2023-24 NFL Playoff Primer
My dad asked me to put this together to help him enjoy the NFL playoffs, having mostly paid attention to college ball this year. In case anyone else is in the same boat, I figured I might as well post it here as well!
2023-24 NFL Postseason Primer
First things first, in case you haven’t been paying attention the past few years, there are now 14 playoff teams. The #1 seed in each conference gets a first-round bye, and the #2-#7 seed play each other in the first weekend.
AFC
#1 – Baltimore Ravens
W/L: 13-4
HC: John Harbaugh
QB: Lamar Jackson
Story of the season:
For much of the year, none of the league’s quarterbacks really earned MVP consideration. Lamar Jackson’s name got mentioned as one of the favorites, but personally, I thought this would be a rare year where a non-QB gets MVP. Then, in week 17, the last game in which he played, Jackson had a “perfect” QB rating. He’s a dual-threat quarterback, his passing skill is less feared than his running ability, so for him to have a perfect game as a passer really opened eyes and likely cemented him as this year’s MVP. The Ravens are a well-rounded team—good in the passing and running game on offense and defense. They also have one of the best kickers in history, Justin Tucker. Harbaugh is now the 2nd-longest tenured head coach in the league, and his team is always good. His brother Jim just won the NCAA national championship, so he’s hoping to win his 2nd Super Bowl to stay ahead.
#2 – Buffalo Bills
W/L: 11-6
HC: Sean McDermott
QB: Josh Allen
Story of the season:
They were a disappointing team halfway through the season. Since McDermott became the head coach in 2017, they’ve been one of the league’s best and most consistent teams, after a very long playoff drought. Yet fans were calling for his job when they were in danger of missing the playoffs. Well, they’ve rallied, and won their last 5 games, including a week 18 win over the Dolphins where a win earned them this #2 seed, and a loss would have re-jeopardized their playoff hopes.
#3 – Kansas City Chiefs
W/L: 11-6
HC: Andy Reid
QB: Patrick Mahomes
Story of the season:
This was Mahomes’ worst season as a starter. All that means is that he never really entered the MVP conversation. Much of the blame has gone to the wide receivers, as key drops and dumb penalties have turned wins to losses in tight games. Kadarius Toney can justifiably be blamed for two losses. Their defense hasn’t been as good as their Super Bowl teams in recent years, but of course they’re still a winning team. If they fail to make it to the AFC Championship game, it'll be the first time in 6 years.
#4 – Houston Texans
W/L: 10-7
HC: DeMeco Ryans
QB: C.J. Stroud
Story of the season:
The Texans were probably the biggest surprise team of 2023. It’s Ryans’ first year as coach, and Stroud is a rookie. They’ve been really bad for several years. Stroud was the #2 overall pick out of Ohio State, and is almost certain to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Ryans is a former Texans linebacker, so he was already a hometown favorite when he got the job. It was a tight race to win the AFC South, and by beating the Jaguars in week 18, they clinched it.
#5 – Cleveland Browns
W/L: 11-6
HC: Kevin Stefanski
QB: Joe Flacco
Story of the season:
They have one of the league’s most exciting defenses. They get a lot of sacks and turnovers. But the story of the season is really how they’re arguably the 2nd best team in the AFC despite losing their star running back (Nick Chubb) in week 1, and QB Deshaun Watson in week 10. They tried a few different QBs before Flacco, who was all but retired, came out of nowhere and gave them solid QB play. Stefanski is the first head coach to take Cleveland to the playoffs for a 2nd time since 1990s Bill Belichick.
#6 – Miami Dolphins
W/L: 11-6
HC: Mike McDaniel
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
Story of the season:
The Dolphins looked like the 2nd best team in the AFC for much of the year. They have one of the league’s most explosive offenses. They have tons of speed and can score from anywhere on the field. Tyreek Hill is one of the non-QBs who had a legitimate shot at winning the MVP. They have two impressive running backs, Raheem Mostert who led the league in touchdowns, and Devon Achane, who’d be in the rookie of the year conversation if he hadn’t missed a few weeks. McDaniel is a highly respected football mind, don’t let his looks fool you (he looks like a nerdy tech guy).
#7 – Pittsburgh Steelers
W/L: 10-7
HC: Mike Tomlin
QB: Mason Rudolph
Story of the season:
Mike Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach now, and has never had a losing season. They barely made the playoffs, and have had a ton of close games. Rudolph opened the season as their third-string quarterback, but when injuries pushed him into action, the offense improved. If the other two guys were healthy, Rudolph would probably still start. They’re a run-heavy team, but Rudolph’s ability to throw an accurate deep ball has stretched the defense in a way that opens space for top-notch RBs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren (a breakout player this year).
NFC
#1 – San Francisco 49ers
W/L: 12-5
HC: Kyle Shanahan
QB: Brock Purdy
Story of the season:
The 49ers’ decision-makers are the envy of the league. They’ve drafted very well, and have talent all over the roster. But the best draft pick was Brock Purdy, chosen with the last pick of the 2022 draft. He ascended to the starting job last year due to injuries and went undefeated as a starter (5 regular season games and 2 playoff games). An injury ended his playoff run last year. This year, he was a borderline MVP candidate. But the team’s best player is actually RB Christian McCaffrey, who is a great receiver as well as a runner. He’s the other non-QB who has a strong MVP case.
#2 – Dallas Cowboys
W/L: 12-5
HC: Mike McCarthy
QB: Dak Prescott
Story of the season:
The Cowboys have had a consistent year, and are strong in all phases. They especially surged late (two late games against Washington helped) and stole the division crown from the Eagles. LB Micah Parsons is one of the league’s biggest game-wreckers. The Cowboys have struggled in the playoffs since Aikman retired, never making it to the NFC Championship Game, but this team is a real threat to end that streak.
#3 – Detroit Lions
W/L: 12-5
HC: Dan Campbell
QB: Jared Goff
Story of the season:
This was the best Lions team since the days of Barry Sanders. Campbell’s team has gotten better each year since he took over, and now they’re a legit Super Bowl contender. Their roster is loaded with good-not-great players, but strong playoff performances could earn a few of them star status. Goff gets to start the playoffs against his former team, the Rams, who traded him and draft picks for Matthew Stafford a few years ago.
#4 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W/L: 9-8
HC: Todd Bowles
QB: Baker Mayfield
Story of the season:
Around here, the Bucs have been crowned “the kings of Shit Mountain.” The NFC South was easily the worst division in football—they boast the worst team, the Carolina Panthers; the Falcons, who went 7-10 against the easiest schedule in the league; and the Saints, who should be better but they aren’t. And then the Bucs, who at least seem to have found their post-Brady QB in Mayfield, after he was cast off by the Browns, who drafted him #1 overall some years ago. They aren’t expected to do anything in the playoffs, but they do have home field advantage since they won their division.
#5 – Philadelphia Eagles
W/L: 11-6
HC: Nick Sirianni
QB: Jalen Hurts
Story of the season:
They were the NFC’s #1 team for most of the season, but slid late and didn’t even win the division. Sirianni is probably the only coach in the playoffs who’s coaching for his job. If they lose to the Bucs, he probably gets fired, even though his team was in the Super Bowl two years ago. The Eagles are famous for the “Tush Push” aka “The Brotherly Shove,” a scrum-like QB sneak that has an insane success rate. Their personnel does it uniquely well, not every team could pull it off, but it allows them to aim for 3rd-and-1 because they know they can easily get that final yard.
#6 – Los Angeles Rams
W/L: 10-7
HC: Sean McVay
QB: Matthew Stafford
Story of the season:
It’s impressive that the Rams are back in the playoffs. They sacrificed their future to win a Super Bowl a few years ago (the aforementioned Stafford trade among other things), and were terrible last year. It seemed like a multi-year rebuild, but here they are. WR Puka Nacua is one of the big stories of the season—he was a 5th round draft pick and went on to break the records for receiving yards and receptions for a rookie.
#7 – Green Bay Packers
W/L: 9-8
HC: Matt LaFleur
QB: Jordan Love
Story of the season:
After Aaron Rodgers moved on, former 1st-round pick Love finally got a chance to start. He had an up-and-down season, but ended on a series of ups that got them into the playoffs. The fans now seem to have rallied behind him as the next guy in a chain of great QBs. They have one of the youngest teams in the league, and they seem to be set to once again be good for years to come. Any playoff success this year is gravy.
