{"id":396286,"date":"2026-01-06T23:25:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T23:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396286\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T23:25:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T23:25:11","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-heading-into-wild-card-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396286\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL power rankings heading into Wild Card Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The NFL has officially wrapped the 2025 regular season. The playoff teams are seeded, the draft picks for the non-playoff teams are set, and Wild Card Weekend is looming for those participating.<\/p>\n<p>There have been head coaches, coordinators, and front office executives fired, and more are likely on the way. A lot changes in the NFL from week to week, and things are only going to get crazier as the playoffs move into the offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>How do the playoff teams stack up against each other? How do the non-playoff teams rank vs. one another? Here&#8217;s our latest power rankings heading into the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>Playoff Teams<\/p>\n<p>1. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/seattle-seahawks\/361\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Seattle Seahawks;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> (Last Week: 1)<\/p>\n<p>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/denver-broncos\/332\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Denver Broncos;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Denver Broncos<\/a> (Last Week: 2)<\/p>\n<p>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/san-francisco-49ers\/359\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:San Francisco 49ers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">San Francisco 49ers<\/a> (Last Week: 3)<\/p>\n<p>4. New England Patriots (Last Week: 5)<\/p>\n<p>5. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/houston-texans\/325\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Houston Texans;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Houston Texans<\/a> (Last Week: 7)<\/p>\n<p>6. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/chicago-bears\/326\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chicago Bears;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Chicago Bears<\/a> (Last Week: 4)<\/p>\n<p>7. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week: 8)<\/p>\n<p>8. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/philadelphia-eagles\/354\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Philadelphia Eagles;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> (Last Week: 6)<\/p>\n<p>9. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/jacksonville-jaguars\/365\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Jacksonville Jaguars;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a> (Last Week: 9)<\/p>\n<p>10. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/buffalo-bills\/324\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Buffalo Bills;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Buffalo Bills<\/a> (Last Week: 10)<\/p>\n<p>11. Los Angeles Chargers (Last Week: 11)<\/p>\n<p>12. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/green-bay-packers\/335\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Green Bay Packers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Green Bay Packers<\/a> (Last Week: 12)<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>13. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: 15)<\/p>\n<p>14. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/carolina-panthers\/364\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Carolina Panthers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Carolina Panthers<\/a> (Last Week: 13)<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/seattle-seahawks\/361\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Seattle Seahawks;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/denver-broncos\/332\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Denver Broncos;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Denver Broncos<\/a> earned No. 1 seeds and playoff bye weeks in the first round. They are the two best teams of the regular season. Both of them have had a ton of challenges thrown at them, some when people didn&#8217;t believe in them, and they have answered every question. They go into the playoffs as the top two squads on the power ranking.<\/p>\n<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers and <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/carolina-panthers\/364\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Carolina Panthers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Carolina Panthers<\/a> made it on the final day in a bad division. It makes sense to have them at the bottom of the playoff pool, although they will both be going in thinking that they can win a game. In the middle are a bunch of teams with flaws that think that they can create upsets in the postseason and make a run in the Super Bowl. Chances are that one of them will be right.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Josh Allen and the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/buffalo-bills\/324\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Buffalo Bills;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Buffalo Bills<\/a> have no Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow to deal with in the AFC this year. If they don&#8217;t make it to the Super Bowl now, will they ever? Some teams here have good defenses, some have good quarterbacks, and some rely heavily on their coaching situation. Either way, it is going to make for an incredibly entertaining finish.<\/p>\n<p>Teams preparing for offseason<\/p>\n<p>15. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/minnesota-vikings\/347\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Minnesota Vikings;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> (Last Week: 17)<\/p>\n<p>16. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/detroit-lions\/334\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Detroit Lions;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Detroit Lions<\/a> (Last Week: 18)<\/p>\n<p>17. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/baltimore-ravens\/366\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Baltimore Ravens;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Baltimore Ravens<\/a> (Last Week: 14)<\/p>\n<p>18. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/tampa-bay-buccaneers\/362\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tampa Bay Buccaneers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> (Last Week: 16)<\/p>\n<p>19. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/indianapolis-colts\/338\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Indianapolis Colts;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Indianapolis Colts<\/a> (Last Week: 19)<\/p>\n<p>20. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: 20)<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>21. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/miami-dolphins\/345\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Miami Dolphins;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Miami Dolphins<\/a> (Last Week: 21)<\/p>\n<p>22. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/kansas-city-chiefs\/339\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kansas City Chiefs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> (Last Week: 23)<\/p>\n<p>23. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: 22)<\/p>\n<p>24. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/cincinnati-bengals\/327\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cincinnati Bengals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> (Last Week: 24)<\/p>\n<p>25. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/new-orleans-saints\/350\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:New Orleans Saints;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">New Orleans Saints<\/a> (Last Week: 25)<\/p>\n<p>26. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/washington-commanders\/363\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washington Commanders;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Washington Commanders<\/a> (Last Week: 26)<\/p>\n<p>27. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/cleveland-browns\/329\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cleveland Browns;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Cleveland Browns<\/a> (Last Week: 27)<\/p>\n<p>28. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/arizona-cardinals\/355\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Arizona Cardinals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Arizona Cardinals<\/a> (Last Week: 28)<\/p>\n<p>29. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: 29)<\/p>\n<p>30. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/new-york-giants\/351\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:New York Giants;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">New York Giants<\/a> (Last Week: 31)<\/p>\n<p>31. New York Jets (Last Week: 30)<\/p>\n<p>32. <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/las-vegas-raiders\/341\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Las Vegas Raiders;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> (Last Week: 32)<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/minnesota-vikings\/347\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Minnesota Vikings;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> missed the playoffs because of that tie with the <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/green-bay-packers\/335\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Green Bay Packers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Green Bay Packers<\/a>. They proved to be the more deserving team in the end, but the math kept them out. They sit atop the non-playoff teams with the most excitement heading into next season. The <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/tampa-bay-buccaneers\/362\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tampa Bay Buccaneers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/baltimore-ravens\/366\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Baltimore Ravens;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Baltimore Ravens<\/a> lost out because of issues on the final day of the regular season. Both of them are back to the drawing board as they try to bounce back in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>The Kansas City Chiefs and <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/football\/nfl\/teams\/cincinnati-bengals\/327\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cincinnati Bengals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> each have a top-four quarterback, like the Ravens, but will be watching the playoffs from their couches. Injuries and bad luck derailed these two teams. As for everyone else, the draft positions are set, and they will be looking forward to making their organizations better through their selections in the spring.<\/p>\n<p>This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: <a href=\"https:\/\/bearswire.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/bears\/2026\/01\/06\/nfl-power-rankings-wild-card-weekend\/88042293007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NFL power rankings heading into Wild Card Weekend;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">NFL power rankings heading into Wild Card Weekend<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL has officially wrapped the 2025 regular season. The playoff teams are seeded, the draft picks for&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[1258,1276,64,63,631,1261,1257,1248,1252,1238,1234,1256,3055,1243,1255,1246,1237,629,6580,1240,628,1250,3052,1263,1233,1239,1231,1249,1242,1235,593,6584,1260,1241,1262,1254,85,1247,1253,41710,1272,210870],"class_list":["post-396286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-arizona-cardinals","tag-atlanta-falcons","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-baltimore-ravens","tag-buffalo-bills","tag-carolina-panthers","tag-chicago-bears","tag-cincinnati-bengals","tag-cleveland-browns","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-denver-broncos","tag-detroit-lions","tag-green-bay-packers","tag-houston-texans","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-jacksonville-jaguars","tag-joe-burrow","tag-josh-allen","tag-kansas-city-chiefs","tag-lamar-jackson","tag-las-vegas-raiders","tag-los-angeles-chargers","tag-los-angeles-rams","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-new-orleans-saints","tag-new-york-giants","tag-new-york-jets","tag-nfl","tag-patrick-mahomes","tag-philadelphia-eagles","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-san-francisco-49ers","tag-seattle-seahawks","tag-sports","tag-tampa-bay-buccaneers","tag-tennessee-titans","tag-the-nfl","tag-washington-commanders","tag-wild-card-weekend"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}