Ranking NFL teams under .500 by likelihood to make playoffs Tommy DeVito-led Giants have tough road ahead | Forum

I've got some good news and bad news for the 14 remaining teams with losing records that haven't been eliminated from playoff contention.The good news. There are six 6-7 teams in the NFC so two or three of you could sneak in. The AFC, not gonna happen.The bad news. No team has ever made the with a losing record this deep into a season.However, could a couple make the playoffs and win a game or two? Absolutely. I've provided projections on playoff chances and strength of schedule below along with my a se sment on the most likely under .500 teams to make the playoffs: Need to know29.9% chance to make playoffs14th-easiest remaining schedule (vs WSH, vs NO, at NYG, at SF) has 10 pa s TD in last three gamesI'm riding the hot hand of Matthew Stafford and the Rams easy schedule in the next three games. Stafford leads the with 10 touchdown pa ses in the last three weeks and the Rams have three straight 30-point games Cal Ripken Jersey in that span, including back-to-back against the and defenses. They account for the two best offensive performances this season against the Browns and Ravens in terms of EPA per play. Not bad as Cleveland had the No. 1 total defense and Baltimore had the No. 1 scoring defense entering those games.Los Angeles' key has been health. They average 6.72 yards per play with Stafford, , and on the field this season. For reference, that'd rank third in the league this year behind the and , who are having historic years on offense. The point is, the Rams are dangerous when healthy and they can ride this offense to wins against the , and in the next three games, getting them to nine wins and a trip to the playoffs.Need to know45.6% chance to make playoffsSeventh-easiest remaining schedule (vs. TB, at CAR, at MIN, vs. CHI)Youngest team in NFLI expect the Packers and Rams to snag the last two wild card spots and for the to finish 1-3 and mi s the playoffs after moving to , their fourth starting QB of the season. has played like a top-10 QB for the last month until a letdown game by the youngest team in the NFL vs. the Giants. My confidence would be higher but Green Bay could be slowed down without , who hurt his hamstring in a Week 13 win vs. the . The pivotal game will be Week 17 in Minnesota, but I'm taking Love over Nick Mullens or . Need to know53.5% chance to make playoffs15th-hardest remaining schedule (at Mychal Givens Jersey GB, vs. JAX, vs. NO, at CAR)Won two straight games after losing six of sevenThe Buccaneers are my pick for the least bad team in their division. If the three NFC South teams finish 8-9 then Tampa would win the tiebreaker. They've got enough in the tank to win one of their next three games (at Packers, vs. , vs. Saints) before a season finale vs. Carolina. Who would have thought would start a playoff game after bouncing between four teams in the last year?Need to know25.3% chance to make playoffsSixth-easiest remaining schedule (at CAR, vs. IND, at CHI, at NO) has 13 turnovers in his last nine gamesThe Falcons can set the pace in the NFC South wins over the and in the next two games, but ultimately I think they'll lose road games in Chicago and New Orleans to finish the season with an 8-9 record at best. The defense has done a 180 in Atlanta from last season, but they still have a bottom 10 offense and Desmond Ridder turns the ball over way too much. If I'm wrong, it'll be because and give the Falcons enough offense to finish 9-8.Need to know42.3% chance to make playoffsEighth-easiest remaining schedule (vs. NYG, at LAR, at TB, vs. ATL)3-0 vs Panthers/Patriots and 3-7 vs. everyone else this seasonThe NFC South is a to s up between three 6-7 teams who have been inconsistent all season with average (at best) quarterback play. Entering the year I thought the Saints would be good enough to win the division with , but he's proven to be a downgrade from even last year. New Orleans will probably split their final four games and finish 8-9 but lose the tiebreakers. They've already lost to Atlanta and Tampa Bay this year and have a worse division record than each team, which could ultimately be their undoing. New Orleans could hang onto hope that Derek Carr helped the win their final four games after a 6-7 start to make the playoffs in 2021, but that was against Nick Mullens, , and in the final month. Need to know31. Brad Brach Jersey 3% chance to make playoffs13th-easiest remaining schedule (vs. PHI, at TEN, vs. PIT, at ARZ)Lost four straight games for first time under Pete CarrollThe Seahawks have lost four straight games and their brutal schedule stretch continues on Monday with a home game against the , who are probably primed for a bounceback win. isn't 100 percent after mi sing Sunday's game vs. the 49ers (groin) and the defense has proven to be an aberration after leading the NFL in points allowed in October against a cupcake schedule. If Seattle loses one of two to the and then their playoff hopes are probably done. Right now I give the Vikings, Packers and Rams a better chance to get either the six or seven seed in the NFC.Need to know2.4% chance to make playoffs12th-easiest remaining schedule (at CLE, vs. ARZ, vs. ATL, at GB)5-4 since 0-4 startI wrote on Monday how the Bears could become theand get the top pick in the draft (courtesy of Carolina). Here's what needs to happen:Bears path to playoffsWin outGiants don't win outVikings lose three of four (at least)Seahawks and Rams lose at least twice eachTwo of the Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints lose at least twiceHere's why it's not crazy. is third in the NFL in pa ser rating since Week 4 and the Bears defense has allowed the lowest pa ser rating while intercepting the most pa ses since Week 10. The trade is paying early dividends and Chicago is now one game back of a playoff spot in the NFC. If these trends continue and the Bears upset the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday then the stage is set for Chicago to become the second team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-4 start (1992 ). They have the schedule to do it, with their biggest challenge being a Week 18 game at Lambeau Field.Need to know2.1% chance to make playoffsFourth-hardest remaining schedule (at NO, at PHI, vs. LAR, vs. PHI)Won three straight games after 2-8 startThe legend of might be unmatched if the Giants become the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after a 2-8 start. It's been one of the best stories in the second half of the year and DeVito can become the first undrafted rookie QB to ever win four straight starts on Sunday in New Orleans. That's probably where the fun ends and the sobering truth sets in that this three-game win streak cost the Giants a top-five pick in 2024. Need to know0.1% chance to make playoffs14th-hardest remaining schedule (at MIA, vs WSH, at CLE, at NE)Fewest offensive TDs in NFL this season (13)If the Jets can get past the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday, there's a small chance they could win their final three games against the Commanders, Browns and . It's also po sible could return to run the table. That's a lot of "ifs" though. I don't think they'll get past the Dolphins on Sunday despite Miami being banged up on the offensive line, because New York's 30 points on Sunday were a fluke (as was AFC Player of the Week honors). I don't think Aaron Rodgers will return, and the Patriots could play spoilers in Week 18, as they've won 15 straight against the Jets. A 9-8 record might not even get the Jets into the playoffs with six 7-6 teams in the AFC right now. Need to know0.1% chance to make playoffs10th-easiest remaining schedule (vs. HOU, vs. SEA, at HOU, vs. JAX)Won in Week 14 after trailing by 14 points with three minutes leftThe Titans aren't dead yet! They made a stunningon Monday and can keep their season alive against the on Sunday, who may be starting . has injected some life into Tenne see but they won't be running the table in J.J. Hardy Jersey their last three games vs. the Seahawks, Texans and Jaguars.Need to know0.6% chance to make playoffs16th-hardest remaining schedule (vs. LAC, at KC, at IND, vs. DEN)30 points scored during three-game losing streakThe Raiders have lost three straight games since winning their first two games with interim head coach Antonio Pierce. The honeymoon is over and reality has set in with at quarterback. Las Vegas has scored just 30 points in the last three games, including none in a 3-0 lo s to the Vikings in Week 14. They might get past and the Chargers on Thursday Night Football, but that's about it. They should be in a position to draft their quarterback of the future in 2024.Need to know0.0% chance to make playoffsHardest remaining schedule (at LAR, at NYJ, vs. SF, vs. DAL)Allowed 150 points during four-game losing streakThe Commanders would have to win out and get a lot of help, which won't happen with this defense. They've allowed 150 points during their four-game losing streak and 45 points in back-to-back games. The last time they did either was in 1954. They still have their starting QB, , which is why they rank higher than the Chargers, but that's about all they have going for them after mailing in the season by trading and Montez Sweat. They finish the season vs. the 49ers and which all but guarantees they won't run the table. Need to know0.5% chance to make playoffsSeventh-hardest remaining schedule (at LV, vs. BUF, at DEN, vs. KC)Justin Herbert is out for the seasonStick a fork in them. The Chargers are done with Justin Herbert out for the season (surgery on broken finger). Los Angeles has scored seven or fewer points in back-to-back games, showing no life as they've lost four of five and are limping toward the finish line. It's only a matter of time before head coach Brandon Staley gets the pink slip. Need to know0.0% chance to make playoffsThird-hardest remaining schedule (vs. SF, at CHI, at PHI, vs. SEA)2-2 since returnedThe Cardinals will be officially eliminated from playoff contention once they lose to the 49ers at home on Sunday. But hey, just for kicks, here the nine things that need to happen for Arizona to make Anthony Santander Jersey the playoffs:Cardinals path to playoffs:Cardinals win outRams win out (No. 6 seed at 10-7)Giants, Vikings, Commanders lose outPackers finish 7-10 (must beat Vikings)Buccaneers finish 7-10 (must beat Packers)Falcons finish 7-10 (must lose to Bears)Seahawks finish 7-10 (must lose to Cardinals)Bears finish 7-10 (must beat Falcons and Packers)Saints win NFC South at 9-8