It’s that time of year again – the playoffs in the NFL. The teams have all made their final push and are now readying for the intensity of the postseason. As one of the greatest annual sporting events, I often find myself drawn into the excitement of it all. While this year is still up in the air, there are a few teams who have already clinched the playoffs.
The first team to clinch playoffs was the Baltimore Ravens. This AFC North team, led by young quarterback Lamar Jackson, had a great regular season going 14-2. The combination of Jackson’s resurging career and veterans such as Marshal Yanda and Thielen Smith make the Ravens an exciting team to watch. Their successful regular season performance earned them the Wild Card, allowing them to move into the playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers are the second team to clinch the playoffs. This veteran team, with their young quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, led the NFC East with a record of 13-3. They may have lost Superbowl LIV, but they continued to stay competitive and successful. Their defensive line, led by Arik Armstead and rookie Javon Kinlaw, made plenty of big plays throughout the regular season.
The next team to clinch the playoffs this season was the Green Bay Packers. Led by their veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, this team had a regular season record of 13-3. Their success was in large part due to their impressive roster. With the likes of Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Allen Lazard, the offense had no shortage of playmakers, and their defense was nothing to laugh at either.
The last team to clinch the playoffs was the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. This team, with their stars Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, have been dominating all season. Even with their costlyslip up against the Chargers in week 12, the Chiefs managed to keep their success and clinched their playoff spot with a 14-2 record.
The playoffs are far from over and there are always surprises. Who will surprise us this year? Who will take home the Vince Lombardi trophy? Only time will tell, but for now these four teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.
Not much of the remaining NFL teams have secured free tickets to the playoffs yet, except some of the division champion teams such as Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, and the other usual suspects. This makes the remaining schedules even more exciting as teams fight to secure their positions for post-season games. We saw some unexpected game results, resulting in teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots surprisingly clinching their divisional titles, having been considered by many to be long shots.
One thing that’s certain is that some new teams should have the chance to participate as Wild-Cards. The Tennessee Titans, for instance, have yet to cement their playoff spot even though they have a promising 10-5 record. These remaining divisions will be a great opportunity for some unexpected teams to put their names on the playoffs map. Moreover, we’ll be sure to see some thrilling action from some veterans too.
The playoffs are where the real challenge comes and thrills are sure to follow. It won’t be long before the best of the best teams facing each other with only one goal – to win the NFC and thus the Super Bowl. We can expect great plays, awesome new stars and a lot of intensity. Some teams will make it to the finals while some will stumble, some will surprise us and some will disappoint. That’s the beauty of it and the fun in watching and cheering for your favorite teams.
While we don’t know yet who will take the ultimate prize, the NFL playoffs will definitely be an exciting event. These four teams – the Ravens, 49ers, Packers, and Chiefs – have the guaranteed ticket of the playoffs; now, it’s time for us to wait and see who will join the party and who will take the trophy home.