Rankings: Under-the-radar teams with playoff hope
Tank and Simms take a look at the three NFL teams that could make a playoff push over the second half of the season and one of them just happens to be the Raiders.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
CHRIS SIMMS: OK, my man, Tank. What's up, man? We got a little conversation to get after today. I got my list ready. I want you to hear this. But we're going to talk about three teams who are not in the playoff race right now, or not in the playoffs, but we think can turn things around and make a serious push--
TANK WILLIAMS: OK.
CHRIS SIMMS: --whether it's the NFC or AFC. Here's my list right off the bat, OK? Here's the three teams. The number three, I'm going with the Oakland Raiders. I do. Yeah, I look at their schedule, and other than the Kansas City Chiefs, that's the only team I can look at on the schedule and go, oh, they're clearly better than the Raiders. But the rest of the group-- the Jets, the bangles, the Chargers, the Titans, the Broncos, the Jaguars-- they can beat all those teams.
Now I'm not saying they will. I know it's not a given. But I will give the Raiders some hope.
TANK WILLIAMS: I have the Raiders at number three as well. And one thing I like about the Raiders, too, is that they're sixth in the run on offense.
CHRIS SIMMS: Yeah, exactly.
TANK WILLIAMS: And so that's going to be key once you get into these later months for a playoff push. Being able to run that ball with Josh Jacobs. Like, I really like their chances.
CHRIS SIMMS: And then they got Darren Wallers, and Ty Williams, and a few other guys that are kind of dangerous on the offense, right?
TANK WILLIAMS: Renfro looking like a Wes Welker.
CHRIS SIMMS: He is. He's coming along. You're exactly right. And Gruden's got that kind of offense to know how to fit that kind of guy in there. So he is. He's coming along as well. OK, number two, I'm going with the Philadelphia Eagles. I am.
I mean, the Eagles are the ultimate backs against the wall type of football team. And they're getting healthy on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary. Lately, been running the ball downhill OK. Using their big offensive line. One of their strengths is their team, which I think they get away from at times. I still like Carson Wentz. I mean, I think he's a baller, actually. I just think the one thing that scares me about the Eagles is they don't really have a guy to be scared of on the offense.
TANK WILLIAMS: My number two team with the Carolina Panthers because I look it-- they still have to play the Saints twice, but they get the falcons twice as well. And they get to play Washington. And when they do play a tough team like Seattle, they have them at home versus where I feel like the Eagles have to play some of those tough games on the road.
CHRIS SIMMS: Yeah, I get you. They're on my list. But they're not going to make my list because I just don't know quite if I'm all the way in yet, all right I? Don't know. They're going to be on the fringe. And, of course, the NFC being so strong kind of made me cancel them out. And that's why I went the Raiders three.
And you're right about the Eagles, OK? Getting back to that. I mean, they got the Cowboys, the Seahawks, and the Patriots still--
TANK WILLIAMS: Right?
CHRIS SIMMS: --on their schedule. And they're real. But I don't look at any three of those teams and just go, oh, while they're going to beat the Eagles. No. And my number one, Tank, I mean, I'm taking the team that was in the damn Super Bowl last year. I'm not counting out the Rams yet.
The Rams still are potent on offense. Their defense has still got a bunch of playmakers. It's the number 12 defense in football. Number 10 offense in football. They're battle tested. They are tough. They got playmakers on both sides of the ball. The only area I'm concerned about is they don't have the running game they had the last two years. That's the one little issue with the Rams. But I'm a believer in McVay and Wade Phillips, too. So that's why I'm putting them number one.
TANK WILLIAMS: I mean, I agree with what you said. I mean, everything you said. But like you said, they don't have the running game from last year. And that NFC West is tough, bro. Like, the Arizona Cardinals-- you see how tough they played the Niners. And so they have to go through Arizona, the Seattle Seahawks, who are one of the better teams in the league. And San Francisco, they're still undefeated. So I don't see a path for the Rams getting there.
But you know who I do see a path for somehow, some way?
CHRIS SIMMS: Who?
TANK WILLIAMS: The Pittsburgh Steelers. I understand that defense isn't what it used to be. But they're kind of coming along. Bud Dupree been playing. You know, Watt has been playing ball on the opposite side. Oh, Fitzpatrick. That move now looks like it was genius for Mike Tomlin to go down there and get him from the Dolphins. So don't sleep almost Pittsburgh Steelers. We always get used to them coming on around this time of year.
I understand James Conner and some of these guys are banged up. Jaylen Sames is filled in well. We still got Diontae Johnson is playing well. We got Washington has a burn on the outside. And we got JuJu who could work the middle. Don't sleep on these guys, man. I think they may be able to come down the stretch and make some moves in that AFC.
CHRIS SIMMS: I'm not totally against you there. They were on my list, but I couldn't put them in the top three. So I hear you. They're there. My eyes on them. But I'm just not so sure I could say that they're going to make a playoff run here down the stretch.