What Makes This Year's NFL Playoffs the 'Most Unusual'
New England's Drake Maye (left) and Chicago's Caleb Williams were top-three draft picks in 2024
One dominant era has ended, veteran leaders have struggled, and unexpected teams have risen to become championship contenders.
Veteran NFL commentator Cris Collinsworth stated, "this is the most unusual year I can remember in the NFL."
Now, 14 teams are poised to compete in the playoffs, and for the first time in 11 seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are absent.
Last year's champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, have been less formidable, and teams like the Buffalo Bills, tipped for success early on, have not delivered.
However, in a rare statistical twist, 11 of the 14 playoff teams secured at least 11 victories during the regular season, a feat achieved only twice in the past 35 years.
Setting a new mark, five franchises made the postseason after dreadful prior campaigns, featuring New England and Chicago's remarkable jumps from the basement to division champions.
"Requesting a single favorite is difficult," Collinsworth continued, "as a case can be made for virtually every team."
"It's going to be amazing to watch these young quarterbacks go at it because I don't know what they will do. This is when legends begin to be built."
Understanding the NFL Playoff Structure
A field of 14 clubs competes in the playoffs, comprising seven squads from the AFC and seven from the NFC.
The conferences remain separate throughout a three-week, 12-game knockout tournament that determines each conference's representative in Super Bowl 60 on February 8.
The highest-seeded team in each matchup enjoys home-field advantage, with the top seedsâDenver and Seattleâreceiving a first-round bye during Wildcard Weekend.
These top seeds debut in the Divisional Round. The winners of the subsequent Conference Championshipsâthe de facto Super Bowl semifinalsâwill clash in the title game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
The possibility exists for a Seattle-Denver Super Bowl replay from 2014, despite Denver's subsequent victory in the last Super Bowl held at Levi's Stadium back in 2016.
The AFC Championship Picture: A Field of Opportunity
The postseason will proceed without Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, a playoff constant until now, marking a significant shift.
Moreover, the championship game will feature neither Mahomes nor the Bengals' Joe Burrow, a first for the Super Bowl in several years.
The absence of recent Most Valuable Players like Mahomes and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson leaves the AFC postseason without its usual headliners, opening the door wide.
Consequently, the competition for the AFC crown is remarkably open, presenting a golden opportunity for new quarterbacks such as Denver's Bo Nix and New England's Drake Maye to achieve postseason fame.
A mere three clubs have captured the AFC Championship since 2016, and their championship rosters have completely turned over.
Denver, despite its high seed, is a playoff novice in recent years, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the sole other AFC qualifier to have reached a Super Bowl in the past three decades.
Yet, seasoned passers like Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen of Buffalo remain, possessing the know-how to potentially outduel the younger generation.
Who Are the Super Bowl and MVP Favorites?
Teams from the NFC have dominated Super Bowl appearances lately, with the Eagles, Rams, or 49ers featuring in nearly every title game for eight years.
Facing off against Seattle in the brutal NFC West, the Rams and 49ers have already been immersed in a playoff atmosphere for several weeks.
Seattle ultimately secured the division with a 14-3 record, entering the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak after defeating both rivals in the final stretch.
As the NFC's top seed, the Seahawks are now narrow favorites for the Super Bowl, while Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is the player most likely to win MVP honors.
Stafford, who won a Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams in 2022, has never won the MVP but is rated just ahead of New England's second-year quarterback, Drake Maye.
Maye has thrived under new head coach Mike Vrabel, helping New England dramatically improve from a 4-13 record last season to 14-3.
Chicago's Caleb Williams is another second-year quarterback excelling under a new coach, with Ben Johnson guiding the Bears from 5-12 to 11-6 and the NFC's second seed.
Wildcard Weekend: The Complete Fixture List
All times are in GMT
Saturday, 10 January
The Rams travel to face the Carolina Panthers (21:30)
The Packers visit the Chicago Bears (01:00 Sunday)
Sunday, 11 January
Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars (18:00)
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles (21:30)
Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots (01:00 Monday)
Monday, 12 January
The Texans meet the Pittsburgh Steelers (01:00 Tuesday)
Key Storylines for Wildcard Weekend
The Rams begin Wildcard Weekend in Carolina, a team that made history by reaching the playoffs with a losing 8-9 record after stumbling to the NFC South title.
The Rams, playing as visitors, are powered by Matthew Stafford's league-leading passing numbers and a record year from wideout Puka Nacua.
Green Bay's momentum was stalled by late-season injuries, but they will have quarterback Jordan Love back for just the third playoff game in the NFL's oldest rivalry.
Despite exceeding expectations by winning the NFC North, Chicago faces pressure to avoid a third consecutive loss and an early playoff exit.
San Francisco, dealing with numerous injuries, must challenge the reigning champion Eagles in Philadelphia, a team that enters well-rested.
Buffalo's Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, hopes to finally reach the Super Bowl, but the Bills must travel to Jacksonville, a team riding an eight-game winning streak.
{New England aims to avoid an upset at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, whose quarterback Justin Herbert seeks his first playoff win in his sixth season.|The Patriots hope to defend their home field against the Chargers, as LA's quarterback Justin Herbert looks for his inaugural postseason victory in year six.|At home, New England tries to stave off the Chargers, with Justin Herbert attempting to secure his first career playoff