Potential Nightmare Playoff Match Ups for NFL Top Seeds

Currently the top four seeds in the NFL playoff picture are pretty distinguished with the Chiefs and Steelers in the AFC mirrored by the Packers and Saints in the NFC.  With four games left in the NFL regular season there is still plenty of time for seeds to move and teams to sneak into playoff contention. Only one first round bye is available this year and depending on who can secure it means that any of the top 4 teams could get pushed into a nightmare matchup in the Wild Card round. 

Current Playoff Seeding: 

AFC

1. Chiefs, 12-1 (1st Round Bye) 

2. Steelers, 11-2 

3. Bills, 10-3

4. Titans, 9-4 

5. Browns, 9-4 

6. Colts, 9-4

7. Dolphins, 8-5

 

NFC

1. Packers, 10-3 (1st Round Bye)

2. Saints, 10-3

3. Rams, 9-4 

4. Redskins, 6-7

5. Seahawks, 9-4

6. Buccaneers, 8-5

7. Cardinals, 7-6 

 

 

Chiefs (SB Odds +180): The Chiefs are widely considered the best team in the NFL and seem to be utterly unstoppable on offense. They have a very intriguing match up with the Saints this weekend.  Losing that game could prove costly with a number factors still in play in regards to a tie breaker for the top seed.   

Nightmare Matchup: Titans

If the Colts win the AFC South, we could see Chiefs vs Titans in the first round if KC loses the #1 seed. Tennessee causes problems because their ability to put points on the board while chewing the clock at the same time. They have quietly surged into a top 3 scoring offense this season, only one place behind Kansas City. 

 

Steelers (SB Odds +1200): With their loss @ Buffalo on Sunday, the Steelers drop to the #2 seed in the AFC for the time being. Their remaining schedule is tough with the Colts and Browns still on the docket.   After losing to the Washington Football team and Buffalo in back to back weeks, they have currently lost their first round bye. 

Pittsburg’s inability to run the football is a major issue. The Dolphins have an outstanding secondary with Byron Jones and Xavien Howard to handle Big Ben and the Steelers one dimensional offense. 

 

Packers (SB Odds +700): The Packers have jumped the Saints to the #1 seed in the NFC.  If they finish with the same record as the Saints, the Packers will win the tiebreaker because of their head to head matchup. That win in week 3 is arguably Green Bay’s only impressive victory on the year. They finish out favored in all their games and only the Titans in week 16 might give them trouble. 

It seems unlikely they meet based on the standings right now, but if it does happen the Packers are in trouble. An elite pass rush with Jalen Ramsey shadowing Davante Adams could spell trouble in Lambeau and lead to an early exit for the Packers. 

 

Saints (SB Odds +775): New Orleans has turned up the heat in the second half of the year and made life for opposing quarterbacks dreadful. They host the Chiefs on Sunday and a loss their probably takes them completely out of the #1 seed conversation.  Losing to the Eagles last Sunday is probably going to come back to haunt this team. 

No matter how good of a season the Saints have, the Vikings always seem to be their kryptonite come playoff time. Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook will not be a welcome sight to Sean Payton as he tries not to remember past heartbreak.   If they Vikings get in and match up with New Orleans, watch out Saints

 

**Super Bowl odds are from BetOnline**