The National Football League playoffs begin Jan. 11 with 14 teams vying to win Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans in February. The two No. 1 seeds are the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the dominant Detroit Lions. As a reward for earning the top seeds, both teams will receive a bye during the wild-card round and have home-field advantage until the Super Bowl.
The Lions have faced several struggles throughout the season, most notably injuries on their defense. According to ESPN, as of Week 18 the Lions have 13 players on injured reserve, including Alim McNeill, Kyle Peko, and Aidan Hutchinson. General Manager Brad Holmes has worked around the clock to sign free agents and trade for players like defensive end Za’Darius Smith. In their final game of the regular season, the Lions’ defense held the Minnesota Vikings to only nine points, securing a victory and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A key factor in the team’s success has been the development fostered by coaches Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell.
One of the biggest surprises of the NFL season has been the performance of Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. After former Michigan quarterback and national champion J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus, Darnold took over as the Vikings’ starting passer. Previously, Darnold struggled during his stints with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers. However, he finished the season ranked fifth in both passing yards and touchdowns, leading the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record according to ESPN. Darnold credits his development to head coach Kevin O’Connell, who is a heavy favorite to win Coach of the Year.
The Washington Commanders experienced the most dramatic improvement this season. Last year, the team finished with a 4-13 record, tied for the second-worst in the league. Two key changes made the difference: hiring head coach Dan Quinn and drafting quarterback Jayden Daniels from LSU in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels recorded the second-most rushing yards for a quarterback this season, behind only Lamar Jackson according to ESPN. The Commanders ended the season with a 12-5 record and a playoff berth, where they will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At the end of the regular season, awards are given to players and coaches for their accomplishments. The league’s most prestigious honor, the Most Valuable Player award, has been highly contested this season. The race has narrowed to two quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Jackson, a two-time MVP winner (2019, 2023), holds the all-time record for quarterback rushing yards. Allen has set multiple touchdown records and delivered standout performances against teams like the Lions and Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are seeking their third consecutive Super Bowl victory, an unprecedented feat in the NFL. The last professional sports team to accomplish this was the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant. The Chiefs’ success has been driven by their elite defense, with standouts like defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie. The defense has allowed an average of just 19.2 points per game. The team has had some struggles on offense this season, their two offensive stars quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce experienced career lows in passing and receiving yards according to ESPN.
14 of the best teams in the NFL will battle it out to win Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The broadcast will be hosted by 7-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady and FOX sports broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt, along with a halftime show headlined with multi-Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar. With the Lombardi Trophy on the line, the NFL season has been a competitive one and nearly any of these teams could make a run to a championship.
