The NFL playoffs are a uniquely beautiful experience. Combining the single-elimination aspect that makes March a month of madness and the elusive field of just 12 teams helps ensure the later rounds aren’t diluted by bad teams that got hot. Every team and fanbase has a conceivable path to Miami and the Lombardi Trophy. Some paths are more probable than others, obviously, but each one is unique — making them all the more believable once you buy in.
We’re going to prepare for the month-long journey in a couple of ways: a little hard math to anchor us in reason and a little bit of data-driven opinion on what will be the key or the downfall for each team.