2024 NFL Playoffs: Each Team's Biggest Flaw Heading into Super Wild Card Weekend
Welcome to the best time of the NFL year.
Six games are on tap for this weekend, kicking off with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on Saturday and a Monday night showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles to wrap up Super Wild Card Weekend.
While it's an achievement to punch a ticket to the playoffs in the first place, the ultimate goal remains lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
To get to Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, though, each of the teams slated to suit up must play their best football for three consecutive weeks.
Here's one thing each wild-card team must improve on to maintain hopes of a deep postseason run.
Cleveland Browns
1 of 12
Flaw: Finding a consistent run game
Joe Flacco has been an excellent story under center, but if Cleveland eyes a trip to the AFC Divisional Round, the focus turns elsewhere.
Cleveland ran over Houston 36-22 on Christmas Eve, but the Texans were without quarterback CJ Stroud and records can be thrown out the window when the playoffs start.
There isn't a game script for Saturday that doesn't include Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans attacking Flacco from different angles.
While the veteran quarterback has seen it all under center, Houston could force Cleveland to prove it can run the ball with success before sitting back and allowing Flacco to try to dissect its secondary.
With Nick Chubb sidelined, the onus will be on Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. to carry the load. Ford, a fifth-round pick in 2022, has rushed for more than 75 yards just once since Week 6, and Strong has remained rather uninvolved outside of a spot start in Week 18.
Staying balanced in their offensive attack will remain of the utmost importance for the Browns.
Houston Texans
2 of 12
Flaw: Avoid self-inflicted wounds
As AFC South champions, no opponent will be taking Houston lightly despite its core of young players on either side of the ball.
Led by first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie stars C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr, the Texans can set themselves well against the Browns if they avoid flags and self-inflicted wounds.
Eight penalties against Cleveland in Week 16 saw them playing behind the sticks consistently. In Week 18, 10 penalties against the Colts saw them take a step backward each time they tried to take two steps forward.
You only get 60 minutes to execute in the playoffs. The lights will be at their brightest for a young Texans team, but playing clean football and avoiding silly mistakes will put Houston in an excellent spot.
Miami Dolphins
3 of 12
Flaw: Pass rush
It's been a roller-coaster season for the Miami Dolphins.
While they possess one of the league's most explosive offenses, their defense has taken hit after hit from the injury bug as the campaign has worn on.
Ahead of Wild Card Weekend, Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah are the only healthy defensive ends for head coach Mike McDaniel.
Miami has signed Bruce Irvin and Justin Houston for the playoffs, but season-ending injuries to Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel mean the depth chart at edge-rusher has forced Miami into a tough spot.
While interior threats Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler remain healthy, wreaking havoc from outside the shoulder of the tackle will be paramount this weekend against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 12
Flaw: Another threat in space
Away from Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice, Kansas City lacks any sort of playmakers on the outside.
As long as Patrick Mahomes is spearheading the offense, the Chiefs will have a shot, but someone outside of their top two targets must step up if they are to enjoy another Super Bowl.
While the Dolphins have suffered a litany of injuries along the defensive line, their secondary remains intact headlined by Jalen Ramsey.
Although neither team's game script could feature a heavy dose of the run game with sub-zero temperatures expected at Arrowhead Stadium, Mahomes will have to drop back at some point. I'm looking at you, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Pittsburgh Steelers
5 of 12
Flaw: Consistency at safety
It remains to be seen if Minkah Fitzpatrick will suit up for the playoffs, but more pop has been warranted at the position for weeks.
Fitzpatrick is sensational when healthy, but Pittsburgh moved cornerback Patrick Peterson to safety and he's roamed the roof of the Steelers' defense alongside Damontae Kazee.
The pair are NFL veterans, sure, but they aren't exactly the last line of defense you're looking to deploy with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on the horizon.
Consistent pressure up front will only help ease the pressure on Pittsburgh's secondary, but a higher level of play from the safety spot is needed if the Steelers want to limit Allen and steal one in Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills
6 of 12
Flaw: Self-inflicted mistakes from Josh Allen
The talent of Josh Allen under center is undeniable, but the "hero ball" and turnover-worthy plays have to improve if Buffalo wants to capture a first-ever Super Bowl title.
There's a major difference between creating and forcing opportunities. For Allen, late throws across his body over the middle of the field, darts into triple coverage and red-zone turnovers simply cannot happen in the playoffs.
While the Bills quarterback operates with a Herculean amount of athletic confidence to his game, tailoring it back a bit and living to see the next down will remain key for him this postseason.
Green Bay Packers
7 of 12
Flaw: Run defense
The Green Bay Packers have spent high draft capital within the front seven for years, but they finished 28th in rush defense this season and have been left searching for answers as to which combination is best to counter the ground game.
With first-rounders Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker, Green Bay's front seven athletes look good on a spreadsheet, but they have failed to meet expectations when it comes to clogging gaps and fitting the run.
While their looming matchup with the Dallas Cowboys should provide some relief as the opposition make its money through the air, Green Bay's execution in the trenches has to improve if it wants a deep postseason run.
Dallas Cowboys
8 of 12
Flaw: Balanced offense
MVP candidate Dak Prescott remains the straw that stirs the drink offensively, but the Dallas Cowboys are going to have to lean on the ground game at some point.
Although the connection between Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb was historic for Dallas through the air this fall, involving the likes of Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle even more could hold the key to the Cowboys unlocking their true offensive ceiling.
Operating behind a front five with two future Hall of Famers (Tyron Smith and Zack Martin) and one of the top NFL guards in 2023 (Tyler Smith) presents a great foundation to get the run game off the ground. It'll be needed to keep the pressure off of Prescott.
Los Angeles Rams
9 of 12
Flaw: Fourth-quarter defense
There isn't a single team in the NFC right now that wants to play the Los Angeles Rams.
A team firing on all cylinders, the Rams enter the playoffs as winners in seven of their last eight and are playing their best football at the right time. It's the perfect recipe for playoff success.
However, while Sean McVay's group is executing at a high level, improvement is needed at the tail end of games. L.A. allowed 115 points in the fourth quarter alone this fall, eighth-worst in the NFL.
Although it seems like a miniscule issue in the grand scheme of things, the final 15 minutes of a playoff game can make or break a campaign. Getting stops when it matters most, especially if the Rams find themselves in a nail-biter, could hold the key to them pushing deeper into the postseason.
Detroit Lions
10 of 12
Flaw: Limit chunk plays
One of the better NFL stories in 2023, what a season it's been for the Detroit Lions. But they're not perfect as they enter the playoffs.
While the defense took steps under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn with youth-infused additions such as Brian Branch and Jack Campbell, Detroit finished ninth-worst after averaging 5.5 yards per play.
Although the Lions offense has the firepower to quickly light up the scoreboard, forcing everything underneath and limiting the big play should remain of the utmost importance for Dan Campbell's group.
Detroit gave up 227 yards to CeeDee Lamb and 192 to Justin Jefferson (with Nick Mullens at QB) to end the campaign.
Philadelphia Eagles
11 of 12
Flaw: Finding an identity
Every team in football battles adversity. Some more than others, and some face it in later stages, but everyone has to work through the mud a bit over the course of a season.
The Philadelphia Eagles find themselves searching for answers after a 1-5 finish to the regular season. Is it the offensive structure? Lack of pop on defense? The finger of blame continues to cycle through the coaching staff and 53-man roster.
Failing to work out the kinks could see the Eagles' season end this weekend, or ironing out the wrinkles on either side of the ball could see them right back where we saw their season end last February.
The talent is there, it's now about execution and how they react after getting knocked to the ground in recent weeks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12 of 12
Flaw: Consistency from the interior offensive line
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs remains one of the best in the game, but the guts of the Tampa Bay line should hold the key to the Buccaneers' consistency on offense.
From left guard Aaron Stinnie to rookie right guard Cody Mauch (ninth-most pressures allowed of all offensive lineman), displacing bodies in the run game and holding up in pass protection will be a major test against Philadelphia on Monday.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has enjoyed an excellent 2023, finishing fifth in the NFC with 28 touchdown passes, but keeping him upright amid a playoff run is a whole different animal.
Sealing and relocating the likes of Jalen Carter, Milton Williams and Jordan Davis to create alleys for running back Rachaad White will also lessen the weight on Mayfield's shoulders.
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