👋 GOOD MORNING

Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 — Happy Friday! We made it through the first week back following the holiday season — always a tough one to get through. If you’re missing the Cardinals already, I’ve got you covered! Today I’ll look at each NFL playoff team and why they should be your favorite playoff team … and also why they shouldn’t be. I feel uniquely qualified for this role — as a lifelong Lions fan, the concept of playoff football is still relatively new to me. As such, I have picked a pony for almost every playoff season dating back to the late 1990s.

Yes, the Lions are in the postseason this year, but I pushed my personal bias aside for the greater good. Enjoy the weekend, and if you need a laugh to get you through Friday, here’s your weekly joke: Why was the football coach shaking the vending machine? He wanted his quarter back!

Let’s run it back next week — On to the show!

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Which NFL PLayoff Team Will You Cheer For?

It’s that time of year again!

Looking forward to hunkering down and watching some of the best football of the season, but not sure who to cheer for? The PHNX Daily has you covered. Whether you like pulling for the underdog, or prefer to see one of the more traditional dynasties prevail, we’re listing the biggest reasons why you should cheer for each NFL Playoff team, along with logic for why you can feel free to be a hater.

Who’s going to be your new favorite team, if only for a few weeks? Take a look at the below and decide for yourself.

Tier 1: The Underdogs

Team: Denver Broncos
Seed: AFC #7
Opponent: Buffalo Bills
2024 Record: 10-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: The Broncos have not been to the Super Bowl since winning it all in 2016, so they’re a pretty easy team to root for. They dropped two of their last three games heading into the NFL playoffs, but quarterback Bo Nix has steadily improved as the season has worn on. Against Josh Allen and the Bills, why wouldn’t you want to see an upset?
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: They’re likely not going to make it too far in the playoffs — it’s going to be a tough road. Denver ranks in the bottom half in total offense, averaging 324.6 yards per game, so the defense, which allows the seventh fewest yards per game, will have to carry them against Josh Allen and a wildly talented Bills offense.

Team: Green Bay Packers
Seed: NFC #7
Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
2024 Record: 11-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: It’s hard to not admire what Green Bay did in a stacked NFC North this season, and is one of the more talented seventh seeds in recent memory. Running back Josh Jacobs had a Pro Bowl season, and ranks sixth in the league with 1,329 rushing yards. His 15 touchdowns rank fourth. If Jordan Love is healthy, Green Bay has the potential to pull off an upset.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: It’s Green Bay, cmon. 2024 marks the storied franchise’s 18th NFL playoff appearance since 2000, though they have not won a Super Bowl since 2010.

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Seed: AFC #6
Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2024 Record: 10-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Another incredible season for Pittsburgh under coach Mike Tomlin, who has built a culture of sustained success in the Steel City. He has NEVER recorded a losing record during his 18 years at the helm, finishing above .500 in 15 of those seasons while enjoying multiple trips to the NFL Playoffs. Quarterback Russell Wilson has had a career resurgence this season, though he still ranks 22nd overall with 2,482 passing yards.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Much like the Packers, cmon, it’s someone else’s turn. Pittsburgh has made the NFL playoffs 16 times since 2000, and last earned the AFC championship in 2010. Also, they beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl 43, so there’s that.

Team: Washington Commanders
Seed: NFC #6
Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024 Record: 12-5
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Is Jayden Daniels not one of the best stories in the league this season? The rookie quarterback ranks ninth in the league with 25 touchdown passes, but he’s also 23rd overall with 891 rushing yards. And who could forget his incredible Hail Mary win over the Bears earlier this season? This team is fun to watch, easy to cheer for, and has not won a Super Bowl since 1991.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: The defense is a little suspect. Washington allows the third-most yards per game (137.5), though the passing defense has been much stronger, ranking third-best (198.5 yards per game). That doesn’t create a favorable matchup against the Bucs, who rank fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 149.2.

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Seed: AFC #5
Opponent: Houston Texans
2024 Record: 11-6
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Jim Harbaugh! His crazy antics and passion for the game have bled through to the Chargers in his first year as head coach, and all he did was lead them back to the NFL playoffs following a 5-13 season in 2023. Justin Hebert has certainly benefitted from the quarterback-whispering coach, as he ranks ninth with 3,870 passing yards, 12th with 23 passing touchdowns and has only thrown three picks all season.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Jim Harbaugh! There’s a reason why he was out of the NFL and back in the NCAA despite leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl (loss) and three NFC Championships in four seasons. His schtick gets tired pretty quickly, so we’ll see how long this one lasts.

Team: Minnesota Vikings
Seed: NFC #5
Opponent: L.A. Rams
2024 Record: 14-3
Why You Should Cheer for Them: What a tough break for the Vikings, who have to play a Wild Card game on the road despite putting together a 14-win season. Quarterback Sam Darnold has been an incredible story to watch this season, and though he wasn’t at his best against the Detroit Lions a week ago, has shown all the tools to help the Vikings make an extended NFL playoff run.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: It’s the Vikings — there’s not much reason to have faith they can make a deep run. Minnesota has had modest playoff success in previous seasons, making six appearances since 2010, but is still searching for that elusive Super Bowl win, which has never happened in franchise history.

Tier 2: So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance?!

Team: Houston Texans
Seed: AFC # 4
Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
2024 Record: 10-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: The Texans have flown relatively under the radar this season, and quarterback C.J. Stroud has been a driving force for the team’s success.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: The Texans don’t have many impressive wins on their resume, sans a 23-20 triumph over the Bills in Week 5. Other than that, all victories have come against teams not in the playoffs, while their losses to playoff-caliber teams have been mostly unimpressive (34-7 vs. Vikings, 24-22 vs. Green Bay, 26-23 vs. Lions, 27-19 vs. Chiefs, 31-2 vs. Ravens).

Team: L.A. Rams
Seed: NFC #4
Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
2024 Record: 10-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: It’s easy to stand with our L.A.-area friends during these tragic wildfires, and quarterback Matthew Stafford has led L.A. to another NFL playoff berth. Stafford has been his steady self throughout the course of the season, helping the Rams overcome a 1-4 start en route to an NFC West crown, its fourth since 2017.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Of all the teams in the playoffs, the Rams may be the biggest question mark. There are times Stafford and wideout Puka Nacua have been electric, but L.A. has failed to register more than 19 points in any of its last three wins, which came against bottom-dwellers San Francisco, Arizona, and the New York Jets.

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Seed: AFC #3
Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Record: 12-5
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Another incredible season for quarterback Lamar Jackson, who helped the Ravens to four consecutive wins to close out the season. The offense has been unreal, ranking first in total yards while averaging almost 200 rushing yards per game, and Jackson is not only tied for second overall with 41 touchdown passes (while throwing just four interceptions), he’s also 20th overall with 915 rushing yards.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Jackson has yet to prove himself as a crunch-time quarterback. He’s 2-4 all-time in the playoffs, and the 28-year-old needs to show he can take the next step in his career. Remember, guys like Peyton Manning and John Elway carried around the same moniker until finally reaching the promised land.

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seed: NFC #3
Opponent: Washington Commanders
2024 Record: 10-7
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Baker Mayfield has had an incredible second half, leading the Bucs back from a 4-6 record by winning six of their last seven games. Tampa’s offense ranks third with almost 400 yards per game, and have legit playmakers like running back Bucky Irving and wideouts Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, who have combined for 27 touchdowns this season.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: How about a change in scenery? Tampa has qualified for the NFL playoffs in each of the last five seasons, winning it all with Tom Brady under center in 2020.

Tier 3: The Favorites

Team: Buffalo Bills
Seed: AFC #2
Opponent: Denver Broncos
2024 Record: 13-4
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Josh Allen might be the most dynamic player to watch, and that’s saying something. It’s hard to imagine a world where he doesn’t win MVP this season, and the Bills powered through another dominating season. They likely would have won 14 games this season, if not for playing backups against New England last week. The Bills have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance, seeking their first conference championship since 1993, and their first-ever Super Bowl win.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: If things play out the way they have in years past, the Bills have yet to show the prowess of beating Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Allen and Co. have been eliminated by the Chiefs three times since 2020: 38-24 in 2020 (AFC Championship Game), 42-36 (OT) in 2021 (Divisional Round), and 27-24 last season (Divisional Round).

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Seed: NFC #2
Opponent: Green Bay Packers
2024 Record: 14-3
Why You Should Cheer for Them: There aren’t many teams as offensively gifted as Philly. Once they get rolling, they’re almost impossible to stop. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for 18 touchdowns (and just five interceptions) while rushing for 14 more, and if that ground attack isn’t enough to worry about, Saquon Barkley has rushed for 13 of his own. That’s TWO ground threats that rank in the top 10 of the ENTIRE LEAGUE. Holy moly. Hurts was questionable after suffering a concussion, but the Eagles got positive news on Thursday, and he looks to be on track to play.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Wouldn’t it be nice to see someone new win? The Eagles last won the Super Bowl in 2017, but have made the NFL playoffs seven times over the last eight years. They last won the NFC in 2022, when they eventually lost to the 49ers. Also, ​they booed Santa Claus​ while pelting him with snowballs. Bah, humbug!

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Seed: AFC #1
Opponent: Wild Card Bye
2024 Record: 15-2
Why You Should Cheer for Them: Taylor Swift. Swifties, unite! Also, the Chiefs have one of the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history, are a modern-day dynasty with droves of fans across the country after winning three Super Bowls since 2019, and are back-to-back defending champions. This team could have been 16-1 if not for sitting all of the starters last week in a loss to the Broncos.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Taylor Swift. Haters gonna hate! See what I did there? In all seriousness, much like a few other options on this list, it’s time for a new team to emerge. We have moved on from the Patriots, and it’s time to do the same for the Chiefs.

Team: Detroit Lions
Seed: NFC #1
Opponent: Wild Card Bye
2024 Record: 15-2 W
hy You Should Cheer for Them: Sonic and Knuckles. This team has taken on coach Dan Campbell’s gritty identity, and it has shown throughout the regular season. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery make up the Sonic and Knuckles tandem, and there hasn’t been a more dynamic duo in the league in quite some time. Montgomery is set to return from a knee injury, reuniting the cast of Sega’s dream team.
Why You Shouldn’t Cheer for Them: Injuries, injuries, injuries. Detroit’s defense has been decimated, and the team has given up a litany of yards because of it. There’s no room for error with Detroit’s offense, which needs to be prepared for a shootout each and every week.

Full PHNX Coverage

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🧢 TIP OF THE HAT BY BRANDED BILLS

Beautiful individual effort from Oso Ighodaro, as the Suns got back on track against the Hawks.

OH MY, OSO 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SJsEh8SOzn

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 10, 2025