2026 NFL Power Rankings: Offseason Evals for Eliminated Clubs, Ranking Playoff Teams

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2026 NFL Power Rankings: Offseason Evals for Eliminated Clubs, Ranking Playoff Teams

2026 NFL Power Rankings: Offseason Evals for Eliminated Clubs, Ranking Playoff Teams — Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Sun, Jan 4, 2026 ·

18 min read

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As NFL Week 18 draws to a close, there are now just 14 teams left standing with the NFL Playoffs kicking next weekend. Of course, making the playoffs doesn't necessarily mean you are truly one of the best NFL teams right now. The postseason will put that on full display in these next two weeks.

Let's dive into our first NFL power rankings of 2026. We'll kick off with ranking the teams in the NFL playoffs and then move on to eliminated teams with offseason evaluations for each of them.

1. Seattle Seahawks

2026 NFL Power Rankings — Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Just as important for the Seattle Seahawks as securing the NFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye is what this rushing attack has become. Following Week 18, Seattle finished the regular season averaging 140.6 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry over its last nine games (8-1 record). That ability to run the football, paired with a lights-out defense, makes this a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If Sam Darnold can protect the football and string together some efficient performances, this is unquestionably the team to beat in the NFC.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

In what feels line of the most wide-open NFL playoffs in some time, stacking up the teams comes down to what units are trusted the most. Yes, the inconsistency of this Philadelphia Eagles offense is unnerving and it's nearly cost them a few additional games this season. With that said, Philadelphia's defense is phenomenal and the team has started to get Saquon Barkley going again late in the winter. Plus, the Eagles have ample playoff experience on their side. This team isn't nearly as good as it was last season, but it could still repeat as Super Bowl champions when all is said and done.

3. New England Patriots

Drake Maye should be the NFL MVP, and the New England Patriots should feel even more confident in their chances of making a playoff run with Milton Williams , Will Campbell , Khyiris Tonga , Robert Spillane , Harold Landry , and Jared Wilson all returning just in time. Now, with that acknowledged, this team also isn't exactly battle-tested, with a majority of its wins coming against bad competition. Really, a one-and-done for the Patriots feels just as possible as a Super Bowl run.

4. Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have the highest ceiling of any team in the playoffs. Matthew Stafford has delivered MVP-caliber form for a majority of the season, especially with a healthy Puka Nacua and Davante Adams . Likewise, the defense from Los Angeles is led by a pass rush that is capable of taking over a game. On the flip side of that coin, however, are five games with an interception by Stafford (resulting in a 2–3 record) and four games where this defense allowed 30-plus points. There is just a lot of volatility with this year's Rams team.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The peaks from the Jacksonville Jaguars this season have been truly impressive. They started the year 4–1, including wins over the Texans and the 49ers . Jacksonville also ended the season on a seven-game win streak, and that could have been in the double digits if not for a Week 10 collapse in the second half against Houston . Liam Coen has really done some marvelous work this season with Trevor Lawrence , and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is maximizing what he has to work with. Don't rule out the Jags representing the AFC in the Super Bowl come February.

6. Denver Broncos

Any skepticism about the AFC West champions ahead of the NFL playoffs isn't entirely about Bo Nix . The fact is that after some dominance to start the season defensively, the Denver Broncos allowed 23.2 points per game from Weeks 13–17, after surrendering just 17.5 PPG in the first 11 weeks of the season. So, if Nix isn't phenomenal or Denver cannot run the football effectively, the Broncos might not get the defensive performance they need to beat top competition in the playoffs.

7. Houston Texans

We have just as much confidence in DeMeco Ryans ' defense as we do any unit in the playoff field. The problem for the Houston Texans heading into January is that the offensive line is a massive weak link, and C.J. Stroud has been really bad in some key spots when blitzed. Still, this team went from 3–5 to potentially 12–5, and it already has wins this season over the Jaguars, Bills , and Broncos, with a last-second loss to Denver when C.J. Stroud was out. All that is to say, Stroud returning to his 2023 form, paired with defensive excellence, could take Houston to the Super Bowl.

8. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers' offense feels unstoppable. Christian McCaffrey is a darkhorse NFL MVP candidate this season, and Brock Purdy has played at that level since he fully recovered from his toe injury. That is with head coach Kyle Shanahan capable of winning a chess match against anyone. We just have zero faith in San Francisco's defense being able to get out of its own way and eventually being the reason the 49ers are knocked out of the playoffs.

9. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills finally get to avoid the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, and yet, this year's team feels the least equipped to make a Super Bowl run. It starts with the front office's failure to build a competent receiving corps for Josh Allen , an issue that will show up in the Wild Card Round and potentially beyond. With that said, it is also not as if Allen has played particularly consistently as of late, and being hurt might have plenty to do with it. Losing on Wild Card Weekend very much feels like it is on the table for Buffalo.

10. Chicago Bears

The fact that the Chicago Bears won the NFC North and challenged for the conference's No. 1 seed in their first year with Ben Johnson speaks to how bright this team's future is. With that said, Chicago's defense is far too reliant on turnovers for sustained success in the playoffs, and Caleb Williams is still a bit too inaccurate to overcome that. The Bears will get knocked out at some point, but they are playing with house money now.

11. Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert has been excellent this season, and Los Angeles Chargers' defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has this defense playing at a high level. We just have absolutely zero faith in the Chargers' offensive line. It is going to be the team's undoing at some point, most likely on Wild Card Weekend. It is a shame because, with a league-average offensive line, Los Angeles would have a shot at the Lombardi Trophy this season.

12. Green Bay Packers

If the Green Bay Packers' roster were healthy, this might have been the team to beat in the NFL playoffs. Unfortunately for Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love , there is no Tucker Kraft or Elgton Jenkins to help this offense maintain some consistency. For a while, Green Bay was able to overcome those absences with great play from Love. Then, Green Bay's defense lost Devonte Wyatt and Micah Parsons to season-ending injuries. There have just been too many losses to overcome, and the Packers will get knocked out quickly.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

Somehow, despite their best efforts at times this season to give it away, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North. Fortunately, the victory on Sunday Night Football also means that wide receiver DK Metcalf can return from his two-game suspension for the Wild Card Round. That's nice. However, this entire Steelers offense isn't functioning well enough to win a playoff game, and this defense is far off from what it used to be.

14. Carolina Panthers

For the first time since 2017, the Carolina Panthers are playoff-bound. This is also the franchise's first NFC South crown in a decade. Bryce Young and Dave Canales didn't punch their ticket by beating the Buccaneers in Week 18, but all that matters now is that they made it in. Carolina will almost certainly be a one-and-done team, but the fact that this club is hosting a playoff team shows the progress they've made under Canales.

15. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions' offensive line must be fixed this offseason. There should be no bigger priority for this front office. It might also be wise for head coach Dan Campbell to go outside of his circle for a new offensive coordinator, finding someone who can maximize Jared Goff despite his limitations. As for the other side of the ball, the long-term health of Kerby Joseph (recurring knee issue) and Brian Branch (Achilles) means there will be even more pressure on the Lions' offense to perform consistently next season. This team is more than good enough to win double-digit games, but health never seems to be on their side, and they play in the toughest division in the NFC.

16. Kansas City Chiefs

With a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and the opportunity to create more cap space than they have had in a few offseasons, the Kansas City Chiefs' front office has an opportunity to correct some of its mistakes. The defensive line and run game were not properly addressed in recent years, and both played crucial roles in the team's 2025 downfall. Assuming Patrick Mahomes is back sometime in September, we'd expect him to return to a more well-rounded and innovative offense than he has played in during the first era of this dynasty.

17. Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones will find plenty of ways to keep the Dallas Cowboys in the news this offseason, especially in the summer when George Pickens' contract extension talks are turned into a spectacle. While we expect the Pickens-CeeDee Lamb combo to remain together in 2026, it is not a safe bet that Dallas will be able to overhaul this secondary and improve the pass rush. An elite offense is great, but asking it to make up for another bottom-10 defense is a recipe for a nine-win season. If the Cowboys have a bottom-five defense again, seven wins is the ceiling.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Even if you want to believe the flashes J.J. McCarthy showed late in the season can be sustained in 2026—which is a risky assumption—the young quarterback will have played in just ten games through his first two seasons. Outside of the quarterback position, the infrastructure is in place on the Vikings' roster for Minnesota to be a playoff contender next fall, and they have a great coaching staff. Unless they add a bridge quarterback as an insurance plan behind McCarthy, Minnesota still feels like a team that can win only nine games if everything goes right, provided there is no significant third-year leap from 'Nine'.

19. Baltimore Ravens

It's time for John Harbaugh to go. He survived being on the hot seat once, when a young Lamar Jackson saved his job. After all the playoff collapses this franchise has experienced in recent years, the underwhelming regular-season results in 2025 warrant a change. You aren't moving on from a two-time MVP quarterback, so Harbaugh has to go. If a change is made, this is easily the best job available this offseason.

20. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons invested heavily in their defense last offseason, and it paid off, with that unit making real strides in 2025. Now, the real question is who will be the Falcons' starting quarterback in 2026. Michael Penix Jr. will be recovering from his third ACL tear, and Kirk Cousins ' performance has left much to be desired. It is also worth noting that Atlanta seems to play much better football after being eliminated from playoff contention. Still, an offense centered around Bijan Robinson , combined with a potential top-15 defense, can challenge for the NFC South crown next season.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The second-half collapse to close out the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is embarrassing. It should lead to some big changes, but it seems none of significance are really coming for Tampa Bay. There are many problems for Tampa Bay to solve this offseason, and they do not have a ton of options to solve them all. The margin for error in a weak NFC South now seems to be gone, with the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all getting better. Consequently, if Todd Bowles is really sticking around, there is a better chance this will be a sub-.500 team next season.

22. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints closed out the season on a positive note with their play in the second half of the year. Not only did Tyler Shough show more than enough to warrant being the Saints' quarterback in 2026, but the work of head coach Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley both spoke volumes about what this team can become. A talent infusion is coming this offseason, and if enough is done, we could be looking at a challenger for the NFC South crown in 2026.

23. Cincinnati Bengals

Why would anything be different for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026? Even if Joe Burrow manages to stay healthy for only the second time in four seasons, this is still a team with a bottom-five defense and a bottom-10 offensive line. It also could be argued that two premier AFC teams (Ravens and Chiefs) had down seasons that are unlikely to be repeated. Plus, with Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin staying in place, there's really no reason to think the coaching, drafting or player development improves.

24. Indianapolis Colts

Who will be the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback in 2026? It is worth remembering that the team's downfall really started after that late-game collapse against the Chiefs, a team that had its own implosion late in the year. It is also worth highlighting that from Weeks 9 through 17, Indianapolis had a -54 point differential with a 1–7 record. There is a very real possibility that Indianapolis—without its first-round pick in the next two years—collapses even further next season and struggles to reach six wins.

25. New York Giants

There is a part of us that wants to believe the New York Giants can take a significant step forward to become a playoff contender in 2026. Trading down and using the additional draft picks to bolster the offensive line, receiving corps, and secondary would go a long way toward helping this team make that leap. Furthermore, the potential head coach brought in will either help Jaxson Dart improve or maximize a great Giants pass rush. History suggests otherwise, however.

26. Washington Commanders

It is great that the Washington Commanders will head into 2026 with a healthy Jayden Daniels , Terry McLaurin , Sam Cosmi , and Dorance Armstrong . As this year has shown, however, the success of 2024 was largely a fluke, and the Commanders' roster on both sides of the ball needs a ton of work. It is also not as if Washington has a wealth of draft capital to work with. Cap space will help, but this is not considered a great free-agent class. Unless Daniels plays like an MVP-caliber quarterback again and stays healthy, seven wins might be Washington's ceiling.

27. Miami Dolphins

It is the right decision to keep Mike McDaniel as the Miami Dolphins' head coach in 2026. The only question is—whether Tua Tagovailoa is kept on the roster or released—who this team finds as its one-year bridge starter for next season. Elevated quarterback play and a significant amount of draft capital invested into the secondary could result in some improvements in the win column, but this Dolphins roster is not good enough to make the playoffs with a stop-gap quarterback starting the entire season.

28. Arizona Cardinals

NFL Week 18 Power Rankings — Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals are in a bit of an odd spot. It certainly seems like Jacoby Brissett will be the starting quarterback in 2026, which has some appeal for the passing game if Trey McBride , Marvin Harrison Jr. , and Michael Wilson all stay healthy. However, the Cardinals' offensive line needs a makeover, the running back room remains a question mark, and late-season injuries to Garrett Williams and Walter Nolen could impact this defense in 2026. All those issues, combined with a bridge quarterback, suggest nothing higher than a six-win ceiling next season.

29. Tennessee Titans

Unlike the three teams at the bottom of our 2026 NFL power rankings, the Tennessee Titans have their franchise quarterback. Cam Ward showed more than enough toward the end of the season to suggest that he can be the centerpiece of an offense and the face of a team. Now, it is up to Tennessee to surround him with talent. The Titans have more than enough cap space to begin addressing holes in the roster, putting a supporting cast in place that can help Ward take that second-year leap in 2026. Making the playoffs isn't the immediate goal; rather, the objective is for Ward to be elevated and to turn those flashes into sustained play.

30. Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders simply did not show enough as a starter—as evidenced by his alarming 5 percent interception rate—to warrant the Cleveland Browns starting him as their franchise quarterback in 2026. Fortunately for Cleveland, having two first-round picks in 2026 means the team can trade up for a prospect like Dante Moore . Major infrastructure issues remain, specifically on the offensive line and at wide receiver, but a rookie quarterback would at least have Quinshon Judkins , Dylan Sampson , Harold Fannin Jr. , and a great defense to support him in 2026.

31. Las Vegas Raiders

We are going to operate under the assumption that Pete Carroll will not be back as the Las Vegas Raiders ' coach in 2026; it is the only logical choice for the organization to make. Las Vegas will likely secure its franchise quarterback with the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there is significant concern regarding the offensive line and receiving corps that either Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore will be asked to work with. While there is long-term hope for this offense once a quarterback joins the core of Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers , the defensive issues also mean that Las Vegas is likely two years away from true playoff contention.

32. New York Jets

Aaron Glenn should return as the New York Jets' head coach in 2026. For one thing, firing him would only create the most undesirable head-coaching vacancy in the NFL. After all, he clearly walked into a bad situation that was only made worse by a complete teardown at the trade deadline. The best thing New York could do this offseason is use its draft picks and $100-plus million in cap space to build a competent roster with depth. If Glenn cannot win six games with an improved roster, then there will be a much better reason to move on.

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