Seamus Kelly ’30
Staff Writer
We are currently 9 weeks into the 2026-2027 season and it’s a perfect time to picture what the playoffs may look like. The Buffalo Bills are currently leading the AFC with a record of 7-1. Led by Josh Allen, the Bills were able to pick up a crucial win against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday at the U.S Bank Stadium. Allen threw for a total of 234 yards with a completion rate of 66%. The team will be taking on the New York Jets this upcoming Sunday at MetLife Stadium. With a win streak of four it is very plausible that the Bills continue to dominate for the remainder of the season.
Another team that is a favorite leading into the playoffs are the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are currently number one in the NFC and like the Bills show no signs of slowing down. This past Sunday the team hosted the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi’s Stadium and put on a stellar showing. By the end of the game the team was up 21 points with an exceptional 232 yards throw by Purdy. The team hopes to extend their lead in the NFC by winning their next game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Bills and 49ers are both amazing teams with hopeful prospects but now I’m going to talk about a few dark horse teams that could possibly pull ahead in the second half of the regular season. Starting with the New York Giants. While some thought the Giants prospects would be over with the injury of Jaxson Dart, the team has quickly bounced back with them winning their last two games. In the team’s next three games they are favored to beat both the Commanders and Colts; and who knows maybe they can even beat the Jaguars! With head coach Jon Harbaugh by their side the team is in the right hands leading up to their next game on Thursday.
Finally, I have a great deal of hope in the Bengals in this ladder half. Boasting a win streak of six, the team has been looking very strong and I believe they can keep that streak going. In particular, Ja’Marr Chase has become a huge asset for the team. At their last game in Madrid, Chase put up an impressive 155 receiving yards. The Bengals also have an easier schedule compared to most other teams eyeing for the top.
It’s going to be exciting how everything shapes up! Whether your team is in the lead or on the rise, the lead up to the playoffs is always a thrilling time as everyone predicts which teams will make it.
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