As we have said for a while now, this could be one of the most competitive NFL playoffs in recent memory, as each conference appears to be wide open, and this could give some Wild Card teams the chance to make a run at the Super Bowl in February.
However, the teams occupying the six Wild Card seeds are there for a reason - they weren't good enough to win their respective divisions this year, so each club does have notable flaws attached to the roster and coaching.
Ahead of the Wild Card Weekend, let's power rank the six teams occupying the 5, 6, and 7 seeds in both conferences.
Power ranking all six NFL Wild Card teams as playoffs approach
6. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers struggled this year on the offensive line, and those struggles aren't going to go away anytime soon. LA rested many of its starters in Week 18, but not for a good reason. Thanks to a Broncos win and Chargers loss in Week 17, Denver won the AFC West, so LA didn't have a ton to play for.
The Bolts could go one-and-done in the playoffs because of how horrific that offensive line has been, and the overall roster talent just isn't that special, either. The Chargers have gone 11-6 in each year of the Jim Harbaugh era and could also couple that with two-straight Wild Card exits.
5. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay also rested some of its starters in Week 18, as they lost to the Minnesota Vikings and limped to the finish line in 2025. The Packers were locked into the seventh seed and are now heading to Chicago in the Wild Card Round. Green Bay's playoff experience could be enough to beat the Bears, but the Packers only won nine games this year for a reason.
When this team is playing poorly, they are playing poorly. Green Bay is another good team, but nothing more than that.
4. San Francisco 49ers
It's hard to see how the San Francisco 49ers can win more than one playoff game, as this roster is on the more average side outside of the superstars. The Niners have again dealt with injuries and just did not have the personnel to compete with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, falling to them by 10 points and losing out on the first seed. San Fran did double their win total from 2024, which is awesome, but they could see their season come to an end in the first round.
3. Buffalo Bills
Sitting at 12-5, the Buffalo Bills actually have to go on the road in the playoffs due to the insane 14-3 season from the New England Patriots. The Bills have regressed a bit on both sides of the ball, and, like the Niners, the roster talent isn't overwhelming. More than in previous postseasons, Josh Allen is really going to have to put the Superman cape on if Buffalo even hopes to advance out of the Wild Card Round.
Buffalo could still be viewed as one of the most trustworthy playoff teams, though.
2. Los Angeles Rams
The LA Rams are 12-5 and could win the Super Bowl this year, as the duo of Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay did this very thing back in 2021. Stafford tossed 46 touchdown passes this year against eight interceptions and is likely the MVP of the NFL.
There really isn't anything that the Rams have going against them. Sure, they have to go on the road for much of the postseason, but they have to beat the Carolina Panthers in the first round, and that should be very doable.
1. Houston Texans
Sitting at 12-5 after a brutal 0-3 start, the Houston Texans turned this thing around and are now heading to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. An elite defense couples with an efficient CJ Stroud, and that could be enough to go on a run here. One of the best things a playoff team can do in any year is field a strong defense - that's what wins in the postseason.