The regular season is finally over, and the playoffs are here. Here are all 32 NFL teams ranked from worst to first heading into the Wild Card Round.
Getty Image / Gregory Shamus
We’ve made it to the NFL Posteseason, folks. Here are all 32 teams ranked worst to first heading into Wild Card Weekend.
32. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Last Week: 23-14 (L) Vs. Texans
The Tennessee Titans are officially on the clock, as they will pick first-overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise desperately needs a boost and a face of the franchise. They will get one come April, whether it’s a quarterback, or a player like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.
31. Cleveland Browns (3-14)
Last Week: 35-10 (L) @ Ravens
The Browns built a core of players to win, but the Deshaun Watson situation failed miserably. Now, given Watson’s contract, it’s a franchise in purgatory. They couldn’t trade Myles Garrett this offseason, could they?
30. New York Giants (3-14)
Last Week: 20-13 (L) @ Eagles
As bad as the New York Giants were this season, there are some real building blocks at premium positions on this roster. The missing piece is, of course, quarterback. Sadly, this may not be the draft to address that need.
29. New Orleans Saints (5-12
Last Week: 27-19 (L) @ Buccaneers
The Saints have put off a complete rebuild for as long as possible. I don’t think there’s any way to avoid one this offseason if they want to be competitive anytime soon.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
Last Week: 26-23 (L) @ Colts
From the sounds of it, the Jaguars really hurt themselves with head coaching candidates by retaining general manager Trent Baalke. It’s a shame, because this roster could be back in the playoff next year, especially once they add a top-five pick.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
Last Week: 34-20 (L) Vs. Chargers
As of Monday evening, the Raiders had not yet fired Antonio Pierce. Keeping a head coach that is clearly over his head would be a huge mistake.
26. New England Patriots (4-13)
Last Week: 23-16 (W) Vs. Bills
Unlike the Raiders, the Patriots did indeed let go of their first-year head coach in Jerod Mayo. Mike Vrabel is considered by many to be the favorite to get that job, and could possibly bring Josh McDaniels back as offensive coordinator. As bad as McDaniels is as a head coach, he’s a fantastic coordinator, and he would be a positive development for Drake Maye’s development.
25. Chicago Bears (5-12)
Last Week: 24-22 (W) @ Packers
After a demoralizing ten-game losing streak, the Bears ended the season on a high note by beating the rival Packers. They need to hit a home run on this head coaching hire. Sadly, I do not have much faith in the ownership to do so.
24. Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
Last Week: 23-19 (L) Vs. Commanders
While it hasn’t been officially announced that Mike McCarthy, whose contract has now expired, isn’t coming back, it’s sure leaning that way. Will Jerry Jones take a risk, or continue to make milquetoast head coaching hires?
23. New York Jets (5-12)
Last Week: 32-20 (W) Vs. Dolphins
If the Aaron Rodgers that showed up on Sunday was the one that showed up all year, the New York Jets may be playing football this weekend.
22. Carolina Panthers (5-12)
Last Week: 44-38 (W) @ Falcons
What a turnaround for the Carolina Panthers, who spent much of the first half of this season at the very bottom of these rankings. For the first time in a while, things are looking up for this franchise. Now, they need to make serious upgrades to this roster.
21. San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
Last Week: 47-24 (L) @ Cardinals
It’s safe to say that the San Francisco 49ers, who were the favorites to win the NFC prior to the season, were the league’s biggest disappointment this year. Just one year after coming oh-so-close to winning a Super Bowl, Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat.
20. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Last Week: 26-23 (W) Vs. Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts decided to bring back GM Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen. I think that Steichen deserved another year, and it’s not best practice to hire head coaches and GM’s at different times. The pair will sink or swim together next season.
19. Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
Last Week: 44-38 (L) Vs. Panthers
Raheem Morris seems like a good defensive coordinator and a great guy. He’s not head coach material, and the fact that the Falcons are going to head into next season with him in charge does not bode well.
18. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
Last Week: 47-24 (W) Vs. 49ers
After a poor back-half of the season, the Cardinals finished strong. Ultimately, they exceeding the expectations of many this season, and have a lot to build on heading into the offseason.
17. Miami Dolphins (8-9)
Last Week: 32-20 (L) @ Jets
It appears that Tyreek Hill will not be a Dolphin next year, as he made it clear that he wants out. Hill is a great player, but they may be able to establish a more physical, hard-nosed, and resilient culture reallocating the cap savings and assets received for Hill elsewhere.
16. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
Last Week: 30-25 (W) @ Rams
The Seahawks went 7-1 on the road and still missed the playoffs. That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s clear that head coach Mike MacDonald is building something in Seattle
15. Houston Texans (10-7)
Last Week: 23-14 (W) @ Titans
This Week: Vs. Chargers
The Texans had been in a tailspin, so it was nice for them to get a win, albeit in a game that saw reserves play significant snaps. If they don’t win on Saturday, this season will be deemed a failure.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Last Week: 19-17 (L) Vs. Bengals
This Week: @ Ravens
Water always finds its level, which is what the Steelers have done the last four weeks. Ultimately, this is a .500 ballclub that played a bit better than that for much of the season, only to fall back to earth.
13. Denver Broncos (10-7)
Last Week: 38-0 (W) Vs. Chiefs
This Week: @ Bills
It’s hard to give them too much credit for beating Kansas City’s backups. But, you’ve still got to go out there and get it done, and they did. Bo Nix was absolutely sensational, and he will be looking to build off of that as they head to Buffalo to try to pull a huge upset.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
Last Week: 27-19 (W) Vs. Saints
This Week: Vs. Commanders
I cannot believe the Browns discarded Baker Mayfield for Deshaun Watson. He’s led the Buccaneers to yet another divisional title and put up really great numbers in the process. And, his teammates seem to love him. Compare that to the Deshaun Watson situation, and you get the picture.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Last Week: 19-17 (W) @ Steelers
The Bengals fall just short of making the playoffs, despite winning their last five games. Ultimately, losing to the Jacoby Brissett-led Patriots in Week 1 was likely the difference. What a shame to waste a fantastic season from Joe Burrow.
10. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
Last Week: 24-22 (L) Vs. Bears
This Week: @ Eagles
11-6 is a very respectable record playing in the NFL’s best division. But, they have not played well against quality competition all year, and a team that entered the year as a trendy Super Bowl pick will head to Philadelphia as sizable underdogs.
9. Washington Commanders (12-5)
Last Week: 23-19 (W) @ Cowboys
This Week: @ Buccaneers
Win or lose this weekend, the 2024 NFL season will go down as a massive success for the Commanders. Given their large amount of cap space and young talent, they could be set up for success for a long time if they play their cards wisely.
8. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Last Week: 30-25 (L) Vs. Seahawks
This Week: Vs. Vikings
The Rams-Vikings game may be the most intriguing matchup of Wild Card Weekend. Speaking of intruiging, the Rams elected to rest starters instead of going all-out to win, which would’ve earned them the third-seed. That will be a point of discussion this week.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Last Week: 34-20 (W) @ Raiders
This Week: @ Texans
Call me crazy, but I would not be one bit surprised to see the Los Angeles Chargers playing on Conference Championship Sunday. I am a big believer in the Jim Harbaugh/Justin Herbert tandem.
6. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Last Week: 31-9 (L) @ Lions
This Week: @ Rams
There’s no other way to put it: the Vikings played their worst game of the season on Sunday against the Lions. A franchise that has a history of sad playoff exits needs to find a way to win on Monday night.
5. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Last Week: 35-10 (W) Vs. Browns
This Week: Vs. Steelers
The Ravens have flown under the radar a bit as a top-flight Super Bowl contender. Underestimate Lamar Jackson, who is having a much better season than he did last year when he won MVP, at your own risk.
4. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
Last Week: 23-16 (L) @ Patriots
This Week: Vs. Broncos
Will this be the year for the Bills to finally break through? They’ve got as good of a chance as anyone with the best player in football this year under center.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Last Week: 20-13 (W) Vs. Giants
This Week: Vs. Packers
It appears as if we are heading for a showdown beating the Eagles and Lions in the NFC Championship Game. That game will feature some of the best offensive line play ever on the field at one time. I hope we get to see it.
2. Detroit Lions (15-2)
Last Week: 31-9 (W) Vs. Vikings
This Week: Bye
The Lions, who had an early-season Bye Week and have been decimated by injuries on defense, needed home-field advantage and a bye week desperately. They got it with a dominant second half that saw them reestablish themselves as Super Bowl favorites. Here’s a thought. At 15-2 in a tough division with a point differential of well over 200, if this Lions team wins it all, they will be thought of as one of the best NFL teams of al-time.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
Last Week: 38-0 (L) @ Broncos
This Week: Bye
The Chiefs earned the right to put forth no serious effort to win in Denver on Sunday by starting out 15-1. The question is, after 24 days without playing, will the starters be able to pick up where they left off in the Divisional Round?