The PML season is coming to a close and as expected the playoff race is steaming hot as we hit the final stretch. To put the potential playoffs contenders into focus. We’re gonna take a look at each potential team and judge their “Playoff Potential.” By that I mean that we’ll give each team one of four grades based on their records versus other potential playoff teams. What teams will be graded as “Serious Contender, Possible Super Bowl Appearance, Pretender, or Don’t Bother Showing Up.” Without any more rambling lets jump into the AFC side!
Buffalo Bills (12-4)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 5-4
Wins: Dolphins (2x), Football Team, Jaguars, Saints
Loses: Chiefs, Titans, Colts, Buccaneers
Grade: Possible Super Bowl Appearance
Josh Allen has been a MVP candidate all season with the Buffalo Bills. The coach and lifetime Bills fan Bubba has brought his boys to the top of the AFC. With that being said I still don’t think they are a serious contender. With 9 games against potential playoff teams the Bills are only 5-4. The interesting part about that is 4 of those 5 wins came from teams that may not even be in the playoffs come the end of the season. Also on the losing side its a lot of the teams he may have to face this postseason. You can’t forget his debacle against the Buccaneers who won’t even sniff more than one game if they make the playoffs. Now, can he upset the masses and make a run in the playoffs? I believe so. He’s got a very strong offense that can score with the best of em’. His defense on the other hand isn’t on par with his offense. The recent performance on the defensive side has brought hope that they can put it together.
Miami Dolphins (10-5)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 3-5
Wins: Buccaneers, Jaguars, Saints
Loses: Bills (2x), Raiders, Colts, Ravens
Grade: Pretender
Honestly, I wanted to put “Possible Super Bowl Appearance” for this team. Coach Fallen has shown he can dominate a game if he has to. The issue lies within hisself and his ability to control his urges to throw the ball. The Dolphins have a really fast and really strong team that could be tough to deal with for any defense. With weapons like Jaylen Waddle, Will Fuller V, and Mike Giesicki. I guess it gets difficult to play conservative when up big. Even with a superstar running back in Salvon Ahmed he struggles to stick with the run. We’ve seen multiple games where this Dolphins team is in full control but throws themselves into losses. And that is not a good problem to have. Especially in the playoffs where every mistake is magnified. The number 1 passing attack and PML needs to work on their running game. So when they have a lead late in the game they can turn to Salvon Ahmed or Myles Gaskins to close the game out.
Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 4-7
Wins: Chargers, Vikings, Dolphins, Bears
Loses: Raiders, Chiefs, Lions, Broncos, Colts, Packers, Rams
Grade: Pretender
In the defense of the Baltimore Ravens the new coach JAC is 4-3 against potential playoff teams. The coach wasn’t around for the teams first 3 losses against the likes of the Raiders, Chiefs and Lions. My opinion on the new coach is still up in the air at the moment. If I had to make a call it would be a “Pretender.” His wins against the Chargers and Dolphins we’re handed to him by the other coach. Beating the NFC teams, Bears and Vikings are both unimpressive wins. I will be tuning into these playoffs as a s***** AFC North coach to see what JAC and the Baltimore Ravens are really about it. Now on the aspect of team and weapons. Theres not many better than the Baltimore Ravens. With a solid defense and electrifying offense. It’s hard not to fear their potential.
Indianapolis Colts (16-0)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 10-0
Wins: Rams, Titans (2x), Dolphins, Ravens, 49ers, Jaguars, Bills, Buccaneers, Raiders
Loses: None
Grade: Serious Contender
Mole has these Colts on a-whole-nother level this season. They stand at 16-0 this season while mowing down top competition all season. Coach Mole has serious contender written all over his team. Carson Went looks like his former self and Jonathan Taylor has been a premier back so far this season. The Colts are the team to beat in the league as of right now. The only undefeated team can definitely remain that way and potentially go perfect this season. It wouldn’t be there first time that this coach has done this in the Premier Madden League.
Tennessee Titans (10-5)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 6-3
Wins: Jaguars (2x), Bills, Chiefs, Saints, 49ers
Loses: Colts (2x), Rams
Grade: Possible Super Bowl Appearance
Titans and coach Wimmy have been put in a h*** division facing the likes of Mole, cookie boy and Tbandit all season. All in all the coach has performed very well this season. Beating the Jaguars twice, Texans once and losing to the Colts twice. You can’t really bash him for losing to the “best coach in PML” at the moment. But you can say that he can’t be considered a serious contender at this moment because of the Colts dominance in the division. A playoff appearance from the Titans isn’t unfeasible though. If they continue to let Derrick Henry tote the rock then there’s no limits to what this team can do. With a fully healthy Titans team you can’t take him lightly, but he will have to find a way to get over the “Mole mountain” that he’s yet to do in two games.
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 3-5
Wins: Broncos, 49ers, Rams
Loses: Titans (2x), Dolphins, Bills, Colts
Grade: Pretender
The rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars have performed pretty well with coach Tbandit at the helm. They’re not a shoe in for the playoffs. They’ll need a lot to go their way for them to get into the playoffs. With that being said, I don’t see them as a contender or possible contender. A big reason is the team actually being one of the worst rated teams in the conference. That being said the future is looking bright. They’re young and have potential to grow in this league. A playoff appearance will help that growth. But the road to the Super Bowl will be treacherous. Definitely not a great situation but they can also end up being on the outside looking in.
Denver Broncos (11-4)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 7-2
Wins: Ravens, Raiders (2x), Football Team, Cowboys, Chiefs, Lions
Loses: Jaguars, Chargers
Grade: Possible Super Bowl Appearance
What can I say about the Denver Broncos besides it’ll be great to have a new coach at the helm. But for now he will be in the playoffs and wheel routing every team to death on his way to a potential Super Bowl appearance. Personally I don’t count him as a “Serious Contender” in the AFC but in the NFC he definitely would be. With the Colts being so dominant you can’t look at any other team as a serious contender in the AFC but this Broncos team definitely can make some noise come this postseason. Wheel route or not (mostly wheel route) coach Kmac has won time and time again. His lobby ball style has annoyed most if not all his opponents this season. Will he go into the playoffs using more of the same comp style play call? When the going gets tough will he go even deeper into his bag of money and MUT plays? Either way he can possibly make a Super Bowl appearance.
Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 4-4
Wins: Cowboys, Chiefs, Vikings, Broncos
Loses: Football Team, Raiders, Ravens, Chiefs
Grade: Possible Super Bowl Appearance
Another team that may not make the playoffs if the cards don’t fall right for them. They’ve been a up and down team all season but have recently returned to form. Coach Z has always been a strong coach in this league. If he ends up in the playoffs it wouldn’t be a total shock to see him make it to the Super Bowl. The Chargers have a great offense with plenty of weapons and Justin Herbert who has proven to be a great quarterback who can get the ball to them. The number 2 ranked defense doesn’t need much help if they continue to play the way they’ve been all season. Turnovers have been their achilles heel. If they control the turnover battle I can see this team surprising alot of folks in PML.\
Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 5-6
Wins: Ravens, Bills, Football Team, Raiders, Charger
Loses: Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Titans, Packers, Cowboys
Grade: Pretender
The high powered Kansas City Chiefs are sitting 3rd in the AFC West at the moment at 9-7. They’ve played 11 total playoff teams and finished 5-6. It hasnt been the most successful season for Mahomes and Hill. Coach Greeny has struggles with his identitiy. A run heavy offense is the strong suit of the Kansas City head coach. Even after trading for Raheem Mostert he hasnt been able to find much success this season. Some will say that Mostert has ruined the Chiefs more than helped. Since the trade he has went 3-5 down this stretch and could possibly land them on the couch this preseason. Though making the playoffs wouldnt matter for the coach given that he’s struggled to beat the top tier competition in the AFC. But given the chance, maybe the high powered Chiefs offense can find themselves?
Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)
Record vs Playoff Possibles: 4-7
Wins: Ravens, Dolphins, Chargers, Chiefs
Loses: Bears, Broncos (2x), Cowboys, Football Team, Chiefs, Colts
Grade: Don’t Bother Showing Up
Raiders had a hot start to the season going 7-2 and leading their division at one point in the season but have since fell off. The surprising factor is that the downfall began around the same time coach DLloyd decided that the Run and Shoot was a reliable offense. With the lack of run game and clock control its led to shootouts that his defense can’t withstand. Players like Darnell Moss have greatly benefited though. The young receiver is pushing 2,000 yards on the season. The defense hasn’t seen the same success this season. With constantly being on the field the defense of the Raiders are one of the worst defenses statistically all season. With that being said the need for a great defense is necessary in the playoffs to help bring teams to wins. The Raiders are currently on the outside looking in and need everything to go right to even sniff the playoffs. Its very slim they make the playoffs and if I’m coach DLloyd I hope it doesn’t. Don’t waste the extra time you can spend scouting.
