Power Rankings: Wild Card contenders to fear
Chris Simms and Tank Williams rank the top NFL teams competing for Wild Card spots that could cause damage in the playoffs.
Video Transcript
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CHRIS SIMMS: All right, the topic of the day is wild card contenders to be worried about, all right? And I'm not going to lie. I don't think there's that many. I think it's a year about jockeying for position, Tank. I'm just going to hit it hard, right off the bat, all right? I mean, what do you want me to say? The Tennessee Titans are 7 and 5. OK, yeah, I respect them.
TANK WILLIAMS: Hey, they're one of the hottest teams in the league if you eliminate Baltimore and Seattle.
CHRIS SIMMS: That's great. That's great. I don't know if we can depend on them blocking field goals to win games every other week, OK?
TANK WILLIAMS: But you can depend Derrick Henry stiff-arming the hell out of somebody's chest, though.
CHRIS SIMMS: Sure, but I just-- that, we can depend on. That's 100$. So there's teams I liked there that are on the outside in. But when you look at the NFC, I mean, hey. I'll go with the Rams as one team where I go, they can be a pain in the butt when they get in the playoffs. But I like the NFC teams that are in right now.
TANK WILLIAMS: Right, and the Rams, the only team that they beat is New Orleans that's actually good. And that was when Drew Brees got hurt.
CHRIS SIMMS: Week two. So, I mean, if we're going to go from the current status of right now, after week 13 being all said and done, you know who the wild card team I think can surge and really mess some things up? The San Francisco 49ers. They're the wild card team right now.
TANK WILLIAMS: It happens fast.
CHRIS SIMMS: Right. So it's a year, to me, of jockeying for position more than anything, than necessarily wild card teams that I'm scared of. I think the NFC, we've got the top six teams in right now. That's the six teams I want in. The AFC? OK, it's debatable. I mean, the Colts are still semi-dangerous because of that O line.
And if they get T.Y. Hilton back, OK. You know, the Titans? Yes, there are some things to like there. But I don't love them. You know, I think the big question is, do we think the Steelers and the Buffalo Bills can do damage when they get in the playoffs and scare some of these teams?
TANK WILLIAMS: That's what I think it is too, because if you look at the Tennessee Titans, they're pretty much battling the Houston Texans for the division lead. And you have the 49ers battling Seattle. So I think you only get the best out of those teams each and every week. Now, the Bills, they have to face against the Ravens this coming week. Now, they can circle the wagons against the Ravens. Oh, what do you think Tommy Boy and those boys would think when they have to face the Bills later this year? That could get extra spicy.
CHRIS SIMMS: I agree. The Bills are dangerous. And let's not forget that the Patriots just squeaked by them early in the year as is anyways. I believe it was 16 to 10. But to that conversation too, the Bills got to play the Pittsburgh Steelers. And you said the Patriots and the Ravens.
TANK WILLIAMS: Should they be scared of Duck, though? Should the be scared of Duck, the Bills?
CHRIS SIMMS: Well, yes. Because they should be scared of Duck, not necessarily because of Duck. He just gives them enough offense now. But they should be scared of those Steelers because of those freaks they got at the front seven. I mean, Heyward, Dupri, Watt, Devin Bush, Vince Williams. I mean, Jevon Hargrave.
They've got one of the freakiest front sevens in all football. To me, Pittsburgh's one of those teams where I'd go, oh man. Imagine the Ravens being the one seed, and they've got to deal with Pittsburgh in the divisional playoff game? They're not going to be happy about that. That ain't going to be happy running for Lamar Jackson against that front seven. So they could spoil some things, is I guess what I'm trying to say here.
TANK WILLIAMS: Yeah, and I agree with you. I think that is more so about teams jockeying. But I have to throw out my list, I would say, at number three, I have the Buffalo Bills. Because I mean, they're going to be in the playoffs. And that defense is good enough to be a threat for anyone. They're on a winning streak, and they are dangerous.
And number two, I have the Tennessee Titans, because I believe the Jacksonville Jaguars would probably pay any team in the league that's not in the AFC South about $15 million a year just to get him out the division. And at number one, it has to be the 49ers. Because I mean, it's crazy, man. It was just like a day ago Jimmy G was like, hollering at Erin Andrews, like taking his shot. And now they're just trying to get a shot at the playoffs.
CHRIS SIMMS: It is. It's crazy. And I don't think we can forget about the team we saw play against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. I mean, the Vikings, you know, does that game change if Adam Thielen's playing, or Dalvin Cook doesn't get hurt in the third quarter? They're scary, too. They're made for playoff football that way, with the way they run the ball, the bootlegs.
So, I know. It's a weird year right now, where I just think the six teams that are in both conferences, I want to see those six in. I think they're the best six. I think that will lead us to the best watch as far as playoff TV football. That's what I want to see, as a fan, at least. It sounds like you're kind of in the same boat.
TANK WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's something I definitely can't argue with, for sure.
