The NFL season is winding down, which means the contenders are readying to separate from the pretenders. With that in mind, here's our list of 3 NFL Teams Destined For A Late-Season Collapse.
Atlanta Falcons
The collapse has already started, considering Atlanta has lost its past four games in a haze of penalties and inconsistent offensive play. The team still has two games left against the undefeated Carolina Panthers and an upcoming Week 13 matchup with the much-improved Tampa Bay Buccaneers. RB Devonta Freeman is banged up. The defense is starting to show signs of fatigue. Atlanta has fallen from a seeming Wild Card lock to a tie for the sixth seed with the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks. Advantage Seattle.
New York Jets
The Jets may have recommitted to the run too late. Both facets of New York's offense looked impressive in the team's 38-20 dismantling of the Miami Dolphins last week, but that Miami defense has been periodically awful during the 2015 campaign. The team has four tricky games left in its final five, including a game against the division-leading New England Patriots. The AFC Wild Card race is an absolute mess, with half the conference vying for the two Wild Card slots. New York is vulnerable, and that's not going to get it done in such a muck.
Green Bay Packers
You might see a Green Bay team that is incredibly charmed after Aaron Rodgers' 61-yard Hail Mary shocked the Lions on Thursday Night Football. We see shallow defensive depth and an offense that simply can't run the ball at times. Green Bay already has a win over Minnesota in hand, but they've got a return date in the season finale along with road games against a rejuvenated Oakland Raiders squad and the high-octane NFC West leaders, the Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay is still a favorite to make the playoffs, but it'll likely be by backing in as a Wild Card.