The NFL season has been full of surprises, with Kansas City missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, finishing 6-11. Other top-five favorites like Baltimore, Detroit, and Buffalo didn’t meet expectations, while New England and Chicago made significant improvements. Carolina and Pittsburgh also clinched unexpected division titles.
Adding to the unusual season, the top seeds are Seattle and Denver, led by quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Bo Nix, who have never won a playoff game. The favorite for the MVP award is 37-year-old Rams QB Matthew Stafford, despite missing most of training camp due to a back injury.
As the playoffs kick off, the matchups promise exciting games. The Rams face the Panthers, the Packers take on the Bears, the Bills play the Jaguars, the 49ers meet the Eagles, the Chargers clash with the Patriots, and the Texans challenge the Steelers.
In other news, the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel after missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. College football fans can look forward to the semifinals featuring Ole Miss against Miami and Indiana against Oregon.