Having taken a break over the Christmas period, the Power Rankings return and I thought it would be fun to not compare where I had these teams after Week 16, but rather where I had them positioned in the first Power Rankings column of the season ahead of Week 1. As you will see, I was way off on the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns and massively underestimated the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders.
- Detroit Lions +3
Detroit have been forced to battle through an incredibly-long injury list yet they flexed their muscle in their Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings. And with David Montgomery sidelined through injury, the RB situation may be better with Jahmyr Gibbs going it alone.
- Buffalo Bills +5
The Bills rested key starters on Sunday, including star quarterback Josh Allen, and took their lumps against the lowly New England Patriots. But this remains a powerhouse of a team and one that has a genuine shot at winning the Super Bowl, especially with Allen leading the way.
- Kansas City Chiefs -1
The Chiefs also rested key veterans in Week 18 and suffered their first shut out loss since 2012. But I think back to the Christmas Day demolition of Pittsburgh and wonder if this offense has found itself just in time. The Chiefs are not going away quietly in a top-heavy AFC field.
- Philadelphia Eagles +5
Getting Jalen Hurts back from his concussion is, of course, vital for the Eagles. He should be out there leading one of the deepest and most talented teams in the NFL. Saquon Barkley was rested in Week 18 and is now ready to chase the bigger goal of Super Bowl glory.
- Baltimore Ravens -2
The Ravens were far from perfect against Cleveland in Week 18, playing down to the level of their opposition. But they still topped 400 yards of offense and scored 35 points. Such is the power of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the rest of the attack when it gets rolling.
- Minnesota Vikings +15
The Vikings were humbled in Detroit on Sunday night and Sam Darnold played his worst game of the season. But it was just one game and panic should be avoided. This remains a talented team that can make some noise, albeit away from home as a very rare 14-win road squad.
- Washington Commanders +20
I was way off on the Commanders, ranking them 27th in the preseason. Instead, they won 12 regular season games and showcased their ability to compete moving forward in the form of impressive – on and off the field – rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Their future is bright.
- Green Bay Packers -1
The Packers head into the Wild Card Round for a second successive season as an underdog looking to knock off an NFC East club. But I don’t see Green Bay doing to Philadelphia what they did to Dallas last term. Late-season losses to Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago stand out.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +11
Their Week 18 NFC South-clinching victory over New Orleans was shaky early on, but Baker Mayfield first willed his teammates to wake up and then led them with some killer passes down the stretch. I think these Bucs, while thin on defense, are going to be a dangerous foe.
- Los Angeles Chargers +12
The Chargers secured their number five seed in the AFC playoffs with three straight wins to end the year. And during that time Justin Herbert reminded us why he is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the entire league. The defense has slid just a little, though.
- Denver Broncos +19
I didn’t see a playoff campaign coming when Denver spent the offseason in rebuild mode, trading Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland. But Sean Payton brought rookie QB Bo Nix along wonderfully and they finally got over the finish line and into the postseason with a win over the Chiefs.
- Los Angeles Rams +1
The Rams rested all their key starters on Sunday, which tells me Sean McVay was more concerned with the health of his roster than the Wild Card Round opponent. And that makes sense. Even with the Vikings coming to LA, the Rams feel they can beat anyone on their day.
- Houston Texans -8
I thought the Texans might keep C.J. Stroud at quarterback a little while longer to fix their ailing offense in Week 18. But can it be fixed in one week? Or was it more beneficial to get some key players rest ahead of the Wild Card Round. DeMeco Ryans went with the extra rest.
- Cincinnati Bengals -8
Oh, what might have been! The Bengals just could not overcome some of their defensive letdowns and close losses from earlier in the season, costing Lou Anarumo his job. Joe Burrow not in the playoffs having won his final five games just doesn’t feel right. We’ll miss him!
- Pittsburgh Steelers +1
The Steelers have talent and they did win 10 games. But they have lost four in a row and the offense has gone to sleep at the worst possible time. As punishment for that slide, the Steelers visit Baltimore in the first round. Or could it be that they won’t mind facing an old enemy?
- Seattle Seahawks +7
The Seahawks are another of those teams who pleasantly surprised in 2024, winning 10 games and narrowly missing the playoffs on a strength of schedule tiebreaker. Geno Smith should be back, but coordinator Ryan Grubb is gone. More balance is needed in 2025.
- Arizona Cardinals +8
The Cardinals could, in time, reflect on a season of progress under Jonathan Gannon with eight wins and nine losses. Kyler Murray showed growth at quarterback but also had some bad games. And this team was 6-4 and top of the NFC West heading into their bye week.
- Miami Dolphins -8
Tua Tagovailoa was injured twice and missed six games. But even when he was in the lineup, the magic was gone from Miami’s attack. This team was built aggressively in recent years and all they have to show for it is first-round playoff exits in 2022 and 2023. What next in Miami?
- Atlanta Falcons -1
Maybe the change to rookie QB Michael Penix was made too late to sneak into this year’s playoffs. But he flashed the big arm and mobility to make 2025 intriguing. The Falcons will take a financial hit moving on from Kirk Cousins, so defensive help must come in the Draft.
- Indianapolis Colts -1
The Colts head into the offseason with a lot of questions, most notably surrounding the future of quarterback Anthony Richardson. Has he shown enough growth, especially on the mental side in terms of leadership and reading defenses, in his first two years? It’s not an obvious yes.
- San Francisco 49ers -20
I got this one majorly wrong, but I would guess I am not alone. I thought the 49ers were finally going to get over the hump and win the Super Bowl. Instead, riddled with injuries and poor play at key times, they stumbled to a 6-11 record. And now they have to pay Brock Purdy.
- Dallas Cowboys -11
The Cowboys were another high-profile NFC team that fell hard and fast in 2024. Dallas were especially embarrassing at home, which has not helped in-limbo head coach Mike McCarthy. His contract runs out on January 14. Will he be back or gone? Watch this space. I think gone.
- Carolina Panthers +9
While the first half of 2024 looked like more of the same from the Panthers and resulted in the benching of Bryce Young, they were an entertaining team from November onwards. Young returned to show he can be a playmaker and started to look like a star in waiting. Promising.
- Chicago Bears -10
Chicago’s season offered so much promise when they left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 4-2 record in mid-October. But they did not win again until Week 18 and that cost Matt Eberflus his job. The priority has to be getting the best out of (and protecting) Caleb Williams.
- New York Jets -10
I’ll say this about a Jets team that massively under-achieved in 2024, costing head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas their jobs… the players kept fighting hard and there were signs, in my opinion, that Aaron Rodgers can still sling the rock at the age of 41.
- New Orleans Saints -2
Does anyone remember when the Saints started the 2024 season by scoring 91 points in their first two games? Seems a long time ago, doesn’t it. It was a campaign which rarely got the pulse racing after that. And it seems that this franchise is a long way from being competitive.
- Jacksonville Jaguars -10
The Jaguars constantly seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a season with way too many close losses. Trevor Lawrence got hurt and Doug Pederson got fired. The new head coach will be key, working with Lawrence and wide receiver sensation Brian Thomas Jr.
- Las Vegas Raiders -2
Antonio Pierce took a long time during training camp to decide on his quarterback and many Raiders fans believe he chose the wrong one in Gardner Minshew. But would Aidan O’Connell have made much more difference? Either way, the head coach is one and done and gone!
- New England Patriots +2
Jerod Mayo is also one and done and got fired just hours after a four-win campaign. In a cruel twist, that final day victory over Buffalo took New England from having the first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft to picking fourth in April. They have to find Drake Maye some weapons.
- New York Giants -1
John Mara is sticking with head coach Brian Daboll, probably because he knows that his team leader was working without a viable option at quarterback. The Giants pick third overall in April’s NFL Draft. Will there be a quarterback available at that spot to change their trajectory?
- Cleveland Browns -19
The Browns gave up on the 2024 season. That much is clear given that we saw Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe playing quarterback at the end of the year. Now they face a massive question of what to do with Deshaun Watson and his hefty contract in 2025.
- Tennessee Titans -4
The Titans were a perfect example of how non-descript an NFL team can become when they don’t have a quarterback solution. Will Levis had his chance and his time has come and gone. Tennessee holds the first overall pick in the NFL Draft and they have to find a franchise QB.