#1: Broncos: Offensive Skill Position Players
The thing that has carried the Broncos this entire year, is that they have a top 3 defense, and one of the greatest offensive lines of the decade. But what concerns me is their skill position players. To Start off, RJ Harvey hasn’t been what he was supposed to be as he is ranked pretty low when it comes to yards per carry, and yards since Dobbins went down. The crazy thing is that he is underperforming even though he has a top offensive line. You need a good running game to win a super bowl. Next is WR2. Yes Courtland Stutton has been phenomenal, but you can’t just throw to your #1 guy every time. Especially in the playoffs where every team will be focused on him and covering him. If defenses can stop him, the defense will win. And last but not least Even Engram has been pretty terrible, and they need him to get going to make a run. Also Bo Nix has consistency issues as he can either throw for 300 and 3 TDs, and on other days against easy defenses he will throw for 100 yards and 0 TDs. And in the Playoffs against good defenses he may struggle.
#2: Seahawks: Interior Offensive line
The Seahawks are fine at tackle which is more important but their interior offensive line is pretty terrible (besides Grey Zabel). Both at Center and Right Guard, they are both ranked bottom 10 at their position. Protecting your Quarterback is so important when it comes to the playoffs, and if you can give Darnold and Njigba time, they will make something happen. If the Interior Offesnive Line play can step up the Seahawks are destined for a Super Bowl.
#3: Patriots: More Treyveyon Henderson Consistency
Treyveyon Henderson has played pretty well while Rhamondre Stevenson was out but like Bo Nix he is always on and off. Since the Buccaneers week, Henderson has had over 100 yards twice, but besides those games he has had a 3 yards in a game and averages 55 yards. 55 yards isnt very bad, but if Henderson can become more consistent than the Patriots can make a run.
#4: Bears: Defensive Edge rushing
This was their biggest flaw coming into the trade deadline and it will is. This week they have to face the Packers offensive tackles one of the best tackle duos in the league, and they will need to amp up the pass rush to win the game. The Bears are 31st in pass rush win rate, and they will need Packers are 6th best in pass block win rate. Pass rush is by far their biggest flaw. The offense is awesome, so if the defense can step up then they can make a run.
#5: Jaguars: Wide Receivers
This has been a terrible year when it comes to Jaguars wide receivers. Brian Thomas Jr was terrible, Travis Hunter played under how people thought he would. They traded for Jakobi Meyers to help which he has, and Parker Washington had really stepped up. I dont think he will, but if Brian Thomas can step up as the WR1 for Trevor Lawrence, and Meyers and Washington keep playing well, Lawrence will be at his best for the playoffs.
#6: Eagles: Play Calling when it comes to Saquon
Last year in the Kellen Moore offense Saquon Barkley had an insane year, with great play calling and it was less predictable. This year with Kevin Patullo it is obvious what they will do each play, and they might need to lay off Saquon more. Saquon has carried the ball some of the most in the league the last two years (last year they were last in pass percentage), and that could be the reason for Saquon falling off so much. If they can lay off Saquon and let him get some rest, then maybe he can come back to prime Saquon. If Saquon can come back, and Patullo does better play calling then they could make a deep run. If not they will get 1st rounded.
#7: Steelers: The Tackle position
This sucks for them as they will have to go up against Will Anderson and Daniele Hunter this week. Broderick Jones is out at right tackle, and their left tackle has severely been underperforming. The Steelers are still top half in pass blocking win rate, but run blocking not so much. In a game where it will come down to the trenches, this is absolutely terrible for the Steelers. In the playoffs blocking your quarterback is so valuable, but going against the Texans will ruin them.
#8: Panthers: Playoff Experience
This is a pretty obvious one as nearly everybody on their team has never been to the playoffs, and they have to face Adam’s, Stafford, and Mcvay who have been many times in their career including super bowls. Playoff Experience matters a lot for the way you handle the game and control the game. The Panthers Don’t have experience which is why they they will more than likely lose this game.
#9: Texans: The offensive line
Well this one is soooo surprising. The Texans offense line has been the worst in the league which is crazy because they have the best defense in the league. I wonder what practices are like that defense vs that offensive line. Well the Texans Offesnive line is 30th in pass blocking win rate, and 32nd in run block win rate, and they are still managing* to win games. Their offensive line has made it terrible for Woody Marks who has been promising. If the Texans offensive line was good they could be 17-0 and Stroud would be an MVP candidate. But that’s not the case, and the offensive line will be the reason they don’t win the Super Bowl.
#10: Rams: Focus
This one is 50% on they are so good I have nothing to say, and 50% recent actions. The Rams need to focus on the Super Bowl and not other things. Puka Nacua has had recent controversy, the Rams DC is currently more focused on head coaching jobs then winning the Super Bowl, and Matthew Stafford passes the ball so much at the end of games, that it makes it look like he cares more about MVP. To me this could be the reason that the Rams are always losing random games, and this will happen in the playoffs if they don’t put all their focus to winning.
#11: Bills: Linebackers?
This was a hard one for me because the Bills are a pretty well built team, with the only other flaw being WR2. Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard are both ranked bottom 15 at their position, and Milano is bottom 10. The Bills can get beat and in the playoffs stopping anything you can is a must.
#12: 49ers: The entire defense
With the 49ers you could argue they have one of the best offenses in the playoffs, but their defense has been terrible without Bosa and Warner. The 49ers are 3rd worst in pass rush win rate, and they are 7th worst in pass yards allowed. Robert Salah has done all he could but their defense is so bad they might let Kevin Patullos offense beat them in the 1st round. The 49ers really need to fix the defense to make a run.
#13: Chargers: The whole right side of the Offesnive line
Yep another Offesnive line problem. On PFF the Chargers Offesnive line is currently ranked: Worst at center, 2nd worst at right guard, and 5th worst at right tackle. That is the worst offensive line in the league possibly besides the Texans. If the Chargers beat the Patriots they will have to play the Broncos who have some of the best pass rush in the league. The Chargers are ranked 2nd worst in run blocking win rate, and WORST in pass block win rate. The Chargers need to protect their young quarterback and running back and that is not the way to do it. This is definitely their biggest flaw
#14: Packers: injuries
This may be a hot take but the Tucker Kraft injuries was the worst injury to a team in the league. Tucker Kraft was Loves top target, and he was a top 5 tight end in the league. Micah Parsons injury absolutely destroyed their defense, and now Evan Williams is injured too. The Packers injuries derailed their season, and if they still had those key players they would be top Super Bowl contenders, but now clearly their not.