There was a ton of parity in the NFL during the 2025 season, and there's no reason to believe why that can't keep up in 2026 and beyond. Not many expected the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots to represent each conference in the Super Bowl.
Both teams totally missed the playoffs in 2024. If that same pattern holds for 2026, we could see two teams from this power rankings list that make the Super Bowl, and it really would not be a shock when you see who tops our latest list.
Let's keep the NFL power rankings train rolling and power-rank all 18 teams that did not make the playoffs in 2025. We're ranking the team based on how talented they are right now.
Power-ranking every non-playoff team for the 2026 NFL Season
18. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals could truly become the first 0-17 team in NFL history - it's that bad. The Cardinals could end up seeing a likely brutal season paying off in 2027, as next year's NFL Draft is supposedly quite deep at the quarterback position, which is what this team needs.
But there are major holes all over the roster, so even getting a stud rookie quarterbck would not be enough.
17. Cleveland Browns
Another team with a dysfunctional quarterback situation, the Cleveland Browns are likely staring down another non-playoff season, but if nothing else, General Manager Andrew Berry has brought in some nice young pieces in recent drafts, so the talent evaluation appears to be strong, and the team now has extra capital from the Myles Garrett trade.
There is a glimmer of hope for the Browns, but it'll come in future years.
16. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are clearly rebuilding. They parted with a slew of key former players, brought in a new front office, and also brought in a new coaching staff. This is going to take some time, but the Dolphins are at least embracing a clear path in a deliberate direction, which is something that they've needed to do for years now.
15. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders come in at No. 15 in our power rankings. It's been a productive offseason for the Raiders. A new coaching staff is in place, a ton of talent was added in free agency, and, most notably, the Raiders snagged Fernando Mendoza in the NFL Draft.
The team also signed Kirk Cousins, and it appears like Cousins is going to start for this team in 2026 for a period of time. While fans might want the Mendoza era to start as soon as possible, patience might be the best path forward, as this team simply needs to show some form of stability before throwing a rookie quarterback out there.
14. New York Jets
Another bad team that added a ton of talent this offseason, the New York Jets also brought in a veteran quarterback. Based on how the Jets have operated this offseason, it could not be more clear that this team is looking toward next year's draft for a potential franchise quarterback.
Geno Smith is a temporary solution, and the front office has three first-round picks in 2027, which is insane. A ton of young talent was added this offseason, perhaps creating a situation where the 2027 campaign could end up being a break out season.
13. New York Giants
The No. 13 team in our list is the New York Giants. I really love what the Giants have done this offseason, but they've been a horrendously dysfunctional franchise for years, and until they can prove otherwise, there simply is no reason to rank them higher right now.
Jaxson Dart was quite productive as a rookie, and I am of the opinion that he has the ability to break out, but, again, a lot of what we want to see from the Giants in 2026 is a lot of 'if,' and if doesn't win games in the NFL. The GMen will be low for now, but that can change.
12. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are going in the right direction. As a rookie, quarterback Cam Ward really played well down the stretch despite dealing with a below-average group of playmakers. The team added wide receiver Carnell Tate to the mix, overhauled the coaching staff, and perhaps more importantly, now have Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator.
Even though this franchise is still a solid year away, especially in terms of roster talent, there should be a sizeable jump from Ward and the offense in 2026. The Titans won't make the playoffs, but they'll be good enough to play spoiler from time to time.
11. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons really have a strong roster, but that quarterback position is still a massive unknown. Ideally, Tua Tagovailoa wins the job and at least is competent. It's unclear whether he can turn back the clock a few years and play how it did for the Dolphins in 2022 and 2023, but I guess that isn't impossible.
The playmaking talent is top-tier, and the offensive line is solid, but not many people are looking at the Falcons as being much of a threat this year, and it's really because of that position, unfortunately. To be honest, if you threw someone like Brock Purdy on this roster, they'd be an easy 11-win team.
10. New Orleans Saints
Winning four of five games to end the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints ended the year on a hot streak and appear to have a quarterback worth building around in Tyler Shough. The team added Jordyn Tyson, David Edwards, and Travis Etienne in free agency, investing around their young-ish signal-caller.
The NFC South is a very winnable division, and the defense was even sneaky good last year under Brandon Staley. Watch out for the Saints as a break out squad in 2026. They're No. 10 in our rankings.
9. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts feel like one of the more average teams in the NFL right now. After a wicked hot 7-1 start in the 2025 season, things fell off the rails. Daniel Jones began to play poorly and then tore his Achilles, which was another major injury for the veteran.
All of a sudden, Indy feels like they're firmly on the outside looking in despite, at one point in 2025, being in a great spot to make the playoffs with one of those top seeds. The roster itself is rather solid, as GM Chris Ballard does know what he's doing in the NFL Draft, but the uncertainty with Jones and the sour taste the Colts left in our mouths has them tumbling down a bit.
8. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders came within one game of the Super Bowl in the 2024 season and won 12 regular season games. This team did a total 180 in 2025, winning just five games and dealing with injuries all year.
The front office added a metric-ton of talent this offseason in an obvious effort to grab that 2024 success for 2026. The one thing this season could come down to, though, is the health of Jayden Daniels, as he played in just seven games last year.
But if Daniels can get back on the field for, let's say, 15 games or more, Washington should be able to hit that 10-win mark and compete for the NFC East crown. This feels like a 'good' team at the moment and nothing more.
The top-end talent just isn't there.
7. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are No. 7 in our power rankings. Adding Kyler Murray was a great move, and it could pay off immediately. I am of the opinion that Murray did not sign with the Vikings without some sort of back-door guarantee that he'd start for the team, despite what could be marketed as a 'quarterback competition' this offseason.
Murray has always been a productive passer, and had done so on some dysfunctional Cardinals teams. With the supporting cast on offense being above-average, and Brian Flores having command of the defense, this team is definitely in a good position to build off what was a surprising 9-win season in 2025 and perhaps get back into the playoffs in 2026.
The Vikings are a team on the rise.
6. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys were 6-5-1 at one point in 2025 after some defensive additions near the trade deadline. The team made even more defensive changes this offseason and now might have enough to field an average defense, which is all they would need to do in 2026.
With how good the offense was, you simply aren't asking much from the defense. The Cowboys had a top-7 offense last year and could have a path to double-digit wins if Christian Parker's unit is simply not the worst in the NFL, which is possible given the improved personnel additions.
Dallas could win the NFC East this year if it all comes together.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs, even when Patrick Mahomes was healthy in 2025, were not a threatening team. The stud quarterback is now working his way back from a major knee injury, and there simply is no guarantee that he'll be ready for Week 1.
The Chiefs swung a trade for Justin Fields earlier in the offseason, so that could be who they trot out for the first few games. And while the defense did see a ton of NFL Draft additions, the roster still has major questions at positions like wide receiver, tight end, and even in the secondary.
I would probably rank the Chiefs a bit lower here, as they were just a six-win team last year, but there's also the idea of this team still being the Chiefs and having proven many people wrong over the years.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has been a low-ceiling, high-floor team for years now, We did see a regression in 2025, as the Buccaneers did not win the NFC South and finished with a losing record, but this team had taken ownership of the division for years. The Bucs aren't close to being a Super Bowl contender, but they've been in a great position to win 9 or 10 games just about every season, and as long as the offense isn't on the struggle bus, they'll be just fine in 2026.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore comes in at No. 3 in our power rankings. After a brutal 1-5 start, the Ravens were on the cusp of winning the AFC North in Week 18, so that does kind of tell you how much this team got things figured out after the slow start.
No one really mistakes the Ravens for being a bad team. For years now, Baltimore has been at or near the top of the NFL hierarchy, and a new head coach could be just what this franchise needed. Jesse Minter is in as the head coach after a very successful tenure as the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator.
The roster is ready to roll, and if Lamar Jackson can stay healthy, this could be another one of those years where the Ravens just win a ton of games.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati is No. 2 in our rankings, and the main thing with this team was the insane defensive overhaul this offseason, highlighted by the major trade for Dexter Lawrence. Additions came all over the place in a clear 'all in' offseason by the front office, a group that probably felt a ton of pressure to improve things.
The Bengals have missed the playoffs three years in a row, and with a prime Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, that simply cannot happen. On paper, the Bengals have suddenly become one of the more talent teams in the NFL and should be able to win the AFC North this year.
1. Detroit Lions
Detroit tops our power rankings of non-playoff teams. The Lions were 7-4 at one point in 2025 before a collapse down the stretch. It's really been the defense and mounting injuries that this team has not been able to overcome. Even during their 15-2 season in 2024, the Lions went one-and-done in the playoffs because of how depleted the defense was.
The injuries regressing to the mean in 2026 could be all that this team needs to stack a ton of wins and capture the NFC North title. In 2023 and 2024, this team won a combined 27 regular season games, for reference. The Lions are going to be a huge threat in 2026 unless something major goes off the rails.