2024 NFL Power Rankings: End of Season Edition
We’ve made it to the end of the regular season, which means it’s time for my final power rankings! Eighteen teams said goodbye this week, though many of them knew the end was upon them weeks ago. Maybe even months ago for a select few. They’ll all have the draft and free agency to try and climb up the rankings later. But for now, here are my end of season 2024 NFL power rankings!
32. New England Patriots (3-14; Previous Ranking: 30)
They may have blown their shot at the top pick, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t the worst team. Owner Robert Kraft knows things are bad, and he fired coach Jerod Mayo because of it. The one thing the Pats might have is a QB, as Drake Maye has looked good in limited action. However, just about everything else is a mess. New England has almost no weapons, their offensive line is in shambles, and the defense is devoid of any blue-chip talent. Simply adding a new coach won’t fix this, but it would be a start. It appears that this roster is a few years away from contending, so Patriots fans might not like 2025.
31. New York Giants (3-14; Previous Ranking: 27)
I didn’t buy the Giants’ victory over the Colts in week 17, and they came back down to earth with a loss to Philadelphia’s 3rd stringers a week later. They announced that they would be retaining HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen. I’m fine with Daboll sticking around, as he was coach of the year just a couple of seasons ago. But what has Schoen done aside from extending Daniel Jones and letting Saquon Barkley walk? Rookie WR Malik Nabers is a stud, and I like some of the defensive line pieces. Other than that, New York doesn’t have much, and they’re destined for the bottom of the NFC East again next year.
30. Tennessee Titans (3-14; Previous Ranking: 29)
Congratulations to the Titans for playing poorly enough to secure the #1 draft pick! What this team does with it will define the next 5 seasons in Tennessee, but one thing is clear: there is no franchise QB on this roster. The Titans’ defense actually had a pretty good year, especially DTs Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat. Talent can be found on this team, and even the offensive line is coming along. That said, they don’t have a real passer to block for (no, Will Levis doesn’t count), which must be fixed before anything else is done. The #1 pick gives the Titans an enormous opportunity, and they’d be wise not to waste it.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13; Previous Ranking: 28)
Yet another team in disarray, the Raiders lack a clear direction right now. They don’t have their QB of the future, nor do they currently have a coach after firing Antonio Pierce. What they do possess is a new limited partner named Tom Brady, who owner Mark Davis wants to be involved in the coaching search. Those two key positions, HC and QB, will determine where the Raiders go from here. Multiple other holes need to be filled though, including at RB, WR, CB, and on the lines of scrimmage. Whatever coach takes this job needs to be prepared for a fairly thorough rebuild, as well as a seemingly impatient owner.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13; Previous Ranking: 26)
The firing of HC Doug Pederson merely continues the trend we’ve seen under owner Shad Khan, so that’s unsurprising. Incredibly, they retained terrible GM Trent Baalke, whose drafting has been poor outside of rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. Jacksonville lost QB Trevor Lawrence to injury and stumbled through the rest of their schedule, but recall that this team was bad BEFORE he got hurt. The offensive line and defense seemingly never get fixed, but they can be explosive if they play cohesively. That has been the challenge of the past two seasons, so it remains to be seen whether a new coach can rectify the situation.
27. Cleveland Browns (3-14; Previous Ranking: 25)
I know the Browns have looked like the worst team in football the last couple of weeks, but they were clearly tanking. If they played their best QB (which this season was sadly Jameis Winston), they might’ve won a couple more games. The cloud of Deshaun Watson continues to hang over the franchise, but perhaps only financially in 2025 based on his recent injury setback. It’s the defense that I really like here, since that unit was great just one year ago. I imagine that their drop-off stems from the team’s offensive ineptitude, so there should be some good things to work with here next season.
26. New York Jets (5-12; Previous Ranking: 20)
Here we have the quintessential meddlesome owner ravaging his own team. Woody Johnson ruined the 2024 campaign by firing HC Robert Saleh, which stretched DC Jeff Ulbrich (the interim coach) too thin and led to a decline on defense. QB Aaron Rodgers is as good as gone despite showing flashes in the final few games, which means that WR Davante Adams will leave too. Somehow, the Jets are worse than they were with Zach Wilson, suggesting that this is no longer a personnel problem. Until New York can align the top of the organization with the on-field product, nothing is likely to change for this downtrodden franchise.
25. New Orleans Saints (5-12; Previous Ranking: 32)
This team had so much promise when they started 2-0, but they went 3-12 the rest of the way. Interim HC Darren Rizzi has actually done quite a good job, though an aging defense and an injured offense made things rather difficult. New Orleans will be better with QB Derek Carr (if he returns), RB Alvin Kamara, WR Chris Olave, and TE Taysom Hill, who all missed significant time with injuries, but how much better? Remember, the Saints were 2-7 at the midseason mark with most of those guys still playing. As usual, NO is in cap purgatory, and if I were them, I’d keep Rizzi another year and use 2025 to reset the books and start fresh.
24. Chicago Bears (5-12; Previous Ranking: 22)
When Chicago drafted QB Caleb Williams #1 overall before this season started, I bet they imagined a different outcome. Williams hasn’t been awful, and the team started 4-2, but they lost 10 straight games before breaking the streak in week 18. The first order of business is to find a coach that can develop Williams. Next, the Bears must fix the offensive line in a hurry because Williams can’t continue to take so much punishment. Finally, reinforcements are needed on defense, as that unit faded down the stretch. This is a pretty talented 5-12 roster, but it needs to be molded into something greater than the sum of its parts.
23. Carolina Panthers (5-12; Previous Ranking: 31)
The second half of the 2024 season completely changed the Panthers’ outlook. QB Bryce Young had a complete revival and now seems on track to make good on his #1 pick pedigree. Coach Dave Canales seems to have pressed the correct buttons in his first year as well, lifting Carolina out of last place in the NFC South. However, the defense is in shambles. No team allowed more points than the Panthers’ 534, and it wasn’t close. I think the offense can continue to make strides under Canales, so the team will have to invest heavily on the opposite side of the ball to progress. LB Frankie Luvu and OLB Brian Burns were truly missed last season.
22. Indianapolis Colts (8-9; Previous Ranking: 21)
An 8-0 record doesn’t seem so bad, but how the Colts got here is problematic. Originally planning to challenge for the AFC South crown, Indianapolis faltered on both sides of the ball. QB Anthony Richardson is still not developing as a passer, nor can he stay healthy. He’s expected to start again next year, and that might be his last chance. Defensively, the Colts were terrible despite possessing players such as DT DeForest Buckner and CB Kenny Moore. That resulted in DC Gus Bradley being fired, but HC Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard are on thin ice themselves. The 2025 season will be a crossroads for this franchise.
21. Atlanta Falcons (8-9; Previous Ranking: 9)
Our biggest droppers in the rankings, the Falcons completely fell apart over the second half of the season. Much has been made over the struggles of QB Kirk Cousins, but I think handing the team over to rookie Michael Penix Jr was an overreaction. Cousins is a candidate for a revival next year when he’s further removed from his Achilles surgery, but for now he’s a $90M backup. HC Raheem Morris has shown no ability to handle this team, and the defense, his supposed specialty, is atrocious. Atlanta can’t rush the passer or tackle in space. If only the team had used the #8 pick last year to select an edge player…
20. Miami Dolphins (8-9; Previous Ranking: 23)
Things can change in an instant in the NFL, and week 18 was a seismic shift for the Dolphins. All of the team’s flaws were laid bare: an inability to protect QB Tua Tagovailoa (whose injury prevented him from playing in that game), a disgruntled Tyreek Hill, and injuries on the defensive line. Yet through all of these roster problems, GM Chris Grier is still there. Does he have dirt on owner Stephen Ross? His track record does not warrant his job security, but as long as he remains in the position, he’ll need to fix these holes pronto. Miami risks going in the wrong direction and sliding back into obscurity if he doesn’t.
19. Arizona Cardinals (8-9; Previous Ranking: 14)
We’re all used to late-season swoons from the Arizona Cardinals, and it’s basically an annual tradition at this point. Nonetheless, I saw real signs of growth from this young team. I watched rising stars in WR Marvin Harrison Jr and TE Trey McBride. The defense, though severely lacking talent at all levels, was competitive. Expecting them to make the playoffs this year was probably too much. To do so in 2025, the Cardinals will need to fortify the lines of scrimmage and work on the connection between QB Kyler Murray and Harrison. Getting those two on the same page, as we saw in week 18, could elevate the offense to a new level.
18. San Francisco 49ers (6-11; Previous Ranking: 8)
I know Arizona just whipped San Francisco, but I don’t trust the Cardinals, and the 49ers had almost no healthy starters. This team’s record is not very indicative of who they’ll be going forward, but given their constant injury woes, I’m hedging my bets a bit. Over the course of the season, the 49ers played major stretches without WR Brandon Aiyuk, RB Christian McCaffrey, LT Trent Williams, and LB Dre Greenlaw. Getting those guys back should be enough to shift San Francisco toward the contenders again, but a major decision looms: what should they pay QB Brock Purdy? If that situation lingers, trouble could be afoot.
17. Dallas Cowboys (7-10; Previous Ranking: 24)
Like San Francisco, Dallas is being ranked here based on who they are likely to be from this point onward. It’s hard to judge this team without QB Dak Prescott for most of the year, but they played significantly better down the stretch. Much of that stems from improved defense, which DC Mike Zimmer got back on track. Cap concerns will continue to be a problem for a team that likes to pay its stars, with OLB Micah Parsons due up next. Their coaching situation is also in flux, with Mike McCarthy’s contract set to expire in a few days. One thing is certain: it will never be boring in Jerry World.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8; Previous Ranking: 16)
I had the Bengals slotted 11th, and then they fired DC Lou Anarumo. Scapegoating an excellent coordinator because the front office gave him no talent to work with is shameful. Ironically, the defense was starting to get better by season’s end, but Cincy came up just short in spite of a 5-game winning streak to end the season. Missing the playoffs represents a waste of incredible seasons by QB Joe Burrow (my personal MVP) and WR Ja’Marr Chase. Chase and fellow WR Tee Higgins both need contracts, and the defense requires a massive talent infusion. The offensive line is also still a problem. A pivotal offseason awaits the Bengals.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7; Previous Ranking: 4)
Finishing the regular season on a 4-game losing streak makes you the lowest-ranked playoff team on this list. The defense showed a few cracks late, but they’ve still been a stout unit overall. Conversely, the offense looks broken. QB Russell Wilson is playing like he did in Denver, and WR George Pickens has completely vanished. Pittsburgh doesn’t have many other weapons to pick up the slack, so it’s up to these guys to figure things out. Once again, HC Mike Tomlin did terrific work in dragging this team to the playoffs. Unless the offense pulls its weight though, the Steelers’ postseason stay will be a very short one.
14. Houston Texans (10-7; Previous Ranking: 12)
Widely expected to take the next step after an impressive debut season from HC DeMeco Ryans and QB CJ Stroud, Houston arguably slid backwards a bit. All of the Texans’ problems can be blamed on the offensive line, which got Stroud killed weekly and only sometimes paved running lanes. One drive by the starters against Tennessee in week 18 provided hope, but the bulk of this season has been underwhelming. Playing in the AFC South enabled Houton to cruise to a playoff spot regardless, but they could be home underdogs against the Chargers. The 2023 Texans offense needs to show up if Stroud and co. wish to advance.
13. Seattle Seahawks (10-7; Previous Ranking: 18)
The only non-playoff team ranked among the top 14, Seattle showed us quite a bit in the final few games of the season. QB Geno Smith, whose interceptions have been a bit too frequent, really closed strong. The passing attack has its warts, but it really kept the team in the mix this year. Seattle had no running game, which led to the firing of OC Ryan Grubb. Truth be told, the offensive line was more to blame than any schematic failure. Where Seattle demonstrated the most growth was on defense, with DT Leonard Williams playing particularly well. First-year HC Mike Macdonald is clearly finding his way on that side of the ball.
12. Denver Broncos (10-7; Previous Ranking: 19)
Pay no mind to Denver’s 38-0 drubbing of the Chiefs’ C team. That was as close as I’ve ever seen a team come to forfeiting a game. Even if you exclude week 18, Denver’s year-over-year improvement has been remarkable. HC Sean Payton was brought in to revive the franchise, and he has done it despite a record dead cap hit. Much of the attention goes to rookie QB Bo Nix, who was as pro-ready as we all thought. However, don’t sleep on the Broncos’ sneaky great defense. Led by DPOY candidate CB Patrick Surtain II, that unit carried the team as the offense found its way. Beating Buffalo will be tough, but this was a great season regardless.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6; Previous Ranking: 17)
What should we make of the Chargers? Against the bad teams, they’ve been downright dominant at times. Versus the good ones, they often get exposed. Houston, their upcoming opponent, is somewhere between those two extremes, so it remains to be seen how LA will fare. What we do know is that HC Jim Harbaugh has delivered a 6-win improvement over last season behind a run-first attack and revamped defense. QB Justin Herbert can always sling it when necessary, even if he has few weapons beyond rookie WR Ladd McConkey. The offensive line worries me a bit though, as well as the prospect of the Chargers being the Chargers.
10. Washington Commanders (12-5; Previous Ranking: 10)
To me, there’s a real gap between teams 11-32 and the top 10. Any of the teams from this point on can do some real damage. In Washington’s case, we can’t discuss their success without talking about the new combination of HC Dan Quinn and rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Those two, along with an ownership change, completely changed the culture in DC. Daniels in particular has injected life into the offense, but I won’t discount the defensive arrivals such as LBs Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. The Commanders may have arrived ahead of schedule, but that doesn’t make their 8-win improvement any less real.
9. Green Bay Packers (11-6; Previous Ranking: 11)
The young core of this Packers team has come a long way, but they aren’t at their best right now. WR Christian Watson tore his ACL in week 18, and QB Jordan Love got his elbow nicked up in the same game. Love may be fine, but even if we put the injuries aside for a moment, Green Bay has been maddeningly inconsistent. Going 0-4 against the Lions and Vikings doesn’t give me confidence, but the Packers demolished some midlevel teams such as Miami, Seattle, and San Francisco. Their likelihood of avenging their week-1 loss to Philadelphia in Brazil may come down to whether they get to face a backup QB.
8. Los Angeles Rams (10-7; Previous Ranking: 13)
These Rams seem to follow a pattern: dig an early hole while figuring out what works and then rebound with a vengeance in the second half of the season. Getting healthier has been the biggest reason for the turnaround, along with a young, rebuilt defensive line with DROY candidates Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. QB Matthew Stafford hasn’t done much in recent weeks, but this team can win in several different ways. I still believe he can post a big outing if necessary. LA’s main weakness is the back half of the defense, where the LBs and DBs aren’t quite as stout as the front. Regardless, a full-strength Rams team is a tough out.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7; Previous Ranking: 15)
If someone were to describe the Buccaneers in just a few words, they’d probably be “gritty but erratic”. Tampa’s peak is as good as anyone’s. They beat the Lions and crushed the Chargers, but they also lost to Dallas and got taken to OT by the Panthers. This team goes as QB Baker Mayfield does; the revived signal caller has put up monster numbers but also can go into a bit of a funk on occasion. I suspect the offense will show up, though they’re a bit thinner on the defensive side of the ball. No, the Bucs didn’t get brownie points in the rankings for forcing a 1000-yard season for WR Mike Evans. But that didn’t hurt their case.
6. Baltimore Ravens (12-5; Previous Ranking: 6)
Few teams in the league are hotter than Baltimore right now. QB Lamar Jackson became the first player to throw for 4000 yards and rush for 800 yards in the same season. The Ravens’ defense, a sieve partway through the season, has morphed into one of the league’s best as DC Zach Orr has found his groove. My one question remains the same: can we trust Jackson in the playoffs? History says no, but we have another question: what do the Ravens have now that they didn’t in years past? RB Derrick Henry. That hammer of a back is built for January football. If Baltimore can ever make a run as currently constructed, it’s right now.
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3; Previous Ranking: 5)
Our top 5 includes the true elites, and they’re a tier above the rest. I’m not demoting the Vikings over one bad game, no matter its importance. I saw too much good from them for 16 games. That said, there are a few things to worry about. Minnesota’s midseason loss of LT Christian Darrisaw really reared its head against Detroit, and this team’s one possible weakness is what happens when QB Sam Darnold faces too much pressure. It’s comical that a 14-3 team is going on the road, but that doesn’t make their game against the Rams (who beat them this year) a cakewalk. If the Vikings win this one, we can believe again.
4. Buffalo Bills (13-4; Previous Ranking: 3)
It’s obvious at this point that the predictions concerning the supposed demise of the Bills this offseason were overblown. QB Josh Allen is playing better than he ever has WITHOUT Stefon Diggs or Gabe Davis catching passes. The lack of proven weapons could eventually become an issue, but it hasn’t yet. So too could a defense filled with unheralded names. Nevertheless, this team has been among the league’s most dominant for much of the season. They beat Detroit at Ford Field and are the only team to (yet) beat the Chiefs’ starters. Buffalo’s upside remains immense, and everything depends on Allen continuing to shine.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3; Previous Ranking: 7)
All eyes are on QB Jalen Hurts, who remains in the concussion protocol. Nearly three weeks removed from his injury, Hurts still not being cleared is concerning. However, that’s the only possible problem with this team. The Eagles are a complete squad with elite weapons in the passing game, the likely offensive player of the year in 2000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley, a top-5 offensive line, and the #1 defense. DC Vic Fangio engineering such a turnaround, with two rookies starting in the secondary no less, is the achievement that makes Philly truly dangerous. With a healthy Hurts, the Eagles can beat any team they might face.
2. Detroit Lions (15-2; Previous Ranking: 2)
Enough injuries could sink any team, but the Lions somehow haven’t reached that threshold yet. It feels like almost every major contributor has gotten hurt, yet Detroit just keeps winning. Their defense opened some eyes last week against the Vikings, and though I can’t overlook all the injuries, this could very well be the league’s best team. Offensively, I think they’re already #1, and RB David Montgomery could return to that fearsome group. We’ve never seen a Lions team with such lofty expectations, but they’re battle-tested and as legitimate as they come. Just one reminder for Dan Campbell: you don’t have to go for EVERY 4th down!
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2; Previous Ranking: 1)
While my confidence admittedly wavered, it’s hard to bet against the 2-time reigning champs. Kansas City did not have as smooth of a year as they did in other championship seasons. They’re looking much better lately though, playing their best game against the Steelers before sitting everyone in week 18. WR Hollywood Brown being healthy helps, though not as much as G Joe Thuney moving to LT, where he has been a revelation. Of course, the defense remains stout under Steve Spagnuolo, and as long as a team has Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, it would be foolish to doubt KC’s ability to earn a historic threepeat.