Seattle and Denver earned their bye weeks, are they ready for some football this week…
1) Seattle Seahawks (14–3)
Upside: Most complete team left—elite point differential, home-field leverage, and schematic flexibility on both sides of the ball.
Downsides:
- Bye-week rust after limited live reps
- If forced into pure dropback mode, efficiency dips slightly
- Depth at skill positions matters more against playoff-caliber physicality
2) Denver Broncos (14–3)
Upside: Defense is postseason-built—disciplined, explosive-preventing, and relentless in the red zone.
Downsides:
- Red-zone offense can bog down into field goals
- Turnovers under heavy pressure remain the biggest swing factor
- Must prove they can win a high-variance shootout if the game tilts early
3) New England Patriots (14–3)
Upside: Elite situational football—no team left manages clock, field position, and leverage downs better.
Downsides:
- Run game lacks consistent push against top fronts
- Over-reliance on precision passing narrows margin for error
- Penalties at inopportune moments have shown up in losses
4) Jacksonville Jaguars (13–4)
Upside: Hottest team entering the postseason—balanced offense and defense with strong late-season confidence.
Downsides:
- Red-zone execution must improve against elite defenses
- Pass protection can crack versus top-tier edge rushers
- Turnover spikes erase their efficiency advantage quickly
5) Los Angeles Rams (12–5)
Upside: Highest offensive ceiling left—can score in chunks and flip games rapidly.
Downsides:
- Defensive lapses arrive in clusters, not singles
- Protection versus elite pressure fronts is the limiting factor
- Special teams volatility increases risk in close games
6) Buffalo Bills (12–5)
Upside: Explosive offense that can overwhelm opponents when rhythm is established early.
Downsides:
- Run-defense leaks show up at the worst possible times
- Discipline issues (penalties, late hits) extend opponent drives
- Red-zone inefficiency can keep inferior teams alive
7) San Francisco 49ers (12–5)
Upside: Physical, trench-dominant style that travels well in January football.
Downsides:
- Skill-position health is a constant concern
- Run game can be neutralized by disciplined fronts
- Third-quarter offensive lulls remain a recurring pattern
8) Houston Texans (12–5)
Upside: Defense-led identity with excellent ball security—capable of ugly, playoff-style wins.
Downsides:
- Limited comeback gear if they fall behind early
- Pass protection under complex pressure looks is unproven
- Red-zone play-calling tightens against top athletic defenses
