NFL Power Rankings

With the playoffs approaching it’s time for my first ever power rankings. I broke all 32 teams into 5 tiers and came up with the following list. Ranking methodology is based off of how likely it is for each team to contend for the Super Bowl. Hope you enjoy!

Tier 1: Super Bowl Favorites

1.Kansas City Chiefs — I have a feeling Kansas City is going to hold onto this spot for many years to come. The combination of Mahomes, Reid, and the insane weapons on offense make the Chiefs a heavy favorite to win the title this year and likely for the next few. We’re witnessing the beginning of a dynasty and they probably belong in a tier of their own.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers — I know, I know, two straight losses means Pittsburgh has to drop in the rankings right? I don’t think so. I think this team still possesses a top three defense in football and a bevy of playmakers on offense. They need to right the ship a little bit and get their run game going on offense, but this is a battle tested team and I think they’re still the most capable of taking down the Chiefs come playoff time. Two tough losses may be just what the doctor ordered to get this team back on track

3. Buffalo Bills — I, like many others, was wrong about Josh Allen. He’s getting better seemingly every week and I’m excited to see what he’ll do in the playoffs where he should have the opportunity to play in multiple games. The defense has started to click in recent weeks and Stefon Diggs is establishing himself as one of the best players in the league regardless of position. They’re coming for the #2 spot and potential rematches with PIT and KC in the playoffs will be must watch TV.

4. Green Bay Packers — Last year’s playoff loss paired with this year’s ugly showing against Tampa Bay make the Packers hard to trust. However when they’re playing to their full potential they might just be the best team in the league. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an MVP level and the connection he shares with Davante Adams is unstoppable. They have the fewest turnovers in the league and rank 2nd in total offense. The defense is cause for concern, but this team is built to outscore anyone and so far this year they’re doing it.

5. New Orleans Saints — I don’t like the Saints being this high, but they’re here by default. Usually you can’t be a top 5 team when quarterback is your biggest question mark, but outside of QB this team possesses arguably the best roster in football and a Hall of Fame head coach. Getting more out of Taysom Hill or a return from Drew Brees are a must if this team wants to go far come January, but for now, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, and their dominant defense can keep them afloat.

6. Seattle Seahawks — I’m higher on Seattle than most. Early in the season the offense was lighting the league on fire while the defense was historically bad. In recent weeks the defense has stepped up while the offense has stepped back. We’ve yet to see this team play great complimentary football, but I’m not going to be the one to bet against Russell Wilson and the offense getting back on track. They’re my favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl

7. Los Angeles Rams — The Rams currently sit above Seattle in the playoff standings, but a week 16 matchup between the two teams could flip that positioning. Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald are two of the best defenders in football and they have this Rams defense playing at an elite level. It’s hard to trust Jared Goff and the offense, but the recent emergence of Cam Akers has this run game humming. If the dominance on defense and proficient run game can continue, trusting Goff becomes a much easier task and this team could ride their strengths back to the Super Bowl.

Tier 2: The Dark Horse Contenders

8. Indianapolis Colts — How exactly did the Colts get here? This is a team that quietly possesses a 9–4 record and has been absolutely dominant in recent weeks. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor has been taking over games recently and he’s starting to show everyone why he was worth a 2nd round pick in this years draft. The defense continues to be one of the best in the league and pairing that unit with a run-first approach on offense has them second in the league in turnover margin at +11. If Indy were in the NFC they may be a tier 1 team, but the road in the AFC is much tougher.

9. Tennessee Titans — Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns and has been just as dominant as the Titans hoped he would be following his extension this offseason. Ryan Tannehill and the passing game have stepped up their game so far this year as well largely due to a second year breakout from AJ Brown, and this offense has proved capable of scoring with the best of them. The defense has been poor as they rank near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed, but if Henry and the offense can keep rolling another Cinderella run may be possible this postseason.

10. Baltimore Ravens — Was Monday night a sign that the Ravens are ready to recapture their 2019 form? 231 rushing yards and 5 TDs on the ground may indicate yes, but giving up 42 points to the Browns may indicate otherwise. As it currently stands the Ravens are just outside the playoff picture as the 8 seed, but a few late season wins could earn them a Wild Card birth and this is a team no one wants to be matched up with if they start to get hot.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — It hasn’t looked pretty this year, but at the end of the day this team is about as talented as they come. A top tier defense, playmakers galore on offense, and the GOAT under center is a scary sight for opponents in the playoffs. The 9–4 Bucs have been a bit underwhelming this year, but the potential this team possesses means they’ll be one of the scarier teams in the league come playoff time.

12. Cleveland Browns — In all honesty, Cleveland should probably be higher on this list but the fact that they’re the Browns is anchoring them lower than they deserve. The 2-headed monster they feature in the run game has been dominant and Baker Mayfield and the play action passing game have been the perfect complement. The defense leaves a lot on the table, but Myles Garrett is a DPOY candidate capable of single-handedly swinging games on that side of the ball.

Tier 3: Fringe Playoff Teams

13. Miami Dolphins — Miami may have taken a step down in their playoff contention with the benching of Fitzpatrick, but this is a team that can hang with the best of em. The offense has been uninspiring, but great defensive and special teams play has Miami currently slotted as the 7 seed in the AFC. I think they’ll lose that spot to Baltimore, but even if they get in I have a hard time believing they have a real chance at knocking off whoever the 2 seed is.

14. Arizona Cardinals — It’s tough to get a gauge on the Cardinals, but the offense has been consistently good for the majority of the year. The run game has been coming around in recent weeks and betting against Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins is a tough pill to swallow. The defense has been coming into form lately and their 3 forced fumbles and 8(!) sacks against the Giants this past week are encouraging moving forward.

15. Washington Football Team — Who saw this one coming? Following impressive wins against the 49ers and the Steelers the Football Team is looking like they’re primed for a playoff push. This defense is elite and Chase Young appears to be a star in the league for many years to come. Alex Smith and the offense aren’t exciting anyone, but they’re doing just enough to keep Washington’s playoff hopes alive.

16. San Francisco 49ers — The injuries have been brutal for this team, but head coach Kyle Shanahan has done a good job of letting things not get out of hand. This ranking is more out of respect for the organization than it is for their actual 2020 performance. I expect them to be strong contenders again in 2021

17. New England Patriots — Part of me still believes the Pats are primed for a playoff run, but all signs are pointing to them watching from the couch this year. Cam Newton has shown flashes, but overall the offense has been uninspiring and the defense has regressed massively from their 2019 highs. I wouldn’t bet against a comeback in 2021, but it’s simply not happening this year.

18. Minnesota Vikings — Dalvin Cook has been a force to be reckoned with all year long and the receiver duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson have provided explosive plays for the offense, but they’re still hampered by uninspiring quarterback play with Kirk Cousins. The defense has been below average, and although this team can hang with some of the leagues better teams, they aren’t scaring anyone.

19. New York Giants — A very up and down (but mostly down) team in 2020, the Giants have shown flashes indicating the Joe Judge era might be a good one. The roster is somewhat depleted, but this is a team that outperforms expectations seemingly every week. A full offseason that includes starters returning from injury, progression from young guys, and additions via free agency and the draft should provide a bright outlook for the 2021 Giants.

20. Las Vegas Raiders — When playing the Chiefs the Raiders look like a top 5 team, however in recent weeks they’ve looked more like they belong in the bottom 5. They have a solid, well balanced offense with a bevy of playmakers and a capable quarterback, but the defense is uninspiring and they can’t seem to get both sides of the ball to compliment each other well. Hard to identify what exactly the missing piece is for this team, but overall they’re lacking consistency.

Tier 4 — There’s Always Next Year

21. Philadelphia Eagles — Philly technically still has a chance at the playoffs, but this is not a team built for postseason success in 2020. The offense has been putrid all year, and even if Jalen Hurts stays under center I don’t think they have the supporting cast around him to do much on that side of the ball consistently. The defense however has been a bright spot that has kept Philly competitive against tougher opponents. It’ll be interesting to see what this team does with their QB situation in the offseason, but getting their OL healthy alone should do wonders for whoever’s under center.

22. Chicago Bears — Speaking of messy QB situations, the Bears are another team possessing a lackluster offense and a great defense. The defense isn’t as elite as it was a few years back, but Khalil Mack and company are still capable of winning games on that side of the ball. The back and forth situation at QB hasn’t been ideal for the team, but Trubiski has played better since returning to the starting lineup. The hope for Bears fans is they don’t talk themselves into another year of this experiment.

23. Detroit Lions — Matt Stafford is good enough to consistently keep this team competitive, but outside of him there’s not much to get excited about. The defense has been poor, there isn’t a huge influx of young talent, and they’re left without a head coach. Detroit could be an appealing option for a head coaching candidate in the offseason due to having a QB in place and essentially a blank slate to work with, but this team is going to face an uphill battle in the NFC North for years to come.

24. Los Angeles Chargers — I don’t fully understand how the Chargers have only won 4 games with the talent this team has, but they’ve managed to do it. This is probably the most exciting team out of this tier when you look forward to 2021. They seem to have hit a home run with Justin Herbert at quarterback, they have playmakers around him on both sides of the ball, and if he can come back healthy Derwin James is one of the best defensive backs in football. The right coaching hire could have this team fighting for a Wild Card birth in 2021, but competing with the Chiefs for an AFC West title is a tough ask.

25. Carolina Panthers — The Panthers are more of a fun team than they are a good team. By surrounding Teddy Bridgewater with playmakers on offense this team has been able to put up points, but they haven’t been elite on that side of the ball by any stretch of the imagination. Meanwhile on defense they’ve struggled to stop opposing offenses and overall they haven’t looked the part of a playoff team. Matt Rhule appears to be building a solid foundation in Carolina and when Brees and Brady retire they’ll have as good a chance as anyone at winning the division.

26. Denver Broncos — Denver’s great defense has kept them competitive in most games they’ve played this season, and getting Von Miller Back in 2021 should elevate this unit even further, but the problem with this team is the offense and more specifically the quarterback play. At times Drew Lock has looked like a Pro Bowl player, but on his off days (which are frequent) he’s looked like the worst QB in the league. An upgrade at QB is necessary for this team, but the question is will John Elway admit defeat on yet another one of his draft picks and find a way to upgrade the position?

27. Houston Texans — Deshaun Watson is one of the premier talents in the NFL and if he had any sort of a supporting cast around him he’d be in the MVP conversation every year. Bill O’Brian really hurt this team’s future outlook by selling the farm for underwhelming assets, and it’s going to take some very savvy moves from the next GM to get Watson the help he needs. Watson alone is the reason this team isn’t in tier 5.

Tier 5 — Oof

28. Atlanta Falcons — An aging roster with a lack of true identity has Atlanta all the way down in the bottom tier just a few short years after their Super Bowl appearance. Teams in this tier are in need of a full fledged rebuild and Atlanta is no different. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with some of their aging stars (ex: Matt Ryan and Julio Jones) and their big contracts this offseason. Similar to Carolina, Atlanta needs to be thinking about the window that will open in the NFC South following the Brady/Brees retirements

29. Dallas Cowboys — Dallas probably has the best chance to vault up multiple tiers in 2021 due to the return of Dak Prescott, but his contract is up and keeping him in Dallas won’t come cheap. Bringing Dak back will eat up a large portion of the team’s cap space and his high cost paired with the salaries of Amari Cooper, Zeke Elliot and others on offense should leave Dallas pretty thin once again on defense. This team should be more competitive next year, but they’re far from being true contenders

30. Cincinnati Bengals — The Joe Burrow injury was heartbreaking for this team, but his presence should inspire hope for Bengals fans for many years to come. With Burrow under center this team should be able to produce points on offense for years to come, but the rest of the roster certainly needs work and they’re in one of the tougher divisions in all of football. It’ll take a few years before the Bengals start competing for the playoffs.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars — Somehow the Jags beat the Colts in week one and inspired hope for 2020, but it’s been all downhill from there. The QB situation has been a mess, the once elite defense has lost all of it’s star players, and somehow the team’s most inspiring player is a rookie undrafted free agent playing running back. Whichever QB Jacksonville snags in the draft will be in an ok situation with a solid running game and decent receivers around him, but expecting a quick turnaround from a 1 win team is asking a lot.

32. New York Jets — Trevor Lawrence has his work cut out for him.