NFL Power Rankings Before the Playoffs Begin

LR - Stands for Last Ranking

FR - Stands for First Rankings Before the Season Started

Bottom Nine Teams #32 – #24 

  The NFL 2023-2024 regular season is officially over and these teams have struggled throughout the season. Some more recently and some the entire season. With the season over, these teams are already making much-needed changes. 

#32 Carolina Panthers (LR:32) (FR:21) – There was some optimism for the Panthers before the season started as a team that traded up for the first pick and had some talent on each side of the ball. What happened was an ugly mess of a season that ended with back-to-back games where they were shut out. Mix that with them missing their first pick, it’s tough for the Panthers. Bryce Young did not have the best season by a rookie QB, by any means but all of that cannot be put on him, this team was such a mess. They need a change in everything around him from personnel to the coaching staff. He seems to have good intangibles and needs more time to be evaluated. 

#31 New England Patriots (LR:31) (FR:23) – Another team that requires a lot of change. They’ve been a bland, boring offensive team all season and it’s resulted in poor performance one, after another. Whether one of these changes involves Bill Belichick who has had a legendary career as a coach remains to be seen. They do need a change at QB, a fresh face, potentially from the draft. Arguably the biggest thing is a new play caller, they have to evolve offensively and get a new offensive coordinator to help this team modernize. 

#30 Arizona Cardinals (LR:30) (FR:32) – In my first rankings, I mentioned how the Cardinals were the least talented team in the league and I stand by that as they had a poor season and lost most of their games. One thing that can be credited to them is how hard they played and how tough they played so many good teams which is admirable. Unlike some of the other bottom teams, I’m not convinced this team needs a huge change in the staff, just some more personnel to help this team continue to build. 

#29 Washington Commanders (LR:29) (FR:25) – The saving grace for this team before this season started is that their defense should be alright and their front seven should be top tier. That could not have been further from what came true. Not only was their defense horrible, finishing dead last in allowed points per game at over 30 points. They also ended up trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young. This team felt like they were already in a rebuild and now it seems like they’re immediately going back into a rebuild. Sam Howell threw for a lot of yards but didn’t perform particularly well, throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns. He’ll get another chance, whether as a starter next year or as a backup, he’s still young and talented, just needs more time to get better at understanding defenses.

#28 Los Angeles Chargers (LR:21) (FR:10) – One of the bigger disappointments of the season has to belong to the Chargers. With one of the best quarterbacks, some elite talent at receiver, and great talent on defense there is no way this team should’ve only won five games. Now there were some injuries to Justin Herbert, and Mike Williams along with others. Still, it was not enough reason for this team to underperform and fall in clutch situations. They desperately needed a coaching change and thankfully they did that. If the right coach gets put in play, and there are rumors of a Jim Harbaugh potentially being in play, this team could quickly jump back up next season.

#27 Tennessee Titans (LR:26) (FR:28) – Somewhat of an expected season from the Titans, there simply put was not enough talent on this team to ever compete seriously for a division or playoff spot. Will Levis’ by far best performance came from his debut as half his touchdowns for the season came in that game. Since then, it’s been pretty average for a rookie QB with lots of growing pains. The surprising part for the Titans is the change to the head coach when they fired Mike Vrabel as he has led them to a lot of success and he’s endeared by his players. 

#26 New York Giants (LR:28) (FR:15) – The Giants went from a team that made a surprise appearance in the Wild Card last season to a team that was one of the worst offensive teams of all time and were 2-8 at some point and then went on a random three-game win streak before finishing 1-3. Very up and down but more so down, they also decided to pay Daniel Jones some big money which was surprising to me as I didn’t see nearly enough to warrant that contract. He only played in six games before his injury but in those six games, he did not play well at all, tossed just two touchdowns to six interceptions. Both of his touchdowns came in one game leaving the other five with zero. Because of his contract, he’ll get another crack at it next season but it’ll be curious to see how long they ride with him if his performance doesn’t pick up. 

#25 New York Jets (LR:27) (FR:6) – What could’ve been for the Jets this season? This team had so much hype and was well deserved. Aaron Rodgers seemed ready to go and have a great season as he seemed to find his love again for the game and they were eager to get going and as fast as the season started, the season ended for Rodgers and the Jets. Despite the Achilles injury, there were rumors if the Jets were in a spot to fight for a playoff spot, Rodgers might have a chance to play late in the season to help that. They were not in that spot however as they could not get the offense going, and the random quarterback change to Tim Boyle of all people was the nail in the coffin. Here’s to a healthy season next year. 

#24 Atlanta Falcons (LR:20) (FR:24) – This team finished exactly where I expected them to, I figured their run game would lead their offense and their defense could be solid and it was better than what was anticipated, the passing game and red zone offense held them back. Desmond Ridder played below-average and his best attribute of not committing turnovers started to fall apart he was benched and while he might get to start the season next year, he might not make it as the starter the whole year especially with the fact that they already fired their head coach.

Middle of the Road #23 – #15 

This section is for teams that had enough talent to be a hard win for just about any team and while they didn’t win a division title this year they may not be far off in the near future. 

#23 Minnesota Vikings (LR:18) (FR:16) – This could’ve been a solid year for the Vikings as they only missed out on the playoffs by small margin. They had an incredibly hard start to the season as their schedule was very tough and they lost a few games right out of the gate. They did build some momentum but the injury to not only Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson sunk their season. Kirk was playing well before the injury and there’s reason to believe that the team should be in good shape for next year once they get healthy and their defense now has more experience. 

#22 Chicago Bears (LR:25) (FR:22) – If only the Bears didn’t start so poorly, this team potentially could’ve made a playoff push as they finished the season quite well. Regardless they missed and now have some decisions to make, one they should consider making is a change at the offensive coordinator position, the play calling held them back a lot, not letting Justin be Justin at the beginning of the year and far too many moments of them being too conservative. Another big decision is what they want to do with the first overall pick of the draft, do they stay and take a QB like Drake Maye or Caleb Williams or trade down again and get even more capital and surround Fields with more help with a star like Marvin Harrison Jr, the fans seem to want the latter after his performance down the stretch. 

#21 Denver Broncos (LR:11) (FR:19) – Another team that went up and down in their season was the Broncos, they started with one of the worst defenses ever before tightening up and performing better and even making a push towards the playoffs before a decision so bad it rivals the Tim Boyle one and might be worse as they decided to bench Russell Wilson because they thought their offense was missing something. Keep in mind, Wilson threw 26 touchdowns to 8 interceptions and completed 66.4% of his passes, that’s who they felt was holding their offense back. Absolutely ridiculous decision by Sean Payton who had seemed to not like Wilson from the beginning.  

#20 Las Vegas Raiders (LR:24) (FR:31) – After the coaching change this team started to play better and harder and their defensive improvements and performance down the stretch was very impressive all things considered. Offensively, pretty underwhelming, especially the run game considering they have Josh Jacobs who was coming off a fantastic season last year, they could not get anything going this year, a point they have to work on this year. Aidan O’Connell didn’t start his season off well but had a couple of good games down the stretch that should put him in contention for a starting spot with the Raiders next season. 

#19 Indianapolis Colts (LR:15) (FR:26) – A but of an inconsistent team outside of their four game win stretch that was immediately followed by some more inconsistent play. The biggest improvements this team needs to go with is on the defensive side of the ball, too often is was gashed and exposed, with its best performances by far came against bad offenses like the Panthers, Patriots, Steelers. Anthony Richardson showed quite a bit of spark and he’ll be a dynamic runner for years to come as long as his health allows him. He just needs to focus on some mechanics so the ball doesn’t get away from him as much and read the defense which should come with time. I’m not sure what the future for Gardner Minshew holds but he played plenty good enough to continue to play an important role as either a backup or spot starter despite his physical limitations. 

#18 New Orleans Saints (LR:22) (FR:14) – This entry feels a bit disappointing, this team in all aspects should’ve been at the top of their division with the type of talent on both sides of the ball even if they were never true Super Bowl contenders. However, time and time again this team just came out and looked flat, there was no spark and they’d fall behind quick. They finished the season strong at 4-1 and were top ten in scoring on both sides of the ball but it came too late. It ended with a bit of controversy as the team and Jameis Winston decided they wanted beloved teammate Jamaal Williams to score his first and only touchdown of the season. It was disliked by their coach but the team itself seemed to have really backed that situation and supported Winston, there seems to have been a disconnect between the team and staff. 

#17 Jacksonville Jaguars (LR:8) (FR:9) – What a disastrous end for the Jaguars this season. They seemed destined to have a great run and nothing was the same after Trevor Lawrence experienced the injury against the Bengals. After that injury he wasn’t the same, he ended up experiencing even more injuries on top of that. Mix that with the defense started to collapse far too often and those issues become glaring at the end of the season. Some people will jump on Lawrence and put the blame on him but it’s just not true, let him get healthy, continue to improve the young team and watch he can put together in a full healthy season, his time will come. 

 #16 Cincinnati Bengals (LR:16) (FR:5) – This team was getting hot and seemed ready to start putting fear into other teams after the first nine games they were 5-4 but did have a four game win streak where they seemed like they were back to normal after a horrendous start. Joe Burrow did not have the best season, especially by his standards and went 5-5 as a starter. Jake Browning got his first real chance in the NFL at 27 and played particularly well and at the very least secured him a spot on a roster for a real long time. If you take away his performances against the Steelers, his play was actually above-average. The Bengals should be in play for next season, just have to improve that offensive line. 

#15 Seattle Seahawks (LR:17) (FR:13) – So close for the Seattle Seahawks, just missed out on the playoffs. It seemed after Drew Lock led the miraculous game winning drive against the Eagles that they were destined to get there but they essentially needed to win out to control their destiny and they fell short against the Steelers and that was become the nail in their coffin. Plenty of good this season but some issues for sure, Geno Smith played solidly, but regressed from last season. The run game was not good enough on a consistent basis, especially when they weren’t using Kenneth Walker enough. Defensively they were bottom ten in the league which was a constant problem. Now with the announcement that Pete Carrol will be taking a step back as head coach, changes are understandably going to happen.

Wildcards (Right Out of Top Ten) #14 – #11

These teams have indeed made the playoffs this season, whether that be as a Wild Card team or a winner of a weaker division. While not the favorites, they shouldn’t be counted out either. 

#14 Pittsburgh Steelers (LR:19) (FR:18) – Mike Tomlin continues to squeeze the absolute best out of his teams and win enough games to be in the playoff picture every single year. This year when his team’s offense was horrible, couldn’t move the ball, he made enough changes to actually give his team a spark. Firing Matt Canada helps and the entire fan base of Pittsburgh were calling for it. Making the decision to bench first round pick Kenny Pickett who most likely will not be a starter next season, he has not done enough consistently to keep getting the nod. Mason Rudolph was thrown into the mix and has responded great and has been playing good football and has now led this team into the playoffs even if they might be the biggest longshot this year. 

#13 Green Bay Packers (LR:12) (FR:17) – I said in multiple of these rankings that the Packers were going to need more out of Jordan Love if they were going to find success and he has responded in the best way possible. What started as a season where he was completing under 60% and tossing nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, he locked in, and has been playing so much better in their last 8 games. Not only did they go 6-2 in that stretch, Jordan love had a 18-1 touchdown to interception ratio in that stretch. They’re a team with a lot of momentum but they’re matched up against the Cowboys for the Wild Card and they’re certainly the underdogs in this fight. Even if their season does come to an end against them, as the youngest team in the NFL, so many positives for their future. 

#12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LR:23) (FR:29) – What a rollercoaster season, they started strong and exceeded expectations and went 3-1. They then became the team where their issues were glaring with the run game and inconsistent pass game which led to a 1-6 stretch. At that point, the playoffs seemed like a stretch even with the NFC South division being a mess. Then they finished the year extremely strong, are going 5-1 which sits them at 9-8 and won a weak division to earn themselves a spot in the playoffs. While their record looks great in the last six games their performance the last two games have been really ugly. They got controlled by the Saints and won one of the uglier games of the season 9-0 against the Panthers. If they come out in a similar fashion against the Eagles, they won’t proceed any further. 

#11 Houston Texans (LR:9) (FR:27) – This team was not expected to be here for a couple of season but they’re so ahead of schedule. From one of the worst records last season to winning the division the next year. CJ Stroud is clearly the biggest reason for that success, what a fantastic rookie season. 23 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions, there were a couple of rookie mistakes in there but way more so than not he was brilliant, the Texans got a good one. They’re matched up with the Browns in the Wild Card and it’s a winnable game for sure but it will not be easy. Stroud is going up against one of the best defenses in the league, his performance will be everything. Quick note, DeMeco Ryans deserves just as much credit for getting this young team as far as they’ve gotten., fantastic job.

Contenders #10 – #6

These are the teams with a good chance to make a big impact in the playoffs, even if it’s in a wild card spot. Some of the more talented teams that might not be the favorites but could make a splash and even win everything if it all goes right. 

#10 Los Angeles Rams (LR:13) (FR:30) – I could not have imagined this team, with the roster they had assembled where it seemed like there were many weak points on the offensive line and defense that would be too much to make a significant impact but here they are. What happened was their draft was fantastic, playmakers all over the place, none bigger than the impact Puka Nacua made as a first year receiver, the conversation could be made as the best ever. Their offense was well balanced which means everything for their heavy play action offense, they’ve become a team that no one wants to play in the playoffs as they’re 7-1 in their last 8 games. What a storyline as well as Matthew Stafford returns to the Motor City for the first time to play his old team in a playoff game. 

#9 Philadelphia Eagles (LR:2) (FR:2) – Who expected this? The Eagles were 10-1 and seemed like potentially the top dog in the NFL. Since then any issues were magnified tenfold and their defense started to get gashed over and over, the pass game become too inconsistent and Hurts’ play declined. All that has led to a 1-5 record down the stretch and the Eagles now have to go on the road in a playoff game. They could be favored against the Buccaneers as winners of a bad division but that could be it. With all that said however, there is still a chance this extremely talented team clicks and if that happens they can beat anyone. 

#8 Cleveland Browns (LR:14) (FR:20) – Statistically this team is good but maybe not as high as they really should be. For the offense Joe Flacco has surprisingly been such a good pickup for them and has been their best quarterback all season and that’s no exaggeration. For the defense, their stats are a bit lower than you’d expect as they’ve given up some more points later in the season. Realistically this defense is elite, playmakers all over the place and at each level. If they can lean on that and continue to be solid offensively, they’re a tough out for anyone. 

#7 Miami Dolphins (LR:7) (FR:7) – A tough break for the Dolphins as they were the most explosive team in the league, second in scoring, first in passing yards, sixth in rushing yards. They were leading the division for essentially the entire season until week 18. The way it ended was subpar as they finished 2-3 and lost the division crowning game against the Bills. Their defense hasn’t been great; in fact, it’s been below-average statistically. The biggest concern of all things is their record against winning teams at just 1-5, it’s hard to think they’ll take down multiple great teams if they want a Super Bowl appearance, starting with the defending champions. 

#6 Kansas City Chiefs (LR:4) (FR:1) – It feels weird leaving the Patrick Mahomes led Chiefs out of the top five going into the playoffs. Especially when their defense is legit one of the best in the entire league. They’ve kept their team in games which had been the opposite the last couple of seasons. The offense has been in the middle of the pack all year which just seems wrong. They desperately need a #1 receiver and even more receivers on top of that. Their offense is too reliant on Kelce and if he’s doubled and taken out of the equation, the Chiefs have been shut down this season. They need to get other players involved against Miami or else they’re going to give the explosive Dolphins too many opportunities with the ball.

The Favorites #5 – #1

These are the teams that should be considered the favorites to make a deep playoff run if not make it to a Super Bowl.

#5 Detroit Lions (LR:6) (FR:12) – The Lions finally won another division title and are coming off another division win over the Vikings heading into the playoffs. A well-coached team with lots of talent and momentum can be a problem for anyone. Mix that with the fact that their offense is legit a top 5 offense. One of the most successful pass and run games in the league, well balanced. It’s also very known how aggressive for better or worse Dan Campbell can be and how often the Lions will take a risk and that can be to their fortune or determine. If there is some area of concern, it’s with the defense which is bottom ten in defense and has given up huge performances to star players. Which coming into the game against the Rams and Stafford, there’s a chance that Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua have a huge game against the Lions. 

#4 Dallas Cowboys (LR:5) (FR:8) – Dallas has been great on both sides of the ball this season. The number one scoring offense in the entire league and fifth in points allowed per game. Dak Prescott has been great this season, easily his most complete season at quarterback. For Dallas, it’s a big plus that they won the division and are the second seed coming into the playoffs as they have often struggled on the road and been elite at home. There are some concerns about the Cowboys in clutch moments as over the years they’ve come up short on multiple occasions, this could be the year that changes. 

#3 Buffalo Bills (LR:10) (FR:3) – I refused to put the Bills too far down the rankings as they clearly were still one of the most talented teams, just lost some heartbreakers and could beat anyone. Finally, they got into a rhythm and are carrying a ton of momentum going into the playoffs, winners of five straight. It was against good competition as well, three playoffs game, they even dominated the Cowboys. Top ten in passing yards, rushing yards, and points per game. Defensively they’ve been one of the best, if not the best down the stretch as they held teams like the Cowboys and Dolphins to 10 and 14 points respectively. The biggest threat to the Ravens in the AFC at this point in time. 

#2 San Francisco 49ers (LR:1) (FR:4) – A very clear second place at this point in the rankings as they’ve been dominant all season, the only team they’re a step behind is the Ravens as they did seem overmatched in that game, especially Purdy who struggled mightily against that defense. Regardless a top tier balanced offense, great at both aspects and defensively they’re another top performer in that category as well. The NFC playoffs will run through them and it’s hard to see anyone be favored over them as the second seeded Cowboys got dominated by the 49ers. 

#1 Baltimore Ravens (LR:3) (FR:11) – Absolutely no question who would be at the top of these rankings after the way the Ravens ended the season. Their offense is what you would expect, the best running game in the league without a doubt, their pass game can be a little inconsistent but has also been explosive at times. Lamar Jackson is the betting favorite for MVP right now as he’s shown up in big games and performed well. That includes a game where they overwhelmed the second best team in the league in the 49ers. Defensively they are the best defense in the entire league. They’ve continuously shut down good offenses, they’re first in points allowed per game and forced plenty of turnovers over the course of the season. Not only does the AFC run through the Ravens this offseason, they’re the top dogs in the league and should be favored in essentially every game these playoffs.