Now that the Divisional Round is in the books, we have just three games left in the 2025 NFL Season; the two conference championship games and Super Bowl LX. It's really a shame that the season is almost over, but it's been one of the more entertaining seasons in recent NFL memory,
Now that we only have four teams remaining the other 28 that are eliminated are filling coaching vacancies and preparing for the 2026 NFL Offseason. Free agency and the NFL Draft soon follow, and this is the time of the year where the future Super Bowl champions are made.
As we wind down the 2025 NFL Season, let's get into our updated NFL power rankings following the Divisional Round.
Updated NFL Power Rankings following the intense Divisional Round
32. New York Jets
It’s hard to find much to like with the New York Jets after the disastrous 2025 NFL Season, where the defense quite literally did not record an interception. The team probably should have fired Aaron Glenn, but they dug themselves a bit of a hole in that regard and now have to wait until in-season in 2026 to give him the axe.
The Jets somehow got worse than previous seasons and absolutely ended the year as the worst team in the NFL, but our no. 31 team isn’t too far behind.
31. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders brought in Pete Carroll and Geno Smith to stabilize things in 2025, but the complete opposite happened. Fortunately, the Raiders should be able to come away with Fernando Mendoza, and he could be one huge piece of the puzzle, but the rest of the roster is a bit of a disaster, so the Raiders might be another couple of years away from even sniffing a winning record.
Vegas is no. 31 in our power rankings.
30. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans did see rookie QB Cam Ward put a lot of good throws on tape near the end of his rookie season, and, even statistically, he got a lot better, so that’s a massive sign of what could be to come.
The Titans have to ensure that this incoming coaching staff can not only develop Ward but also be able to evaluate the necessary talent that this roster needs, as this could be the worst roster in the NFL.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi has a ton of work ahead of him to bring in the necessary talent, and in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Titans could simply take the best player available with all of their selections. In the AFC South, it might be a bit of an uphill battle, as both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans won double-digit games in the regular season and made the playoffs.
However, a strong offseason could perhaps see Tennessee jumping Indianapolis in the AFC South hierarchy, but that’s if Cam Ward makes that desired year two leap.
29. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals started the 2025 NFL Season 2-0, and they then proceeded to bottom out and totally lose a grip on the semi-encouraging start they had. The Cardinals have coaching and quarterback issues, and that is simply a recipe for disaster in today's NFL. It's going to be a heavy lift to get this team out of the cellar, as the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers all made the playoffs this year and have quarterback certainty.
It's a brutal reality for Cardinals' fans, who probably wish this was all just a nightmare that they could wake up from at home point, but I guess it could always get better. The team has solid DL talent and some encouraging weapons on offense, if nothing else.
28. Cleveland Browns
Another team that needs a new coaching staff is the Cleveland Browns, but their issues are doubly as bad, as there is no franchise QB in sight, and Shedeur Sanders is absolutely not going to be that guy for the team.
If nothing else, the Browns do have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Andrew Berry did have a very strong rookie class in 2025, so that could paint a good picture for 2026 and beyond, and while we’re a solid year away from it, the 2027 NFL Draft is projected to actually have a ton of first-round QB talent.
This could be a multi-year rebuild, but the defense is about set, so we could see the Browns getting a bit frisky in 2027 and flirting with a winning record. Heck, the rest of the AFC North is a bit of a mess right now, so why not the Browns?
27. New York Giants
The New York Giants have John Harbaugh as their next head coach, and that is a massive, massive hire for the franchise. Did I mention it’s a massive hire? The Giants, honestly, fooled around for years with a ton of first-time head coaches and bad QB play that simply did not work out.
However, it seems like the Giants finally got serious about one of the most important positions in the NFL. Harbaugh is going to win immediately, as he’s worked with a young QB before, and the defense does have a lot of talent.
GM Joe Schoen, to his credit, did fill this roster with solid talent here and there, but it’s really been about finding the right head coach. I liken the New York Giants current situation in hiring Harbaugh to when the Denver Broncos finally got serious and hired Sean Payton.
Payton got his young QB, and look where Denver has gotten to in recent years. The Giants are going to be a threat to win the NFC East in 2026 and will soon shoot up these power rankings.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs were a mess this year and may not have a fully healthy Patrick Mahomes for the start of the 2026 NFL Season. Moreover, Travis Kelce could call in quits, and, on paper, this Chiefs’ roster just is not that good. It’s really not. It’s not a surprise that the Chiefs missed the playoffs this year, as the slim margins they had in 2024 just disappeared.
Head coach Andy Reid clearly isn’t quite as creative as he once was, and we might be entering a point where the game is passing him by, and with the Broncos and LA Chargers having won double-digit games this year, the Chiefs may actually have a bit of work to do just to not finish third in the division in 2026.
25. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders were within one game of the Super Bowl in the 2024 NFL Season after a 12-win regular season. Well, they did a total 180 with their record, won just five games in 2025, and totally bottomed out.
One thing that many of us did was simply overrate the roster, and I was one of those people. The roster was not that great to begin with, and one of the oldest in the NFL. That old roster with limited talent also ended up getting pretty banged up in 2025.
It was a triple-whammy of dysfunction, and now the Commanders again feel like the bad, irrelevant team they were for years. Outside of picking Jayden Daniels, how has GM Adam Peters further progressed this roster in the right direction?
Maybe that’s too harsh, but it feels more likely than now that this team finishes with another losing record in the 2026 NFL Season, and a slow start could put into doubt Dan Quinn’s ability as a head coach in his second stint.
24. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have the lone holdover at head coach in the AFC North with Zac Taylor, which does not feel right to say. All of the Browns, Steelers, and Ravens will have a different head coach. It’s insane to think that Zac Taylor, of all people, is the senior-most coach in the division.
The AFC North was once a rugged, tough, and well-respected division. It’s anything but now, and the Bengals should be looking at this situation as a chance to get a leg-up from the others, who are now going to be a bit behind with the new coaching staffs coming in.
The Bengals missed the playoffs for a third year in a row in 2025, so that’s a streak they surely want to end. Cincy, for now, is just no. 25 in our updated NFL power rankings.
23. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are no. 23 in our power rankings, but it’s not a bad ranking at all, as it might indicate. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough really began to turn it on in the final month of the season, and you get the sense that Shough has the ‘goods’ and will be able to break out a bit in 2026.
The Saints were legitimately not that far off from winning the NFC South itself, and if you told me Shough turned into the best QB in the division next season, I would believe you. Sure, he still has to go out there and do it, but there was a lot to like with very limited talent on that Saints’ offense, and a similar thing can be said for Kellen Moore, who appears to be in a good spot to blossom as the head coach next year.
This is absolutely a duo and a team to watch out for this upcoming season. GM Mickey Loomis is all of a sudden in a very crucial spot to get this offseason right and ensure his team breaks out next year.
22. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are going to make some major changes this offseason. This team will have a new head coach and a new GM pairing to hopefully get this franchise back on track for the long-term. The first major decision this team is going to have to make is figuring out what the heck to do with Tua Tagovailoa.
You don’t get the sense that Tagovailoa is going to return, but with a new regime, there may not be some hard feelings. Heck, I have no idea. The Dolphins’ roster outside of the QB is just OK, so like some other teams lower in our power rankings, it’s going to take some time to rebuild the necessary positions.
And with the Patriots breaking out in 2025, the AFC East is now a two-headed monster of a couple of juggernaut teams.
21. Indianapolis Colts
Just outside the top-20 in our updated power rankings is the Indianapolis Colts, who were once 7-1 on the season and had the no. 1 seed in the AFC well within range. The Colts began to stack some losses, and they lost starting QB Daniel Jones for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles.
It’s another major injury for Jones, but the obvious bright side here is that Jones and the Colts had something good brewing, so he should return as the QB1 in 2026. The Colts also swung a major trade for Sauce Gardner, so if the health is solid in 2026, Indy could be a winning team. You could clearly see the offensive vision that Shane Steichen had in 2025. Indy isn’t too far away.
But the quarterback situation is still a bit of a mess until the Colts actually re-sign Daniel Jones, and until we get more clarity on how long he could be out.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a wicked-hot start in 2025, but they cratered and missed the playoffs entirely. It was a nice little run there for Tampa, but now with the Carolina Panthers putting some things together, the Atlanta Falcons having an overall strong roster, and the New Orleans Saints perhaps up and coming, the NFC South could be very muddied in 2026.
You would like to think that the Bucs could be viewed as a favorite, but the 2025 season really showed us how many flaws this team has, and they’re not good ones. Heck, we’re not even sure if Todd Bowles is the right coach for this team.
The Bucs feel very average right now, and that’s probably the worst place to be in - the juggernauts are competing for Super Bowls, and the worst teams in the NFL are at least trying to rebuild. Being in the irrelevant middle is a death sentence.
19. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were not a good team this year, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Bryce Young played the best football of his career in 2025, but he was pretty average overall. The offense wasn’t very consistent, and the defense was good, but nothing special.
Carolina really only won the NFC South because of how bad it ended up being, as they would have been in second or third place in most every other division in the league. I think the season itself was a great experience for Panthers’ fans, as they got to see a home playoff game, but I would not be shocked if Carolina ended up finishing in last place in 2026.
But a playoff appearance is still notable, so they deserve a ton of credit for that. Carolina comes in at no. 19 in our updated power rankings.
18. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys could turn into a contender in 2026 with an average defense. That seriously might be all it takes for this team, but that could be much easier said than done. The Cowboys sported a Super Bowl-caliber offense this year with Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams. George Pickens, and CeeDee Lamb.
With Williams and Pickens both free agents in 2026, I would guess that Dallas would rather have Pickens back, as the run game itself is clearly more scheme-driven than player-driven. Anyway, the Cowboys have to get the defense right, as Prescott is not getting any younger, but he’s clearly still playing some elite football.
The Cowboys did swing major trades at the deadline, including adding Quinnen Williams and previously sending Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. With two first-round picks in 2026, the Cowboys could really do some good things for this roster.
17. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons might not be that far off from competing, as the roster is quite good and might just be the best in the NFC South. Sure, the quarterback position is a mystery at this point, but this isn’t a weak team overall. The Falcons feel pretty average, and I have a feeling they’ll aggressively go one way or another in 2026 depending on the head coach and how the QB position shakes out.
The Falcons have been circling the drain for years now and can’t seem to finish with a winning r record. They haven’t sniffed the playoffs in years and could still have an uphill battle to reach the postseason in 2026, and this is all while being in the dysfunctional NFC South!
Atlanta is no. 17 in our updated power rankings and is another team with a good bit of uncertainty heading into the 2026 NFL Offseason.
16. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings actually finished with a winning record in the 2025 regular season, which almost does not seem real. The Vikings won five games in a row to end the season, but they also won five fewer games than they did in 2024. The big decision this team made that really spurred things was letting Sam Darnold leave in free agency.
The team put a ton of faith into JJ McCarthy, but not only was McCarthy largely bad in 2025, but he also struggled to stay on the field consistently. The Vikings have to do more QB homework this offseason, and I would not be shocked if a new, notable face was in the room competing for the starting job.
Honestly, Mac Jones makes a lot of sense for 2026, but they could go in a different route. With a roster ready to win, the Vikings are going to get aggressive to try and improve the QB situation, and the patience with McCarthy might already be getting thinner given the circumstances.
Minnesota is no. 16 in our power rankings, a perfectly average team.
15. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens got rid of John Harbaugh in a shocking move, and it was shocking because they actually got rid of him. Harbaugh seemed to have maxed himself out with the Ravens a few years ago, but to see the franchise actually making the move was quite surprising, but it’s a step in the right direction.
A new face needs to lead the franchise, so while Harbaugh can try to rebuild the Giants, the Ravens need to figure out how to get the most out of whatever is left with Lamar Jackson. Jackson was noticeably less explosive last year than in previous years and was also quite banged up at times.
The Ravens still have a lot of encouraging pieces, but this could be a heavier lift than expected. However, if Jackson can return to his previous form, the Ravens will be just fine.
14. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are no. 14 in our updated power rankings as the playoffs continue, and the Lions, of all teams, missing the playoffs, may have been the biggest surprise of the season. The offense was once again elite, as Jared Goff had another insane season, but the defense really struggled and battled injuries all year again.
The Lions went from winning 15 games in 2024 to just 9 in 2025. Make no mistake - this was still a good team, but they picked the wrong time to have a down year. After a brief run atop the NFC North, Detroit will have a bit of an uphill battle in 2026, as the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings also finished with 9 wins, and the Chicago Bears won the division with 11 wins.
I would not be shocked if the defense got healthier and the Lions came out swinging in 2026, but if 2025 told us anything, it’s that anything can truly happen. Detroit is a team to watch out for this coming offseason.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
After nearly 20 years on the job, Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it truly seems like he could be done with coaching altogether, which is insane to think about, but here we are.
For the first time in two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new head coach, and it’s honestly good that Tomlin stepped down, as he saved the Steelers from making the mistake of bringing him back in 2026.
Pittsburgh needs some new blood, as the team struggled to become anything more than ‘good,’ as they have not won a playoff game since 2016, which is inexcusable for this franchise. This was still a 10-win team in 2025, but Pittsburgh isn’t really built the right way and could crater a bit in our power rankings next season.
12. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers stumbled to the finish line in 2025 and got bounced out in the Wild Card Round thanks to a major second-half comeback by the Chicago Bears, and now, all of a sudden, the Packers have some questions to answer.
Top players like Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons went down with season-ending injuries in the regular season, but in all honestly, the Packers could simply be back on track as soon as some of their key players return healthy, as the injury list ended up being quite long.
But the lack of overall playoff success this team has had for years now has to be talked about, and some have called for Matt LaFleur to not be brought back as the head coach. As I type this blurb out now, it seems like he will indeed return.
The Packers are one of the more well-run, stable franchises in the NFL, but these last few seasons have definitely been frustrating, and this team isn’t currently ‘great.’ Green Bay is no. 12 in our power rankings.
11. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles have some serious questions to answer, and it’s another year of going one-and-done in the playoffs right after making the Super Bowl the year prior. Until we can have an honest conversation about Jalen Hurts, we’ll continue to talk about the wrong things with the Eagles.
Sure, former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was not good this year, but Hurts needs an offensive whiz of a coordinator to be able to cover up his weaknesses. Hurts cannot process fast enough and isn’t someone who targets the middle of the field often.
He’s just not a QB you can build a dropback passing game with, and that’s a major problem in today’s NFL. Throughout all the coordinator changes, the one thing that has remained constant is Jalen Hurts, and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Philly is just outside the top-10 in our power rankings.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers got blown out by the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round, and it really shone a light on just how bad the offensive line is and was this year. Justin Herbert was taking a beating this year, but he’s also not totally excused, as he’s had three atrocious playoff outings, and besides the nice stats in the regular season, what has Herbert done to be thought of as highly as he is?
The Chargers have some issues, and it seems like stud defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is going to leave for a head coaching job. All of a sudden, LA might be struggling to replicate the 11-win season they had this year in 2026.
And if GM Joe Hortiz hasn’t yet fixed the offensive line, will he be able to? The OL was a bit of a mess last year, and it was obvious. LA has turned into one of the more ‘good, not great’ teams in the NFL, but if Minter leaves and the offensive line can’t get fixed, I am not sure if the Chargers have a winning record in 2026.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
It was a great, perhaps surprising season for the Jacksonville Jaguars - they won 13 games, won the AFC South, and were in a position to beat the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. Jacksonville was honestly one of the more balanced teams in the NFL this year, and they did it without overwhelming talent on the roster.
If GM James Gladstone can have a strong offseason here in 2026, the Jags are going to be even better in 2026. It’s hard to even sniff a winning record in this league, but to win 13 games is something even the best teams in the league struggle to do at times.
This operation is already one of the best and most elite in the NFL right now, and while it might be easy to see how this team could regress a bit, there is also a major chance that they get even better. Jacksonville is no. 9 in our power rankings.
8. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers really did not stand a chance against the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, so this loss should not come as a surprise. The Niners dealt with injuries all year, and it seems like it’s a yearly thing at this point. In the offseason, much of what the Niners will do is simply focus on getting healthy.
The fact that they got into the second round of the playoffs is a testament to just how good this team can be if the key players stay healthy. This was largely a very successful season given the circumstances.
Kyle Shanahan is a top-tier head coach and should get some Coach of the Year votes, but this team just did not have much steam in the end and got overwhelmed. San Francisco is no. 8 in our updated NFL power rankings after the Divisional Round.
7. Buffalo Bills
It’s another massive playoff disappointment from the Buffalo Bills, and it happened in the most Bills fashion you could possibly think of. Josh Allen was simply not good for the Bills - he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the second half that gifted the Denver Broncos three points.
No matter how you slice it, the Bills blew it, and no, the officiating was not the reason. Buffalo did come into this game pretty banged up, but they still had one of the top-3 offensive lines in the NFL, the best run game, and the league’s best passing defense.
It’s hard to say that this team was truly depleted, and they really should have won this game. They held a lead late in the fourth quarter. There has to be some form of change for this team in the offseason. Moving on from Sean McDermott as the head coach might sound insane, but both John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are no longer coaching the Ravens and Steelers.
A bold coaching move could kickstart this team into a new era.
6. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans went out with a whimper in the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots. The Texans have actually not won a Divisional Round game in their franchise history, which is insane to think about.
This franchise might have a serious issue, too, as starting quarterback CJ Stroud has largely looked awful since his breakout season back in 2023. It’s a massive issue, as they shouldn’t even begin to think about contract extension talks.
The Texans will have to make a decision about his fifth-year option. They should pick that up, but beyond that, Stroud does need to prove himself again. Defensively, this team is loaded and have a Super Bowl-caliber unit on that side of the ball, but the offense looks a but clunky when Stroud is in.
Houston has still been in a good spot these past three seasons. They’ve advanced into the Divisional Round each year since 2023 and have won a playoff game in three years in a row. That is notable and something that most NFL teams cannot say right now.
5. Chicago Bears
Wow, what a season from the Chicago Bears. The Bears come in at no. 5 in our power rankings and are just outside the final four teams. It was a low-scoring, back-and-forth game in the Divisional Round, and Caleb Williams saved the day on an impossible fourth down touchdown pass.
The Bears were really maxed out, honestly - this was about as far as they were going to go this year, but the future is insanely bright. Ben Johnson was brought in as the head coach and had this team within one game of the conference title.
It’s a very impressive feat overall. In the offseason, the Bears need to focus on getting a bit more stout along the defensive line, and the secondary could use another starter or two. Caleb Williams was solid this year, but that completion percentage has to get better in a huge year three.
If the 2025 season was any indication, the Bears should be a contender in 2026.
4. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, but the story of the game is the season-ending ankle injury to Bo Nix. The Broncos will now turn to Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback, and while it’s unlikely that Denver reaches the Super Bowl, there have been examples of a backup QB winning in the playoffs.
The most obvious example is Nick Foles with the Philadelphia Eagles back in the 2017 NFL Season. Foles led the team to the Super Bowl and truly outplayed Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, and that’s what the Broncos will hope to do.
Denver is hosting the AFC title game and got into a bit of a dogfight with Buffalo. The team’s defense was thoroughly bad in this game outside of the turnovers, as they really did not have an answer for the Bills' run game.
Offensively, the game had to be put in Bo Nix’s hands, as the run game was not working. Unfortunately for Denver, this team is flawed, and it might be too heavy a lift for this team to advance to the Super Bowl, but having that game at home and sporting an elite pass rush could still leave the team with a chance.
3. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams did not look great in the Divisional Round, and Matthew Stafford really didn’t have the best game, but a win is a win. The Rams are back in the NFC title game and have a rematch with the Seattle Seahawks.
The last time these two teams played, LA had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but blew it. In this environment, though, I would actually lean toward taking the Rams here, as the playoff experience is tangible with Stafford and Sean McVay, and I am just not someone who is going to trust Sam Darnold a ton.
LA has a very good roster, a future Hall of Fame head coach, and a future MVP quarterback. They’re third in our power rankings, though, as they’re the lowest remaining seed in the playoffs and have shown some signs of weakness on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams could still win it all.
2. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round and will now travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the AFC title game. The Broncos have hosted the Patriots in the 2013 and 2015 AFC title games, and have won them both. Even with Bo Nix not in for this game, it’s going to be a tough task for the Patriots.
Jarrett Stidham is a capable starter, and Sean Payton knows how to have his backup QBs ready to go. He’s done quite well with backup quarterbacks, recently going 9-8 in the 2021 season with a bunch of backup QBs, and previously going 5-0 with backup QB Teddy Bridgewater back in the 2019 season.
New England is a well-rounded team, and while they don’t have as much roster talent as Denver does, they’re very well coached and likely won’t make a ton of mistakes. This is going to be the biggest start of Drake Maye’s career, and he’s simply never played in an environment like Denver in the playoffs.
While the Patriots might be in a position to win given the QB situation, they’ll have to show up in this one. The Patriots are one win away from a berth in Super Bowl LX.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks barely had to lift a finger to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, and now they will host the NFC Championship Game. Seattle has been riding an elite defense and a top-tier offense. Sam Darnold has not always played well this year, but he really didn’t have to do much in this one.
The Seahawks will lose in the NFC title game if Sam Darnold doesn’t play well - Darnold’s performances in big games are a bit of an issue. Seattle’s passing attack, while lethal, is a bit lopsided at times, too.
With Seattle and the Denver Broncos both getting to host the conference title games, we could be in store for a rematch of Super Bowl 48. The Seahawks biggest thing here is Sam Darnold. The defense is going to play well, and that really isn’t up for discussion. The Seahawks essentially swapped Geno Smith for Sam Darnold last offseason, and they did it for a reason.
Now is the time for Darnold to etch his name into a bit of NFL history.