The 2024 playoffs are set to kick off tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. as 14 teams look to claim a Super Bowl victory this season, but how should those teams be ranked in comparison to their peers?
Just two teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, were able to secure the top seeds in the conferences and a bye in the wild-card round. This means 12 teams will play this weekend to start determining the best in the NFL.
Although teams are entering these playoffs matched up based on record and standings, that does not determine who should be the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
The Dallas Express NFL Wild Card Power Rankings are as follows:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are the clear favorites to win the Super Bowl again this season after finishing with a 15-2 record and losing just one game with every starter playing. This team features the best quarterback and coach combination of any team in the NFL while also boasting one of the best defensive units in the league. Although many have criticized the Chiefs for winning 11 games by one score or less during the regular season, this experience in tight games will prove to be beneficial in close games during the playoffs.
2. Detroit Lions
Detroit has suffered multiple devastating injuries on both offense and defense this season, but this team has still taken full control of the NFC and taken down multiple conference contenders in the final weeks of the regular season. The expectation that cornerback Ennis Rakestraw and running back David Montgomery will return to the team in the divisional round will be incredibly beneficial for this team in the playoffs. The defensive injuries suffered by the Lions may force this team to win games in shootouts, but the regular season has made it clear that this should not be an issue.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts has officially cleared concussion protocol and is expected to be available for the Eagles on Sunday against the Packers, meaning this team will be close to full strength and one of the favorites to win the NFC. Philadelphia features one of the league’s most explosive and diverse offensive structures with incredible weapons in A.J. Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Devonta Smith. Combine this explosive offense with a defense that has been one of the best in the league this season and the Eagles should be near the top of every prediction to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
4. Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen put this Bills team on his back for the majority of this season, leading Buffalo to its fifth consecutive AFC East division title while being one of the favorites for the MVP award. The Bills will need Allen to continue his heroics in the postseason if this team hopes to win a Super Bowl. The biggest concerns for Buffalo revolve around a leaky defense that allowed 42 points to the Lions, 35 points to the Ravens, and 44 points to the Rams. Additionally, questionable decisions by the coaching staff could make winning in the playoffs difficult. While Buffalo still has clear obstacles to overcome in the playoffs, this team should be able to take down the Broncos in the wild-card round before worrying about stronger opponents in the future.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore has struggled at times this season against inferior opponents, but this team has hit its stride at the right times and is entering the wild card round on a four-game winning streak. This win streak also includes the Ravens scoring at least 30 points in every matchup, indicating that this offense has found a rhythm and can take down any defense in the league. Although Lamar Jackson has a record of just 3-5 against the Steelers in his career, the Ravens dismantled Pittsburgh in Week 16 and should be the heavy favorites in this game.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Many people picked the Vikings to miss the playoffs this season, meaning a 14-3 regular season is a complete success for a franchise that was also without one of the top rookie quarterbacks. Minnesota features some of the best offensive weapons in the league and a defense that has forced at least one turnover in every game this season. However, Sam Darnold’s performance raises many concerns about whether the Vikings can compete with the best teams in the league. While Darnold had an impressive regular season, he fell apart in the biggest game of the year in Week 18 against Detroit. Darnold was just 18-41 passing without a touchdown while missing multiple throws, which would have changed the outlook of this game. The majority of this roster is ready to compete for a Super Bowl this year, but Darnold’s performance will leave many wondering whether his regular season play was just a mirage.
7. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams dealt with a slew of injuries to start the season and got off to a disastrous 1-4 start before stringing together enough wins to secure the NFC West. A large piece of this high ranking revolves around the playoff experience of Head Coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who have already proven that they can win the Super Bowl in the 2022 season. Additionally, the defense is young and has been ascending throughout the season while the offense has gotten healthier. Although the Rams should not be considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year, this team can compete with anyone and should not be taken lightly by any opponent.
8. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been one of the most controversial teams in the NFL this season with a record of 11-1 against the majority of the league, but finishing 0-5 in games against the Lions, Eagles, and Vikings does not provide much confidence heading into the playoffs. Green Bay will also be without cornerback Jaire Alexander and wide receiver Christina Watson for the remainder of the season, who are two of the most important pieces on each side of the ball. Quarterback Jordan Love and Head Coach Matt LaFleur demonstrated last season that Green Bay cannot be overlooked in a singular game but a matchup with Philadelphia in the wild card round is a difficult way to begin the postseason.
9. Washington Commanders
The Commanders were the most surprising team in the NFC this season and likely could have won their division if not for the Eagles. This team features a solid rushing attack and one of the most explosive passing games in the league, meaning they have the ability to outscore anyone if the defense cannot get stops. That will be the major question for this team leading into a matchup against the Buccanneers, as the defense has sometimes struggled to stop equally explosive offenses. While there may be concerns about the performance of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in the biggest game of his professional career, there are still reasons to be optimistic about the Commanders in the wild-card round.
10. Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Baker Mayfield has put together the most impressive season of his career, leading Tampa Bay to a record of 10-7 despite being 4-6 through 10 weeks. Tampa Bay is unlikely to string together multiple wins in the playoffs and make a run to the Super Bowl, but this team has proven multiple times this year that it can compete with anyone in a singular game. Securing a home-field advantage in the wild card round is also incredibly beneficial in a game where Tampa Bay will take on a rookie quarterback.
11. Houston Texans
Houston has put together a solid season despite injuries to some of the most important players on the team. The Texans finished with a record of 10-7 for the second straight season behind quarterback CJ Stroud and Head Coach Demeco Ryans. A team that entered the year with one of the best receiving cores in the league will now lean heavily on Nico Collins, who can take over a game but will likely have to deal with double coverage for large portions of each playoff game. Luckily, the Texans won the AFC South and will play at home for the wild card round, giving them a clear advantage over the Chargers in the first round.
12. Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh has this Chargers team way ahead of schedule in his first year as head coach after many expected Los Angeles to miss the playoffs this season. However, this team likely needs one more offseason to add more pieces and become a legitimate contender in the AFC. The Chargers have a solid matchup with the Texans in the first round of the playoffs, meaning there is a good chance that Los Angeles walks away with a win in the wild-card round. However, a matchup with one of the top teams in the conference will likely be the end of the Chargers’ season.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers opened the season as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, but that success has tapered off as the team began competing against other playoff teams to end the season. Pittsburgh finished the season losing four straight games while failing to score more than 20 points in any of those matchups. Russell Wilson began his season on a hot streak after throwing for more than 260 yards in four of his first six appearances, but this play has also slowed down as he threw for fewer than 220 yards in every game during the four-game losing streak. While Pittsburgh can keep this wild-card matchup against the Ravens close due to familiarity with their opponent, this team is not destined to make a deep run in the playoffs.
14. Denver Broncos
The Broncos were one of the most surprising teams in the playoffs this season, but that does not mean this team should be considered one of the favorites to compete for a Super Bowl this year. This team has many pieces that will be valuable in the future, though an overall lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball will make it tough to compete with the best teams in the AFC. While the defense has proven to be one of the best in the league, a matchup with the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round will likely be their final game of the season.