Concerning trends for 14 NFL teams on playoff race bubble - ESPN

The 2023 NFL regular season is winding down, with the playoffs kicking off next month. We know that no NFL team is without weaknesses. Even the 10-3 San Francisco 49ers, generally regarded as the best team in the league, are not perfect at every position. But weaknesses can be a bigger problem for teams on the playoff bubble still hoping to extend their season, and they can be the difference between being in… or out. Every win matters for these teams, and you don't want your team's biggest problem rearing its ugly head in the most important games of the season.

There are 14 teams with chances of making the playoffs between 15% to 85%, per ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI). For each of those teams, we're picking one concerning trend that needs to be fixed to make the playoffs — and then make a deep run toward the Super Bowl. Let's start with the team that has the best odds of the AFC group.

Jump to a team:
ATL | BUF | CIN | CLE | DEN
GB | HOU | IND | LAR | MIN
NO | PIT | SEA | TB

FPI chances to make the playoffs: 80.8%
FPI chances to win the AFC North: 9.0%

Concerning weakness: Shaky quarterback situation

The Browns were supposed to contend with Deshaun Watson and a strong offense. Instead, Watson struggled and suffered multiple injuries before being ruled out for the season. The defense has improved so much that the Browns are contending anyway, but the quarterback situation is the main problem going into Cleveland's stretch run.

The Browns might have solved the problem by signing veteran Joe Flacco. He has been named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season after throwing for 300 yards and three touchdown passes in a win against Jacksonville last week. However, Flacco registered a 35.1 QBR for that game. He was