Some teams on this list may shock you, as eight clubs in the NFL have point differentials of at least +50. Let's power-rank them here. At the end of the day, a statistic like point differential may not mean a ton, as games are won week to week, not based on a team's total points scored.
However, point differential does have some value, and it's very typical that the best teams have the highest differentials and the worst teams have the lowest. There are some instances where winning teams can have negative point differentials, though.
For example, the 2022 Minnesota Vikings went 13-4 in the regular season and actually got out-scored by three points. They scored 424 points and gave up 427. And even in 2024, there are some teams with higher point differentials than others, but those teams also have a worse record, so this can be all over the place.
Let's power-rank teams in the NFL through Week 11 by point differential.
NFL Power Rankings: Ranking teams with best point differential after Week 11
8. Baltimore Ravens, +63
The Baltimore Ravens have the eighth-highest point differential in the NFL this season at +63, and after starting the season out 0-2, they have since gone 7-2. Their latest game, though, was a pretty ugly loss in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, and the Ravens have a tendency to play poorly against Pittsburgh.
That would be a huge issue if the Ravens had to travel to Pittsburgh in the postseason. Lamar Jackson just did not look like himself at all, but overall, Baltimore is fine. They are able to explode on offense at any time, as they have Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry back there. Those two have turned into the best duo in the entire NFL, and Jackson could be well on his way to his third NFL MVP award.
However, like in previous seasons, the Ravens could be on pace to yet again disappoint in the postseason. They aren't as good as they were last year and may not have a single home game when the playoffs roll around. They do, though, have the eighth-highest point differential in the NFL.
7. Washington Commanders, +65
The Washington Commanders have the seventh-highest point differential in the NFL this year and the fourth-highest in the NFC. This team has struggled as of late and also kind of struggle to beat good teams, but most everything is working for Washington. They have gotten some very efficient QB play from rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders now occupy the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs and are still barely alive in the NFC East race. The Philadelphia Eagles are beginning to hit their stride, so they could pull away, which would force Washington to travel for their first playoff game, and unless the bottom falls out from this team, they will indeed make the playoffs in 2024 with a rookie QB under center.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers, +71
The Pittsburgh Steelers are cooking with Russell Wilson, but it's not always been pretty. This team simply finds ways to find games every single season, but even in 2024, they are going to find themselves in the same issue as previous seasons; they're a good football team and well-coached, but their ceiling is low because of the QB situation.
Russell Wilson has been a fun option for Pittsburgh this season, but he's not a long-term answer and an incredibly limited passer. The Steelers must embark on a quest to find their franchise QB, but as of now, they are 8-2 and have the sixth-highest point differential in the NFL this season.
5. Minnesota Vikings, +74
How about the Minnesota Vikings? This may be the wrong opinion, but I just do not think this team immediately goes to JJ McCarthy in 2025 if the Vikings are able to make a bit of a playoff run with Sam Darnold. McCarthy turns only 22 years old this coming January, so it's not like they're wasting his prime years. I mean, Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos is 24.
Maybe I'm off here, but there is something to be said about an 8-2 team that is blowing out opponents. Why would they move off of their QB? What if Sam Darnold is actually... good?
4. Los Angeles Chargers, +75
The Los Angeles Chargers are beating the bad teams but losing to the good teams. Let's not get too excited about them. Their three losses have been against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Arizona Cardinals, who all have winning records. Now yes, their turnaround from 2024 is quite insane, but this is not a team that has the players to make a playoff run this year.
The 2025 season could be a different story, and they still do have the second-highest point differential in the AFC. This is a legitimate team to at least make the playoffs and perhaps make the Wild Card round interesting, but that's it for 2024.
3. Philadelphia Eagles, +80
The Philadelphia Eagles were 2-2 not too long ago and definitely in a bit if a rut. Well, this team is now 8-2 on the season and approaching elite territory. I am not sure this team is quite as good as the Detroit Lions are right now, but if Philly keeps this up down the stretch, they could carry a ton of momentum into the postseason.
Both sides of the ball are coming together, and this team could be closer to their 2022 form than 2023, where they were limp and just not good.
2. Buffalo Bills, +106
The Buffalo Bills are one of two teams in the NFL with a point differential of at least 100 points. They've got 9 wins on the season and just took down the Kansas City Chiefs at home in Week 11. This makes the race for the top seed in the AFC quite interesting, as Buffalo is clearly better, but the Chiefs have one loss to the Bills' two.
The Chiefs are going to need to lose at least one more game if Buffalo hopes to capture the top seed, and with the AFC not being as good as we thought coming into 2024, it could be a two-horse race for the chance to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
1. Detroit Lions, +159
The best point differential in the NFL by far belongs to the best team in the NFL, the Detroit Lions. They are humming on both sides of the ball and would probably see this season as a failure if they did not at least make the Super Bowl. It's actually a challenge to find a weakness with this team, and that's a huge credit to GM Brad Holmes.
The Lions are 9-1 on the season and have a point differential o