Four NFL teams that currently hold playoff spots could be in danger of December collapse
With the 2020 NFL season crossing the quarter pole, the playoff picture – it will include 14 teams for the first time in a non-strike season – is quickly coalescing.
Even with a month left in the regular season, the postseason field is already filling up. The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints are in, while the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills all have clinching scenarios in Week 14. The Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are near-virtual locks to reach January.
However several other clubs currently projected to make the Super Bowl LV tournament will have to navigate a minefield of tough opponents and their own flaws. These four may have the hardest time averting a December collapse that lands them on the playoff sideline:
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Chiefs reclaim No. 1 spot, Steelers drop to third after suffering first loss
Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
They possess the AFC's third and final wild-card position – for now. Sunday, they'll be in Las Vegas to face the Raiders (7-5), who have been wildly inconsistent but can catch the Colts and pick up the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win. Indianapolis must also still deal with the typically dangerous Texans and a Steelers team fighting for home-field advantage.
A Colts defense ranked No. 1 earlier this season has been regressing, burned for 96 points over the past three weeks. But the biggest red flag could be QB Philip Rivers' mangled foot, one that will need to be surgically repaired following the season, according to NFL Network. And when you have a gimpy 39-year-old lording over a middling offense, things could go south in a hurry – especially if the more advantageous schedule of the Titans (8-4) vaults them to the AFC South crown.
New York Giants (5-7)
They're coming off a huge upset of the Seahawks, Big Blue's fourth consecutive victory, and could get starting QB Daniel Jones back from a hamstring injury for this weekend's home date with the spiraling Cardinals. A 10th-ranked defense has surrendered just 46 points over the last three games and has at least two sacks in every game this season.
But there's little margin for error. The Giants' next three foes (Arizona, Cleveland and Baltimore) are all fighting for playoff berths, too, and New York is trying to hold off a surging Washington squad, also 5-7, that draws three sub-.500 teams over the final month. But the Giants have a sweep of Washington in hand, meaning they'll take the NFC East title if the clubs wind up tied.
Miami Dolphins (8-4)
Though tied with Indianapolis in the AFC field, the Fins own the sixth seed due to a slightly better record in conference games. But a brutal gantlet awaits Miami, which must play the Chiefs (11-1), Patriots (6-6), Raiders (7-5) and Bills (9-3) – all vying for spots in the bracket or, in Kansas City's case, that coveted first-round bye.
The Dolphins don't have a glaring weakness, nor do they do anything especially well. However a group which has allowed the second-fewest points in the league won't typically beat themselves, which is why they've won seven of their last eight. But this stretch drive should be quite a crucible for a rookie quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who's only got five starts under his belt and will likely begin seeing new wrinkles as defenses adapt to his tendencies.
Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
No team has a more precarious spot on the pretender/contender fence line. Credit the Vikes for batting back to break even in the aftermath of a disastrous 1-5 start. QB Kirk Cousins has been highly efficient (118.6 passer rating) over the last six games, and RB Dalvin Cook would be getting serious MVP consideration if he were performing for a better team. Scalding WR Justin Jefferson, who's already hit the 1,000-yard receiving plateau, may yet capture offensive rookie of the year accolades.
Still, the Vikings have been barely squeaking past clubs like the Bears, Panthers and Jaguars, and Minnesota is the only team to fall to the Cowboys since QB Dak Prescott went down. Decimated up front and inexperienced on the corners, Mike Zimmer's defense has been uncharacteristically susceptible to clubs that pass effectively.
With three of their final four games on the road, including visits to the Buccaneers and Saints, the Vikes could have a very hard time holding off the Cardinals, Bears, Lions, 49ers and even Washington. Arizona (6-6) is just a tiebreaker from taking the final wild-card spot back from Minnesota, and the other four teams all lurk just a game behind.
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