The NFL Playoffs is arguably the most exciting post-season tournament in all of sports. You win, you advance. You lose, you go home. No best-of-seven game series, no second chances.
While the best regular-season teams do get an advantage (a bye week, home-field advantage, etc.), they don’t always end up making it to the Super Bowl.. So, as we near the end of the 2020-2021 regular season, it’s time to start thinking about the teams who could potentially make a serious playoff run.. It is clear teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers will be heavy favorites, but what about the teams who’ll end the season in the middle of the pack? Wildcard teams don’t often make it to the Super Bowl, but it has happened before and it could happen again this year.. Pending these teams finish the season fairly strong and manage to get a spot in the playoffs, here are four underdog teams most likely to make a serious run this post-season.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are in a good position to win the AFC East, but no one really has them as a serious Super Bowl contender this year, right?
However, quarterback Josh Allen has shown flashes of brilliance this season and they managed to beat a good Seattle team. They still have to play the Steelers this season, which will be a real test of their capabilities, but this team has the pieces to make a serious run.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins decided to bench quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier this year in place of newcomer Tua Tagovailoa, who has had an up-and-down start to his season.
Despite losing to a bad New England Patriots team and an even worse Denver Broncos squad, the Dolphins have had some good wins thus far. They will more than likely enter the playoffs as a wildcard team, but I would not want to be the team that has to play them that first weekend.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has had one of the best rookie seasons of anyone in the league, but it’s very clear he’s still a newcomer and learning. However, the threat of DeAndre Hopkins is undeniable and Murray has been able to do things this season that very few quarterbacks have been able to accomplish.
The Arizona Cardinals are shaky — they didn’t play well recently against the Patriots — but if they can get on a run they can beat anyone in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Remember when we all thought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going to be serious Super Bowl contenders? While that still may be true, they are not playing very well right now. Heck, there’s even a chance they may not make the playoffs!
But, though many people have written them off following a few less-than-stellar performances, there’s a reason you can never count out Tom Brady. If Tampa Bay can find a way to pull it together for the last few games of the season, they could surprise teams in the NFC.