Here are five NFL teams that could shake up playoff mix if they reach postseason

It’s a three-game race to the end of the NFL regular season and several teams are knocking on the door of the postseason.

Six teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs: The Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.

And there are several more that could become a matchup nightmare for their opponents when the playoffs begin. Of course, they have to advance there first.

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Here are five teams that could bring some fear to a Super Bowl contender if/when they clinch a playoff spot  by season’s end:

Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert and the Chargers regrouped from their two losses to the Chiefs earlier this season, and entered the playoff mix (No. 6 in AFC) with wins over the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans in the last two weeks to push their record to 8-6.

Receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are back from injuryand safety Derwin James (quad) and potentially edge rusher Joey Bosa (groin) could return for the stretch run. Plus, Herbert is still one of the best young quarterbacks.

Just look at how Herbert led the Chargers on a six-play, 52-yard drive with 44 seconds left to set up kicker Cameron Dicker for a game-winning field goal last week.

With the receivers back, the offense is harder to defend and won't be reliant on the QB and running back Austin Ekeler, and that isn’t good news for the rest of the playoff field.

Miami Dolphins

Yes, Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are riding a three-game losing streak heading into their Christmas Day matchup against the Packers in Miami. They are now 8-6.

Despite their loss in Buffalo, the Dolphins went toe-to-toe with the Bills until Buffalo kicked a game-winning field goal in the final seconds, a result that dropped Miami to No. 7 in the AFC playoff picture, but an effort that closed the gap on their AFC East rival that has haunted them for the past three years.

The Dolphins found their run game last week, which allowed Tagovailoa to find star duo Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for long touchdowns. When Miami’s offense is rolling with Tagovailoa playing upright, accurate and delivering the ball to his best weapons, the Dolphins are a scary matchup.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars might be for real, thanks to coach Doug Pedersen’s leadership – even if they are 10th in the AFC right now at 6-8. Lawrence has thrown 14 touchdowns with one interception over the past six games.

The Jaguars just won two straight games against teams in playoff position, and could sneak into a spot if the Dolphins or Titans, who lead the Jaguars in the AFC South by one game, falter down the stretch. They will also need the New England Patriots (7-7) and New York Jets (7-7) to slip in front of them for a wild-card spot.

Thursday’s game against the Jets would put them in a better position with a win, and a win over the Titans in the season finale could give them the AFC South title.

However, doing so without star left tackle Cam Robinson, who injured his knee last week and is out for the rest of the season, will be difficult.

Detroit Lions

It feels like Dan Campbell’s coaching is paying off for a Lions franchise that has made the playoffs three times since 2000, the latest in 2016.

The Lions (7-7) have won six of their last seven games, including over the New York Giants and Jets in New York and the playoff-bound Vikings. They nearly pulled off an upset of Buffalo last month, losing 28-25. They are No. 9 in the NFC.

Wins over the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears in the next two weeks could put Detroit in position, but could face a test in Green Bay against the Packers in the season finale.

Standout Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said of the team's confidence and momentum, according to ESPN: “when you play with that, I think anything’s possible, and we know that as a team.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Okay, quarterback Tom Brady looks like he’s one month closer to retirement. Or you can say Brady is a month away from playing the football he loves the most.

Brady and the Bucs have struggled mightily this season, but because they play in the NFC South, the NFL’s weakest division, they still hold the division lead at 6-8, the No. 4 playoff seed and might host a playoff game when the postseason begins.

Two years after a Super Bowl victory, the Bucs have lost three of four. They had four turnovers – all from Brady (two interceptions, two fumbles) – to fall at home to the Cincinnati Bengals last week after taking a 17-3 lead into halftime.

But the Bucs have one of the easiest remaining schedules (at Arizona Cardinals, vs. Carolina Panthers, at Atlanta Falcons) to tune up before the playoffs. And when the postseason heat turns on, Brady and his trusted crew of playmakers like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette will still be a matchup nightmare in the wildcard round.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff picture: Five teams that could shake up mix if they get in