Ranking the 2025 NFL playoff teams from best to worst

The addition of Sam Darnold has helped Seattle more than they could have ever hoped, also unlocking Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an elite receiver. Head coach Mike Macdonald's defense has also been elite, ranking second in points allowed with a great run defense and secondary. The No. 1 seed and homefield advantage help, but Darnold will need to prove the naysayers wrong after struggling in the playoffs with Minnesota last season.

The tough NFC West prevented the Rams from earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but they're the team no one wants to play. Slightly favored to win the Super Bowl, LA is elite on both sides of the ball with likely MVP Matthew Stafford and a host of great offensive weapons led by Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams. Head coach Sean McVay and Stafford also won a Super Bowl only four years ago.

The defending Super Bowl champs have been very inconsistent on offense despite top talent led by Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. A great offensive line and running game should play in cold environments, and Vic Fangio's defense continues to perform at an elite level, with the young secondary continuing to deliver.

Houston didn't win the AFC South, but they could be the scariest team in the conference due to their hot streak and No. 1-ranked defense. After starting the year 0-3, Houston has been the hottest team in football during the second half of the season, with the duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. rushing the quarterback, C.J. Stroud, now back healthy.

Mike Vrabel is the leading candidate for Coach of the Year, and much of his success is due to Drake Maye's ascent in his second season. The offense can win in a variety of ways, while New England's defense also ranks in the top 10.

Is this Josh Allen's year? He's struggled in the playoffs and has recently been fighting a foot injury. Still, the offense has remained in the top 10 with the help of James Cook's heroics. Stopping the run has been a major issue for the Bills' defense, and one that has already come back to bite them in December.

First-year head coach Liam Coen has done a remarkable job returning the Jaguars to the top of the AFC South, and getting Trevor Lawrence to play his best football. The team has been near the top 10 in both offense and defense for most of the season, and has shown an opportunistic defense that's getting takeaways despite struggles rushing the passer.

Brock Purdy has never played better football, but does that 49ers defense have enough to compete? The loss of Fred Warner proved massive, and the team also has other key players playing through pain. There's still hope Warner will be able to return for the Conference Championship, but San Francisco will have to get there first.

There's no homefield advantage like Denver, and Vance Joseph's defense continues to be elite after the unit's breakout 2024 season. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has been efficient, and Sean Payton has seen his success in the playoffs, but it remains to be seen if the Broncos can play from behind against an elite team.

It was another strong year for Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, with the team netting a Wild Card. The defense has ranked near the top 10 for most of the season, and the offense is helped by a healthy Omarion Hampton. Herbert is out to show he belongs in the upper tier of quarterbacks, and playoff success is all that's missing from his resume.

Head coach Ben Johnson made a huge difference for Caleb Williams and the Bears, showing his play-calling prowess throughout the season. The offense ranks in the top five in yards, thanks to an elite rushing attack, though Chicago's defense is still very much a work in progress. It remains to be seen how far the Bears can go with a bottom-10 defense in yards allowed.

Injuries have severely hindered the Packers late in the season, with Micah Parsons lost for the year and Jordan Love also missing time. Not many teams have more young talent or a brighter future, but the Packers haven't stood out statistically and might have too many injuries to make a run.

The Steelers are counting their lucky stars that they're in the tournament after a dramatic Week 18 game vs. Baltimore, but the team is capable of winning at least one game with a home date in the Wild Card Round. The offense has been very limited, but it can draw from Aaron Rodgers' experience and the return of DK Metcalf from suspension. The defense also has T.J. Watt back after missing time.

The Panthers backed into the playoffs in Week 18, but have made marked improvements this season on both sides of the ball. The question is whether the young squad, led by Bryce Young, has the firepower to keep pace with the NFC's elite offenses.