After 18 gruelling weeks, the NFL regular season is finally over. For 18 teams it’s time to switch off and regroup ahead of the 2024 campaign. But the dream of hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy in Las Vegas next month is still very much alive for the remaining 14 franchises that have made the postseason.
Ahead of this weekend’s Super Wild Card round, DAZN ranks each of the playoff contenders from worst to first.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Well, someone had to win the NFC South. The Bucs were able to outlast the rest of the league’s poorest division after winning five of their last six games, but after averaging just 11 points in their past two games, they remain something of a limited team. However, should Baker Mayfield find a groove and their resolute run defense lock down a faltering Eagles side, they may have a berserker quality about them.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s a testament to Mike Tomlin’s coaching ability that the Steelers have made the postseason, despite playing in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions and having a number of issues at quarterback. The loss of T.J. Watt ahead of a wild card clash against the Bills is a hammer blow for their hopes of springing an upset against Josh Allen and company though.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have fallen off a cliff in recent weeks, losing five of their last six games thanks to a porous defense and injuries on offense. Despite this recent slide, they will start as favourites to beat the Bucs this weekend, but it’s hard to see them progressing much further.
11. Green Bay Packers
It took a few weeks, but Jordan Love has shown us he is a worthy heir to Aaron Rodgers and the next cab off the rank in Green Bay’s line of franchise QBs. It’s probably a year too early to get too excited about the prospect of a deep playoff run, but the future looks bright in Green Bay.
10. Houston Texans
DeMaco Ryans has overseen a stunning turnaround for the Texans, with rookies C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson taking centre stage. Last week was an ersatz playoff game for the Texans who needed a win to be in and Stroud showed no fear as the Colts were duly dispatched. The Cleveland defense will be another tough test for the rookie, but don’t count out the possibility of an upset.
9. Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniels’ side are feeling the grind of a long season and enter the playoffs nursing a number of injuries. On their day, the Fins possess one of the NFL’s most exciting offenses, but their recent struggles and poor record against fellow playoff teams this season gives the impression of a team running out of steam.
8. Los Angeles Rams
This was supposed to be a rebuild year for the Rams, with countless pundits writing them off at the start of the season. Credit to Sean McVay then, who has got Matt Stafford playing some of the best football of his career, while Puka Nacua has enjoyed a record-breaking rookie season. You wouldn’t bet against the football gods smiling down on Stafford in his first return to Detroit this weekend, would you?
7. Kansas City Chiefs
It feels wrong to put Patrick Mahomes and company so low down on this list given their recent history, but that’s a reflection of how their season has gone so far. The offense has not been clicking in recent weeks, but it would be foolish to write that unit off, while their improved defense will be hoping to restrict Miami’s banged-up offense in Saturday’s late game
6. Cleveland Browns
Who had Joe Flacco leading the Cleveland Browns into the playoffs on their 2023 NFL bingo card? Not us, that’s for sure. His dual against C.J. Stroud - 16 years his junior - is one of this weekend’s best storylines. It’s the Cleveland defense though that has the ability to settle that clash.
5. Detroit Lions
A team very much built in the image of their head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions will hope that their potent offense and controlled aggression on the other side of the ball will be enough to spoil Matt Stafford’s homecoming.
4. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo came back from the brink in December, reeling off five wins on the bounce, three of which came against playoff teams. Their victory against Miami last week handed them home-field advantage for their clash against the Steelers and Josh Allen should have enough big plays in his locker to see off the T.J. Watt-less Pittsburgh defense.
3. Dallas Cowboys
With Dak Prescott playing the best football of his career and CeeDee Lamb on a hot streak, Cowboys fans will be hoping this year will finally be their year after almost three decades of playoff disappointment. With Micah Parsons continuing to be one of the best defensive playmakers in the game, they have the tools, but can they triumph in a heavyweight clash outside of their own building?
2. San Francisco 49ers
At times this season, the 49ers have clearly looked like the best team in the NFL. Their number of offensive weapons is scary, while their defense can also win games as Kyle Shanahan eyes a fourth NFC title game trip since 2019. But that Christmas Day defeat to the Ravens looms large if they are to get over the hump and claim a first Super Bowl ring since the '90s.
1. Baltimore Ravens
And it’s that aforementioned win over San Francisco which means Baltimore to go into the playoffs as the best team in the NFL. Lamar Jackson is playing at an MVP level again, they have a coach who has done it all before and a fast, physical defense that can trouble anyone.