Every NFL postseason brings a familiar debate of which powerhouse is destined to dominate and which overlooked team is quietly built to crash the party.Â
History suggests the latter point matters more than most fans expect. From road warriors catching fire late to defenses peaking at the right time, the playoffs have a way of humbling reputations and rewarding those who are ready.
The 2026 NFL Playoffs feel especially ripe for that kind of disruption. Parity across the league, injuries thinning even elite rosters, and a wide-open AFC have created space for teams outside the usual spotlight to make legitimate noise.Â
Among that group, two franchises stand out. Not because they are flawless, but because their strengths align unusually well with what January football demands.
Why the 2026 Playoffs Are Ripe for an Underdog Run
Seeding still matters, but it no longer tells the full story. Over the past decade, playoff success has leaned less on regular-season dominance and more on timing, health, and adaptability. Teams that peak in December often look very different by mid-January.
Several factors make this postseason particularly volatile:
- Increased league parity, with fewer dominant teams separating from the pack,Â
- Injuries thinning top-heavy rosters late in the year,Â
- Defensive schemes catching up to explosive offenses,Â
- Coaching decisions playing a larger role in close, single-elimination games.Â
In that environment, underdogs with balance and momentum become dangerous. Two AFC teams fit that description better than most.
Jacksonville Jaguars: An Underdog Playing Like a Contender
Jacksonville’s case as a dangerous underdog is built on momentum, quarterback growth, and a defensive profile that translates cleanly to postseason football.
Catching Fire Behind Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville enters the postseason with confidence built from an eight-game winning streak that reshaped the team’s identity. That surge has been driven by Trevor Lawrence’s evolution into a more efficient, controlled quarterback.Â
Fewer dangerous throws and sharper command at the line have replaced highlight chasing. Those traits tend to matter far more in January than raw numbers.
An Offense Built for Weekly Adjustments
The Jaguars’ offense benefits from flexibility. Multiple receivers can win matchups, allowing game plans to evolve from opponent to opponent rather than forcing a single identity. That adaptability becomes vital as defensive looks tighten and the margin for error shrinks in the postseason.
A Defense That Creates Playoff-Swinging Moments
Defense is where Jacksonville quietly separates itself. Since late in the season, the unit has excelled at controlling the run and forcing timely turnovers. It does not overwhelm with pressure every snap, but it consistently creates short fields and momentum swings. In playoff football, a single takeaway can tilt an entire game.
A More Manageable Path Through the AFC
The AFC landscape works in Jacksonville’s favor, with several elite quarterbacks absent and fewer inevitable outcomes shaping the bracket.Â
That uncertainty places greater emphasis on matchups, timing, and seeding once the postseason field is set. It’s also why many fans evaluate reputable sportsbooks to bet on the NFL playoffs when underdogs like the Jaguars start to look steadier than their odds imply.
Taken together, Jacksonville’s late-season form, quarterback maturity, and opportunistic defense give the Jaguars a profile that looks increasingly built for a deep January run.
Los Angeles Chargers: Built for Road Wins
The Chargers enter the postseason as a lower seed, but their mix of elite talent, defensive consistency, and coaching discipline makes them a dangerous opponent away from home.
Elite Quarterback Play That Keeps Games Close
Few teams feel more uncomfortable to face than Los Angeles. Justin Herbert remains the centerpiece, capable of erasing advantages with arm strength and composure under pressure. Even when protection breaks down, his ability to create late in downs keeps the Chargers competitive in tight playoff games.
The surrounding skill talent adds margin for error. Drives do not require perfection, and a single coverage mistake can quickly change the scoreboard in Los Angeles’ favor.
A Defense That Travels in January
Defense is the quieter reason this team holds up on the road. The Chargers rank among the league’s best in yards allowed, built on speed, versatility, and experience. Playmakers at every level make it difficult for opponents to isolate weaknesses, a profile that tends to translate regardless of venue or weather.
Coaching Stability and a Path That Could Open Up
Jim Harbaugh’s influence has sharpened the Chargers’ preparation and situational discipline, traits that often decide close playoff games. An early win could quickly reshape their path in a wide-open bracket. As matchups evolve and injuries surface, many fans follow upcoming NFL games and props to track how individual performances and situational trends may influence each round.
Taken together, the Chargers have the quarterback, defense, and coaching profile that often allows underdogs to win on the road and remain dangerous deep into January.
Strategic Traits That Give These Underdogs Staying Power
Jacksonville and Los Angeles differ stylistically, but they share foundational traits that consistently appear in deep playoff runs. Each has shown an ability to respond rather than unravel, a quality that becomes critical in the volatility of single-elimination football.
Shared foundations behind sustained postseason success:
- Balanced roster construction that avoids overreliance on a single star and holds up when injuries or matchups test depth,
- Quarterbacks capable of managing chaos, not just creating highlights, especially in late-game situations,
- Defenses that generate takeaways, allowing teams to shorten games and flip momentum rather than simply limit yards,
- Coaching staffs that emphasize clarity and adaptability, making week-to-week and in-game adjustments without panic.
These elements allow underdogs to survive bad stretches within games and maintain belief when plans break down. The postseason rarely rewards perfection. It rewards resilience and both teams are built to handle it.
Built for the Moments That Matter
The NFL playoffs are rarely about who looks best on paper. They reward teams that adapt quickly, stay composed under pressure, and survive uncomfortable moments when games tighten. Preparation and flexibility often matter more than regular-season dominance once January arrives.
The Jaguars and Chargers may not carry the loudest headlines into the 2026 postseason, but they possess traits that fuel surprise runs. Momentum, balance, and belief travel well in January. For fans watching closely, these are teams worth tracking beyond Wild Card weekend.
Main Image: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
