Windy City Gridiron
The famous saying “no one remembers what you do in September (through November)” holds for the majority of the NFL’s playoff picture as the regular season heads into the final month of the year. Outside of a select few teams in the AFC, playoff races are tight across the league, and those who end up in the dance will need to do so through a strong December. With just four games remaining in the regular season, the stretch run is finally upon us. We’ll address each team’s biggest question for the remainder of the year, and take deeper dives on offseason plans for others in Week 15’s WCG NFL Power Rankings.
1. New England Patriots (11-2) Previous Week: 1
Biggest Question: Has head coach Mike Vrabel learned from his past postseason mistakes in Tennessee?
There’s no question that the Patriots are rolling, and at this point, there’s no doubt that they’ll be in the playoffs. Even so, this is a young team with a second-year quarterback who has minimal postseason experience. Vrabel has done an excellent job in Year 1 to flip the franchise’s fortunes completely, but in a month, the big test will come. Despite making the playoffs in three seasons, his inability to find playoff success after 2019 has been questioned. No two teams are ever the same, but with plenty of experienced AFC teams expected in the dance, he’ll need to rely on lessons learned to get his team to the Super Bowl.
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-3) Previous Week: 2
Biggest Question: Are the Rams truly the league’s best team?
2025 has been a weird year. On paper, there are a few “elite” teams, but on further review, it’s hard to make a case for most of them. Despite Los Angeles’ Week 13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, this group still boasts the most well-rounded roster, on top of having one of the best coaching staffs in the league. They aren’t too far removed from their last Super Bowl victory, either. The NFC West has been the best division in football this year, yet somehow the Rams continue to stand out above the rest. My money is still on them representing the NFC in the Super Bowl in February.
3. Denver Broncos (11-2) Previous Week: 3
Biggest Question: Are the Broncos really that good, or are they a product of some close-game luck?
Heading into Week 14, Denver’s nine-game winning streak was propped up by four wins by a differential of just 10 points. On the one hand, it’s easy to argue that this is not sustainable. On the other hand, their quality of wins and previous playoff experience provide hope that this isn’t just a fluke. It helps that they have one of the league’s best defenses, headlined by the most dangerous pass rush by a wide margin. Offensive inconsistencies have played their part, but when it comes down to it, they deliver when it matters the most. Having a Super Bowl-winning head coach helps,...
