NFL Playoff Picture 2018: Examining Latest Scenarios and Top Bracket-Busters

The New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are all off this weekend as they prepare for the divisional playoffs, and all four will begin preparations for a potentially long run to the Super Bowl.

However, while the Patriots, Steelers and Vikings will scout potential opponents and put together preliminary game plans, the Eagles have to get back to basics.

They have had two substandard offensive performances in beating the Oakland Raiders in Week 16 and getting blanked by the Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season finale, and the Eagles appear to be a shell of a team that dominated the league into Week 14.

The Eagles moved the ball at will with Carson Wentz at quarterback, but when the quarterback injured his knee against the Los Angeles Rams and had subsequent surgery, the position became Nick Foles' responsibility.

Foles has competed 57 of 101 passes for 537 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions, but the Eagles are not moving the ball the way they once did.

When the Eagles host their divisional playoff game January 13, they will face the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers or Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons are squaring off with the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night, and while Atlanta has talented skill position players in Matt Ryan (4,095 yards, 20 TD passes), Devonta Freeman (865 yards, 4.4 yards per carry) and Julio Jones (88 receptions for 1,444 yards), the Rams are playing better football this season.

The Rams have a sensational one-two punch with quarterback Jared Goff (28 TD passes) at quarterback and Todd Gurley (1,305 yards and 13 rushing TDs) at running back, along with a fine rookie in wide receiver Cooper Kupp (62 receptions for 869 yards and five TDs). The home team looks solid here and should advance to a divisional playoff meeting at Minnesota. Los Angeles is a six-point favorite, according to OddsShark.

That means the winner of the Carolina-New Orleans game should get the Eagles. The Panthers are a dangerous team with Cam Newton (22 TD passes) and Christian McCaffrey (80 receptions for 651 yards) on offense along with Luke Kuechly (125 tackles) and Thomas Davis (76 stops) at linebacker, but the Saints have changed their personality this season.

In the past, they would go as far as Drew Brees (72 percent completions, 4,334 passing yards) could take them, but they have an excellent complementary running game with Mark Ingram (1,124 rushing yards and 12 TDs) and rookie Alvin Kamara (6.1 yards per carry) that they never had in the past and the defense is much improved, thanks to the pass-rushing ability of Cameron Jordan (13 sacks). 

The Saints are 6.5-point favorites, and they should outlast an opponent they have already beaten twice this year.

The Tennessee Titans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 to earn a spot in the postseason, and that victory ended a three-game losing streak.

They will face the Kansas City Chiefs, and Andy Reid's team closed the year with a four-game winning streak after losing six of seven games.

The Chiefs have a pair of explosive offensive players in Tyreek Hill (1,183 yards, 15.8 yards per reception) and Kareem Hunt (1,327 yards and 4.9 yards per carry), and both are capable of making game-breaking plays.

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

However, the speed advantage in this game goes to the Titans, because the Kansas City defense is on the slow side. Look for Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota (312 rushing yards, 13-15 TD-interception ratio) to take advantage of this.

The Titans are the bracket-busters playing this weekend. They are the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs, and we see them winning their game as nine-point underdogs and moving on to play the New England Patriots January 13.

The Buffalo Bills are thrilled to be in the postseason after a 17-year absence, but the stay is likely to be short. Running back LeSean McCoy injured his ankle in their regular-season-ending win over the Miami Dolphins and had to be carted off the field.

While McCoy's ankle is not broken, he is not going to be at his best in this game if he can play, and the Buffalo offense is simply too limited to get by the Jacksonville Jaguars and their dominating defense. Jacksonville is the No. 3 seed and will move on to a divisional playoff game on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Jaguars are nine-point favorites.