The NFL playoffs are quickly approaching and this is without a doubt one of the best times of the year. The NFL season is an absolute marathon and in a few short weeks – 14 teams will be competing for a chance to be called Super Bowl champions. But not every team in the postseason is built the same – not even close. And I think there are a couple of teams within the dance that nobody wants to play. Whether it be due to how good their offense is, or how good their defense is – or a combination of both – there are a couple of sneaky teams that could go to the Super Bowl and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. And in today’s video we’re going to break down 4 NFL teams nobody wants to play in January. We’re going to break down their strengths, weaknesses, and why they will be a difficult out in the month of January. This also isn’t me just picking the Chiefs and saying they’re back to back champions and nobody wants to play them because they have the vaunted Chiefs defense, Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Travis Kelce and you get the point. This is a list of a couple of teams that I think are really really good and can win on any given Sunday. And with that preface out of the way – let’s begin
And we are starting today’s video with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had a tough start to the year as they lost the season opener against the Lions in overtime on sunday night, then lost to the Cardinals the following week 41-10 in a game where Kyler Murray threw 3 passing touchdowns and had just 4 incompletions. They beat the 49ers in week 3, then lost to the Bears in week 4 – which may seem like an eternity ago – then lost to the Packers in week 5 to enter their week 6 bye with a 1-4 record. This team is quietly 8-2 since their week 6 bye and their losses were to the Dolphins on Monday night, and the Eagles a few weeks later on Sunday night. There’s a couple of reasons why nobody wants to play the Rams in the postseason but the one thing that I think it boils down o most – is they are a team that doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses.
Obviously no NFL team is perfect, but you can look at teams across the league and spot weaknesses up and down the roster – but the Rams really aren’t one of those teams. Sure they spots on the team that are definitely less as impactful as other part as not every position group is going to be as good as the top two Rams receivers in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp – but the point is – this team and organization is really well run and there’s a reason they’ve been to the playoffs more often than not since Sean McVay took over back in 2017. I also don’t think Kyren Williams gets enough credit for the player he is and he is quietly working on a 1,200 yard 13 rushing touchdown season with two games to play. He also has an additional 166 receiving yards and in a year where Saquon and Derrick Henry have played at the level they have – it’s natural for Kyren to get lost in the mix because he hasn’t been the best – or even the second best player at his position this year. But I think this plays into why the Rams are so dangerous entering the month of January. They’ve won 4 in a row and they prove week in and week out that they can win by putting up a lot of points, or winning ugly and at the end of the day – winning is what matters and I think they’re going to finish the year with double digit wins and win the NFC West.
I also think at this point that we are setting up for a crash course for a rematch between the Packers and Rams who like we said – played back in week 5 in which the Packers won 24-19. But the Rams aren’t just an offensive team – and in fact – they’ve allowed just 15 total points over the last two games which of course were against the 49ers and Jets. They have a really good pass rusher in rookie Jared Verse and who is quietly top 5 in the NFL in pressures with 68 on the year and for a rookie to come in and be a precense the way Verse has is nothing short of encouraging – especially as we enter the postseason where pass rush wins championships – and Rams fans of course know this. The one concern I do have with the Rams is corner – but as we know – complimentary football is huge and if Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and everyone else can continue to get after the quarterback the way they have for the majority of the 2024 season – I think they’re going to be fine.
This team has done a really good job of building through the trenches over the course of the past few drafts by bringing in guys like we just mentioned as well as guys like Steve Avila and Beaux Limmer – who I do think is having a very very good rookie season. They can run the ball, they can get after the quarterback, and they can control the clock. And they have a Super Bowl champion quarterback in Matt Stafford and with how the Rams have been playing over the past month or so – I wouldn’t be surprised if this team wins not just one – but multiple playoff games.
The Green Bay Packers are a really good team and they have 4 losses on the year which were to the Eagles, Vikings, and Lions twice. And just because they lost to those teams – does not make me think they can’t beat them in January if they play any of those teams. Combined those 3 teams have a record of 38-7 and when you factor in they lost to the Lions twice – the opponents record in which they lost – is a staggering 51-9. There’s no shame in losing to those teams. Especially when was in Brazil to start the year, one was in a very weird game at home against the Vikings, and two were to the Lions who again – are a very good team.
The biggest thing with the Packers that I think has gotten better over the course of the 2024 season – and ultimately got better over the course of the 2023 season too – was – Jordan Love turning the ball over. Love of course got hurt in the opener against Philly – but when he came back he threw an interception in each of his next 7 starts – and through his first 8 games played in 2024 – he had 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and I think Jordan Love is an incredibly talented quarterback – but the pick 6 against the Rams is a play that absolutely cannot happen in the playoffs. Now I do think Jordan is a gunslinger and he’s going to take risks – but I think in some ways it’s about mitigating risk. I truly think if there is a pick 6 thrown in a do or die game – that most of the time – the team that throws the pick 6 is going to end up losing and that simply can’t happen for Jordan and the Packers in January. We know how their season ended in San Francisco last year – but that was a game that went all the way down to the wire and 49ers fans would be lying if they said they weren’t nervous at the end of that game.
And I think that’s one of the biggest things you can hope for when drafting a quarterback in the first round and ultimately when you have a franchise quarterback – is making other teams nervous when the game is on the line. And one big difference between the 2023 and 2024 Packers is their defense. If you are a Packers fan watching – then you know how much the fan base wanted Joe Barry to go and – we’ve seen a big difference under the leadership of current defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. The Packers are top 10 in a lot of defensive categories and the free agent acquisitions of both Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney – are more than paying off. And by bringing in those guys – I think it makes Green Bay a significantly more difficult team to beat because Green Bay can wear you down over the course of a game and feed Josh Jacobs the rock time and time again – while the defense sits back and waits to make a play.
There’s only been a couple of games in the entire 2024 season in which Green Bay has not forced a turnover and it’s because they are both – a really good – and really opportunistic unit and I have no doubt that’ll to January. I know we mentioned this team has lot to Detroit twice, Philly, and Minnesota – but if Green Bay has to go on the road to beat any of those teams – whether it’s at Ford Field, the Linc, or Us Bank – I have no doubts Green Bay can go on the road and get the job done. Christina Watson and Tucker Kraft are also heating up at the right time and when you think about a team that has playmakers everywhere on both sides of the ball – it’s the Green Bay Packers. They’re not star filled where if you triple team a player like Rahsan Gary or if you just throw the ball away from Xavier McKinney you’re fine – this is a very good and very complete team. And I would not want to face the Green Bay Packers in the month of January.
Within the video below we also break down why the Bengals and Ravens are going to be two very difficult teams to beat in January. We also throw in a few surprise teams at the end! I hope you enjoyed today’s article and I hope you have a great rest of your day!
