With 11 video games within the books on the NFL common season it’s truthful to start out waiting for the playoffs and past. It goes with out saying that something may occur within the postseason, however wanting on the pattern of the league we really feel pretty comfy separating the contenders from pretenders.
At this level no one within the NFL is eradicated from the playoffs, at the very least not technically. Clearly the Jaguars or Cowboys aren’t profitable the Tremendous Bowl, however till their season is over they nonetheless should be ranked. Right here’s how we ranked the groups based mostly 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 hold destroying opponents. You’ll be able to try to pour chilly water on it by saying they haven’t performed good groups, however they do what the elite groups are imagined to do to unhealthy 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 truly fairly easy, however they’ve a lot velocity in all places on the sphere that it forces groups to present them house to allow them to grind you with their run sport. 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 enjoying at an extremely excessive degree, getting sticky protection on the again finish from safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Department.
This very effectively might 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 most effective case for rating the Payments this excessive on this listing.
Going through 4th-and-2 late within the sport, and needing yet one more large play to ice a win in opposition to the Chiefs, the Payments turned to Josh Allen. As he typically does, Buffalo’s Superman put the Payments on his again and barreled via the Kansas Metropolis protection and into the tip 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 some of the environment friendly offenses within the league, and their protection is actually adequate for this workforce to be a contender. Once 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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However it begins with #17.
No. 3: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The door is certainly nonetheless open for an opportunity at a three-peat, however you’re mendacity to your self in the event you assume that is the most effective 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 continues to be the most effective quarterback within the NFL, however the step again on offense has led to him attempting to pressure far too many performs this season and he’s on tempo for a career-high in interceptions consequently. These form of errors get magnified within the playoffs the place one turnover in opposition to a prime opponent can spell the tip to a complete 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 tough to be as bullish in regards to 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 simply how good this workforce is.
No. 4: Philadelphia Eagles
With regards to the Philadelphia Eagles this can be a actually humorous workforce 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 via the season. Now they’ve received 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 completely 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 via as effectively.
The Eagles are a really harmful workforce with an opportunity to beat anybody within the NFL, although they’re simply outdoors the High 3 in the case of how assured we’re in them.
