NFL Power Rankings: Ravens, 49ers enter playoffs 1-2, plus what's next for all 32 teams
The NFL regular season is over, but the Power Rankings are powering on. Here's where all 32 teams landed after Week 18.
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The regular season is over, but the Power Rankings know that the NFL season never really ends, so today we’re looking at what’s next for every team in the league. For a couple, it’s rest. For some, it’s a playoff matchup. And for everyone else, it’s a draft pick (and maybe a new coach).
For the draft pick analysis, we’ll lean heavily on The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler, as you should this time of year.
1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
(Last week: 1)Saturday: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10
What’s next: A bye week
The Ravens’ frontline players are going to be very rested. With the top seed in the AFC already clinched, Baltimore sat Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, Zay Flowers, Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton and others against Pittsburgh on Saturday and still almost won. The team that finished the regular season fourth in scoring (28.41 ppg) and first in scoring defense (16.5) doesn’t lose its top spot over losing a game like that.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
(Last week: 2)Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 21-20
What’s next: A bye week
Like the Ravens, the 49ers basically gave their stars a bye week on Sunday. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle did not play because they already had locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And like Baltimore, San Francisco lost on Sunday. No matter, this is still the clear favorite in the NFC. The 49ers beat the Cowboys and Eagles by a combined 84-29. The only NFC playoff team that beat the 49ers this season was the Rams on Sunday, and that hardly counts.
3. Cleveland Browns (11-6)
(Last week: 3)Sunday: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 31-14
What’s next: The Texans in the playoffs
The Browns rested their stars, meaning of course they rested Joe Flacco. The matchup between the 38-year-old Flacco and Texans 22-year-old rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, which is Saturday in Houston, will be one of the most interesting of the postseason. So will Stroud against a Browns defense that is second in the league in pressure percentage (42.5 percent) and sixth in sacks (49).
4. Detroit Lions (12-5)
(Last week: 4)Sunday: Beat Minnesota Vikings 30-20
What’s next: The Rams in the playoffs
What happened to the Lions on Sunday is the reason the Ravens and 49ers rested their frontline players. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, who was fifth among tight ends this season with 889 receiving yards, suffered a hyperextended knee and bone bruise. His timeline for return hasn’t been determined, but he could miss their playoff opener. That could be a problem for a team that leans heavily on the league’s fifth-most prolific offense (27.12 ppg).
5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
(Last week: 5)Sunday: Beat Washington Commanders 38-10
What’s next: The Packers in the playoffs
The Cowboys know they won’t have to go on the road in the playoffs unless it’s to face the 49ers in the conference championship game. That’s great news for the team that led the NFL in scoring (37.38 ppg) and scoring margin (plus-172) at home this year. The last time Dallas lost a home game was the 2022 season opener against Tampa Bay. The Cowboys lost 31-28 to the Packers earlier this year in Green Bay.
Tight end Dawson Knox and the Bills made a remarkable turnaround to win the AFC East and the No. 2 seed in the conference. (Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
6. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
(Last week: 7)Sunday: Beat Miami Dolphins 21-14
What’s next: The Steelers in the playoffs
The Bills have won five games in a row, three of which have come against playoff teams. In that stretch, Buffalo is fourth in the league in scoring margin (plus-39). Sunday night’s win against the Dolphins not only gave the Bills the AFC East crown, it also means they will play Sunday at home, where they are 7-2 this season.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
(Last week: 8)Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 13-12
What’s next: The Dolphins in the playoffs
The Chiefs sat Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on Sunday because they were locked into the third seed. However, the argument could be made that the pair needs some more work. What has been the NFL’s scariest offense finished the regular season 15th in scoring (21.82 ppg) and ninth in yards (351.3). At least receiver Mecole Hardman got going a little Sunday, catching six passes for 77 yards.
8. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
(Last week: 9)Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 21-20
What’s next: The Lions in the playoffs
The Rams’ playoff matchup is the reason everyone jokes about the NFL being scripted. The storylines don’t get much stronger than Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford going back to Detroit, where he spent 12 mostly fruitless seasons, to face Jared Goff, the quarterback the Rams included as an afterthought in the Stafford deal who is now playing the best football of his career. The smart money says the Detroit crowd will cheer Stafford in his return … right up until kickoff.
9. Houston Texans (10-7)
(Last week: 10)Saturday: Beat Indianapolis Colts 23-19
What’s next: The Browns in the playoffs
Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is seventh in the league in EPA per attempt against four or fewer pass rushers (.12). He is 15th in the league in EPA per attempt against five or more pass rushers (.08). The Browns, who visit Houston on Saturday, bring five or more rushers more often than 30 teams in the league (42.5 percent of the time).
10. Miami Dolphins (11-6)
(Last week: 6)Sunday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 21-14
What’s next: The Chiefs in the playoffs
The high in Kansas City, where this game will be played Saturday night, is expected to be 13 degrees. This group of Dolphins has not played in a game that kicked off with a temperature below 45 degrees this season. Throw in all their injuries and the fact they have averaged 18.3 points per game the last three weeks (all in games against playoff teams), and this might be the end of the road for what has been one of the league’s most fun teams this season.
11. Green Bay Packers (9-8)
(Last week: 13)Sunday: Beat Chicago Bears 17-9
What’s next: The Cowboys in the playoffs
After starting the season 2-5, Green Bay won seven of 10 down the stretch. That and the development of Jordan Love might have to be enough considering Dallas is a 7.5-point favorite. That’s not nothing, though. Love finished the season sixth in EPA per dropback (.12) while throwing for 4,159 yards, the third most by any quarterback in his first year as a starter. Only Patrick Mahomes and Kurt Warner had more. Love also had 32 touchdown passes, which ranked second in the league.
12. Indianapolis Colts (9-8)
(Last week: 12)Saturday: Lost to Houston Texans 23-19
What’s next: The No. 15 pick
Quarterback Anthony Richardson will return next season, so the Colts have to decide if they’re going to use their first-round pick to help him or tighten up a rushing defense that allowed 123.8 yards per game, 24th in the NFL. If Indianapolis chooses offense, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers might be available. If it’s defense, defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton out of Illinois could be an option.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
(Last week: 11)Sunday: Lost to New York Giants 27-10
What’s next: The Buccaneers in the playoffs
The Eagles have lost five of their last six games. Since Week 12, they are 31st in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 30.3 points per game. On top of that, Jalen Hurts hurt a finger on his throwing hand and A.J. Brown suffered what is believed to be a minor knee injury Sunday. Philadelphia beat Tampa Bay 25-11 in Week 3, but that feels like decades ago to Eagles fans.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
(Last week: 14)Saturday: Beat Baltimore Ravens 17-10
What’s next: The Bills in the playoffs
T.J. Watt recorded his 19th sack Saturday and became the first player to lead the NFL in official sacks in three seasons. (Deacon Jones is credited with doing it five times before the league started keeping sacks as an official stat.) The problem is Watt also suffered an MCL sprain late in that game. His brother and aspiring media member J.J. (who also happens to be one of the players who has led the NFL in sacks in two seasons) thinks T.J. can return if the Steelers manage to get a win this weekend.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
(Last week: 15)Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 9-0
What’s next: The Eagles in the playoffs
The Bucs clinched the NFC South with Sunday’s win, but they don’t exactly enter the postseason on a hot streak. Yes, Tampa Bay has won five of its last six games, but it has averaged 11 points in the last two games. The Bucs versus a Philadelphia team that has lost five of its last six is the Monday night game, which can’t be thrilling for ESPN.
16. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
(Last week: 16)Sunday: Beat Arizona Cardinals 21-20
What’s next: The No. 16 pick
The Seahawks gave up 138.4 rushing yards per game this season, which ranked 31st in the league. They need defensive help and are picking in the middle of the first round, which means somebody like Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse or Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. The passing defense wasn’t much better, though (6.7 yards per attempt), so maybe Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.