Who are the most overrated and underrated teams as we hit the stretch?

[Dave Gray]

Discuss.

[fyo]

Texans? They've lost two in a row, so maybe the shine has come off them somewhat, but they're still sitting atop the AFC South. It's just a crappy division this year. Every time the Texans have faced a decent team, they've lost. They could still win the division, but they are not a good team at all.

Denver might qualify as well, although I think everyone realizes they are a flawed team by now.

In the NFC, the Lions are another bad team sitting atop their division. The Giants are probably overrated as well.

The Eagles are probably the last-place team I'd least like to face... especially in Philly.

I wouldn't want to face the Falcons, either. Matty Ice is quietly putting together a really solid season of football.

So is Kirk Cousins in Washington, although I don't know how underrated the team is as a whole. They might just win up the best NFC team that doesn't make the playoffs.

[Dave Gray]

For most over-rated, there are a few choices, but I might say the Raiders.  They're a good team, no doubt.  But they really are squeaking out a lot of wins and they're probably not considerably better than anyone else.

I think the Dolphins are the most under-rated.  We're literally the 6 seed right now and not even in discussions as a playoff team. 

[BuccaneerBrad]

The Bucs are extremely underrated right now.  They are winning with a lot of cast-off players from other teams because of injuries at key positions.   Get Jameis another stud receiver and a pass catching TE, and that offense will be unstoppable

[fyo]

For most over-rated, there are a few choices, but I might say the Raiders.  They're a good team, no doubt.  But they really are squeaking out a lot of wins and they're probably not considerably better than anyone else.

I think the Dolphins are the most under-rated.  We're literally the 6 seed right now and not even in discussions as a playoff team. 

That's fair. I'd consider the Dolphins outsiders to a playoff spot as well, particular with the injuries. I think that changes with a win tomorrow (or is confirmed with a loss).

[Tenshot13]

Denver overrated
Dolphins and Bucs underrated

[Run Ricky Run]

How can you call the raiders overrated and dolphins underrated ?  The dolphins have one win by more than one score and were losing in the 4th quarter in 5 out of 7 wins.

[Spider-Dan]

How can you call the raiders overrated and dolphins underrated ?  The dolphins have one win by more than one score and were losing in the 4th quarter in 5 out of 7 wins.

...whereas OAK has a whopping two wins by more than one score, and were also losing in the fourth quarter in 5 of their wins.

Yes, that's slightly better than the Dolphins (because OAK has 9 wins and MIA has 7).  But while the Raiders are frequently in the discussion for best team in the league, (by your metric) the Dolphins are nearly as good and yet are not even considered a serious contender.

[Run Ricky Run]

The raiders Are 5-2  against teams .500 or better. And the dolphins are 2-3.   The raiders have a better record and their SOS is much stronger.

[Dave Gray]

When I watch national sports shows like Around the Horn or PTI, the Raiders are considered by some to be the best team in the league...they're certainly in the top 3 by most accounts.  And while the Raiders have been good, they aren't world-beaters or winning by impressive margins.  They're a top 10 team, but are rated very highly by the masses.

The Dolphins on the other hand are winning similarly to the Raiders.  I think the Raiders have been better, but not by a ton.

Yet, the Dolphins aren't even discussed on these shows at all.  They ACTUALLY are in a playoff spot now, but aren't even brought up as a contender for the playoffs in discussions with these same national panels.  You hear people talk about Denver and Baltimore all the time, but we're ahead of those teams. 

That's my rationale.

[masterfins]

I don't know if you can call the Lions "overrated", but they definitely have a better record than they should.  I would go with the Bucs as being underrated, they are better than their record indicates.