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 playoffs. There are some obvious contenders that are in the playoffs every year, but some 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
1 New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston region. New England Patriots are one of the few teams to have 5+ wins in the Super Bowl.

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 now. 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 change-ups each year.

2 Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that competes in the National Football League. Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most Super Bowls with 6 which currently stands today.

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 the 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 as nearly a lock to the 2018 playoffs as the Patriots are. Question now is can Pittsburgh 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.

3 Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are an American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960, and first took the field for the 1961 season.

Yep, it's officially Super Bowl or bust for the Vikings. But they're in a rough division. No one knows for sure how Kirk Cousins will play. Will 2018 be similar to the deceiving 2016 season? But I'd say 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 will either be a hit or miss but they do have a good receiving core and that defense is elite. With their roster it won't be too difficult to get a playoff spot

We have a better chance than the Patriots.

4 Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional football franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference East division.

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 quarterback's 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 QBs in the division and are scary on both sides of the ball. They have some good offensive weapons to threaten any defense and a good defense to threaten any offense. Could the Eagles be the next dynasty? Only time will tell

It helps when you have the two best quarterbacks in the entire division. I'm perfectly fine with having a late 80s-early 90s 49ers situation with Wentz and Foles.

5 Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference North division. The Packers have won 4 Super Bowls and 13 NFL championships.

This will be a huge year for the Packers. With a 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 a repeat of what happened to Brett Favre's Packer 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. Question is, can they form into a solid defense?

At long last they got rid of the relic Capers on D!

6 Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

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 CB's with Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields. Todd Gurley is a threat in rushing and pass-catching, and they've got reliable wide receivers for Jared Goff in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and free agent acquisition Brandin Cooks. Those combined should propel the Rams to the playoffs.

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

Man did they go all out in free agency. That's either going to be a good or bad thing. Only time will tell

7 Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are an American professional football franchise based in Jacksonville, Florida.

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

Not with the way they have been play kinda disappoints me how good we were then just to deflate like a balloon they got me starting to believe Last year was a fluke. Come on Jags

8 New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints currently compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference South division.

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 lack of depth at wide receiver and tight end, the Saints have one of the best run games in the NFL. Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, and recently signed free agent Terrance West. And 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. Always have a solid lineup.

Beat the last undefeated team in the league no question that aren't going to make the playoffs

9 San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The team will make the playoffs and win the wildcard rams will automatically be in divisional 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 a Tom brady

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

I mean this team has the potential to do what the eagles did last year.

10 Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are an American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.

It depends if Case Keenum can play as good as in Minnesota and if their orange crush defense can go back to Super Bowl 50 form.

The Contenders
11 Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference East division.

Honestly, Dak needs to prove to his team that he can play at a consistent level. This season, they can't blame Dak's lack of production on Ezekiel Elliot's absence. He's set for 16 games this year. Not to mention a horrid receiving corps with their most likely number one receiver having off the field issues. It's not likely Dallas makes the playoffs again in 2018.

17 maybe a bit high for Dallas, Granted they have a great offensive line, and two good players in Dak & Zeke, but what else is there? The defense is not elite Demarcus Lawrence on the other hand is the man, but who will step up? Unlikely they get 1st place, but their range is from 2nd to yes last in the east lot of question marks with this team.

12 Los Angeles Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in Los Angeles. The Chargers compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.

Out of the 2004 quarterback draft class, Philip Rivers is the only one today who is still consistently good. Losing Hunter Henry to a torn ACL sucked 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 run 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.

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, the defensive line consisting of Joey Bosa (when he returns), Melvin Ingram, and Brandon Mebane, the CBs such as Hayward and King, and Caleb Sturgis as their kicker, they are likely to make it far this season. And hopefully, they do. Let's go Chargers!

13 Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference South division.

They surprised us all last season and beat the Rams in the wild card round and nearly beat 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 keys to the postseason, and the Falcons have a 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.

14 Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, that competes in the National Football League.
15 Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns compete in the National Football League as a member team of the American Football Conference North division. The Cleveland Browns are one of the four teams to have never been to a Super Bowl, and one of two teams to go 0-16.

Why is this 21? This team is the least likely to make it to the playoffs.

It is weird this is nearly halfway up the list.

16 Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.
17 Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference North division.

The Chicago bears will beat the green bay packers then stomp the saints and win the super bowl

18 Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference North division.
19 Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference South division.

Need to give the offense more freedom, especially Mariota to clinch a playofd spot. It's gonna be a tough division with the Jags and Texans hungry for a spot.

20 Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area that competes in the National Football League. Buffalo Bills had the longest playoff drought of any team which came to an end in 2017.
21 Oakland Raiders The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football franchise based in Las Vegas. The Raiders began playing in 1960 as a member club of the American Football League; they have been a member club of the National Football League since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger. ...read more.
22 Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team competes in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference South division.

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

With Watson back, anything can happen. Reason for their early season losses with Watson last season was because they were playing road games against the Patriots and Seahawks. And he nearly won those, so imagine him this season

I think they can rebound strong from their disappointing season.

23 Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's National Football Conference North division. ...read more.
24 Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. ...read more.
25 Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football franchise located in the Miami metropolitan area.
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