By Adam Neiberg

It’s Week 13 of the NFL and we are closing in on the playoffs. 

As the regular season’s end begins to fall upon the NFL, we are getting a clearer picture as to who are true contenders and pretenders.

Now, what qualifies a contender and a pretender?

A contender is a team that not only will make the playoffs but has a real shot to make it past the divisional round and beyond, while a pretender is a team that may seem strong but does not have what it takes to compete against the league’s best for an NFL championship. 

Chiefs (10-1): 

The Chiefs are not only a contender, but they are this year’s favorite. They have a great opportunity to become repeat champions. Forget about defense when it comes to the Chiefs because no team in the league can score as they do. Patrick Mahomes is outperforming his Super Bowl year throwing for over 3,500 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions in eleven games. Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s best quarterback and he has the weapons which include Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce in Andy Reid’s offense which is just scary for opposing defenses. They are contenders, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a few blowouts along the way too. 

Titans: (8-3)

Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry has been the most dominant running back in the NFL this season leading the Titans to the number one ranked rushing attack in the league according to  Football Focus. Ryan Tannehill has been incredibly efficient this year boasting statistics of 2,600 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions. They also have a very respectable defense that can hold its own. The Titans are a very solid team with a few impressive key players on both sides of the ball. A.J. Brown is having himself an incredible year, giving Ryan Tannehill a dependable wideout. On the defensive end, Jeffrey Simmons has been harassing opposing quarterbacks.  If the Titans can get the right matchups in the playoffs they should make some noise in this years’ post-season. Winners of four straight and hosting the Cleveland Browns at home, the Titans are getting hot at the right time. There is a real shot that they could play into February. 

Saints: (9-2):

The Saints may be the most unorthodox winning football team in the NFL, which is a testament to the versatility of this team. While Drew Brees is recovering from multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung; known utility player, Taysom Hill, has taken the reins. Although they aren’t passing the ball with Taysom Hill under center, they’re winning, and that is all that they need until Drew Brees is scheduled to come back around Week 15. They have proven that they can find a way to create offense without Drew Brees or passing down the field, through designed quarterback runs, fakes, and a slew of different short-yardage passing plays to involve their incredible weapons such as Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Not only is their offense serviceable since Drew Brees landed on the injured reserve, but their defense has stepped up in a big way, allowing only 25 total points in their last three games. Football is the ultimate team game, and New Orleans football under Sean Peyton is proving that is the case. When Drew Brees returns the Saints will be the favorite to come out of the NFC. 

Seahawks (8-3):

The Seahawks are an incredibly intriguing team coming out of the NFC West, which is the toughest division in football this year. The offense behind Russell Wilson has been absolutely spectacular this season until it hasn’t. Coupled with injuries, and the worst passing defense in the NFL the Seahawks threw the ball far too much. The Seahawks began relying on their passing offense and setting Russell Wilson up for a poor stretch of games and down the leaderboards for this year’s MVP. After a short skid Pete Carroll has righted the ship, the play-calling has improved, the team has gotten healthier with the return of Chris Carson, and the defense has tightened up. With weapons like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett surrounding Russell Wilson, you can never count the Seahawks out. The Seahawks are a real contender with the potential to get red hot, or completely breakdown, and I cannot wait to find out which it will be. 

Packers (8-3): 

Stephen a. Smith once said “Aaron Rodgers is a Bad Man” and let me tell you he is not wrong. Aaron Rodgers is currently the top graded quarterback in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. He has shredded defenses in the air this year, throwing for 3,100 yards, 33 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. He has solid talent in dominant star receiver, Devante Adams, and running back Aaron Jones.  Aaron Rodgers is on an absolute tear right now and has a real shot to come out and contend for a Super Bowl this season. Look for the Packers to play deep into the playoffs this season. 

Bills: (8-3)

The Bills are another very interesting team going into this year’s playoffs. They have an immensely talented roster, and they are very well-coached under Sean McDermott. Josh Allen is having the best year of his young career, and a new weapon, Stefon Diggs has opened up the offense for the Bills. Although they have some shiny new toys, there is just something missing about this Bills team. Josh Allen is severely struggling to throw the ball down the field, only completing 57% of passes, combined with only 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions beyond 20 yards. The Bills also possess a struggling run defense and a lack of consistent tackling in the front seven. The Bills could very well make it past the first round of the playoffs, but due to their lack of explosive downfield passing ability, I do not see them making it to the AFC Championship this year. 

Buccaneers (7-5)

The Buccaneers are a tough team to read going into this year’s playoffs. They may be inconsistent, but they are downright scary in terms of talent. They have one of the league’s best front sevens, and inarguably the best wide receiving core in the NFL, all with the greatest quarterback of all time under center. On paper, there is no reason that this team should not be a contender, but this is not about what’s on paper, but instead what’s on the field. The Bucs don’t look ready, and they just haven’t won enough big games this year to make me feel comfortable enough to give them a real shot to win the Super Bowl this year. They have gotten blown out in games that should have been competitive, and they have lost to teams they shouldn’t have. It is tough to bet against Tom Brady and you can never truly count him out, especially with the weapons he has; but I don’t see them winning three playoff games in a stacked NFC to make it to the Super Bowl. The 2020 Buccaneers are a pretender going into the playoffs. 

Steelers (11-0)

The Steelers are 11-0 for the first time in franchise history. They lead the AFC by a game over the Chiefs and currently are on pace to have a bye week in the playoffs. The combined record of the Steelers opponents this season is 35-61. Outside of the Browns, Titans, and Ravens, the combined record of their opponents is 21-53. The Steelers have only defeated one real contender team in the Tennessee Titans. Their record is completely inflated due to the terrible teams they have played and will continue to play this season. Don’t get me wrong, they are a very good football team, but they are by no means as good as their record represents.

They have a phenomenal defense, of course, led by superstars Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt who have both been dominant this season. On the flip side, they have not seen a top 10 NFL offense outside of the Tennessee Titans, and the offense led by Ben Roethlisberger has had a very efficient season against terrible defenses, besides the Titans and Ravens. They are one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL too, and as a whole struggle to score against strong defenses. Pittsburgh will be knocked out of the playoffs in the divisional game after their first-round bye.

The Steelers are not what they are hyped up to be, they are pretenders and will end with a phenomenal record due to the weakest schedule of the NFL season. 

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