The fun of the 2025 NFL season is that all of the teams fighting for a Super Bowl title are seemingly on an even playing field. That doesn't mean that everyone is the same caliber when at their best, but it does mean that this feels like the most wide-open playoffs we've had in quite some time.
Every team has a fatal flaw. Every team has a major red flag. Every team has a concerning weak link entering this crucial Week 18 that will either need to be addressed or masked for the playoffs.
What is every team's weakest link right now? Senior NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno put together a fascinating list of some major issues (whether season-long or recent) for each team that are worth discussing.
Every NFL playoff team's most concerning red flags entering Week 18
Seattle Seahawks: 28 giveaways (31st in NFL)
Honestly, even for a team like the Seahawks that has looked like the most complimentary team in the league most of the year, this is a massive concern. The Seahawks have been so good all year long, but they are obviously not immune from making a lot of mistakes offensively.
And this is something that can really come back to bite you in the postseason. and what's odd is that six of the Seahawks' games with multiple turnovers have happened in Seattle. It's been nice for this team to also have a defense that can take the ball away, but the giveaways on offense could end up being a massive problem.
Denver Broncos: 12 takeaways (28th in NFL)
For a defense as good as the Denver Broncos (set a franchise record with 64 sacks in 16 games), it's shocking to see this number in the takeaways department. They should have at least double this number with how often they get to the quarterback.
And what's even more staggering is that not even all 12 of these takeaways are from the defense. One of them came from a forced fumble on kickoff return coverage by Jonah Elliss. The Broncos' inability to force turnovers has put them in a lot more one-score games than ideal. They've obviously endured, but they need turnovers to start coming in bunches for the postseason run.
Chicago Bears: 357.3 yards per game allowed (28th in NFL)
We've seen the Chicago Bears' defense give and take away this season, quite literally. The Bears have had some serious stinkers defensively throughout the course of the year, but they've also been one of the best teams in the league at taking the ball away.
Going into the playoffs, it's nice to know for this team that they can create a lot of turnovers, and it's also nice to know that they can play in any type of game. They fell just short against the 49ers in a shootout, but this team can score a lot of points.
They might have to if the defense is giving up nearly 400 yards in the postseason.
New England Patriots: -17 sack differential (29th in NFL)
The Patriots have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season with a couple of caveats. Number one, and maybe most concerning, they have a -17 sack differential, which is the 4th-worst number in the league at this point.
Why does that matter in the postseason? Well, if you're giving up sacks and can't get the opposing quarterback to the ground, it's going to be a major disadvantage at this time of year. Especially because the Patriots have played the "easiest" schedule in the league this year and haven't had to play from behind a ton.
Philadelphia Eagles: 29.2 three-and-out percentage (32nd in NFL)
There is no question that the Eagles' offense could be their downfall this postseason. Although they're the reigning Super Bowl champions and have the ability to win games any type of way, their offense has been horrendous this season.
The highest three-and-out percentage of any team in the NFL over the course of a season is not a slump, it's an identity. The Eagles just haven't had the consistency offensively to be considered a true repeat candidate. But maybe they can flip a switch in January.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 125 penalties (32nd in NFL)
Ultimately, the Jacksonville Jaguars' biggest downfall could be their lack of fundamental discipline. The Jaguars lead the NFL in penalties this season, so despite their current impressive winning streak, and despite the fact that they are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, penalties can be hard to overcome.
Especially for repeat offenders. When you are the most-penalized team in the league, you are going to be under a different microscope. Fair or not. The Jaguars have to play as clean as possible and be prepared to have to overcome these penalties, or they'll have a quick playoff exit.
San Francisco 49ers: 18 sacks (32nd in NFL)
Quite frankly, this number is embarrassing. And it makes the fact that the 49ers have found a way to win 12 games all the more impressive. This is a distinct inability to get to the quarterback. Obviously, pressure and affecting the quarterback are measured in different ways, but 18 sacks as a team? In 16 games?
That is a diabolical number. It's an atrocious number. Not having Nick Bosa has completely destroyed this team's pass rush. And if the 49ers can't get a pass rush in the playoffs, how far can they really expect to go?
Houston Texans: 45.1 red zone touchdown percentage (30th in NFL)
The Houston Texans have the best defense in the NFL right now, and they've needed it over the course of the season. Even though the offense has dealt with more issues on the line, CJ Stroud missing a few games due to a concussion, and no Joe Mixon, they simply shouldn't be this bad when it comes to capitalizing on red zone chances.
It's hard to say that this team "can't" win in the playoffs if this remains the case, because that defense will hold teams to 16 if the offense can only score 17. They'll hold teams to 13 if the offense can only score 14. It's just been that type of run for Houston.
Los Angeles Rams: 29.4 points allowed per game since Week 13 (28th in NFL)
When the Los Angeles Rams are at their best this season, they're nearly impossible to beat. But the Rams haven't been at their best all season, especially since Week 13. In the last four weeks, they are allowing 29.4 points per game, the 5th-worst number in the NFL overall.
We've talked about that Rams secondary being a potential problem all year, and it seems to be rearing its ugly head here late in the season. This team is obviously capable of beating anyone, but they're also proving to be extremely beatable down the stretch.
Los Angeles Chargers: 56 sacks allowed (29th in NFL)
The Chargers' biggest red flag at this point should be considered unanimous. Their offensive line and the inability to protect Justin Herbert will be the biggest hurdle this team has to overcome in the postseason. And how much does Herbert allow that pressure to affect him?
Remember last year in the playoffs, Herbert entered the postseason with just three interceptions all year, then he threw four against Houston in one game. It was a catastrophic meltdown that felt like the result of similar problems the Chargers are facing right now.
Green Bay Packers: 23 points off takeaways (31st in NFL)
I wouldn't even believe this stat if it weren't for the New York Jets, who don't have a single interception all season long. If it weren't for the historically bad year from the Jets, the Packers would probably be dead last in this category by a long shot.
There are two reasons for this major flaw of the Packers right now. The first is the obvious: They only have 13 takeaways all year as a defense. That's a stark contrast to the 2024 season where the Packers were forcing turnovers left and right. But even with 13 takeaways, to only have 23 points off of those forced turnovers is hysterically bad. The offense has not capitalized when the defense has come through.
Buffalo Bills: 140.4 rushing yards per game allowed (29th in NFL)
Not being able to stop the run is arguably the worst flaw you can have going into the playoffs. The Buffalo Bills have a cheat code in quarterback Josh Allen, and James Cook has been sensational for that offense as well. But if you can't stop the run, you can't control the pace of the game. You can't keep teams off the field.
The Bills have been one of the worst teams in the NFL all season long at stopping the run, not only ranking 29th in rushing yards allowed but ranking dead last with 24 rushing touchdowns allowed. Not good.
Carolina Panthers: -67 point differential (23rd in NFL)
As far as deficiencies, the Panthers' -67 point differential seems pretty mild at first glance. But they are averaging a 6.5-point loss in every game this season outside of a 30-0 win against the Falcons. That's just the reality for this Panthers team at this stage of the season.
As fun as they have been at times, they have put themselves in way too many holes. We just saw Bryce Young throw for 54 yards in a game that could have sealed a division win. This team's lack of consistency on offense could prevent them from doing anything in the playoffs at all, if they get there in the first place.
Pittsburgh Steelers: 245.3 pass yards allowed per game (29th in NFL)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have found a way to win nine games this year, but they've also been one of the worst teams in the league at stopping teams from throwing on them. Even though the Steelers have done well to create takeaways and pick off passes this season, they've struggled to stop teams on third down (25th in the NFL).
That won't play in the postseason. If the Steelers are able to beat the Ravens in Week 18, they might enter the playoffs as the "worst" team among the 14 to make it.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-7 since Week 10 (30th in NFL)
Few teams in the NFL have been worse than the Buccaneers in the second half of the season, which makes absolutely no sense. What we saw from this team earlier in the year had everyone thinking the Bucs could be one of the true contenders in the NFC. Baker Mayfield was in the NFL MVP conversation, Emeka Egbuka was running away with Rookie of the Year, and this team was running away with the NFC South.
Now, they're doing anything but. The artists formerly known as the Cardiac Bucs have fallen off a proverbial cliff.
Baltimore Ravens: 245.3 pass yards allowed per game (29th in NFL)
The Baltimore Ravens are struggling with defending the pass just like their AFC North counterparts in Pittsburgh. In fact, they're allowing the exact same number of passing yards per game. Unlike the Steelers' defense, however, the Ravens have tightened up on 3rd downs and in the red zone. They rank in the top 10 in both of those categories.
As we get into the postseason, the Ravens' inconsistencies offensively might be more reason for concern, but they feel like a dangerous team after the way they just ran all over the Green Bay Packers.