2024 NFL Power Ranking Analysis After Wild Card Games

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NFL Power Ranking Following Wild Card Games

It was an expanded Wild Card Weekend this season, with a total of 6 games spread out over the three days. For those of you looking for surprises and upsets, there were plenty to be found, with the LA Rams and the Cleveland Browns making statements in their games and moving on to the Divisional Round. The betting odds will have changed over the weekend, but how do the results of those 6 games impact the power rankings? We are going to take a look at what we believe to be the top 5 teams left in the playoffs, although given what went down over the weekend, we might yet be proven wrong. With that in mind, let’s get right to it so you can keep betting against their NFL odds.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs nabbed the #1 seed in the AFC and have now basically had a couple of weeks off after resting a bunch of starters in Week 17. They should be well rested and ready when the Cleveland Browns come to town this weekend. Putting Week 17 aside, the Chiefs were 14-1 when playing all their starters, and while not all of those wins were of the convincing variety, they always seemed to find a way to win and get the job done. They will remain the #1 team in the league until they win it all again or lose in the postseason.

Green Bay Packers

Regardless of what happened over the Wild Card Weekend, you cannot move the #1 seeds in each conference out of the top 2 ranking spots. That means that that #1 seed in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers, are in at #2 in our power rankings. They had a fabulous regular season thanks in large part to an MVP type season from Aaron Rodgers at QB. Teams looking to take the Packers down are going to need to go to what is sure to be a frigid Lambeau Field over the next few weeks. You have to like the Packers chances to go all the way.

Baltimore Ravens

Here is where things get a little trickier in terms of the rankings. You could have 3 or maybe even 4 teams vying for this spot, but given how things have gone for the Ravens over the past month and a half, they look like the biggest threat to the Chiefs in the AFC. They got off to a slow start against the Titans, going down 10-0 early, but they rallied back and won, with Lamar Jackson finally getting his first postseason win. This is a team that no-one wants to face right now.

New Orleans Saints

In what is almost certainly the final season for Drew Brees, you get the feeling that this team would love to get their leader another ring before he bows out. The Saints were made to work hard in a 21-9 win over the Chicago Bears, although you have to say that the outcome never really looked to be in doubt. Next up will be Brady and the Buccaneers, a team that they have already beaten twice this season. That gives them a definite edge this weekend.

Buffalo Bills

You could easily flip the Bills with the Ravens in these rankings, but I made the decision to put Buffalo behind Baltimore. That could, of course, very well backfire on me if the Bills find a way to win at home this weekend against the Ravens. Buffalo finished the season strong and played well against the Indianapolis Colts, getting a 27-24 win in what was a very entertaining Wild Card game. If they win this weekend, they will send a serious message heading into the Conference Championship Game.

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NFL Power Rankings at the End of the 2020-21 Regular Season

The season is over, and the playoffs are now just a matter of days away. This is the point where we can essentially toss the NFL Power Rankings out the window, as anything can happen from that point forward. That said, it is still fun to look at the final rankings to see if there have been any moves that might suggest a team is about to make a run the likes of which we saw from the Tennessee Titans last season. With that in mind, let’s take a final look at the top and bottom 5 teams in the Power Rankings this season so you can continue making your bets against their NFL odds.

Top 5

Kansas City Chiefs

Yes, the Chiefs dropped their second game of the season in Week 17, but they did so with their best players out of the line-up. This is still very much the team to beat and they will be back after Wild Card Weekend.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills started many of their best players in the final week, but then pulled them as soon as they built up a big lead on the Dolphins, which helped Buffalo secure the #2 seed in the AFC. This team has risen above dark horse status.

Green Bay Packers

While it’s not totally guaranteed yet, the smart money seems to be on Aaron Rodgers winning the MVP. He has had an awesome year and was a huge part of the Packers nabbing the #1 seed in the NFC.

New Orleans Saints

Another very good season for a Saints team that had some injury issues to deal with. We have come to expect this level of play from them over the past couple of seasons, but can they get over the hump in the playoffs?

Baltimore Ravens

This is a team that has come very good in the past few weeks of the season and who now look like a serious threat in the AFC. The Ravens are a team that no one wants to face in the postseason.

Bottom 5

Houston Texans

DeShaun Watson finished the season as the passing yards leader in the NFL, but a lot of times it looked as though he was fighting a lone battle. At least the Texans have an elite QB in place as they look to rebuild.

Cincinnati Bengals

Despite going 4-11-1 on the season, the Bengals announced that they will be allowing coach Zac Taylor for one more year. You do have to imagine, though, that he will start next season on a very hot seat.

Detroit Lions

The 5-11 Lions are another team about to blow things up in a big way this offseason, which could mean bidding farewell to QB Matthew Stafford. We can only hope that he lands on a team where he has a chance to win.

New York Jets

With a couple of wins in the waning weeks of the season, the Jets took themselves out of the top pick in the draft. The question now is whether they will use their pick to land a QB or go in another direction.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Even before this season began, it looked as though the Jaguars were clearing house in an effort to tank the season. Mission accomplished. They will be seeing Trevor Lawrence take the field as their QB next season.