For 18 of the 32 NFL teams, the long off-season has already begun. Six of the teams (Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, the Jets, the Chargers and Jacksonville) have already let their head coaches go, looking for new leadership this year. There could still be other openings, as Denver will be looking for a general manager, and general managers often like to bring in their own “guys” as head coaches. For the 14 teams left in the playoffs, though, it’s time to start thinking about how to make it to the top of the pile and win Super Bowl LV.
Let’s take a look at power rankings for these 14 teams as you consider your playoff online NFL betting choices.
NFL News: Wild Card Power Rankings
#1 Kansas City Chiefs
14-2, AFC West Champions, #1 AFC Seed
I’ve written in several articles about how the Chiefs tend to live on the edge, frequently waiting until the second half, or even the fourth quarter, to flip a switch and win games late. If they don’t get Clyde Edwards-Helaire back for the divisional round, offensive balance could be harder to maintain. But until someone knocks off the Chiefs, they are on top of the heap.
#2 Buffalo Bills
13-3, AFC East Champions, #2 AFC Seed
We’ve heard a lot about Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley in the Buffalo offense, but it was wideout Isaiah McKenzie who went nuts on Sunday against Miami, catching three touchdown passes as Buffalo rolled the Dolphins, 56-26, piling up the second-most points in a game in the history of the franchise. That wasn’t a bad Miami defense that got undressed, by the way — the Bills are for real.
#3 Green Bay Packers
13-3, NFC North Champions, #1 NFC Seed
Aaron Rodgers has thrown 48 touchdown passes, 18 of them going to Davante Adams. Rodgers looks set to take the MVP for the third time, and Adams should get a close look as Offensive Player of the Year. The Pack has the NFC’s lone bye, and anyone who wants to get by them has to come through Lambeau Field.
#4 New Orleans Saints
12-4, NFC South Champions, #2 NFC Seed
Ty Montgomery used the absence of Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray to shine in Week 17, and Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes, but perhaps the most impressive stat was the five interceptions that the defense snatched. The Saints’ defense has not always been stout against the pass this season, but if New Orleans can cover down the field, they could be a dangerous team making a deep run.
#5 Baltimore Ravens
11-5, AFC Wild Card, #5 AFC Seed
The Ravens won their last five games and look ready to avenge last season’s divisional round loss to Tennessee when they head to Nashville to take on the Titans. It is important to remember that Lamar Jackson still has never won a playoff game, but he faces a Titans defense that has plenty of flaws.
#6 Seattle Seahawks
12-4, NFC West Champions, #3 NFC Seed
The offense slowed a bit in the second half of the season, while the defense came on strong. Can you imagine how great the Seahawks would be if both units started firing on all cylinders at the same time? Safety Jamal Adams remains questionable with a shoulder injury from Week 17. Betting against Russell Wilson is always a difficult choice, though, and the second season has been his time to shine.
#7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11-5, NFC Wild Card, #5 NFC Seed
Tom Brady threw 40 touchdown passes this year, at the age of 43. He got Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown to join him, and Brown is paying off, with 11 catches and two touchdowns against Atlanta in Week 17. Mike Evans (knee) may not play on Sunday against the Saints, so Brown will be more of a key cog in the machine.
#8 Pittsburgh Steelers
12-4, AFC North Champions, #3 AFC Seed
Big Ben has started throwing down the field, and Mason Rudolph tried the same thing in Week 17 against the Browns, and it worked against the Colts, almost bringing an upset win over Cleveland in the finale. Pittsburgh’s defense is well above average, and if the Steelers stay aggressive in the passing game, they should make the divisional round.
#9 Cleveland Browns
11-5, AFC Wild Card, #6 AFC Seed
The Browns are in the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, but they won’t have their head coach, and Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio will also be out, as both have positive tests for COVID-19. The offense will need to be more creative and aggressive than it was in Week 17, and the secondary will need to do a better job in coverage if the Browns want to beat Pittsburgh.
#10 Tennessee Titans
11-5, AFC South Champions, #4 AFC Seed
Ryan Tannehill threw for 40 touchdowns this year. Derrick Henry ran for over 2,000 yards. Corey Davis and A.J. Brown combined for almost 2,000 receiving yards. However, the defense permitted at least 30 points in half the team’s games, including 40 and 38 in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively. Expect the Ravens to take advantage.
#11 Indianapolis Colts
11-5, AFC Wild Card, #7 AFC Seed
First of all, let’s consider how odd it is to have an 11-win team come in as the last seed in the playoffs for the AFC, while Miami won ten games and didn’t make the cut. It was a tough year in the AFC, with lots of contenders. Look for the Colts to ride Jonathan Taylor, who ran for 253 yards against Jacksonville in Week 17, the second-best day by a rookie tailback since the leagues merged in 1970. Since Week 11, Taylor has averaged 123.5 yards per game, picking up 741 yards, second just to Derrick Henry. So the Colts won’t need Philip Rivers to be elite; he will just need to drive the bus. But will that be enough to win in Buffalo?
#12 Los Angeles Rams
10-6, NFC Wild Card, #6 NFC Seed
The Seahawks will host the Rams in the first round. The Rams may have John Wolford at quarterback, as Jared Goff was limited in practice yesterday after thumb surgery following Week 16. Seattle’s defense has been on the rise, but they split their games with the Rams, with the offense struggling in both meetings.
#13 Chicago Bears
8-8, NFC Wild Card, #7 NFC Seed
The Bears are in because the Arizona Cardinals lost to a backup quarterback (John Wolford) in Week 17. Chicago got to face some soft defenses in December, but when they hit Green Bay in Week 17, they got shellacked. Don’t expect much difference when the Bears play in New Orleans on Sunday.
#14 Washington Football Team
7-9, NFC East Champions, #4 NFC Seed
If the Philadelphia Eagles had not mysteriously pulled Jalen Hurts at the start of the fourth quarter — right after foregoing a game-tying field goal for a risky fourth-down play that failed against a stout Washington defense — it could easily be the six-win New York Giants sitting in this slot. But the Eagles moved up three draft slots as a result, and Philly’s shameless tanking has the Football Team ready to host Tampa Bay. Can that front seven make Tom Brady go down in the wild card round for the second straight year? Don’t bet on it.
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