Through 12 weeks, the National Football League has been customarily exciting, with brilliant breakthroughs for teams like the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos hogging headlines.
A far cry from the security those two are enjoying are the 'on the bubble' teams - those who wouldn't feature in the playoffs if they started tomorrow, yet are not mathematically eliminated from contention.
Here is a look at the five teams most likely to make a late-season push for a playoff berth.
Carolina Panthers (6-6)
The Carolina Panthers have exhibited their first genuine signs of life in quite some time this season, having already surpassed last year's win total with six games to play. It's been a remarkable return to relevance for Dave Canales' team, powered by the improved play of 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, a stellar stint as a starter for backup running back Rico Dowdle, and the unearthing of their franchise wide receiver in Tetairoa McMillan.
The Panthers' defence has been stable, without being remarkable, sitting middle of the pack for yards allowed per game, while also sitting inside the top ten for red zone touchdown percentage, per Fox Sports.
The surprise packet Panthers currently find themselves embroiled in a dogfight for the NFC South crown, breathing down the necks of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who've claimed that honour for the past four seasons.
A primetime loss to the San Francisco 49ers last time out was less than ideal, but their playoff push still possesses a pulse. Yes, the Panthers have a tough run home, facing red-hot offences in the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, but they control their own destiny, by way of two games with the aforementioned Buccaneers still to come, too.
The Buccaneers have lost three straight matchups to fellow contenders in the Rams, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, with that most recent defeat compounded by a shoulder sprain to the non-throwing arm of talismanic quarterback, and one-time Panther, Baker Mayfield.
Preliminary reports indicate Mayfield will look to play through that discomfort in a bid to halt his side's slide, and the Buccaneers are likely to be bolstered further by the return of their first-string running back, Bucky Irving. However, if the current regression of Todd Bowles' side continues, the Panthers are primed to pounce, despite the headstart they offered their rivals, who sat 6-2 just 15 short days ago.
Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)
An emotional Cowboys squad have eked out consecutive victories in the wake of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland's death. The second of which, a stirring and record-equalling comeback victory over divisional rivals and reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, has breathed life into a playoff push for America's, and Brian Schottenheimer's, team.
The Cowboys have the equal fourth-easiest run home, with matchups against the woeful New York Giants, injury-ravaged Washington Commanders, and free-falling Vikings to come. If they can rummage together two wins from their other three fixtures, against Kansas City, Detroit and the Los Angeles Chargers, there exists a world in which they usurp the Green Bay Packers (hardest remaining schedule) for the most unlikely of wildcard places.
What a story that would be, given the highly publicised trade that saw generational defender Micah Parsons leave the Lone Star State for Wisconsin in the season's early sledding.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in the unusual position of not being runaway leaders of their division, and conference, through 11 games. Andy Reid's men are treading water, a game above .500, but they sit three wins behind a surging Denver Broncos outfit for AFC West honours.
It appears almost certain that for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' tenure as a starter in Missouri, the Chiefs will not rule their division, but a playoff berth is still likely for last year's Super Bowl runners up. The Chiefs are inside the top 10 for easiest remaining strength of schedule, with the woeful Tennessee Titans and lethargic Las Vegas Raiders populating their run home.
Three more competitive matches will determine their fate. Divisional matchups in the comfort of Arrowhead against the Broncos and Chargers will go a long way towards painting the AFC's wildcard picture, as will a contest against fellow ‘bubble' team, the Houston Texans.
One thing is certain - it would be an act of sheer folly to bet against this juggernaut, given the dynastic success they've enjoyed in recent years.
Houston Texans (6-5)
Speaking of the Texans, DeMeco Ryans' men have strung together an impressive stretch of ball in recent weeks, all without the play of franchise cornerstone, quarterback CJ Stroud. The Houston natives have displayed a thorough understanding of attritional football, grinding out two wins against division rivals and a major upset against Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills, with maligned Stanford product Davis Mills under centre.
Most impressively, Mills has not needed to be exceptional in order to secure these victories, totalling 879 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in his three starts, at a completion clip of 58.7% – roughly six per cent below league average. The Texans defence, however, has been simply outstanding. Matt Burke's unit rank inside the top three league-wide for opponent points per game, opponent yards per game and opponent third down conversion percentage – a rather watertight profile.
With CJ Stroud still bound by the league's stringent concussion protocols, Mills is set to face two significant challenges over the next fortnight, with trips to division leaders Indianapolis and fellow bubble team Kansas City. From there, the Texans schedule eases briefly, with matches against the Cardinals and Raiders, before finishing with a bang, with a date with the Chargers, and another date with the Colts, rounding out their run home.
Even if the Texans lose both matchups with the Colts, if they can handle business in their matchups with the lowly Raiders and 'Cards', and win their swing fixtures against the Chiefs and Chargers, they should be rewarded with a playoff berth.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)
At first glance, a nomination for the lowly Bengals appears ridiculous, given that Zac Taylor's men currently ‘boast' their conference's third-worst record. Despite a change at defensive coordinator in the off-season, this Bengals defence has been a genuine affront to football this season, equalling and surpassing all-time lows seemingly weekly, negating the brilliance of offensive skill position players, such as triple crown winner Ja'Marr Chase.
However, the imminent return of a favourite son engenders belief. A consensus top five quarterback in the league, Joe Burrow has overcome a serious bout of turf toe, and will feature on Thanksgiving, against Baltimore – a side he and Chase have tormented over the years.
If it wasn't for an abnormally poor year from the Bengals' division rivals, the Bengals wouldn't be on this list. The AFC North is simply not the beast it usually is this season, with the Ravens and Steelers barely above .500.
Couple that with the equal sixth-easiest remaining schedule, the return of one of the league's best quarterbacks, and a destiny that is still somehow in their own hands, and the result might just be a perfect storm.
Two games against Baltimore, as well as a crucial contest with the Bills - a side Burrow has never lost against - will dictate proceedings. However, those three games are only critical if business is taken care of against the middling Arizona Cardinals, predictably poor Cleveland Browns and miserable Miami Dolphins. There's a glimpse of a flicker of a prayer for Bengals fans, and his name is Joseph Lee Burrow.
