Overrated and Underrated NFL Teams: Week 16 NFC Contenders and Pretenders

The NFC has already seen three teams clinch playoff spots, but there are still plenty of key games to monitor down the stretch. Division winners and seeding are still to be determined.

There are no official "rankings" in the NFL, so we'll examine recent hype and public perception of some of the potential NFC playoff teams after Week 15.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the dynamic landscape of the NFL and examine the overrated and underrated teams that have emerged as contenders or pretenders in the NFC ahead of Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season.

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Week 16's Most Overrated NFC Team

Dallas Cowboys

• Record: 10-4
• Current Division Standing: Second Place (NFC East)

While the Cowboys have already clinched a playoff berth and are still Super Bowl contenders, the Week 15 21-point loss to the Buffalo Bills was disappointing. Josh Allen threw for fewer than 100 yards, yet this game was never competitive. Dallas was hot, but this game proved they are still due for letdown performances.

The Eagles lost in Week 16, meaning Dallas could have taken a tighter grip on the NFC East lead. If Dallas has to go on the road in the playoffs, it's likely going to be a problem. Dallas is undefeated at home and 3-4 on the road.

A matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints in Round 1 could be a cakewalk, but a rematch against the San Francisco 49ers or Philadelphia Eagles on the road has proven to be big trouble for Dak Prescott and company.

The road issues for the Cowboys this season continued yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Au0r0GvfZf

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 18, 2023

Other NFC Pretenders

• Minnesota Vikings
• New Orleans Saints

Minnesota is trending down once again after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15. While they're still in the NFC playoff race, all hope seems to be lost whether Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, or Joshua Dobbs in under center.

New Orleans is tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the NFC South at 7-7, but they don't have a single impressive win over the course of the 2023 campaign. Whoever comes out of the NFC South can be considered a pretender.

Week 16's Most Underrated NFC Team

Los Angeles Rams

• Record: 7-7
• Current Division Standing: Second Place (NFC West)

In Week 14, the Rams lost a close overtime game to the Baltimore Ravens, who are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC. In Week 15, they took care of business and handed the Washington Commanders a loss. All of a sudden, Sean McVay's squad is sitting in the No. 7 spot in the NFC, and Matthew Stafford is playing great football surrounded by Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams.

How on earth does Cooper Kupp end up this wide open.pic.twitter.com/sd9oDMoXDT

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 17, 2023

There's a potential Rams-Lions Wild Card matchup brewing, which would be an amazing story given the Stafford for Jared Goff trade a few years ago. Los Angeles knows how to win important games, so it's tough to rule out a potential sneaky run to the NFC Championship game.

Other NFC Contenders

• Detroit Lions

One week after suffering an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears, the Lions beat the surging Denver Broncos by 25 points. Rookies Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 164 total yards and five touchdowns. Although Detroit's defense is suspect, the offense can compete with any team when it's on.

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