where they won on the final play: an overtime FG to beat the Giants in week 2 (a game the Giants probably win if their kicker did not get injured earlier in the game), a successful Hail Mary to beat the Bears in Week 9 (something that works less than 1% of the time), and a defensive stop on a potential-game winning 2 point conversion against the Saints this past weekend (a game Washington led 17-0 and ended up hanging on to by the skin of their teeth). It's fair to say luck has been on the Commanders' side this year, and all of that good fortune has resulted in a 1 game lead over Seattle for the final wild card spot. Is there enough good luck left in the tank for Washington to hang on and make the playoffs for the first time since the COVID season?

Tier 5: If the Stars Align...

#9. Houston Texans

9-5; 1st in AFC South

     After finishing second-to-last in the 2022-23 season, Houston took the league by storm last year when rookie QB CJ Stroud and rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans led the team to the 2nd round of the playoffs. This led to an offseason spending spree where the Texans went all in on bringing in big-name players while Stroud remained on an affordable rookie contract, most notably they traded for top Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Cincinnati Bengals star running back Joe Mixon. Many of us saw the Texans as a potential Super Bowl contender as a result, however Diggs tore his ACL mid-season which is a massive loss for the Texans. Houston did lock up the AFC South on Sunday, not that the other 3 teams gave them much competition, but it does guarantee the Texans a home playoff game in round 1. Unless they can leapfrog Pittsburgh, Houston will most likely be the 4 seed, meaning they'll match up with the highest ranked wild card team in round 1. There's a world where Houston could make a Super Bowl run, but without Diggs they're a notch below teams like Kansas City/Buffalo/Baltimore/Pittsburgh.

#8. Pittsburgh Steelers
10-4; 1st in AFC North

     The Steelers seem to exceed expectations every year. On paper they seemed like a middle-tier team, but here they are as one of the NFL's best teams. They've been trying to figure things out at QB ever since future hall of famer Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021-22 season, but Pittsburgh doubled down this offseason signing veteran Russel Wilson and trading for younger prospect Justin Fields. Both have played this year and both have contributed to Pittsburgh's success. But the Steelers are old-school and have never needed elite QB play to win games. They play a smashmouth style of playing hard-nosed defense and running the football between the trenches, a style conducive to the cold and rainy weather the city often has. It's often never pretty, but clean wins and ugly wins still count all the same, and Pittsburgh's culture has always been one of just finding a way to get the job done. The Steelers lead the Ravens by 1 game in the AFC North, and travel to Baltimore this weekend for a game with massive implications. A win essentially gives Pittsburgh the division, while a loss results in the two teams being tied at 10-5 entering the final 2 games.

#7. Green Bay Packers
10-4; 3rd place in NFC North

     Like the Bears, the Packers have the misery in playing in the NFL's best division. Green Bay is probably good enough to be winning a handful of the other divisions, but here in the NFC North they trail Detroit and Minnesota, and thus will have to settle for a wild card and play road games throughout the playoffs. The good news is, the Packers proved last year that they could compete with the best teams in the playoffs on the road. They marched into Dallas, who was the 2 seed last year, and blew them out of the water, and then marched into San Francisco the following week and were a defensive stop away from winning that game as well. I think they're even better this year than they were last, so they're going to be a problem for whichever higher seeded team draws them in the first round, and every round thereafter.

#6. Minnesota Vikings
12-2; 2nd in NFC North

     The Vikings have also been one of the league's bigger surprises in 2024. The team moved on from Kirk Cousins after 6 seasons together, and selected Michigan QB JJ McCarthy with the 8th overall pick in the NFL Draft. It looked like McCarthy was set to take over, but the rookie tore his ACL a few weeks prior to the start of the season. Fortunately the Vikings has a contingency plan in place, when they signed ex-49ers back up Sam Darnold. The original plan was for Darnold to be a bridge option until McCarthy was ready, but after the circumstances unfolded the way they did Darnold became the full-time starter. With Darnold at the helm, the Vikings had a surprisingly successful season, only the Chiefs have a better record than Minnesota. Making things even more interesting, the Vikings now find themselves tied with Detroit atop the NFC North, by virtue of the Lions loss to the Bills this weekend. And to make it even more interesting than that, the two of them are also tied with Philadelphia for the best record in the NFC and the battle for #1 seed and the first-round bye and homefield advantage that comes with. Before Sunday it seemed like a forgone conclusion that Detroit would win the division and Minnesota would have to settle for the 5 seed, but the Lions have now cracked the door open for the Vikings and there is now a tremendous amount to play for down the stretch for Minnesota. And oh by the way, the 2 teams play in the final game of the regular season.

#5. Baltimore Ravens
9-5; 2nd in AFC North

     The Ravens won't finish with a record as good as last year's, when they went 14-3 and were the top seed in the AFC, and they may not even win their division, however they are still a force to be reckoned with. Lamar Jackson is one of the most electric players in this league and can torture defenses with his legs and his arm. And this is a complete roster with playmakers on offense and a perennially solid defense., and they have a wealth of playoff experience. Every loss Baltimore has comes by 5 points or less, which include competitive losses to the Chiefs, Eagles, and Steelers, and they have a 25 point blowout of Buffalo on their resume as well. The Ravens are only 1 game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, and the 2 teams happen to play this weekend, meaning if Baltimore wins they'll be tied for first entering the final 2 games. But whether they're a division champion or a wild card, I do believe Baltimore is one of the most dangerous teams, and an incredibly hard one to beat when they play to their full potential. 

Tier 6: Super Bowl Favorites

#4. Buffalo Bills
11-3; 1st in AFC East

     Some thought the Bills would take a step back after losing Stefon Diggs and other key members of the previous teams, but Josh Allen continues to be the trump-card and continues to find success no matter what the surrounding pieces are. Some thought the Dolphins or the Jets could challenge the Bills for the AFC East crown, but Buffalo continues to make it emphatically clear that they still run this division, and that they remain one of the 2 best teams in the conference. They are the only team to beat Kansas City and the two seem to always be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs. They've done so 3 times recently already, with the Chiefs winning all of them, but two of those were incredibly close and they've established quite the rivalry so why not make it a quadrilogy? The win over the Lions, whom many (including myself) perceived as the best team in the NFL before Sunday, turned a lot of heads and firmly establishes Buffalo as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. I believe the performance probably solidifies Josh Allen as the MVP as well. Buffalo will likely finish no lower than the 2 seed, and the 1 seed is still in play, especially if Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury causes him to miss time.  This means Buffalo would host at least 2, and possibly 3, home playoff games. And no team appreciates home-field advantage more than Buffalo in January, with its literal snowstorms and one of the most passionate and loud fan-bases in football. Kansas City seems to always get the last laugh over Buffalo in the playoffs, but it feels like one of these years Buffalo has to get it done eventually, right? This fan base has always craved a championship, its older members still feel the sting of losing 4 straight Super Bowls in the early 90's. Perhaps this is finally the time.

#3. Philadelphia Eagles
12-2; 1st in NFC East

     It's been an interesting few years in Philadelphia, they are still only 2 years removed from reaching a Super Bowl and losing to Kansas City off a last-second field goal, but last year they had an epic collapse down the stretch that led to multiple staff firings and more questions than answers. But 2024 has been more like 2 years ago than last year, with the Eagles at the top of the NFC once again. The Eagles spent big money to pry running back Saquon Barkley away from the Giants, and it has been worth every penny. Barkley has been the league's best running back and someone who can explode for a big run at any moment. This may have been the missing piece that ends up putting Philly over the top. The offense is loaded with playmakers between Saquon, QB Jalen Hurts, and wide receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, and the defense is good enough to win a Super Bowl as well. Much like Buffalo and Kansas City, the Eagles and Lions seem to be destined to meet in the NFC Championship to compete for the right to go to the Super Bowl, and that game would be a complete toss-up.

#2. Kansas City Chiefs
13-1; 1st in AFC West

     Say what you want about how close the majority of the games have been, but these guys are proven champions who know how to flip the switch and elevate their play to another level when its playoff time. No team has ever won 3 Super Bowls in a row, so this Chiefs team is on the verge of making history. It won't be easy, it's them against the world at this point, but as long as Mahomes is quarterbacking and Andy Reid is coaching and other key pieces like Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Isiah Pacheco, Nick Bolton, and others remain in the fold this is a hard team to bet against. The Chiefs seemed likely to secure the 1 seed in the AFC, meaning a first round bye and home field advantage in the games leading up to the Super Bowl, but Mahomes' ankle injury is something that could crack the door open for Buffalo. How Kansas City decided to navigate the situation will be interesting, as the 1 seed is a massive advantage however making sure Mahomes is 100% healthy for playoffs has to be the top priority. After all, they proved last year they could win without a bye and homefield as they were the 3 seed and went on to win road games in Buffalo and Baltimore en route to the Super Bowl. But if they do manage to hang onto it, going on the road and winning in Arrowhead in the playoffs has been an impossible task for everyone else in the AFC recently. The Chiefs aren't just playing for another championship, they're playing to etch themselves in NFL history by doing something that has never been done. They will give everything they have to accomplish this once in a lifetime goal.

#1. Detroit Lions
12-2; 1st in AFC West

     As incredible as Kansas City is, my pick to win the Super Bowl right now is the Detroit Lions. Even though they did lose this weekend I am still standing by this prediction. This feels like a team of destiny and has been the best and most dominant throughout the regular season. After endless years of losing, Detroit has finally been built into a winner and it just feels like this year either ends with a Super Bowl or a world of heartbreak from falling just short of finishing the job. Lions fans have paid their dues, and there would be something poetic about a potential Lions/Chiefs Super Bowl, pitting a proven winner against a team born to lose and dying to win. But Detroit just feels like the main character of the story right now, one who has overcome trials and tribulations and every adversity in the book, and one we are all rooting for to see have their happy ending and moment of triumph. If they can hold off Philadelphia and Minnesota, Detroit will secure the 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and much like Buffalo and Kansas City, few stadiums get louder and more deafening than Detroit. It wouldn't surprise me if the Cheifs complete the 3-peat or the Eagles get the job done or the Bills finally reach the mountain top, but my gut right now just feels like this is Detroit's moment and they have been the most consistent and best team in all of football to this point. They would be a deserving champion and I hope for them it is finally their moment.

 

     

Each Team's 2023-24 Grade

 

     As we put a bow on the 2023-24 season, let's give each team a letter grade. These grades are based on a combination of preseason expectations and actual performance. I'm more of a bell-curve grader, meaning a "C" is considered average. But the actual distribution can be found below:

A- 7

B- 5

C- 12

D- 5

F- 3

+'s and -'s are used but for the list above we are grouping altogether. 

Arizona Cardinals: C

The team entered the year with low expectations in a transition year with a new GM and new head coach and it's starting QB still recovering from an ACL tear until mid-season. But it found some positive momentum late in the season once they got Kyler Murray back from the aforementioned injury. They should be better next year.

Atlanta Falcons: D-

Some thought they may be able to push for the division title but they never solved their QB situation and never properly utilized their other offensive weapons. That resulted in a losing record and the firing of head coach Arthur Smith.

Baltimore Ravens: A-

It can't be an A, given the team had a complete dud in it's final game which caused their season to end just short of the Super Bowl. But they still finished with the best record in football and were the league's most complete and dominant team for the majority of the season.

Buffalo Bills: B

After a slow start, they did really well to rally down the stretch and make the playoffs. But to have another season end in the Divisional Round and at the hands of the Chiefs on their home turf is a disappointment for a team with a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality. 

Carolina Panthers: F

Absolute mess of a season, finishing as the worst team in football, firing their coach mid season, and their owner spilling drinks on opposing fans. To make matters worse, this team doesn't even have its first round pick (which would have been #1 overall) because it traded it away to Chicago last season to trade up for rookie QB Bryce Young.

Chicago Bears: C+

Dug itself a hole early that ultimately it could not get out of, but they did finish much stronger than they started and have two high first round picks, including the #1 overall pick.

Cincinnati Bengals: B-

The fact that they still finished with a winning record despite a bad start and losing Joe Burrow mid season is a victory in itself and speaks to the talent of the team. They'll have Super Bowl aspirations next year with Burrow back healthy.

Cleveland Browns: B+

To go through as many injuries as they did, especially to quarterbacks, and still win 11 games and make playoffs is an incredible feat and testament to how good the defense and coaching is. Unfortunately they laid an egg once they got their though.

Dallas Cowboys: C-

Because of it's perennial high expectations, this team was always going to be judged by how it's season ended. Unfortunately for them, it was another epic playoff collapse to a team they should have beaten.

Denver Broncos: C-

They had a nice little win streak mid season to play themselves back into the mix, but finished with a losing record and no playoffs. QB Russell Wilson has been a massive disappointment after the team paid a premium for him acquiring him from Seattle and signing him to an extremely lucrative contract and will likely get released or traded.

Detroit Lions: A

The way it ended will haunt them for awhile, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that this was their best season in most of our lifetimes and that things are moving in the right direction.

Green Bay Packers: A-

Uncertainty loomed for them after parting ways with Aaron Rodgers but the second half of the season proved that they're in good hands with Jordan Love. Beat the brakes off of the 2nd best team in the conference in the playoffs (Dallas) and nearly took out San Fran on the road. 

Houston Texans: A

Maybe the brightest future of any team on the list. CJ Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons we have ever seen from a QB, and Linebacker Will Anderson won defensive rookie of the year as well, and first year coach DeMeco Ryans led this team to the second round of the playoffs. They will only get better with experience.

Indianapolis Colts: B-

The season could have unraveled on them early when rookie QB and 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson suffered a season ending injury in mid October and all-pro running back Jonathan Taylor missing the first 5 weeks, but first year head coach Shane Steichen found a way to keep the team afloat until the final week.

Jacksonville Jaguars: D

 Absolute choke down the stretch from a team that had Super Bowl aspirations to lose 5 of it's final 6 games and miss the playoffs altogether. The reason it's not an F is because I believe Trevor Lawrence was never truly healthy but continually tried playing through pain all year long. They could have a bounce back 2024-25 season with him healthy.

Kansas City Chiefs: A+

Even in a down year, found a way to tap into their Championship DNA and win the games when it mattered most and became the league's first repeat champions since the '05 Patriots.

Las Vegas Raiders: C+

The team started poorly and fired Josh McDaniels midseason, but then played significantly better when Antonio Pierce took over as the interim head coach. Will be interesting to see how the team performs with Pierce leading the way for a full season.

Los Angeles Chargers: F

Justin Herbert is too talented of a QB for the team to lose this many games, which resulted in Brandon Staley being fired mid-season. With Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan after winning a National Title to return to the NFL and coach LA, this is an interesting team to follow next season.

Los Angeles Rams: B+

Many people thought the competitive window was closing for them with the aging core, but the team still made the playoffs and took the Lions to the wire on the road. 

Miami Dolphins: C+

A tough one to grade because they had a red hot start to the season before floundering down the stretch. Some of that was injuries piling up, but the questions remain if the Dolphins have the toughness to compete with the league's elite teams.

Minnesota Vikings: C

Not giving them a failing grade because they had horrendous luck with injuries, specifically to Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. It wasn't the season they hoped for but no team could have gone far with the amount of significant injuries Minnesota suffered.

New England Patriots: F

Things have been slowly declining there since Tom Brady's departure and this was the rock bottom year. It's time for the organization to start fresh with a new coaching staff, QB, and roster changes.

New Orleans Saints: C+

Entered the season as the favorites to win the NFC South but ultimately couldn't dethrone Tampa. But still finished with a winning record and were in the playoff race until the final week.

New York Giants: C-

Another lenient grade due to injuries but couldn't build off of last year's surprise playoff appearance. Getting healthy again along with a high draft pick should do them some good.

New York Jets: C-

The season was over before it barely started when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on just his 4th ever snap as a New York Jet. The team managed to hang around for half a season but could never overcome the poor QB play and fell out of the race in the second half.

 Philadelphia Eagles: D-

  I won't give an F to a playoff/double digit win team, but this team collapsed so badly that it has to be close. It remains a mystery how a team that started 10-1 fell off a cliff down the stretch and they'll spend the offseason reflecting on what happened and how to fix moving forward.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C

Found a way to make the playoffs despite rotating through a few different QBs but that felt like their ceiling and they never really felt like a threat to go any further.

San Francisco 49ers: A

Being so close will sting for awhile but still won the NFC and reached the big game and nearly won it.

Seattle Seahawks: C+

Similar to the Giants, many thought they would build off of last year's surprise trip to the playoffs, but the team fell just short of getting back there.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-

Much doubt was cast on this group with many experts predicting them to be a bottom 5 team, but the Bucs proved that even without Tom Brady they still run the division and can be an annual playoff team. Baker Mayfield and Tampa proved to be a good marriage for both sides and gives reason for optimism moving forward.

Tennessee Titans: D

Many thought this would be a bounce back year for them with key players healthy again and the expectation was they would be a top 2 team in the AFC South, but the Titans finished last in their division and fired their head coach and will probably begin a rebuild this offseason.

Washington Commanders: D+

They gave up halfway through the season and moved talented players right before the trade deadline to receive draft capital but at least they were self-aware of their flaws and positioned themselves better for the future while other bad teams remained in denial and kept trying to compete with what they had.

Ranking Team Names

 

     

     Those who listen to the New Heights podcast are aware that the Kelce brothers are currently conducting a "Best Team Name" bracket challenge, where listeners can vote for their favorites and submit a bracket. It had me inspired to reflect on and rank them as well. I have always found the etymology of a team name interesting and how it relates to the city the team represents. So here is an honest and unbiased personal ranking of each NFL team name from 32 to 1.

Tier 1: Bad

#32. Houston Texans

Ranking it dead last for redundancy and lack of creativity. We already know they are Texans due to the fact that they are in Houston. For what it's worth I think the logo and color scheme are awesome, just not the name.

#31. Cleveland Browns

It's named after a former owner, which comes off as narcissistic, and creates further confusion that the team is "Browns" yet the helmets are Orange. Arguably the most bland team name/logo combinations in the league.

Tier 2: Fine, but generic

#30. Arizona Cardinals

Fun fact, they used to be in St. Louis, where there was (and still is) and baseball team on the same name. Rather than change their name, the team moved out west. There are 5 teams named after birds and to me this is the weakest.

#29. Atlanta Falcons
It's fine I guess, it's a cool bird of prey but it's generic and the name has no connection to the city and was chosen from a "name-the-team" contest for fans to write and submit essays with their preference. The Falcon in the shape of an "F" is a cool logo though.

#28. Carolina Panthers
There's 4 teams named after big cats and to me this is the weakest, largely because there is an NHL team in Florida with the same name, which makes much more sense than Carolina Panthers. The owner named the team and just wanted something mean and ferocious.

#27. Jacksonville Jaguars
Another "name-the-team" fan contest winner. There are no Jaguars roaming around Jacksonville, but it's a cooler cat than a Panther and it has the alliteration going for it. Also at the time the oldest living Jaguar in the US resided at the Jacksonville zoo.

#26. Detroit Lions
Same as 28 and 27 but more iconic and they cite the parallel of wanting the team to be "Kings of the NFL" since the Lion is known as the king of the jungle. They also went with Lions to compliment the Tigers, Detroit's baseball team.

#25. Chicago Bears
Iconic and historic but not a unique or creative name and bears can be found in many different parts of the country. Like Detroit, another team name rooted from it's local baseball affiliate, the Chicago Cubs. But referring to them as "Da Bears" has become a staple.

Tier 3: Mid

#24. Kansas City Chiefs
There's so many collegiate and pro teams that also use the Native American themed nicknames like Seminoles, Blackhawks, Braves as well as teams that were forced to change their names such as Redskins and Indians.

#23. Tennessee Titans

Outside of the Parthenon replica, there's really not much connecting Tennessee and Ancient Greece. With the team based in Nashville, this seems like a missed opportunity to find a name better suited to its country and honky-tonk vibes. 

#22. Los Angeles Rams
It's not bad, which is why they kept it when moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles, but feels like it was better suited for a mountain based team like Denver.

#21. New York Jets

The aviation theme is cool but doesn't have much to do with the city, other than the fact that the team originally played in a stadium next to LaGuardia Airport. But at least the New York teams have this cool rhyming combination of Jets, Mets, & Nets.

#20. Los Angeles Chargers

Despite the logo and the nickname "Bolts" the team name actually has nothing to do with lightning strikes or electricity. According to Wikipedia, the GM at the time picked the name because ""I liked it because they were yelling 'charge' and sounding the bugle at Dodgers Stadium and at USC games." Still, it gets points for its uniqueness.

#19. Indianapolis Colts

This would rank way higher if the team was never moved from Baltimore, as this was a nod to breeding thoroughbreds and the Preakness Stakes, one of the 3 horse races that are a part of the Triple Crown along with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. But the relocation makes this name feel out of place.

Tier 4: Good

#18. Washington Commanders

It gets a lot of unnecessary hate from recency bias of being the newest name change, but it leans into the cities presidential theme of Commander In Chief, as well as George Washington himself, whom the city is named after, being the commander of the Continental Army. 

#17. Cincinnati Bengals

By far the best of the Big Cat nicknames, largely because they took the extra step of not just naming themselves "Tigers" but differentiating themselves with a specific and cool-sounding species. And it served as the basis for the cool orange and black striped helmets. The only knock is the same as the other Big Cats, there are no tigers running rampant around Cincinnati. 

#16. New York Giants

Some think it's bad because they incorrectly think it is meant to be another mythological based name like "Titans", and others cite the baseball team of the same name from San Francisco which came much earlier. But "Giants" refers to New York's massive skyscrapers and buildings that tower over the city. Thus an appropriate name for a team from the nation's largest and busiest city.

#15. Dallas Cowboys

Hate on them all you want but it's a perfect, region-specific name for a Texas team and their old timey atmosphere of cattle, ranchers, saloons, tumbleweeds, standoffs, rodeos, lassos, and the wild wild west. And it's super iconic.

#14. Denver Broncos

This one also comes from a "name-the-team" fan contest, but in this case the name does typify the West and is a good a fit for a Colorado based team. Also a stronger horse name than "Colt" as Broncos are tough and fast.  

#13. Las Vegas Raiders

This one is totally personal preference and has no connection to Las Vegas (or its former location of Oakland) but just a cool, bad-ass name for a football team.

Tier V: Top Notch

#12. Baltimore Ravens

It's actually a nod to Edgar Allen Poe's most famous tale, which was authored in Baltimore where Poe resided. 

#11. Buffalo Bills

They are actually names after the famous Western frontiersman "Buffalo Bill" who hunted Bison, which shouldn't work for an Eastern city. But it connects the animal to the city name and "Buffalo Bills" just rolls off the tongue so nicely. 

#10. Seattle Seahawks

Another public naming contest winner but this one just fit so well. Bird of prey, alliteration, and a name and color scheme that embodied the Pacific Northwest. And Seahawk is another name for "Osprey", which are common to Seattle.

#9 Miami Dolphins

An absolute perfect mascot and color scheme for a tropical, oceanfront city with beaches, boating, and warm weather year round. 

Tier VI: Any of these could be #1

#8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A reference to the legendary (and maybe fictional?) Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, who often raided cities along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as Gasparilla, Tampa's pirate parade version of Mardi Gras. Tampa is most definitely a pirate town, and "Buccaneer" is a stronger swashbuckling scallywag nickname than "Raider", especially for a city actually on the coast. And the in-stadium Pirate ship is bad-ass.

#7 New England Patriots

Whether it was the Massachusetts Bay Colony, or Paul Revere, or Sam Adams, or dumping tea into the harbor to protest taxation without representation, the name perfectly embodies the spirit of the city and it's prominent roles in America's origins and winning its independence from Britain.

#6 New Orleans Saints

A nod to "When the Saints Go Marching In", the city's unofficial theme song written by New Orleans native Louie Armstrong, as well as the largely Catholic area (all the counties are named after Saints) and the team being born on All Saints Day. The name perfectly unites the city's Jazz influence and most recognizable tune with its religious roots. The "Fleur-De-Lis" symbol also is a good nod to the city's French roots.

#5 Philadelphia Eagles

The Bald Eagle symbolizes the United States and while it may not be the capital, Philadelphia played a pivotal role in US History as the signing place of the Declaration of Independence, home to the Liberty Bell, and a regular meeting place for the Founding Fathers who discussed, debated, and ultimately helped form a new country.

#4 San Francisco 49ers

A historical nod to the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the "Miner Miner 49ers", which also explains the gold helmets. The teams primary colors, Gold and Red, are also a nod to their most recognizable landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the name was also a metaphor as to how to organization was hoping to strike gold of its own, which it did by winning 5 Super Bowls.

#3 Minnesota Vikings

The name has good regional ties as it pays homage to Scandinavians who migrated to Minnesota and in Norse mythology Vikings were some of the toughest warriors that ever walked the earth. The horned helmets are like those actually worn by the warriors and Minnesota's icy climate is also like that of what the Scandinavians sailed in, and the blowhorn heard during games is a fun touch as well.

#2 Green Bay Packers

Named after the Acme Meat Packing Company, who originally sponsored the team, and has stood the test of the time as one of the earliest roots of professional football. There's something hard working and honest about it, and it's a great fit for the only NFL team that is owned by the fans and people of Green Bay. 

#1 Pittsburgh Steelers

It's cool and bad-ass sounding but also a great representation how liked Pittsburgh was to steel manufacturing. The team identity also typifies the toughness and resiliency of the hard working class of Western Pennsylvania, priding themselves on hard-nosed defense, running the football, and fighting through the cold and often ugly weather.