It’s officially football playoff time. The 2024 NFL regular season has concluded, the postseason has been finalized, and the opening six games are scheduled for Wild Card Weekend.
How exactly will the 14 teams participating in the playoffs rank?Here’s how to rank them going to the dance.
Record: 10-7 |Goal difference: +33 (12th place)
Under coach Mike Tomlin, they always tend to spoil games, and TJ Watt coming off the edge is still a problem. But Russell Wilson’s midseason resurgence now looks like a thing of the past, and they can’t expect to win in January when they can’t move the ball. That’s been the story in Pittsburgh for years now.
Record: 10-7 | Point difference: 0 (15th place)
There was a time when CJ Stroud was feared as a gunslinger. That was a year ago. With a strong line and receiving corps, he will have to rely more on his thorough ground game and defense. This moment shouldn’t be too big for them, but they’ve been more sloppy than spectacular all season.
Record: 10-7 | Point difference: +114 (6th place)
Bo Nix still doesn’t get enough national recognition for the cool two-way presence he brings to Mile High, but their top three-scoring defense can offset most of the missteps from Sean Payton’s offense. Their problem is that they may be a year early as they struggle to top true heavyweights with more dynamic lineups.
Record: 11 wins, 6 losses | Goal difference: +101 (7th place)
Justin Herbert appears to be finally getting used to Jim Harbaugh’s disciplined setup, which prioritizes ball control and solid defense. The Bolts are giving up just 17.7 points per game, the best in the NFL. But even if it’s not a Rudd McConkie dogfight, does Herbert have what it takes to make a deep run?
Record: 10-7 | Point difference: -19 (16th place)
No matter where you rank things, there will always be mistakes. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVeigh reached the top of the mountain in recent memory, and the former’s powerful connection to Puka Nacua is nearly unstoppable. They also performed incredibly well with the ball in their hands.
Record: 10-7 | Point difference: +117 (5th place)
The Todd Bowles era was generally characterized by rowdy teams with tenacious, if not particularly special, defenses. Under new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen, they relied on a fascinating blend of both Bucky Irving’s power and Baker Mayfield’s willpower to overcome their worst ‘D’ with fireworks.
Record: 11 wins, 6 losses | Point difference: +122 (4th place)
When it comes to playing his own game, Jordan Love can give his best and give it his all, with a bruised Josh Jacobs helping balance out Matt LaFleur’s proven offense. But without Jaire Alexander in the secondary, opposing teams are extremely vulnerable, and Love is dealing with his third notable injury of the season.
Record: 12 wins, 5 losses | Point difference: +94 (9th place)
How far can a rookie quarterback go? Jaden Daniels is even more energetic than Stroud in 2023, boasting snappy pitching and super scramble speed, but Washington will rely almost exclusively on his athleticism given its lackluster backfield and so-so defense led by Dan Quinn. Relying on ability.
Record: 14 wins, 3 losses | Point difference: +100 (8th place)
How much do you weigh their nine-game winning streak against their mostly unserious Week 18 battle for the NFC’s top seed? If Sam Darnold gets decent protection, he’ll be at MVP level against Kevin O’Connell It will be proven that he can make darts. But it wouldn’t be all that scary if he and Brian Flores’ grumpy “D” were put in the hole.
Record: 13 wins, 4 losses | Point difference: +157 (T-3rd)
They can’t overcome a regular corps like the AFC Chiefs and rely heavily on Josh Allen playing Superman, along with a rotating cast of characters. But Allen is a one-man wrecking crew, and James Cook’s slippery speed is also underrated in the backfield.
Record: 14 wins, 3 losses | Point difference: +160 (2nd place)
Nick Sirianni’s temperament and situational coaching purposefully overshadowed the All-Star lineup, and at times they became their own worst enemy. But if Jalen Hurts is healthy, they have good weapons in Saquon Barkley and AJ Brown. Additionally, Vic Fangio’s “D” plays with a physical edge.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 15 wins, 2 losses | Goal difference: +59 (10th place)
They are aiming for a historic third consecutive victory, but I don’t think the current champions are basically running a sustainable business for two years in a row. But that’s because Patrick Mahomes is a freak who shows his inevitability in critical situations, and Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo are both ace decision-makers at their best.
Record: 12 wins, 5 losses | Point difference: +157 (T-3rd)
They have the NFL’s most dangerous home run threat under center in Lamar Jackson, as well as a huge ball carrier in Derrick Henry. Throw in an improved defense, a coach who’s been there and done it, and motivation to overcome the difficulties of the Jackson era, and they register as true title contenders.
Record: 15 wins, 2 losses | Point difference: +222 (1st place)
In 2023, Dan Campbell’s group went from being the NFL’s darling underdogs to contenders. In 2024, they’re just a powerhouse, with timely physicality from Jared Goff’s sharp point guard, Jahmil Gibbs’ home-run sprinting, and makeshift defense under Aaron Glenn to help the Force Down conversions seem to be becoming commonplace. They have world-class battle lines and weapons, but most importantly, they never budge.
