The Detroit Lions look vulnerable, but that’s about what we expected. Dan Campbell’s team, crafted from a mix of impact young players and savvy veterans, has carried the growing pains that come with a rise from 3-13-1 to the NFC championship game in just two years throughout the 2024 NFL Playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers look vulnerable as well, and that’s more concerning. Saturday night’s comeback win over the Green Bay Packers proved Kyle Shanahan’s team could erase a late deficit — it was his first win in 32 tries after entering the fourth quarter trailing by five points or more. But it also proved the NFC’s top seed is flawed, from Brock Purdy’s early struggles with accuracy to the run defense that got torn up by Aaron Jones on its home turf.
That’s what makes this week’s NFC title game between the Lions and 49ers so compelling — and what keeps the Baltimore Ravens in the top spot as the penultimate weekend of the 2023 NFL season looms.
The Ravens didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown en route to a 31-10 dusting of the Houston Texans. Next up are the Kansas City Chiefs, who took advantage of the Buffalo Bills’ miscues to advance to a sixth straight AFC title game but serve as three-point underdogs in Maryland. Here’s how the rest of the playoff field, and the 28 other teams in the NFL, sorts out behind them.
Staying ready for the offseason
These teams haven’t played since Week 18. Their hopes and dreams lie in the free agent marketplace and 2024 NFL Draft
32. Carolina Panthers
31. New England Patriots
30. Washington Commanders
29. Los Angeles Chargers
28. Arizona Cardinals
27. Tennessee Titans
26. New York Giants
25. New York Jets
24. Atlanta Falcons
23. Las Vegas Raiders
22. Minnesota Vikings
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
20. Chicago Bears
19. Denver Broncos
18. Indianapolis Colts
17. New Orleans Saints
16. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Seattle Seahawks
Good enough to make the playoffs, but questions remain
14. Philadelphia Eagles
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
12. Miami Dolphins
11. Cleveland Browns
10. Dallas Cowboys
9. Los Angeles Rams
They outperformed expectations (not you, Bills)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield played large chunks of the season like a top 10 quarterback, albeit against middling competition. He’s earned a massive raise from someone this spring — but are teams going to be willing to take a chance on him in an offense that doesn’t feature Mike Evans?
7. Houston Texans
CJ Stroud couldn’t keep the Texans’ upset train rolling, but 2023 was never the destination. Instead, Houston got proof of concept from a franchise quarterback and a young defense capable of coming together in big moments. Things should only get better from here.
6. Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love made some grown up throws, but ultimately his regression back to “first year starter” doomed the Packers’ upset bid in Santa Clara. Even so, he’s loaded with a deep, young receiving corps and will have plenty of opportunities to rise up to expectations in 2024.
5. Buffalo Bills
The opportunities were there. The Bills didn’t take advantage of them. Now they’ve got to shed a ton of salary cap commitments — restructuring Josh Allen’s deal will help — and make some key decisions on which veterans stay and which go after another tantalyzing and ultimately frustrating season.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Last week’s rank: 5
Kansas City carved up the Bills injury depleted defense to make it back to the AFC title game. The Chiefs face a bigger challenge in Baltimore, where a defense that held the Houston Texans to 213 total yards awaits. Opposing quarterbacks posted just a 74.6 passer rating against the Ravens this season — lowest in the NFL.
3. Detroit Lions
Last week’s rank: 3
Jared Goff’s two playoff starts as a Lion: 74.3 percent completion rate, three touchdowns, zero turnovers, 8.1 yards per attempt and a 118.5 passer rating. The difficulty will be ratcheted up against the Niners, but Green Bay may have given him a cheat code; targeting Ambry Thomas whenever possible.
2. San Francisco 49ers
Last week’s rank: 2
The Lions will likely try to replicate Jordan Love’s roll-out offense in order to stifle the Niners’ pass rush — San Francisco went without a sack last week despite six quarterback hits. That may be a tough sell for Jared Goff, but it will be even more difficult if Chase Young can get back on track. The midseason arrival has only two quarterback hits and half a sack in his last four games.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Last week’s rank: 1
Lamar Jackson was responsible for all four of the Ravens’ touchdowns last week, putting in work to rewrite his postseason narrative. He could have afforded to be average after his defense limited the Texans to just 213 total yards. Doing that against a rookie quarterback is one thing; doing it to Patrick Mahomes will make Baltimore Super Bowl 58 favorites.
