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With 16 weeks under our belts and the NFL Playoff picture taking shape, we're beginning to get a good handle on the league's true "Contenders" and "Pretenders."
However, 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 16.
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 17 of the 2023 NFL season.
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Week 17's Most Overrated NFC Team
San Francisco 49ers
- Record: 11-4
- Current Division Standing: First Place (NFC West)
Overrated is a harsh – and probably not accurate – label, but we have to touch on San Francisco's surprisingly lopsided loss in what was Week 16's most highly-anticipated matchup. While we're not willing to write off the Niners for losing to a very good Baltimore squad in Week 16, the fashion in which they lost does raise some concerns as the postseason nears, with the Ravens turning what many predicted to be a Super Bowl preview into an old-fashioned blowout.
The league's leading MVP candidate heading into Week 16, Brock Purdy threw interceptions on three of the 49ers' first four drives in what was arguably his worst game as a pro. While Purdy and the Niners had cruised to six straight wins before their 33-19 loss to Baltimore, his Week 16 performance raises some red flags about the second-year pro's ability to handle matchups against upper-tier defensive units.
Brock Purdy takes responsibility for the 49ers loss to the Ravens on Christmas. 😔 pic.twitter.com/dZgRGDlPvP
— theScore (@theScore) December 26, 2023
San Francisco has already clinched the NFC West division title and a playoff spot with a great chance to gain the NFC's coveted first-round bye. While it wouldn't be a surprise to see this Niners squad make a deep postseason run or even win the Super Bowl, they certainly don't feel like the unbeatable juggernaut that many thought they were ahead of Week 16's disappointing loss.
Other NFC Pretenders
- Dallas Cowboys
- New Orleans Saints
Like with the Niners, it feels unfair to label the Cowboys as "pretenders" but Dallas did suffer their second straight loss in Week 16, falling to the Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys are now 3-5 on the road in 2023, and even more telling, they are 0-4 on the road against teams with a winning record.
New Orleans is still technically alive in the wild NFC South, but their chances took a big hit with a Thursday night loss to the Rams in Week 16. The Saints' big offseason acquisition of Derek Carr has left a lot to be desired – as their 7-8 record indicates – and they'll need to win both of their remaining regular-season games to have a shot at the playoffs.
Week 17's Most Underrated NFC Team
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Record: 8-7
- Current Division Standing: First Place (NFC South)
Don't look now, but the scrappy Buccaneers have quietly won four straight. Tampa Bay handled the Jaguars comfortably in Week 16 to move to 8-7 on the year and take control of the topsy-turvy NFC South. With regular season games remaining against the Saints and Panthers, the Bucs control their own destiny in the division.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' QB Baker Mayfield: "We Are Getting Hot at the Right Time” 👇 #GoBucs https://t.co/uNm65zpqWy
— BucsGameday (@BucsGameday) December 26, 2023
While the play of Baker Mayfield has, rightly, been grabbing some headlines, the Tampa Bay defense has also answered the bell in the past month by holding opponents to an average of 18.75 points per game during their four-game winning streak. As for Mayfield, he's now thrown for eight TDs and zero interceptions across Tampa's last three, while lead back Rachaad White and veteran receiver Mike Evans have served as excellent weapons for the Bucs' offense.
Other NFC Contenders
- Detroit Lions
- Los Angeles Rams
Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions continue to be the feel-good story of 2023 and clinched their first division title in 30 years with a Week 16 victory over the rival Vikings. They moved to 11-4 with the win over Minnesota, which marked their first 11-win season since 2014, and also locked up at least one home playoff game at Ford Field.
After an abysmal 2022, the Los Angeles Rams continue to impress this year. Sean McVay's surging squad moved to 8-7 with a Thursday night win over New Orleans last week and could clinch a playoff berth in Week 17 with a win over the New York Giants and a Seattle loss to Pittsburgh. With Matthew Stafford and company playing their best football of the season, the Rams are a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs.
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