The postseason kicks off on Saturday. Our writers pick the dark horses, players to watch and make their tips for the NFL’s championship game
Melissa is right about the Lions (see below), but how about the Dallas Cowboys? Their defense was nauseating, and nobody wants a playoff weekend spoiled watching that. But their offense was electric. They finished fifth in the league in EPA/play in the regular season. And with Dak Prescott, a solid o-line and George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, they had the potential to drop 30 points on any playoff group. If they’d snuck in and managed to knock off a top seed, it would have convinced Jerry Jones that he was on the right path. And nothing is funnier than Jones failing to recognize that the reason why Dallas is stuck is the reflection in his mirror. Oliver Connolly
Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes has defined the NFL’s January rhythm for nearly a decade. With his ACL tear punctuating the Chiefs’ annus horribilis, the playoffs lost their most creative force and familiar reference point, leaving this year’s tournament the most wide-open in recent memory. Bryan Armen Graham
Detroit Lions. No defender in the postseason disrupts a game like Aidan Hutchinson, who had a career season. While the Lions regressed in some areas this season, they have a collection of dynamic playmakers. Their four losses to playoff teams since November were each by less than one score, highlighting Detroit’s competitiveness. Melissa Jacobs
