NFL Playoff Prediction: Underachieving Teams That Will Make Late-Postseason Push

There is something about December that brings out the best in some NFL teams. We see it every season after Thanksgiving; it's like a light goes off in their head and they decide that now is the time to get serious. Considering this is when you have to make a playoff push, it's as good a time as any to play fast.

This season, there have been a lot of teams that had high expectations but, for one reason or another, have failed to live up to that hype. They may have started out strong, but as time has passed, they have faded into oblivion. 

The good news for those teams is that there is still time to turn it around and make that late run into the postseason. 

Here are three contenders lying in the weeds right now that will surge over the final four weeks. 

New York Jets (7-5)

After their usual midseason lull, the New York Jets are making their late-season surge into playoff contention. They have not looked impressive during their current two-game winning streak, but all that matters is they are finally starting to win.

The offense still scares me, and Mark Sanchez has not shown anything during this mini-streak to think that he has turned a corner, but I think that the defense is starting to find a good rhythm. It also helps to have the best cornerback in football because he takes away one side of the field.

The Jets have an easy schedule in December—vs. Kansas City, at Philadelphia, vs. New York Giants, at Miami—so they are primed to finish with at least 10 victories if everything plays out as it should.

New York Giants (6-6)

I know that the Giants lost to the Packers and have not won a game since Nov. 6, but they are through the most difficult stretch of their schedule and have three division matchups over the final four weeks.

This week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys is their most important of the season because if they win, they are in the driver’s seat for the NFC East title. If they lose, they are two games back with three to play.

I think that the game against the Packers was a big confidence booster and they will ride that momentum all the way into the postseason. I don’t think it will be like 2007 when they went to the Super Bowl, but there is no reason to think they won’t get in.

Detroit Lions (7-5)

I have no idea why, but I still have faith that the Detroit Lions are going to the playoffs. Part of it is because I see the talent on this team when they aren’t stomping on opposing players, and think they should be better.

The other reason I believe is because I see what is going on around them and think that they can finish ahead of those teams to clinch a wild-card spot.

The schedule works out well for this team over the last four weeks. They take on Minnesota this week, then games against Oakland, San Diego and Green Bay to finish.

The Raiders and Chargers are so inconsistent that you never know what you are going to get. The Packers are, obviously, the best team in the league, but if they lose a game prior to Week 17, there is no reason for them to play their starters at all.