Despite there being clear favorites to win the Super Bowl, dark horses are hiding in the background, hungry to surprise the NFL world.
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Packers beat Lions – Green Bay Packers defeat Detroit Lions, 30-20, to win NFC North
Seahawks beat Cardinals – Seattle Seahawks defeat St. Louis Rams, 20-6, to win NFC West
Panthers destroy Falcons – Carolina Panthers win NFC South with 34-3 blowout win over Atlanta Falcons
The NFL playoffs are about to begin with the wild card games approaching while two teams from each conference will be resting on a first-round bye.
The Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers enter the playoffs as the favorites to win it all since they have dominated the regular season and are on a first-round bye.
The NFL playoffs has featured its share of shocking upsets in the past though, and there some teams that are primed to make a surprise run. The Seahawks and Broncos lived up to their status as the favorites last season.
Here are three teams that are dark horses heading into the playoffs.
3. Detroit Lions
The Lions were unable to win the NFC North in Week 17 as they lost, 30-20, to the Green Bay Packers. This forces them to travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. The Lions have the second-ranked total defense and have only allowed a league-leading 69.3 rushing yards per game.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was able to get his suspension overturned, so the Lions run defense will be as strong as ever as it faces its biggest test yet in DeMarco Murray. They allowed a season-high 100 rushing yards to Packers running back Eddie Lacy though. The defense and the talented offense gives the Lions a chance to win though, and they may be a force to be reckoned with if they can upset the Cowboys.
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