NFL Playoffs 2021: Contenders and pretenders with all 14 teams

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs for a gain against Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith (58) during their football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Packvsbears 0103210201djp /

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NFL: Contenders and pretenders for all 14 playoff teams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

2021 NFL Playoffs Contender: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s tough to really buy into the Wild Card teams because of them having to play three straight games on the road, but if any team can do it, it’d be the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay made the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and they’ve been playing really good football in the final few weeks of the season.

It hasn’t always been easy for Tampa this season and they’ve played really poorly in primetime games, which is something to be wary of for sure. Still, considering the Bucs get the lowly NFC East division winner for their first game, they get it easier than most Wild Card teams.

A big thing to keep in mind with the Bucs is that the Super Bowl is in Tampa this year, so that’s going to motivate them and could play a big factor in their playoff performance. Winning three games on the road is tough, but if Tampa can do it, they’ll be home for the Super Bowl.

2021 NFL Playoffs Pretender: Washington Football Team

I mentioned the lowly winners of the NFC East and that is Washington, who won the division at 7-9. There have been so many ups and downs for Washington this season and not many would have picked them to win the division prior to the beginning of the 2020 season, yet here they are.

Washington has a really good defense headlined by rookie Chase Young and, if Alex Smith is healthy, they have a shot to advance to the Divisional Round. But this team just isn’t ready to take on the better teams in the conference.

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