Consistently, these are the teams that consistently consist of the most consistent consistency. And they are obnoxious as hell for it. So read up and be annoyed by the teams that you wish you were a fan of.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Season: 11-5)
2017 Prediction: 11-5
The Steelers are a historically consistent team, leading all franchises with 6 Super Bowl Championships. Over the last 35 years, the Steelers have made the playoffs 29 times, an impressive 83% rate. Possibly even more impressively, over those same 35 years, the Steelers have won their division 22 times. It seems like this team makes it to the playoffs every damn season. Even now, when the AFC North is actually good, the Steelers are expected to make the playoffs every season. Two of the best offensive players in the league, Brown and Bell currently play for Pittsburgh. And say what you will about Roethlisberger’s intelligence, ability, or even his intelligence, at the end of the day, this guy has found ways to help his team succeed. The defense will continue to be one of the stronger units in the league, and it will only be easier if the offense is as good as advertised. “A good defense is a good offense.” When your offense is playing well, your team is in the lead. And when your team is in the lead, a defense can make the opposition one-dimensional. Buoyed by one of the top offenses in the league, the Steelers are once again primed for another typically successful season.
Seattle Seahawks (Last Season: 10-5-1)
2017 Prediction: 11-5
Somewhat of a newcomer to the category of “Obnoxiously Consistent,” this team has peaked at the perfect time, just as the NFC West has crumbled into one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. Though, this might be an oversimplification. While the Seahawks have not seen the absurd prolonged success that the Steelers have enjoyed, they have made the playoffs in 11 of the last 14 seasons, winning the division 8 of those times. After four straight losing seasons from 2008 to 2011 (one of which somehow resulted in a division championship), the Seahawks have experienced a resurgence to consistency. Backed by the best defense in the league, this team has transformed into an NFC juggernaut.
While I’m still not convinced that the offense is any good, the defense generally holds their own, forcing teams into mistakes, and setting up the offense in good situations. Baldwin is solid, Jimmy Graham is good but underutilized, and the running back crew is strong. However, the offensive line has made Russell Wilson’s life much more difficult in the recent seasons. Fortunately for Seattle, the Legion of Boom - though aging - is still strong, as the Seahawks have recorded a top 3 scoring defense in each of the past 4 seasons. That being said, the strongest aspect of the Seahawks’ claim to the NFC West crown is the NFC West itself. The Rams and Niners are both in rebuild mode, and the Cardinals are a team middling in mediocrity, not quite good enough to be a part of the playoff conversation. Seattle will easily make the playoffs again this season, but will their team have the quality to make another Super Bowl run?
Green Bay Packers (Last Season: 10-6)
2017 Prediction: 11-5
Again, while the Packers haven’t seen the same successful longevity as the Steelers, they have made the playoffs in an impressive 19 of the past 24 seasons, finishing as division champions in 12 of those seasons. Not coincidentally, the Packers have only had to rely on two NFL starting quarterbacks during that time period, Rodgers and Favre. Consistency is key in the NFL, so when you can rely on the same quarterback for 15+ years at a time, you will usually succeed. Once again, Green Bay will enter this season as the favorites to win the NFC North, and Rodgers will be one of the favorites to win the NFL MVP. The offensive weapons for the Packers are quite impressive. While they don’t have the running back position exactly figured out, they do sport one of the strongest wide receiver groups in the league, featuring Nelson, Cobb, Adams, and Bennett. The defense will once again be a formidable group, anchored by their stellar linebacker, Clay Matthews. Even though the Packers always seem to find themselves on some sort of losing streak during the regular season, they almost always pull it together for the post-season. With Rodgers behind center, this team will continue to consistently succeed.
Kansas City Chiefs (Last Season: 12-4)
2017 Prediction: 12-4
Andy Reid jokes aside, this team is actually good. Reid might be the worst in-game strategist in the league, but he is consistently able to get his team into the playoffs. I know, I know. The recent success of the Chiefs doesn’t make any sense to me either. The team always seems nothing more than adequate, with the most adequate quarterback of all time in Alex Smith. All the Chiefs do is consistently win games that they should. However, they rarely beat opponents that are better than them. So, you’re likely to find the Chiefs in the playoffs, but rarely past the first or second round. Maybe “obnoxiously consistent” is the wrong phrase for this team. They are more humorously consistent. Is there any team that will more reliably crash out of the playoffs in humorous fashion than the Chiefs? Last season, Kansas City found a way to lose to Pittsburgh, even without allowing a touchdown (18-16). In 2013, the Chiefs blew a 28 point lead to lose to the Colts, 45-44. Kansas City is a dismal 1-9 in their past 10 playoff games.
Sure, their past does not match that of the other three teams in this category, but this team is good and consistent now. They have one of the most reliable defensive units in the league, and an offense that is the model for ball security. In order for opponents to beat the Chiefs, they have to earn the victory, not wait for the Chiefs to lose. On offense, the loss of Spencer Ware and Jeremy Maclin will certainly hurt. However, any running back in this system generally finds a way to succeed, and Kelce was the focal point of the passing game last year anyways. On defense, Eric Berry and Marcus Peters are still two of the best defensive backs in the game, and the front seven is also one of the top units in the NFL. Kansas City has very few weaknesses. Expect them to keep doing what they do best this season, winning games in slow, methodical, ways. It’s the Andy Reid way (especially the slow part).
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