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Quincy's NFL power rankings for all 32 teams heading into Wild Card Weekend of 2025. Where does each NFL team stand in our latest power rankings for the 2025 season?
After 18 weeks, the NFL regular season has come to a close. NFL fans can rejoice because the playoffs are on the horizon. However, this is also a sad time of the year with the NFL season nearing its end. Never fear, for we can always evaluate teams in the power rankings, whether the league is in season or in the offseason. Just 14 teams remain alive. The rest of the league is beginning its offseason strategy. Let’s dive in and see where each team stands ahead of the playoffs.
No. 32: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders may have managed to beat the Chiefs on Sunday, but the win did not exclude them from securing the No. 1 overall pick. With a fresh regime entering the fold in Las Vegas, perhaps they can finally get things right. Expect Vegas to snag a quarterback at the top of the NFL Draft in April.
No. 31: New York Jets
Another week, another abysmal loss for the Jets. The Jets were unable to stop a Bills team playing without Josh Allen for all but one snap this week. New York also ends the season as the first team in NFL history to not force an interception. There is a long way to go for New York.
No. 30: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland began its offseason by dismissing head coach Kevin Stefanski. The move does not come as a massive surprise, but Cleveland needs to nail its coaching search because Stefanski enjoyed far more success than any other coach in recent Browns history.
No. 29: Arizona Cardinals
Perhaps surprisingly, the Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon. This team has some players to build around, but it is relatively directionless with no clear franchise quarterback. In a tough division, the next couple of years could be difficult for the Cardinals.
No. 28: New York Giants
The New York Giants enter the offseason with a potential franchise quarterback and the ammunition necessary to retool very quickly. Keep an eye on the Giants next year. They have the tools to skyrocket in their division.
No. 27: Tennessee Titans
The Titans were obliterated by the Jaguars on Sunday, but do not discount the little run this team went on to end the season. The wins did not exactly pile up, but Tennessee can enter the offseason confident that it has found its franchise quarterback in Cameron Ward. With cap space and draft picks, Tennessee could begin to make noise sooner rather than later.
No. 26: Miami Dolphins
It looks like Miami will retain head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel will look to replace quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. However, without a top pick, Miami may be forced to scour the trade or free agent market for a new signal caller.
No. 25: Washington Commanders
The Commanders need to do some soul-searching this offseason. They were in the NFC Championship game less than a year ago, but will be picking in the top 10 this offseason. Washington needs to get younger on defense and find some more playmakers. The NFC East does not project to get any easier anytime soon.
No. 24: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals finished the season with a loss, allowing edge rusher Myles Garrett to record a record-breaking sack against them. Cincinnati enters the offseason without a lot of money and a lot of questions. Can they avoid missing the playoffs for a fourth-straight year in 2026?
No. 23: New Orleans Saints
The Saints tried their best to knock off the Falcons in Week 18, but they fell short. Still, New Orleans seems to be building something special. They have found a quarterback in Tyler Shough, and they have a path to relevance in a weaker division in 2026.
No. 22: Kansas City Chiefs
The wheels fully fell off for the Chiefs at the end of this season. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will return healthy in 2026, and Kansas City will face a much easier schedule. This is a well-run organization that knows how to win. Kansas City will be back at the top in due time.
No. 21: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts enter another offseason full of quarterback questions. Philip Rivers will go back to being a dad, Anthony Richardson still has no reps, and Daniel Jones is coming off an Achilles tear suffered late in the season. Riley Leonard will also be in the fold this offseason. Head coach Shane Steichen will be on thin ice as he tries to navigate this situation.
No. 20: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons decided they had seen enough from head coach Raheem Morris after two seasons. Morris never got the chance to see the development of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. With a plethora of front office changes, it appears that owner Arthur Blank is opting for a full reset in Atlanta.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday night but ultimately watched as the Falcons bested the Saints on Sunday, keeping Tampa Bay out of the playoffs. There is no reason this roster should not have won the NFC South. Even once healthy later in the season, this team struggled.
No. 18: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore was a 44-yard field goal away from winning the AFC North and heading to the playoffs. A “wide right” call leaves Baltimore with a losing record and media questions about their head coach/quarterback pairing. It seems foolish to move on from either, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.
No. 17: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys continue to waste years of quarterback Dak Prescott’s career. Even so, Prescott is still in his early 30s. With a couple of assistant coaching staff changes, Dallas could improve its defense and return to relevance in 2026.
No. 16: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings finished the season with a bang. After an inauspicious start, Minnesota finished with a winning record. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was inconsistent, but he began to find himself down the stretch. Minnesota may be able to make some noise in 2026.
No. 15: Detroit Lions
Detroit will begin its offseason a lot earlier than expected. After dropping several inexplicable games throughout the season, the Lions could never recover. At least they got to continue owning the Bears in Week 18. This team will undoubtedly be back with a vengeance in 2026.
No. 14: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have won the NFC South for the first time since their 2015 Super Bowl run. Quarterback Bryce Young will get his first taste of the postseason. Carolina is not in the same league as the other teams in the NFC, but they have demonstrated an ability to beat anyone, even if they have lost to several inferior opponents as well.
No. 13: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are back in the playoffs as Mike Tomlin continues to deliver stellar coaching jobs year after year. While they may not look strong, Pittsburgh will host a home playoff game, and anything can happen in that situation.
No. 12: Green Bay Packers
The Packers are backing into the playoffs like no other. This team finished the season on a four-game losing streak. Even worse, Green Bay was in the running for the NFC North title just a week ago. Hopefully, the rest provided to the starters in Week 18 pays off, and Green Bay can make something happen in Chicago this weekend.
No. 11: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are back in the playoffs for the second straight year. This team has been very inconsistent this season amid a smattering of injuries. Still, Los Angeles has an elite quarterback. The Chargers draw a matchup with a relatively untested Patriots squad in the Wild Card Round.
No. 10: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will enter the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the NFC after taking care of business in the NFC East. Philadelphia has the defense to go to the Super Bowl. However, Philly cannot afford to continue stalling out on offense in the second half of games.
No. 9: Chicago Bears
The Bears managed to earn the NFC’s No. 3 seed by default in Week 18 following a loss by the Eagles. Chicago enters the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. They are ripe for an early exit if they cannot figure out how to stop falling behind early in games.
No. 8: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers lost their chance to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Seahawks’ defense and running game had their way with the 49ers’ offense and run defense, respectively, in Week 18. San Francisco must now travel to Philadelphia for Wild Card Weekend. This will be a very difficult test for a team riddled with injuries.
No. 7: Buffalo Bills
The Bills are in the playoffs as a Wild Card for the first time in five years. With many of the AFC’s elite quarterbacks not in the playoffs this year, this may be the best chance the Bills have to reach the Super Bowl for a long time. Still, Buffalo will need to win three straight road games to get there. The road will not be easy.
No. 6: Houston Texans
The Texans look like one of the strongest teams in the AFC, even though they are a Wild Card. Nobody wants to play this defense right now. With an offense that is coming along and an elite defense, Houston has a legitimate chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
No. 5: Denver Broncos
The Broncos secured the AFC’s top seed. However, their point differential is fifth in the AFC. Denver has not demonstrated that it is truly worthy of the No. 1 seed, but the bye and rest can go a long way.
No. 4: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has cemented itself as a true contender. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks like the No. 1 overall pick that he was five seasons ago. The Jaguars will be a tough out in these playoffs.
No. 3: New England Patriots
The Patriots secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and they draw a beat-up Chargers team in the Wild Card Round. Even so, with a young quarterback at the helm, you never know what can happen. This will be an exciting game nonetheless.
No. 2: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams managed to secure the No. 5 seed in the NFC and a rematch with the Panthers. Los Angeles will likely be itching to take the field this weekend and show the NFL that they are the team to beat in the NFC. With a couple of key players coming back to the lineup this week, the Rams are well-positioned to do just that.
No. 1: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks ran the table over the final seven weeks of the season and secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Seattle had to go through San Francisco to do so, and quarterback Sam Darnold played with intention around protecting the football. With a championship-caliber defense, Seattle could very well win the Super Bowl this year.
