With 11 video games within the books on the NFL common season it’s honest to begin looking forward to the playoffs and past. It goes with out saying that something may occur within the postseason, however trying on the pattern of the league we really feel pretty snug separating the contenders from pretenders.
At this level no person within the NFL is eradicated from the playoffs, not less than not technically. Clearly the Jaguars or Cowboys aren’t successful the Tremendous Bowl, however till their season is over they nonetheless must be ranked. Right here’s how we ranked the groups primarily based on their likelihood to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2025.
Tremendous Bowl Rankings
| AFC | James | Mark | JP | Avg | NFC | James | Mark | JP | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | James | Mark | JP | Avg | NFC | James | Mark | JP | Avg |
| Payments | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lions | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Eagles | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.33 |
| Ravens | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | Commanders | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7.33 |
| Steelers | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5.66 | Vikings | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Texans | 9 | 7 | 11 | 9 | Cardinals | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10.66 |
| Chargers | 10 | 9 | 12 | 10.33 | Packers | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10.66 |
| Broncos | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Falcons | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14.66 |
| Dolphins | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | Rams | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15.33 |
| Colts | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19.33 | Seahawks | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Bengals | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 49ers | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Jets | 22 | 24 | 26 | 24 | Buccaneers | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20.66 |
| Patriots | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | Saints | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22.33 |
| Titans | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27.33 | Bears | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23.33 |
| Browns | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27.66 | Panthers | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25.33 |
| Raiders | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29.66 | Cowboys | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30.33 |
| Jaguars | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31.33 | Giants | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30.66 |
No. 1: Detroit Lions
The Lions simply maintain destroying opponents. You’ll be able to attempt to pour chilly water on it by saying they haven’t performed good groups, however they do what the elite groups are presupposed to do to dangerous groups, which is blast them to kingdom come. The Lions have had extra video games the place they’ve scored over 40 factors than they’ve video games the place they rating lower than 20. That’s ruthless, unimaginable soccer.
How they do it’s really fairly easy, however they’ve a lot pace all over the place on the sector that it forces groups to present them house to allow them to grind you with their run recreation. Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs present the pop for this offense, however make no mistake: when every thing is flowing for Detroit, they get contributions from everybody. The protection can also be taking part in at an extremely excessive stage, getting sticky protection on the again finish from safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Department.
This very effectively may very well be the 12 months that the Detroit freakin’ Lions break the glass ceiling. I’m right here for it, actually.
No. 2: Buffalo Payments
What we noticed on Sunday between the Buffalo Payments and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs could also be the perfect case for rating the Payments this excessive on this listing.
Going through 4th-and-2 late within the recreation, and needing yet one more massive play to ice a win towards the Chiefs, the Payments turned to Josh Allen. As he usually does, Buffalo’s Superman put the Payments on his again and barreled by the Kansas Metropolis protection and into the top zone, with a landing to place the sport nearly out of attain.
However past Allen, the very fact is the Payments have a really robust case for this spot. They’ve one of the environment friendly offenses within the league, and their protection is actually ok for this group to be a contender. While you have a look at each Offensive and Defensive EPA as charted by RBSDM, you’ll see the Payments proper behind the Lions:
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But it surely begins with #17.
No. 3: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The door is unquestionably nonetheless open for an opportunity at a three-peat, however you’re mendacity to your self for those who assume that is the perfect iteration of the Chiefs we’ve seen lately. An absence of weapons has lastly caught as much as Kansas Metropolis, and that’s led to the least-effective model we’ve seen of Patrick Mahomes in years.
Make no mistake: Mahomes remains to be the perfect quarterback within the NFL, however the step again on offense has led to him making an attempt to power far too many performs this season and he’s on tempo for a career-high in interceptions consequently. These sort of errors get magnified within the playoffs the place one turnover towards a high opponent can spell the top to a whole playoff run.
Pair a less-effective Mahomes, with a protection that’s taken a noticeable step again from a 12 months in the past and it’s troublesome to be as bullish concerning the Chiefs in 2024 than in years previous. It’s nonetheless hilarious that as a lot as we doubt them they’re nonetheless No. 3, and that’s a testomony to only how good this group is.
No. 4: Philadelphia Eagles
On the subject of the Philadelphia Eagles it is a actually humorous group to work out. It wasn’t way back that the Eagles have been 2-2, coming into a bye week with questions of whether or not Nick Sirianni would make it by the season. Now they’ve gained six in a row and are on an absolute tear.
Saquon Barkley has been the lacking piece to this offense. With 4 100+ yard dashing video games in his final 5 the Eagles now have a totally realized offense that may thrive in each phases. In the meantime it’s led to Jalen Hurts being a way more assured passer within the pocket, and that’s shined by as effectively.
The Eagles are a really harmful group with an opportunity to beat anybody within the NFL, although they’re simply exterior the Prime 3 in the case of how assured we’re in them.