In many ways, the start of the NFL playoffs is similar to the first week of the regular season. There’s a feeling of newness in the air, along with the optimism from fan bases that this might be the year when something special takes place.
With that in mind, we decided to list one reason why each team in the 2024 postseason can win the Super Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers may be the front-runners in their respective conferences, but each team in the playoffs has something that makes them a legitimate threat (you can watch Super Bowl LVIII on CBS and stream on Paramount+).
AFC
Baltimore Ravens: No. 1 ranked defense
Once again, a team from Baltimore enters the playoffs with the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense. This was the case back in 2000, and we all know how that wound up. With Lamar Jackson healthy and complementing them, Baltimore’s defense is certainly good enough to lead the Ravens back to the promised land. In recent weeks, the unit — led by linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike — held both the 49ers and Dolphins to 19 points.
Cleveland Browns: No. 1 ranked third-down defense
There’s a lot to like about the Browns, including the fact they have a former Super Bowl MVP at quarterback in Joe Flacco. But one of the team’s biggest strengths entering the postseason is their defense’s ability to get off the field on third down. Cleveland allowed opponents to convert on just 29.1 percent of their third-down situations.
Continuing to do that in the playoffs is going to be critical for a Browns defense that finished last in the NFL in red zone efficiency during the regular season.
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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-playoffs-one-reason-why-each-playoff-team-can-win-super-bowl-lviii-including-cowboys-steelers/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-01-12 16:30:17
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