This NFL season saw some playoff races go right down to the wire, and there could be some upsets coming during Wild Card Weekend.
There have been some teams that have unexpectedly made the postseason, including the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, while the Detroit Lions have had their best season in decades.
All three teams, which border Lake Erie, will be in the playoffs, something that has never happened before, per the Bills on Twitter.
Must be something in the water. 😏 pic.twitter.com/Vh1PxSPoqn
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 10, 2024
The Bills looked to be dead in the water as recently as late November when they were 6-6, but they have finished the season with five wins in a row, and they’re now arguably the most dangerous team in the playoffs.
Quarterback Josh Allen has been criticized for his 18 interceptions, which was second in the NFL, but he also finished in the top five in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and he was also tied for second with 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Browns seemed to be in deep trouble when star running back Nick Chubb went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 and quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury shortly afterward.
But they have continued to win games, and with 38-year-old Joe Flacco taking over under center, Northeast Ohio is stoked about the prospect of postseason games involving its favorite team.
This is just the third time the current iteration of the Browns have been in the playoffs since beginning play in 1999.
The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since the 1991 season and haven’t won their division since 1993, but they have had a banner season that has resulted in a 12-5 finish.
They will host the pesky Los Angeles Rams, and they’re favored to win and move on to the divisional round, where they would have a shot at pulling off a huge upset.
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