{"id":24638,"date":"2024-01-11T15:36:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T20:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=24638"},"modified":"2024-01-11T15:36:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T20:36:46","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/nfl-power-rankings-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL POWER RANKINGS: PLAYOFFS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have made it to the postseason in what emotionally feels like the shortest<\/a> NFL season of all time. Sure, it spanned 18 regular season weeks and three weeks of preseason football, but you can\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t blink in September and open your eyes to the 14-team playoff bracket. Because that\u2019s what happened to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll notice that the Top 14 teams here are all in the playoffs. Some Power Rankings like to get cute and pop a team they feel \u201cshould have made it in\u201d over a team that actually punched its ticket. Considering we have no under .500 squads in the postseason this go-round and the teams involved, it feels like this is the 14 that are supposed to be there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have three squads that have never made the show \u2014 The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. The other 11 franchises participating in the playoffs have been to the Super Bowl a combined 49 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five of the 14 head coaches \u2014 Sean McVay, John Harbaugh, Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy have won a Super Bowl. Only one of those guys, Reid, has won more than one. Kyle Shanahan and Nick Sirianni have coached in a Super Bowl, but both guys are 0-1 in the big game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is our last chance to arbitrarily rank every team based on fake criteria before they spend the next month playing out the only rankings that count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the Ravens backups couldn\u2019t beat a team vying for the final playoff spot. Shouldn\u2019t I drop them, then? Not when their starters will be rested for two weeks, healthy, and ready to drop 40 on whoever they face in the Divisional Round. Last week:<\/strong> No. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the Ravens, I\u2019ve chosen to leave the Niners where they are, in spite of a backup-led loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The difference there is the Rams played their backups too, so, even though it didn\u2019t cost San Francisco the No. 2 spot, they can still eat it over that for the next two weeks Last week:<\/strong> No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. BUFFALO BILLS (11-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a fun fact \u2014 The Bills and Steelers have met in the playoffs three times and the winner of all three of those contests has gone on to the Super Bowl. Of the three, only one has resulted in a Super Bowl winner, Pittsburgh\u2019s 32-14 victory in the Divisional Round in 1974 took them to their first of four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. Last week:<\/strong> No. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. DALLAS COWBOYS (12-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike McCarthy, in facing his old club this weekend, might have the unique distinction of being the first team the Green Bay Packers have fired twice. Because if the Cowboys lose in their Wild Card Game Sunday, McCarthy could be escorted from the stadium like BobCat Goldthwait getting fired in Scrooged<\/em> Last week:<\/strong>  No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what the Rams have done this season \u2014  Win double digit games when most of punditry through they were tanking for the No. 1 pick in the draft, secure a Wild Card spot with a week to go in the season and put four players, including rookie wideout Puca Nakua in the Pro Bowl. Nakua, of course, is seriously in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year and, if CJ Stroud hadn\u2019t just single-handedly willed his team, the formerly hapless Houston Texans, to a victory in a playoff game to get into the playoffs, you would just hand it to him. At best, Nakua could get a tie and share it. Let\u2019s hope for that. What isn\u2019t up for debate is Rams third round pick Kobe Turner out of Wake Forest via Richmond who leads all NFL Rookies in every single pass rushing and D-Line category. Defensive Rookie of the Year is his. Also, while we\u2019re tossing out accolades, what should never be lost in Nakua\u2019s historic season is who was throwing him the ball \u2014 Matthew Stafford. The guy who tossed Calvin Johnson the ball when he set the single season yardage record and the guy that helped Cooper Kupp win the NFL\u2019s Triple Crown and a Super Bowl MVP in the same season. Last week:<\/strong> No. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. CLEVELAND BROWNS (11-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is this Browns team good. This might be the best Cleveland team of my lifetime and I\u2019m about to turn 50. Of course, there were a few years without any Browns at all and the team that Old Browns morphed into won two Super Bowls since, but still. They have a good shot and could very well win it all. If only to screw up their entire quarterback situation again next season when they have Deshaun Watson under contract and everyone in Northern Ohio wants Joe Flacco to be attached to the team until the Sun burns out. Last week:<\/strong> No. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. DETROIT LIONS (12-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have no shortages of storylines in this Wild Card weekend, but none is better than Jared Goff, with the Detroit Lions, facing off against his former team and the head coach that demanded a divorce, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. Not only that, we have Detroit\u2019s golden son, Matthew Stafford, so beloved there that a fan group has demanded a ban on Stafford jerseys in the stadium Sunday night, can return to the first playoff game at Ford Field and ruin it for his former team. Stafford\u2019s legacy is secure and all he\u2019s done is build on that this season. Goff, though, a win here would be massive, not only for his psyche and his own legacy, but for the Lions. It\u2019s literally, from what I can tell, all their fans want. One win. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would it surprise anyone if the Chiefs found their mojo and made it all the way back to the Super Bowl? No. Would it surprise anyone to see the Dolphins roll into Arrowhead Saturday and cruise out with a win? Also no. Here\u2019s one thing we do know. Taylor Swift is responsible for none of it, either way. Stop blaming a guy\u2019s girlfriend for the team sucking. This isn\u2019t a Yoko situation. Andy Reid isn\u2019t asking her for play calling suggestions for God\u2019s sake. When Taylor is out there toting the rock and laying down a crushing block, blame her. Otherwise, be cooler, people. Last week:<\/strong> No. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, here we are again, with the Dolphins sitting on one win out of 11 over a team with a winning record this season. If you\u2019ll recall (and you probably can\u2019t), I picked the Dolphins to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. There\u2019s still a chance for it to happen, but, uh\u2026 I\u2019m not a believer. I\u2019m not even feeling good about their game against the Chiefs this weekend. Last week:<\/strong> No. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To say the Eagles have limped into the postseason is the understatement of the decade. They lost five of their last six games when they could have sewn up the NFC East in any of those weeks, and had a real shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference. Their lone win came against the hapless New York Giants, but they also lost to the Giants to end the year, again with a shot at the NFC East title, as well as the Arizona Cardinals. Those two teams are picking in the Top 6 of April\u2019s NFL Draft. Jalen Hurts dislocated the middle finger of his throwing hand and AJ Brown might be out. Philly is favored against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but nobody would be shocked to see them not only lose but get blown off the field. Last week:<\/strong> No. 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one outside of DeMeco Ryans\u2019 household believed the Texans would win double digit games, hoist the AFC South banner and host a playoff game in his first season with a team that has been in complete disarray for half a decade. It\u2019s why he\u2019s unquestionably the NFL Coach of the Year, in spite of tremendous campaigns by Shane Steichen, Kevin Stefanski and Sean McVay. Maybe some were a little shocked that those three other men accomplished what they did, but if I gave you odds on the Rams or Texans making the playoffs back in August, you would have absolutely taken the Rams. Same with the Browns and Colts. The Texans (and Ryans) are the reason the Colts aren\u2019t here. And, hey, I\u2019m a Puka Nacua guy, but CJ Stroud just secured the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award in a phenomenal, \u201cgotta have it\u201d game. He performed at an elite, franchise level that got his team in the playoffs. It\u2019s his award, but it wouldn\u2019t break my heart to see Stoud and Nacua share it. Last week:<\/strong> No. 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t love the Goff vs McVay\/Stafford vs the Lions storyline, then you have to adore the face that Mike McCarthy, fired by the Packers and replaced by Matt LaFleur, will get the chance to get revenge against the franchise that canned him and the guy that replaced him. On the flip side. LaFleur and the Packers can show that not only was Green Bay right to fire McCarthy, but they can get him fired again. Last week:<\/strong> No. 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t stop Mason Rudolph, you can only hope to contain him. Can the Steelers seriously do anything in the playoffs in Buffalo? Unlikely, but it\u2019s the NFL and Rudolph is the golden boy in the Steel City right now. Last week:<\/strong> No. 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the lowest ranked of our playoff teams, the Buccaneers might have the longest odds to get to the show, but here\u2019s something important to note \u2014 only two players in Bucs history have record 4,000 plus yards, 25-plus touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions and they are Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield. I don\u2019t think they can go to the Super Bowl, but there\u2019s no question they are a real danger to defeat a banged-up Eagles squad. Last week:<\/strong> No. 19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saints finished their season as winners under Dennis Allen and, as of this writing, he has kept his job. So, two of the guys we figured would be out, Allen and Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, seems to be safe. What would make me rethink that, if I own the Saints, is that Allen was overruled by his own players on their final touchdown that sent Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith to the unemployment line with a full stinky diaper. I can\u2019t see that happening to any good, respected head coach in the league, Hell, it wouldn\u2019t happen to Mike McCarthy and he\u2019s none of those things. Last week:<\/strong> No. 16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking news as I write this whole thing: Pete Carroll has been fired by the Seattle Seahawks in a move that no one was expecting. Or maybe he wasn\u2019t fired. Maybe this was a mutual parting of ways. I have no idea, but it feels to me as if they\u2019re going to blow up that team. As for Pete Carroll\u2019s next step? He\u2019s 72 so it\u2019s obvious\u2026. He should run for president of the United States. Anyway, here\u2019s what this entry was supposed to before that news hit \u2014  While I was still surprised, and proven wrong, by the Seahawks finishing with a winning record, they took some heat, as a team, for posting some post-game photos of some of the players smoking cigars. The idea was that this was to celebrate a winning season, in spite of not making the playoffs and even some former Seattle guys made comments. It turns out, they were celebrating the birth of Julian Love\u2019s son and this was the first chance<\/a> they had to do it. Maybe this is why you should breathe a little before posting some hot take on social media. Last week:<\/strong> No. 20<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bengals are the fourth-place team in the AFC North and still finished with a winning record. There is no argument that it\u2019s the best division in football, at least this season. What also can\u2019t be argued is that Zac Taylor is the right coach for this team and he, along wither owner\/GM Mike Brown, should do all they can to keep Tee Higgins under contract and in the offense. The Bengals will be back in it next season. I\u2019m confident a team that won nine games with Jake Browning at QB can do a little better with Joe Burrow at the con. Last week:<\/strong> No. 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the bad news is the Colts didn\u2019t make it into the playoff bracket, but since they would have been obliterated by the Buffalo Bills, this should actually be good news. They\u2019ll have a better draft pick and come out stronger for a serious run next year. What they got right, and there\u2019s no question about it, is hiring head coach Shan Steichen. He won\u2019t be NFL Coach of the Year because DeMeco Ryans\u2019 name is already being engraved on that trophy, but he should at least be in the conversation along with Kevin Stefanski and Sean McVay. Last week:<\/strong> No. 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lost amongst the Eagles\u2019 late season meltdown is the downfall of the Jags, a team that opened the year as, at worst, the fourth best team in the AFC and ended it outside the playoffs looking in. Trevor Lawrence\u2019s injuries didn\u2019t help and the team should probably do more to invest in a backup QB next season to guard against this. If they\u2019d gone 2-4 instead of 1-5 over the last month and a half they\u2019d still be playing. Last week:<\/strong> No. 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (8-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we continue to get firings trickling in, Antonio Pierce appears safe in Vegas and has the players\u2019 vote. Considering how poorly Mark Davis has done picking coaches up to this point, maybe it\u2019s not the worst decision to listen to Devante Adams on this one. Last week:<\/strong> No. 21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. NEW YORK JETS (7-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a season where he took four snaps, Aaron Rodgers still managed to be a raging distraction for the New York Jets. Looking forward to next year, fellas. Somebody ask A-Rodge if Bigfoot shot JFK because he knew too much about Alien\/Human hybrids right before kickoff in Sep. 2024, please. Last week:<\/strong> No. 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. CHICAGO BEARS (7-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It appears, against all odds and sense, Matt Eberflus has survived the ax in Chiago, but his entire offensive staff has been canned, Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, running backs coach Omar Young, wide receiver coach Tyler Tolbert and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zettis were all loaded up into the catapult and fired into the sun. Last week:<\/strong> No. 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. DENVER BRONCOS (8-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s Sean Payton\u2019s second offseason with the Broncos and the first where he\u2019s not sure who his quarterback will be in 2024. The last time he was in this position in New Orleans, he struck gold, signing Drew Brees and getting a Super Bowl Championship and likely a gold jacket because of it. The guys are out there, like Kirk Cousins, that could do the same in a Payton offense, but Denver\u2019s cap situation is in no condition to add another $40 million plus contract. Last week:<\/strong> No. 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lost in all the head coach firing news, and the Falcons were absolutely in correct in shooting Arthur Smith out of the airlock, but this should be a good job opening. I haven\u2019t dived in it yet, but it might be the second best after the Los Angeles Chargers. And you know that, when the place that just fired you, is a prime target and location for the next good crop of coaches, you did a bad job. So, chew on that Arthur Smith. Maybe you need to get a little angrier at your own head coaching performance and less angry at other teams scoring on your defense. Last week:<\/strong> No. 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minnesota has an interesting offseason ahead. There\u2019s a great chance the team is moving on from Kirk Cousins unless they franchise tag him. No one seems to be feeling that, so it\u2019ll be a new era in Minesota and, lucky for them, there are plenty of other good quarterbacks available. Don\u2019t be surprised to see Russell Wilson under center in Skol country next season.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. NEW YORK GIANTS (6-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Brian Daboll is safe in New York, he\u2019s jettisoned his defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, after they apparently got into a shouting match. Not sure how Wink thought that would go down, but getting tossed overboard immediately would have always been by guess. Anyway, should be an interesting offseason for the G-Men. Not only will they have a new defensive staff, they\u2019ll pick high in the draft and could very well be looking at a new quarterback. Last week:<\/strong> No. 27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

27. TENNESSEE TITANS (6-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After I wrote my What We Learned article<\/a> discussing the head coaching firings, a few hours later the Titans cut ties with Mike Vrabel in what might be the most suspicious coach firing in NFL history. It was common knowledge everywhere that Vrabel was the preferred replacement for the New England Patriots. To get Vrabel from the Titans, the Pats would have had to give up some kind of draft compensation, so to go ahead and chuck Vrabel now, legitimately one of the better head coaches in the league and instantly the best guy on the market, when you could have landed a first rounder, maybe even the No. 3 overall pick, is just dumb business and makes me want to put on my Mike Florio conspiracy hat. It wouldn\u2019t surprise me to see Bob Kraft buy a piece of property from Amy Adams Strunk for a ridiculously high price sometime in the next year. You can\u2019t trade for cash in the NFL like you can in the MLB, but I feel like a suitcase will exchange hands at some point over this. Anyway, congratulations to DeAndre Hopkins on catching enough passes to get his $500,000 contract incentive and congrats to him and the guy tossing him the ball, Ryan Tannehill, on shaking free of this dumb franchise this offseason. Last week:<\/strong> No. 29<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-12)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim Harbaugh is not only the top candidate for this job, he\u2019s the odds-on favorite<\/a> to get it. I feel like the moment Harbaugh lifted that College Football National Championship trophy his agent and the Chargers were already working on his contract here. Yes, LA has to abide by the Rooney Rule and schedule interviews, but this job is Harbaugh\u2019s to take or pass on. Last week:<\/strong> No. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-13)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re all just assuming that the Cardinals will land Marvin Harrison, Jr., which, as a Rams fan, I am not for, with the No. 4 overall pick in April\u2019s draft. But let\u2019s not get too hasty. The Chicago Bears have kept Matt Eberflus and there\u2019s a chance, now, that they\u2019ll keep Justin Fields. That means they\u2019ll either trade away that top pick or, a nightmare scenario for Arizona, take Harrison and let the QBs fall down the board. The Cards could trade out there for someone in love with Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, but Harrison would be gone. Not only that, the Bears could take Caleb Williams as expected and the New England Patriots could turn in that MHJr. card and blow this whole thing up too. The Cards are suddenly sweating.  Last week:<\/strong>  No. 25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-12)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Mike Vrabel now cut loose, the odds of Bill Belichick being loaded up in to the Viking burial barge grow exponentially. He\u2019s obviously the natural hire to replace the Super Genius, the New England fans will drop their Dunkin and raise both of the fists they usually use to punch someone \u201cwho thinks they\u2019re betta than them\u201d in the air for a victory scream. Mullets will be flying at full mast in a display we all have to describe as, \u201cwicked awesome.\u201d UPDATE<\/strong> \u2014 right as I wrapped this Rankings up, it was announced that Bill Belichick\u2019s time in New England was officially over. Unreal stretch. Maybe I need to keep writing Power Rankings and getting dudes fired? Last week:<\/strong> No. 28<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-13)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tank is complete and not only are the Commanders especially lucky as they\u2019ll have their choice between quarterbacks and not just automatically stuck with Drake Maye. They can now choose between Maye and Jayden Daniels unless the Bears decide they\u2019d rather send the entire draft into turmoil immediately by taking Marvin Harrison, Jr. Last week:<\/strong> No. 31<\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-15)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Panthers are officially open for business and requesting head coaching interviews. It\u2019s important to know that they\u2019ll still screw it up because Devid Tepper still owns the team. He\u2019s the new Daniel Snyder and there is about a decade of dark times ahead for Carolina because of that.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 32<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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