Top 10 NFL Teams Most Likely to Make the Playoffs in 2018

People have been predicting which of our 32 NFL teams will make the 2018-2019 playoffs since Super Bowl LII capped off the 2017 season. There are some obvious contenders that seem to make the playoffs every year, but others are seldom seen in the postseason.

We're looking at the top ten NFL teams most likely to make the playoffs in 2018.

The voting period for this list has ended.

The Top Ten

New England Patriots

The Patriots haven't missed the playoffs in a decade, and Tom Brady has been healthy as a horse since then. He's shown no signs of slowing down, the defense looks improved, and they had two first-round picks in the draft. Depth at receiver is an issue for them, as Julian Edelman faces a four-game suspension to begin 2018. Chris Hogan may just be their number one receiver to start the season.
Other than that, there is really no chance of New England missing the playoffs (unless somehow Tom Brady gets injured. He is, after all, behind a questionable offensive line).

It's easy to make the playoffs every year when the rest of your division has been awful for over five years. There's only about two or three teams in the AFC with any shot to make the Super Bowl, while the NFC is filled with surprises and changes each year.
Pittsburgh Steelers

This is probably the last season that the Steelers can truly compete for a Super Bowl. Big Ben is getting up there in age, injuries are striking them everywhere, and there's a toxicity around this team that will always distract from their play on the field.
Nobody's going to challenge them for the division for a while, though. The Ravens will be in a slide as they transition from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson. The Bengals are a hopeless organization that renewed the contract of a coach who can't control his team or win games that actually matter. And the Browns are... the Browns. God bless the lack of parity in the AFC.

The Steelers are nearly as much of a lock for the 2018 playoffs as the Patriots are.
The question now is whether Pittsburgh can unseat New England atop the AFC. The Steelers' division is weak, so there are some easy wins there. I think around late season, they'll start Mason Rudolph over Big Ben. Roethlisberger is going downhill lately, and I think they'll have faith in the rookie quarterback to win games while Roethlisberger rests for the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings

Yep, it's officially Super Bowl or bust for the Vikings, but they're in a tough division. No one knows for sure how Kirk Cousins will play. Will 2018 resemble his disappointing 2016 season?
That said, with an elite defense and a formidable receiving corps, they'll most likely make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

I'd be very surprised if they don't make the playoffs. I know Cousins could be hit or miss, but they have a strong receiving corps, and that defense is elite.
With their roster, it shouldn't be too difficult to secure a playoff spot.
Philadelphia Eagles

I'm a little concerned about the reigning Super Bowl champions. Carson Wentz's ACL may not be ready for Week 1. Fortunately, backup quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles knows how to win a game.
Meanwhile, on defense, they've got Fletcher Cox teaming up with Michael Bennett, and I can't help but feel sorry for the quarterbacks of the NFC East. They need to patch up their offense a little, but when they do, they will make the playoffs.

The Eagles have two of the best quarterbacks in the division and are dominant on both sides of the ball. They have some great offensive weapons to challenge any defense and a solid defense to stop any offense.
Could the Eagles be the next dynasty? Only time will tell.
Green Bay Packers

This will be a huge year for the Packers. With the NFC now being fronted by a batch of fresh contenders, they need to prove that they're a team that can adapt to the changing times and not just a relic from five years ago.
Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy honestly should have multiple Super Bowl rings by this point in their careers, considering the talent that has been on the Green Bay roster for the last decade. We don't want a repeat of what happened to Brett Favre's Packers teams that only won one championship.

They're back indeed. With Aaron Rodgers healthy, Green Bay always has a playoff chance. Pass defense, of course, will be a weakness. Can they reform in 2018?
On the offensive side of the ball, Jimmy Graham, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb will all wreak havoc together in the red zone. The question is, can they form into a solid defense?
Los Angeles Rams

I can't name a single draft pick from the Rams, which shows their draft was okay at best. But free agency, just wow. They went all out. They got Aaron Donald a partner in Ndamukong Suh and armored up their CBs with Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields.
Todd Gurley is a threat in both rushing and pass-catching, and they've got reliable wide receivers for Jared Goff in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, along with free agent acquisition Brandin Cooks. Those combined should propel the Rams to the playoffs.

Hopefully, all this hype and all these offseason acquisitions won't turn them into the second coming of the 2011-2012 "Dream Team" Eagles.
Jacksonville Jaguars

They have the most talented defense in the NFL. Their defense is set, but the offense is another story. Blake Bortles is not the answer at quarterback.
Not only that, they've lost key receivers in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns and moved on from longtime tight end Marcedes Lewis. I think their offense will be a mess in 2018, but their defense will carry them to the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints

This could very well be the last NFL season for future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. He'd want to walk out in style, and he's got the team around him to do it. Despite a lack of depth at wide receiver and tight end, the Saints have one of the best run games in the NFL, with Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, and recently signed free agent Terrance West.
With Marshon Lattimore leading the defensive backfield, the Saints will certainly contend for the playoffs.

Hard to argue the Saints not going to the playoffs. They always have a solid lineup.
San Francisco 49ers

The team will make the playoffs and win the wildcard. The Rams will automatically make it to the divisional round, and the 49ers will put up a fight. In my opinion, they have a 20 to 31 percent chance of making the Super Bowl, and Jimmy G is like Tom Brady.

Jimmy G was 5-0 after he joined San Fran, and those wins were against teams that made the playoffs. Need I say more?

I mean, this team has the potential to do what the Eagles did last year.
Denver Broncos

It depends on whether Case Keenum can play as well as he did in Minnesota and if their Orange Crush defense can return to its Super Bowl 50 form.

The Newcomers

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Indianapolis Colts
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Cincinnati Bengals

The Contenders

Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Chargers

Out of the 2004 quarterback draft class, Philip Rivers is the only one who is still consistently good. Losing Hunter Henry to a torn ACL was a blow for them, but if they bring back Antonio Gates, maybe he and Rivers could finally win a Super Bowl together.
They also have a defensive backfield led by Casey Hayward and an elite defensive line consisting of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. It's likely they'll make the playoffs in 2018.

The Chargers have amazing potential this season. With Rivers as the quarterback, the Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler running back combo, Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, Virgil Green, and J.J. Jones all on the offense, and a defensive line consisting of Joey Bosa (when he returns), Melvin Ingram, and Brandon Mebane, they are set up for success.
Their cornerbacks, including Casey Hayward and Desmond King, along with Caleb Sturgis as their kicker, should also help them make it far this season. And hopefully, they do. Let's go, Chargers!
Atlanta Falcons

They surprised us all last season by beating the Rams in the wild card round and nearly beating the Eagles in the divisional round. They're now coming back stronger. While they lost Taylor Gabriel at wide receiver, they drafted another Alabama wide receiver in Calvin Ridley. They like SEC receivers.
Him combined with Julio Jones could mean trouble. They're complete at running back with two reliable backs, and their defense can really benefit them as well. All are keys to the postseason, and the Falcons have a strong chance of making it there.

I have a feeling that 28-3 will haunt this franchise forever. They will never get a better shot at winning the Super Bowl than they did in Super Bowl LI.
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Kansas City Chiefs
Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will beat the Green Bay Packers, then stomp the Saints, and win the Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens
Tennessee Titans

They need to give the offense more freedom, especially Mariota, to clinch a playoff spot. It's going to be a tough division with the Jags and Texans hungry for a spot.
Buffalo Bills
Oakland Raiders
Houston Texans

Assuming Watson and Watt come back healthy and stay that way, I could see the Texans making the playoffs. Watson was solid before his injury, and JJ Watt is one of the best defensive players in the league.
If they both play at that level again, they are in for sure.

With Watson back, anything can happen. The reason for their early-season losses with Watson last year was that they were playing road games against the Patriots and Seahawks. He nearly won those, so imagine what he can do this season.

I think they can rebound strong from their disappointing season.
Detroit Lions
Washington Redskins
Miami Dolphins