With the common season over, there are actually 14 NFL groups left standing. However whereas they’re hoping to win Tremendous Bowl LIX and raise the Lombardi Trophy, that dream will solely develop into a actuality for one workforce.
As a technique to cap off our NFL energy rankings, here is how the 14 playoff groups rank in contrast to one another.
1. Detroit Lions (15-2)
The Lions have been the NFC’s greatest workforce all season and proved that once more by beating Minnesota on Sunday night time to say the No. 1 seed. They’ve all the pieces that screams being championship caliber: a quarterback taking part in at an elite degree, offensive weapons, a coach who will get essentially the most out of his gamers and a protection who can step up when known as upon. Whereas it may be unusual for Detroit to be on this place, something shy of a Tremendous Bowl look shall be a grave disappointment.
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
With Lamar Jackson presumably in line to win his third MVP and Derrick Henry becoming in completely and balancing the offensive assault, the Ravens are harmful. So long as they sustain the identical degree of play from current weeks, this might lastly be the yr for Baltimore to win the AFC with Jackson.
3. Buffalo Payments (13-4)
The Payments laid an egg of their regular-season finale, however that does not matter within the grand scheme of issues. Buffalo continues to be poised to make one other run with Josh Allen typically at his greatest within the largest video games. Regardless of previous playoff losses to the Chiefs, the Payments did beat Kansas Metropolis this season they usually even have a assertion win over Detroit.
4. Kansas Metropolis (15-2)
Even when they appeared weak all through the season, the Chiefs nonetheless discovered a technique to win. It is simply by no means sensible to depend out Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes within the playoffs, particularly as they try to develop into the primary franchise to ever win three straight Tremendous Bowls.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
The Eagles did not let Saquon Barkley go for the speeding file, resting him so he can be absolutely able to pursue one thing extra necessary — a championship. Philadelphia has loads of expertise, however it would solely go so far as Barkley can carry it.
6. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Any disappointment about failing to earn the No. 1 seed should not overshadow the exceptional season the Vikings put collectively. However with that mentioned, Sam Darnold is not joyful to simply attain the playoffs. If he can play mistake-free soccer and discover the firepower round him, Minnesota shall be a tricky out.
7. Washington Commanders (12-5)
Jayden Daniels has offered Washington followers with hope they have not felt in a very long time. Nonetheless, will Daniels’ inexperience make the NFL postseason stage too large for the rookie?
8. Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-6)
Which Packers workforce goes to point out up within the playoffs? That is the query looming over Inexperienced Bay. When Jordan Love is at his greatest, Inexperienced Bay can beat anybody. Working again Josh Jacobs may even be capable to steal a recreation on his again, too. It is the protection that is the largest concern for Inexperienced Bay.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
Baker Mayfield’s continued profession resurgence has been enjoyable to observe and made the Buccaneers offense probably the most explosive in soccer. But it surely’s robust to beat a struggling protection all over a postseason, even in such an offensive period.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Jim Harbaugh efficiently turned the Chargers round in his first yr as head coach in Los Angeles, however that does not imply he is glad simply making the playoffs. The Chargers have been inconsistent at instances, however in addition they do not rely upon Justin Herbert placing up monster numbers with the intention to win like in years previous.
11. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford know how one can win a championship, doing so simply three years in the past. They’ll have the benefit of realizing what it takes in any NFC matchup, however Stafford should discover a technique to generate extra factors or the Rams’ return to the playoffs shall be short-lived.
12. Denver Broncos (10-7)
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is not getting the credit score he deserves for establishing himself as a strong dual-threat and doing what he needed to do to get Denver again within the postseason. However like with Daniels, it is also laborious to understand how he’ll react in a playoff recreation surroundings.
13. Houston Texans (10-7)
After such a formidable rookie season by C.J. Stroud, many noticed the Texans as a horny decide coming into 2024. As a substitute, they’ve been in every single place and have endured key accidents as nicely.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
The Steelers may be a playoff workforce once more, however nobody in Pittsburgh believes they will truly win within the postseason. And a four-game dropping streak to finish the season warrants putting them at No. 14.
The strain is now on Mike Tomlin to show he can nonetheless win when it issues essentially the most within the playoffs, one thing he hasn’t been capable of accomplish since 2016. Russell Wilson seems like a shell of who he was earlier this season, George Pickens’ poor play is simply making issues worse, the protection has been uncovered and drama continues to seek out the Steelers.
All in all, it will be a miracle if this workforce even will get out of the wild-card spherical.
