The 2023 NFL regular season is over for 18 teams who, because of injuries, lack of talent, or inconsistency, will now watch the most important tournament in all sports.
The 14 teams representing the AFC and NFC in the 2024 NFL postseason have been set, and both conferences have multiple teams capable of bringing home a Lombardi Trophy.
Baltimore suffered a loss to Pittsburgh in the season finale, but they’re still the top seed in the AFC, and when the entire roster is on the field, they are, without a doubt, the best team in the NFL.
San Francisco is the No. 1 seed in the NFC, while the 3rd-seeded Dallas Cowboys could offer the most significant resistance with the Eagles’ late-season collapse.
With the NFL’s Black Monday upon us and 12 other teams set for Super Wild Card Weekend, we’re unveiling our first postseason power rankings.
32
Carolina Panthers 2-15
31
Washington Commanders 4-13
30
New England Patriots 4-13
29
Arizona Cardinals 4-13
28
Los Angeles Chargers 5-12
27
Tennessee Titans 6-11
26
New York Giants 6-11
25
New York Jets 7-10
24
Minnesota Vikings 7-10
23
Chicago Bears 7-10
22
Atlanta Falcons 7-10
21
Las Vegas Raiders 8-9
20
Denver Broncos 8-9
19
Seattle Seahawks 9-8
18
New Orleans Saints 9-8
17
Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8
16
Indianapolis Colts 9-8
15
Cincinnati Bengals 9-8
14
Philadelphia Eagles 11-6
The Eagles are the only team in the postseason to have not won two or more of their last five games, and they’re without a doubt playing the worst football of all the teams in the postseason.
13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8
The Bucs will host the Eagles for the second time this season on Monday Night Football, but it’s the hometeam with all the momentum after winning the NFC South for the third straight season.
12
Green Bay Packers 9-8
Green Back is back in the postseason, as Jordan Love threw for 316 yards and connected with Dontayvion Wicks on a pair of touchdowns as the Packers earned a wild-card berth with a 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The Packers erased a 2-5 start by winning seven of their last 10 games, including three straight.
They’ll head to Dallas for an intriguing matchup against the red-hot Cowboys.
11
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7
Playing in a driving rain storm all afternoon, the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive while snapping the Ravens’ game-winning streak.
10
Houston Texans 10-7
Rookie C.J. Stroud threw for 264 yards and two scores, Devin Singletary scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard TD run with 6:20 to play and the Texans are the AFC South champs after a 23-19 victory over Indianapolis on Saturday night.
They’ll host the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon.
9
Miami Dolphins 11-6
Miami had their chances on Sunday night, but after a 21-14 loss to Buffalo at home, they hit the road and face Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium as the No. 6 seed.
8
Los Angeles Rams 10-7
With Matthew Stafford resting, former Eagles’ No. 2 overall pick, Carson Wentz led the Rams to the NFC’s 6th seed with a 21-20 win over the 49ers on Sunday.
Stafford will return to the lineup in a scene out of a movie script, as the Rams head to Detroit to face the Lions and former Rams No. 1 overall pick, Jared Goff.
7
Cleveland Browns 11-6
Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski rested most of his starters Sunday in a 31-14 loss to Cincinnati. The Browns will play at AFC South champion Houston in the wild-card round on Saturday.
6
Detroit Lions 12-5
Detroit got the win, but at what cost, as the Lions won a franchise record-tying 12th game, beating Minnesota, but lost standout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta to a potentially serious knee injury.
LaPorta had a 2-yard touchdown catch midway through the first quarter and later exited with a knee injury as the Lions went on to beat the Vikings 30-20 on Sunday.
The No. 3 overall seed, they’ll welcome Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams to Ford Field for a matchup with multiple storylines.
Detroit starting quarterback Jared Goff was the No. 1 overall pick by the Rams in the 2016 NFL draft, leading Los Angeles to a Super Bowl appearance.
5
Kansas City Chiefs 11-6
Playing without Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs rallied behind veteran Blaine Gabbert, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 13-12 while resting most of their starters.
Kelce finished the year with 984 receiving yards, ending the All-Pro tight end’s bid for an eighth straight 1,000-yard season.
Gabbert completed 15 of 30 passes for 154 yards in his first start since 2018 with Tennessee.
With the Chiefs (11-6) locked into the AFC’s No. 3 seed for the playoffs, they’ll host the sixth seeded Miami Dolphins.
4
Buffalo Bills 11-6
After being 5-5 in Mid-November, including a heartbreaking loss to the Eagles, Buffalo is now among the best teams in the NFL, and the No. 2 seed in the AFC after a 21-14 win over the Dolphins in Miami.
The Bills will host the Steelers at home on Sunday.
Josh Allen finished 30 of 38 for 359 yards and two touchdowns.
He was intercepted on back-to-back drives to open the game, but led his team back for their sixth win out of their last seven games.
3
Dallas Cowboys 12-5
After leading the NFL with 15 interceptions last season, Dak Prescott led the league with 36 TD throws to only nine picks, and the 12-5 Dallas Cowboys are the No. 2 seed after a 38-10 win over Washington.
Dallas will host Green Bay on Sunday afternoon in a rating bonanza for FOX.
2
San Francisco 49ers 12-5
The 49ers rested their starters and fell to Carson Wentz and the Rams on Sunday. San Francisco is the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and will have the first round off with a bye.
1
Baltimore Ravens 13-4
Playing without Lamar Jackson and critical starters, the Ravens fell to the Steelers 17-10 at rainy M&T Bank Stadium.
John Harbaugh’s team is the No. 1 overall seed and will have the Wild Card Weekend off with a bye, but it could be on a collision course with the hated Browns.
