Overrated and Underrated NFL Teams: Week 18 NFC Contenders and Pretenders

The final week of the regular season is near, meaning playoff football is just around the corner. The NFC seems to have a clear pecking order at the top, but one or two teams that have been overlooked could make a run to at least the NFC title game. Let's take a look at some contenders and pretenders after Week 17 action.

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.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the constantly changing landscape of the NFL and examine the overrated and underrated teams that have emerged as contenders or pretenders in the NFC ahead of Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season.

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Week 18's Most Overrated NFC Team

Seattle Seahawks

• Record: 8-8
• Current Division Standing: Third Place (NFC West)

Seattle began the season 6-3, then lost four consecutive games to fall to 6-7, and they looked firmly out of the playoff race. However, a win over the Philadelphia Eagles brought new life to the organization, and they followed it up with a win over the Tennessee Titans.

All Seattle had to do to keep a strong hold on a playoff spot was win a home game against Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Apparently, that was too big of an ask. Seattle gave up 30 points in the Week 17 loss and is now on the outside looking in for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.

Geno Smith has regressed from last season, and Pete Carroll has not been able to get the defense on track. Although Seattle is still technically alive in the postseason race, it's going to be tough to qualify, and it's tough to imagine this squad winning a playoff game if they do get in the dance.

Final.#GoHawks x @EQCasino pic.twitter.com/KJbtLexPBv

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 1, 2024

Other NFC Pretenders

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• New Orleans Saints
• Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay had us believing in them over the last month of the season. Baker Mayfield was playing the best football of his career, and the defense had been doing just enough to secure wins. However, the Week 17 blowout home loss to the New Orleans Saints was embarrassing. The Bucs looked like they'd be a dangerous squad to face off a long winning streak, but the "L" killed that momentum. All the Buccaneers need is a win over the Carolina Panthers to clinch the NFC South, but a round-one game against the Philadelphia Eagles or Dallas Cowboys spells bad news.

The Saints are at 8-8 after 17 weeks of NFL action. That said, Derek Carr does not give anyone confidence. The offense ranks No. 20 in DVOA, while the defense ranks No. 16. Ultimately, this is an average team that has benefited from an easy NFC schedule.

Minnesota has fallen apart since the Joshua Dobbs hype machine ran low on fuel, as Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall have failed to do enough to win games. Ultimately, this squad has felt like a pretender since Kirk Cousins went down with a torn Achilles, but now it's official.

Week 18's Most Underrated NFC Team

Los Angeles Rams

• Record: 9-7
• Current Division Standing: Second Place (NFC West)

Since the Rams' Week 10 bye, they have ripped off six wins over the last seven weeks. The one loss came against the Baltimore Ravens -- on the road -- in overtime. Baltimore has since gone on to beat down the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

Although the Rams don't have an overly impressive win this year, they are hot at the right time and will have a chance in any game thanks to stars like Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald. Sean McVay has led L.A. to the Super Bowl twice, meaning he knows the recipe for winning in the postseason.

With a potential game against the Lions in the Wild Card Round, Stafford could make his return to Detroit for the first time since he was traded to the Rams. Don't count L.A. out in that matchup.

Kyren Williams is a BALLER pic.twitter.com/6yhtvZG4Vz

— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) December 31, 2023

Other NFC Contenders

• Detroit Lions
• Dallas Cowboys
• Philadelphia Eagles

Detroit was one botched play or referee mistake away from handing the Dallas Cowboys their first loss at home this season. While it's easy to poke fun at Jared Goff, he's already taken a team to a Super Bowl in his career. The Lions have issues in the secondary, but its offensive and defensive fronts are strong, which is conducive to playoff success.

The Cowboys are now in the driver's seat to win the NFC East after the Eagles' regression late in the season. If the Cowboys win against the Washington Commanders this week, they would host playoff games in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds. They finished the regular season undefeated at home, so this is obviously a positive development.

92 YARDS

CeeDee Lamb First Touchdown +650 ✅
pic.twitter.com/VaEFm8Y992

— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) December 31, 2023

The sky seems to be falling in Philadelphia, but with a loaded and experienced roster, I won't count them out.

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