The NFL announced in March that there will be an additional playoff team in each conference in the playoffs. That means there will be 14 teams in this year’s playoff. The expanded playoff format gives only the top seed in each conference a first-round bye.
If the season goes to plan, the NFL will have six playoff games on Wild-Card Weekend. Three games on Jan. 9, and another three games on Jan.10. The new playoff format was part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that was voted upon and agreed to by NFL players. It was later approved by at least 75% of the owners.
Stay up-to-date with more NFL news at our Locker Room page throughout the NFL season. You can also bet on any game or NFL futures on our sportsbook. It’s time to look at the NFC Preseason Playoff Preview with the NFL set to kick-off in less than a week.
Starting with the No.1 seed and working our way through the divisional winners and continuing into the three Wild Card teams. (The record next to the team name is a projected regular-season record for the 2020-21 regular season).
NFC Preseason Playoff Preview
No. 1 New Orleans Saints: (13-3) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 13-3 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .516 T-22 |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 10½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -375 |
The Saints are coming off a superb regular season. They have won three consecutive NFC South titles and have had back-to-back 13-3 seasons. If anything, the Saints got better this offseason, but then again so did their division. In true Saints fashion under GM Mickey Loomis, they again squeezed the most out of their available salary cap. They brought back future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees along with OL Andrus Peat and DT David Onyemata. Along with re-signing key members, they went out and brought in S Malcolm Jenkins and WR Emmanuel Sanders.
The Saints’ roster is one of the best from top to bottom with talent at every position. A healthy Brees is a top-five quarterback to go with a top-five WR Michael Thomas and a top-five RB Alvin Kamara. The most skilled roster playing for a great Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton is a recipe for success … again. Having the same quarterback and coach for the past 15 years will help them start fast and keep their edge in the division. In a year with a shortened offseason and no preseason games, their continuity will prove key this season. Here is a look at the latest Super Bowl Odds
No. 2 Dallas Cowboys: (12-4) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 8-8 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .502 10th |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 9½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -260 |
The Cowboys on the other hand are at the bottom of the rankings when it comes to continuity. Although similar to the Saints, they have a top-tier quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receiver Amari Cooper. The Cowboys hired head coach Mike McCarthy this offseason after he was fired by the Packers in 2018. Dallas spent the offseason mostly focusing on rebuilding their below-average defense from a year ago.
A big part of the 8-8 season in 2019 was the lack of ability to win the close games for the Cowboys. They were 0-5 in one-score games last season. In 2018, the Cowboys were 8-2 in such games and finished with a 10-6 record. In 2019, the Cowboys outscored their opponents by a full touchdown compared to 2018, where it was less than a point. The Cowboys were “better” in 2019 than in 2018 though they lost two more games. In 2020, the Cowboys will be able to win the close games under coach McCarthy and win the NFC East.
No. 3 Seattle Seahawks: (11-5) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 11-5 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .504 T-11 |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 9½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -155 |
The Seahawks have one of the best quarterbacks to play in the NFL, Russell Wilson. He has won nine or more games every season during his eight-year career. And in that time, the Seahawks have only missed the playoffs once (2017). This Seahawks team has the best offensive weapons around Wilson since he entered the league. The biggest change from last season is in the offensive line, where they will possibly have three new starters.
The NFC West is going to be a battle with no real weak link in the division. The defensive line could be an issue after losing former first overall pick DE Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. The Seahawks did add some depth at DE by signing Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin to help replace Clowney. When it comes down to it, Seattle knows how to win under head coach Pete Carroll’s lead and they will find a way to get another division title.
No. 4 Green Bay Packers: (10-6) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 13-3 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .510 T-16 |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 8½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -130 |
Green Bay did not make many moves to bolster their team this offseason. You may think that shouldn’t be a problem since they had one of the best records in the league a year ago. The 2019 Packers were not as good as their record portrayed. They outscored their opponents by less than four points per contest, which is the lowest point differential for a team with a 13-3 record in 31 years. The Packers were 6-1 in games decided by seven points or fewer last season.
This season the Packers will probably lose a few more of those close games. They still have Aaron Rodgers and a good enough team around him to win the division. They will be competing with the Vikings for the No. 1 spot in the NFC North. The Packers may be trying to trade for wideout as the season goes on. They blew their chance in a receiver-heavy draft by not drafting a single one.
No. 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (12-4) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 7-9 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .504 T-11 |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 9½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -180 |
The Bucs easily had one of the most memorable offseasons in a long time. They brought in six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and lured TE Rob Gronkowski out of retirement. They had a solid draft using first-round pick on RT Tristan Wirfs. Most recently they signed RB Lenord Fournette to help bolster their young running back group. All the big offensive moves over-shadowed the Bucs resigning three of their defensive line studs, which led one of the best pass-rushes a year ago.
The Bucs already had a solid team behind a below than average quarterback. Now, they have more weapons around the best quarterback to play the game. They did not have a full camp to get all the new pieces to jell, which could lead to a bumpy start. The Bucs are for real and their projected regular-season win total seems ridiculously low.
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers: (11-5) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 13-3 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .508 15th |
| 2020 Projected Regular Season Win Total | 10½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -300 |
The Niners are coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs last season. They were one of the surprise teams of 2019 after finishing 4-12 in 2018. They are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and have one of the best play-callers in the NFL in head coach Kyle Shanahan. The Niners’ offense is tough to game plan for because of how well Shanahan disguises plays and uses all his playmakers. The Niners could have a bit of a Super Bowl hangover and still be a dangerous postseason matchup come January.
No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles: (10-6) | |
|---|---|
| 2019 Record | 9-7 |
| 2020 Strength of Schedule Opp. Win-Loss Projection | .514 T-20 |
| 2020 Projected Regular-Season Win Total | 9½ |
| Odds to Make the Playoffs | -175 |
The last spot in the playoffs will be a tough one to capture for the Eagles. The Vikings finished 10-6 last season and made the playoffs as a Wild-Card team. They are projected to win nine games in 2020 and should be knocking on the door to the playoffs again. The Eagles with a healthy QB Carson Wentz seem to have a slight edge though. The Eagles have more firepower on offense and a top-ranking defense from a year ago. They will compete for the NFC East title but ultimately will not repeat. They still will find their way to the playoffs as the last Wild-Card team
