With a month left in the regular season, a handful of favorites have emerged that can legitimately contend for the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens are the five favorites heading into the back stretch of the season. However, despite their strengths, each of these teams has a “soft underbelly” that could prevent a deep postseason run.
The Kansas City Chiefs, currently 12-1, have a habit of making games interesting each week, with ten of their 12 wins being by seven points or fewer. While they are set up to hold home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ performance is a concern. He has thrown 11 interceptions and been sacked 35 times, and the team’s minus-4 turnover margin is tied for No. 22 in the league.
The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, have a banged-up defense, with five of their seven starting defensive players not on the 53-man roster at the start of the season. The team is allowing 225 passing yards per game, No. 23 in the league, and will be tested by the Buffalo Bills’ high-powered offense.
The Buffalo Bills have been a juggernaut on offense, but their run defense has shown vulnerability. They allowed a league-high 44 points to the Los Angeles Rams last week and struggle to stop the run. They also have issues with late-game management, as seen in their recent loss to the Rams.
The Philadelphia Eagles are riding a nine-game winning streak but are dealing with internal conflicts and a lack of explosive plays. They have just one passing play of 20-plus yards over the past two games, which could lead to issues in the postseason.
Finally, the Baltimore Ravens are struggling to emerge from a slow start to the season. Kicker Justin Tucker, who is usually accurate, has missed a league-high 10 kicks, affecting the team’s ability to win close games. The loss of defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has also negatively impacted the Ravens’ defense, which is allowing a league-worst 264 passing yards per game.
These concerns could ultimately prevent these teams from making a deep postseason run and reaching the Super Bowl.
