NFL power rankings: Lions, Bills, Eagles, Ravens top NFL playoff challengers for Chiefs?

Posted by Admin January 6, 2025 NFL

The NFL regular season is over and 14 teams still have a chance to win the Super Bowl.

But which teams are the most likely to win the Super Bowl this season?

We rank all 14 teams in the NFL Playoffs from least likely to most likely to win the Super Bowl this postseason, with the No. 1 seeded Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions given the best chances as they get byes during wild-card weekend and only need to win two games to make the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

If those teams are the favorites, which other teams are the top contenders? Which could be dark horses for the NFL championship?

Check out our NFL power rankings heading into the first-round NFL postseason games, with each team’s ranking before NFL Week 18 in parentheses.

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Playoff seed: No. 7 in AFC

First the good news: The 10-7 Broncos are in the postseason as the final seed in the AFC. Now the not-so-good news: They have to play the Bills in Buffalo in the wild-card round and the Bills are very tough to beat in Buffalo. If Denver were to somehow upset the Bills they would face the rested Chiefs in Kansas City. Good luck.

Playoff seed: No. 7 in NFC

The Packers went 11-6 in the regular season, but have lost two straight games. They also suffered some big injuries in Week 18, with WR Christian Watson carted off and Jordan Love also exiting hurt. Could this team surprise? Sure, but the odds seem stacked against them.

Playoff seed: No. 6 in AFC

The Steelers (10-7) limped into the playoffs with four straight losses and lost out on winning the AFC North in the process. Their reward? A third game this season against the Ravens, who beat them in Week 16, 34-17. It could be a very short playoff stint for Pittsburgh.

Playoff seed: No. 4 in AFC

The Texans went 10-7 and won the AFC South by two games while earning a home game in the playoffs in the process. We just don’t think they will have a lengthy stay having to deal with the Chargers’ defense in the wild-card round. This team might deserve to be last in these rankings, but that home game helps.

Playoff seed: No. 4 in NFC

Are we too low on the Rams? Perhaps. But Los Angeles, which went 10-7 in the regular season, has to play a very tough Minnesota team in the first round, with the No. 1 seeded Lions looming barring any upsets. The Rams’ road isn’t an easy one.

Playoff seed: No. 6 in NFC

Washington went 12-5 but has to open at the Buccaneers. That’s why we have them so low, even though they have won five straight. If this team won in the first round, it would possibly face the Lions in the second. Not an easy task.

Playoff seed: No. 3 in NFC

Tampa Bay (10-7) landed the No. 3 seed by winning the NFC South, but that gives them a home game, which could be huge. Tampa Bay beat Washington in Week 1 in Tampa, 37-20.

Playoff seed: No. 5 in AFC

The 12-5 Chargers have a favorable draw, opening at the 10-7 Houston Texans. They are favored in that wild-card game. If things fall into place, they would face the Chiefs in the divisional round, a team they played very tight in both regular-season games.

Playoff seed: No. 5 in NFC

Are we too high on the Vikings? They went 14-3, losing only to the Rams and Lions (twice). They are only No. 5 because they didn’t win their division. This team could do some damage as a lower seed in the NFC.

Playoff seed: No. 3 in AFC

The Ravens have really impressed the past four weeks of the season, which included a 34-17 win over the Steelers, their wild-card game opponent. A potential second-round game against the Bills would be huge.

Playoff seed: No. 2 in NFC

The 14-3 Eagles open the playoffs against the Packers, a team they beat 34-29 in Week 1 in Brazil. But this game will be in Philadelphia. The Commanders or Buccaneers could be their second-round foe, making it a favorable NFL postseason slate for Philly.

Playoff seed: No. 2 in AFC

Buffalo went 13-4 this season. It opens against the Broncos in Buffalo, where the Bills went 8-0 this season, giving this team a big home-field advantage. There are questions about its play on the road, however, as the Bills went just 5-4 away from home.

2. Detroit Lions (3)

Playoff seed: No. 1 in NFC

Detroit went 15-2 to get the top seed in the NFC and the bye that comes with it. Interestingly, the Lions were 7-2 at home this season and 8-0 on the road. Injuries have piled up, but they have the easiest path to the Super Bowl in the NFC.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)

Playoff seed: No. 1 in AFC

The Chiefs have won two straight Super Bowls and went 15-2 this season. They also went 8-0 at home, where they will play every game until the Super Bowl. They are our most likely Super Bowl winner entering the wild-card round. This team just knows how to win, especially in the postseason.

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