With the schedule finally released, it is time to take a look at 12 teams that will accompany the Chiefs and Buccaneers to the playoffs in 2021.
AFC
No.1: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
Kansas City makes the playoffs once again, securing their sixth consecutive division title. Kansas City earns the top seed by virtue of knocking off the Bills in Week 5.
No.2: Buffalo Bills (14-3)
Buffalo proves 2020 was not a fluke as they coast to back-to-back division crowns and their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons.
No.3: Cleveland Browns (12-5)
The Browns did not win a division title in the 1990s, 2000s, or 2010s. It only takes them two tries in the 2020s to win a division title.
No.4: Indianapolis Colts (10-7)
The Colts ascend back to the AFC South crown as they narrowly edge out the Titans. Indianapolis wins the division because of a better conference record than the Titans.
No.5: Los Angeles Chargers (12-5)
Los Angeles makes its triumphant return to the playoffs after a dominant regular season.
No.6: Baltimore Ravens (11-6)
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens add another playoff berth with their fourth straight double-digit win season.
No.7: New England Patriots (10-7)
Off the heels of an offense that is better than No.27 in the NFL, New England returns to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. New England secures a playoff berth with a Week 12 win over the Titans.
Non-Playoff Teams:
- Tennessee Titans (10-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins (9-8)
- Denver Broncos (8-9)
- Las Vegas Raiders (5-12)
- Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets (3-14)
- Houston Texans (2-15)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-16)
Playoff Games:
- No.2 Bills defeat No.7 Patriots.
- No.3 Browns defeat No.6 Ravens.
- No.5 Chargers defeat No.4 Colts
- No.1 Chiefs defeat No.5 Chargers
- No.2 Bills defeat No.3 Browns
- No.1 Chiefs defeat No.2 Bills
NFC
No.1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15-2)
The Buccaneers play in rhythm from Week 1, posting the best record in the NFL in 2021. They win their first division title since 2007.
No.2: Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
Sean McVay extends his winning season streak to five as Los Angeles wins their third division in the McVay era.
No.3: Minnesota Vikings (11-6)
It’s an odd year, so Minnesota makes the playoffs as they did in 2015, 2017, and 2019. They win the division by virtue of a superior divisional record.
No.4: Washington Football Team (9-8)
Washington clinches back-to-back division crowns for the first time since 1982-1984.
No.5: San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
San Francisco bounces back with an electric 12-win season. They look to replicate Tampa Bay’s 2020 gauntlet of winning three straight-road playoff games.
No.6: Green Bay Packers (11-6)
It’s not quite 13-3 like 2019 and 2020, but Green Bay does enough to make the playoffs.
No.7: Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
Seattle earns its 10th straight winning season, posting 10 wins for the ninth time in that stretch.
Non-Playoff Teams:
- Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints (9-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-9)
- Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
- New York Giants (5-12)
- Carolina Panthers (4-13)
- Detroit Lions (2-15)
Playoff Games:
- No.2 Rams defeat No.7 Seahawks
- No.3 Vikings defeat No.6 Packers
- No.5 49ers defeat No.4 Football Team
- No.1 Buccaneers defeat No.5 49ers
- No.3 Vikings defeat No.2 Rams
- No.1 Buccaneers defeat No.3 Vikings
Super Bowl LVI:
In a matter of revenge, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs knock off the Buccaneers to win their second Super Bowl in three years.
Check out the pre-schedule release version of this article.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
