With only a few weeks of the NFL regular season left, there’s no better time to rank the top 10 teams! I’m hoping to gauge where these teams currently are as we enter the final stretch, and rank them in order of likelihood to win it all.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
After finishing last season with a 5-12 record and then losing an immense amount of talent in the off-season, I did not have much faith in this team and roster. However, Jim Harbaugh has instilled a fantastic new culture and has had an invaluable impact on this team thus far. The Chargers are currently 8-4, with quality wins over the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.
Despite their mediocre offense, which ranks 14th or lower in every major offensive statistic, their defense has been stellar. They are currently top 3 in red zone defense, third down defense, and scoring defense, which means this team is giving up the fewest touchdowns in the league. If the Chargers can beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, it will show how elite their defense truly is, and that their offense can do just enough to win big games.
9. Denver Broncos
After beginning the season 0-2, the Broncos have found their rhythm and are now 8-5. Although the only current playoff team they have defeated are the Falcons, the Broncos were a blocked field goal away from beating the undefeated Chiefs.
However, since that loss the team is 3-0 and is averaging 36 points per game over the stretch! Furthermore, this defense is still great as they rank 9th in defense for opponent yards per game and 3rd in red zone scoring defense. Even though they currently have the 21st ranked offense when it comes to yards per game. It is likely to improve if the last three games are any indication of their potential. If the Broncos can win two of their final four games, I believe they will likely make the playoffs.
8. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are likely in the most unfortunate position currently in the NFL. Even though they are 9-4, which would be good for first in four other divisions, they are currently sitting at third in the NFC North. Despite this, the Packers are top 10 in passing, rushing, and scoring offense, as well as an sporting a top 10 defense.
Although this team looks great on paper, I cannot rank them above any of the teams ahead of them as they have only beaten two teams with winning records, being the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans. They have lost to all the teams in the NFC with better records than them: the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
7. Baltimore Ravens
It saddens me to put the Ravens this low as just three weeks they were in my top 3 teams. I believe out of every team in this 5-10 range, this team has the greatest potential. However, losing to inferior opponents, such as the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, has led this team to an undesired 8-5 start, which is second in their division to the 9-3 Pittsburgh Steelers.
With only 4 games left on their schedule, if they want to host a home playoff game they essentially must win out and have the Steelers lose a game or two. Justin Tucker, the man labelled by some as the “GOAT” kicker, has cost them many games this year, notably against the Steelers and Eagles. Furthermore, their defense has not been good as they are currently 23rd in defense for points per game, as well as 31st in passing defense.
Even through all of these woes, Lamar Jackson is having his best season since his iconic 2019 MVP campaign, and Derrick Henry is having a career resurgence as well in John Harbaugh and Todd Monken’s offense. Could these two stars lead the Ravens to a division title and a Super Bowl? I believe so, but they must stop shooting themselves in the foot.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Is it a bit insane to say that the Minnesota Vikings are the most underrated team in the NFL, despite being 10-2? Perhaps, but this team is not getting their proper recognition from the media. While I understand that their wins over teams such as the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennesse Titans and New York Giants are nothing to write home about, this team is still beating the teams in front of them.
Furthermore, they have wins over two teams in the current playoff picture, being the Packers and Texans, and played a very competitive game against the Lions. Although they have not beaten any of the top dogs of the league, they are beating the opponents in front of them. Furthermore, their offense is ranked 13th in yards per game and defense is ranked 12th, and this team still has the best receiver in the league, Justin Jefferson.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
Do the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have an offense? After scoring 44 points against the Cincinnati Bengals, a scoring feat they hadn’t achieved since 2018, it’s safe to say they finally have an offense. This team is 5-1 since Russell Wilson as a starter, and in 6 games with the team, Wilson has 10 TDs to only 3 INTs, a 104 passer rating, and over 1600 passing yards.
Furthermore, this team is currently 9-3, with a vital win against the Ravens which could lead them to win this division. This team has also beaten current playoff teams in the Falcons, Broncos, Chargers and Commanders. Although some may argue they won while these teams were not playing at their best, it is nonetheless impressive. The Steelers defense is amazing, as always, currently ranking 6th in defense for points and yards per game; their offense isn’t too shabby either as they are 14th in offensive yards per game. While they have a gauntlet of a schedule in their final few weeks, if this team can win 3 of the games, I believe they will win their division and be a dangerous team come playoff time.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
This team is likely the most polarizing 11-1 team of all time. The stats back this up as exactly 34 NFL teams have begun 11-1 since 1970, and out of all of those teams, the Chiefs point differential ranks dead last at only +54. Furthermore, the Chiefs have only won 2 games by more than 1 score, being the 26-13 win against the Saints and the 28-18 win against the 49ers. They have let inferior opponents hang around, such as the Buccaneers, Panthers, and the Raiders, twice.
Despite this, the Chiefs have beaten current playoff teams: the Ravens, Chargers, Falcons and Broncos. Even if all of these games were decided by one score, the Chiefs still have found ways to win. Their defense remains elite as they are 8th in total defense, while their offense is simply middle of the pack, ranking 15th in yards per game. Even though many may claim this team to be “fraudulent” given their loss to the Buffalo Bills, they have lost to the Bills in the regular season every year since 2021. Additionally, this loss may serve as a wake-up call to play better. Despite all of the stats, this team is still the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl Champions, and come January and February, I would still pick them over any other team.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Since beginning 2-2, the Eagles have gone 8-0, including their most impressive win of the season against the Ravens. In the past 3 weeks, the Eagles have beaten the Commanders, placing them in control of the NFC East, before taking on and beating the favored Ravens in a game that was wrapped up midway through the 4th quarter. The Eagles are top 5 in both total offense and defense, being ranked 3rd and 1st respectively in yards per game. This defense has been especially impressive as they have held prolific offenses such as the Bengals, Commanders and Ravens all under 20 points.
The most points they’ve allowed in this 8 game winning streak is 23, and are allowing only 15.5 points during this period. Furthermore, Saquon Barkley has been a godsend for this team, currently ranking 2nd in MVP odds as a running back! He currently has nearly 1500 rushing yards and 11 TDs, putting him on track to finish with 2000 yards this season. Overall, the Eagles appear to be the Lions number 1 threat to make the Super Bowl and should be considered extremely dangerous.
2. Buffalo Bills
Despite major off-season free agent losses, the Bills are looking stronger than ever. Quarterback Josh Allen has willed this good, but not great, roster to a fantastic 10-2 record, clinching their division this past Sunday. The Bills have become accustomed to blowing teams out, sporting a point differential of +131, second only to the Lions.
They are dominating games on both sides of the ball, ranking 2nd in scoring offense and 6th in scoring defense. Josh Allen is currently the MVP favorite and has been playing fantastic football all season long. Their game in a few weeks against the Lions will give us a glimpse into their Super Bowl potential, and should be absolute cinema.
1. Detroit Lions
What is left to say about the Lions? They have consistently displayed throughout the regular season that they are the best team, with their sole loss coming against the Buccaneers in Week 2. The Lions have made light work of every team that they’ve faced, made evident by their league leading +183 point differential. They are winning games on average by nearly 15 points, placing them just outside the top 25 all time.
This team is currently 2nd in total offensive yards per game and 2nd in scoring offense, sitting top 5 in every defensive category besides total defense and passing defense. The Lions are the current odds on favorite to win Super Bowl LIX for the first time in franchise history. Given this, it’s understandable for many to consider this season a Super Bowl or bust for the team.
