NFL Power Rankings 2025: Patriots and Ravens Rise

NFL Power Rankings updated Dec. 29, 2025

Group A:


Los Angeles Rams (11-4) – Previously: 1.
The Rams remain at No. 1 despite losing to the Seahawks. They beat Seattle earlier, after all. The officiating in the Thursday game was absurdly poor, and the Rams had bad luck from the return touchdown anyway. The Rams, who were ahead 30-14 before the madness occurred, are still the best team in the NFL.

If you haven’t visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we’ve finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look.

Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It’s $7.99 per month, but you’ll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don’t want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!


Seattle Seahawks (13-3) – Previously: 3.
The Seahawks were in an awful spot against the Panthers. They were coming off the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history, and they had the 49ers after the Carolina game. Seattle began sluggishly, but was able to have a great second half to not only win, but cover as well.


Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) – Previously: 5.
The Eagles beat the Bills, but had just 190 net yards and 3.5 yards per play. They took advantage of some Buffalo mistakes and a horrible call by the officials, and then needed to hold on for dear life.


Buffalo Bills (11-5) – Previously: 2.
The Bills nearly beat the Eagles despite Josh Allen dealing with a troublesome foot injury that prevented him from running too much. The Bills better hope that he’ll be healthy in two weeks for the start of the playoffs.



Group B:


New England Patriots (13-3) – Previously: 7.
The Patriots had a chance to prove that they are for real by sweeping the Bills. It looked like they’d do so, but they fell apart in the second half. They redeemed themselves against the Ravens, though they were able to benefit from Lamar Jackson’s injury.

The next game was an absolute domination of the Jets. Maye took a seat midway through the third quarter in game in which the Patriots could have scored 70 points if they wanted to do so.


Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) – Previously: 4.
The Jaguars are better than what they’ve been earlier in the season. Jakobi Meyers is such an important presence for Trevor Lawrence because Lawrence has never had a professional receiver in his career. He’s played with talented receivers, but all of them were either mistake-prone or fragile. The defense, meanwhile, has made great strides. I ended up betting the Jaguars to win the Super Bowl.


Houston Texans (11-5) – Previously: 6.
Houston beat the Chargers, but Texans fans have to be wondering why C.J. Stroud couldn’t continue launching deep touchdowns after connecting with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. This sort of inconsistency will hurt the Texans come playoff time.


San Francisco 49ers (12-4) – Previously: 12.
The 49ers have too many defensive injuries to make a deep playoff run, but perhaps they can win one postseason game if Brock Purdy and the rest of the offense remains healthy. Their offense has been unreal recently, and perhaps Fred Warner will be able to return at some point.


Baltimore Ravens (8-8) – Previously: 15.
It’s about time the Ravens remembered that Derrick Henry was on the roster. Henry was a beast against the Packers, but it seemed as though it was too little, too late.


Chicago Bears (11-5) – Previously: 9.
The Bears beat the Packers, but looked very unimpressive while doing so. They looked like a mediocre-at-best team for three-and-a-half quarters. But we can’t ignore what Caleb Williams did at the end of that game either. Williams was incredible at San Francisco, but perhaps because the 49ers’ defense is so bad.


Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) – Previously: 10.
The Packers were underwhelming earlier in the year in losses to the Panthers and Browns, and near-defeats to the Cardinals and Joe Flacco-led Bengals. However, they were much better after that. They won in a blowout over the Vikings, held multiple 10-point leads in Detroit, and were able to soundly beat the hot Bears. They then had a lead versus the Packers for most of the afternoon. Unfortunately for them, they lost Micah Parsons, Christian Watson, and Zach Tom to injuries versus Denver. Watson has returned, but Parsons and Tom haven’t played since, and it’s really hurt Green Bay.



Group C:


San Angeles Chargers (11-5) – Previously: 8.
Can someone tell me how Brandon Stanley snuck into the Chargers facility, kidnappened Jim Harbaugh, and replaced him in the previous game against Houston? The Chargers haven’t looked that dumb since before Harbaugh too over as head coach.


Denver Broncos (13-3) – Previously: 11.
The Broncos are 13-3, but you can’t really take them seriously as a Super Bowl contender with their close wins against the Raiders, Jets, Giants, Titans, the Redskins, and the Chris Oladokun-led Chiefs. Bo Nix was awful in the Thursday night victory versus Las Vegas. He was so inept that he must have thought he was battling the ’85 Bears instead of the terrible Raiders defense. Nix came back to beat the Chiefs, but Kansas City continued to underwhelm. Nearly losing to Washington and the Chris Oladokun-led Chiefs should just result in losses.

But what about Denver’s win versus the Packers? Well, if the Broncos get to battle teams who lose their All-Pro defender, top receiver, and rock-solid right tackle, they’ll win every time. We saw the real Broncos against the Jaguars.

I expect a huge apology from Denver fans.


Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) – Previously: 18.
Joe Burrow now has two incredible games since laying a complete egg against the Ravens. We have officially entered the part of the season where people say, “Oh boy, teams are so lucky that the Bengals aren’t in the playoffs because no one would want to play against them right now!”


Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) – Previously: 13.
The Steelers have zero offense without DK Metcalf. It’s like what the team went through without George Pickens last year. The good news is that Metcalf will be back for the playoffs. The bad news is that the Steelers may not make the playoffs in the wake of their loss to the Browns.


Minnesota Vikings (8-8) – Previously: 16.
It’s a shame that the Vikings had such a slow start to the year because they’re now playing like what I envisioned back in the summer. I’d say they could pull an upset or two if they were in the playoffs, but then I remembered how bad J.J. McCarthy was against top defenses.


New Orleans Saints (6-10) – Previously: 19.
Unless something weird happens in the offseason, I’m going to be betting the Saints to win the division in 2026. They’re the best team in the NFC South right now.


Detroit Lions (8-8) – Previously: 14.
What a truly pathetic performance by the Lions. I wrote that about their loss to the Steelers, and the same can be applied to their loss to the Vikings. They had a lifeless game versus Minnesota where they played like they were already eliminated.


Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) – Previously: 17.
Perhaps it’s for the best that the Eagles’ win eliminated the Cowboys because there’s little doubt that Dallas would have embarrassed itself in a must-win game against the Chargers. Jerry Jones has a lot of work to do with this defense in the offseason. Perhaps he needs to fix the offensive line as well, given that the Redskins, with their poor pass rush, sacked Dak Prescott six times.



Group D:


Indianapolis Colts (8-8) – Previously: 20.
I compared the Colts to a seemingly hot girl at the bar, but when the lights go on, she’s revealed to be a hideous beast. Now, without Daniel Jones, the Colts are even worse. What’s worse than hideous beast? Rosie O’Donnell is the only thing that comes to mind.

Perhaps an extremely old version of Rosie O’Donnell? Philip Rivers didn’t commit any mistakes against the Seahawks, but dinked and dunked the entire time. The Colts averaged just 3.7 yards per play. Rivers was better against San Francisco’s anemic defense on Monday night, but he made a crucial mistake to end the game. Rivers then threw a crucial interception against the Jaguars. It’s time to see what Riley Leonard can do.


Carolina Panthers (8-8) – Previously: 21.
Somehow, some way, the Panthers are 8-8. If they make the playoffs, they could end up being the worst team to ever make the playoffs in NFL history. They have a negative point differential of 67 and were extremely lucky to win many of their games this season. They got swept by the Saints!


Atlanta Falcons (6-9) – Previously: 23.
The Falcons have a Group B roster – now downgraded with Michael Penix Jr. being injured – but a Group F head coach. Raheem Morris is the worst head coach in the NFL. Do you think the Falcons could have used some rest following their 11-hour flight home from Germany when the Panthers were mounting a comeback against them? Why didn’t Morris take the bye after playing in Europe? And it was no surprise that they suffered a letdown after beating the Saints. It was also no surprise that they fell apart against the Seahawks following an impressive first half against them. They beat the Buccaneers, but that just shows how good they could have been if they had better coaching.


Cleveland Browns (4-12) – Previously: 25.
Shedeur Sanders had a nice start to the Steelers game with a touchdown to Harold Fannin, but he couldn’t do anything once Fannin got knocked out with an injury. Still, Cleveland’s defense was so dominant in the victory.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) – Previously: 22.
The Buccaneers lost to the sorry Dolphins, but it doesn’t matter because the Panthers also lost. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Buccaneers can’t even beat Quinn Ewers right now.



Group F:


Tennessee Titans (3-13) – Previously: 26.
The Titans are now 8-28 against the spread since Week 1 of last year. They looked dominant against the Saints in the opening half, but their defense collapsed against a red-hot Tyler Shough after intermission.


Miami Dolphins (7-9) – Previously: 27.
The Dolphins had some fraudulent wins in the middle of the season, but reverted to the mean in losses to the Steelers and Bengals. They beat the Buccaneers, but everyone is beating the Buccaneers right now.


Arizona Cardinals (3-13) – Previously: 24.
The Cardinals are seven plays away from being 9-6, which is crazy but true. Arizona, however, has gotten blown out in consecutive games before Week 16 and then went on to lose to Kirk Cousins at home. The Cardinals lost half of their defense in that game, and they couldn’t stop anything the Bengals were doing in Week 17.


Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) – Previously: 28.
The Chiefs might be the worst team in the NFL right now. Their defense already sucked, and now they have Chris Oladokun throwing to Xavier Worthy behind an offensive line missing its top three tackles, all while the top two cornerbacks are out. Yikes.


Washington Redskins (4-12) – Previously: 29.
The old saying is, “Good teams win, great teams cover.” The Redskins were a great team on Christmas, covering against the Redskins via a back-door field goal with two minutes remaining.


New York Giants (3-13) – Previously: 30.
I bet the Giants to have the worst record in the NFL, so as you might guess, I wasn’t too happy to see them win in Week 17. Jaxson Dart played well, but against a Raider defense that didn’t care.


New York Jets (3-13) – Previously: 31.
New York’s 3-13 record is especially remarkable because it’s gone against Group C-F teams in 11 of its 16 games. The only teams they’ve battled all year that are above average are the Bills, Patriots (twice), Ravens, and the Jaguars. All five of those games were decided by double digits. New York had no chance with Brady “the Chef” Cook.


Las Vegas Raiders (2-14) – Previously: 32.
The Raiders played a very close game against the Texans where Ashton Jeanty looked great. However, they’ve decided to quit in order to tank for the No. 1 pick. I guess we should have made the Giants a huge bet when the Raiders shut down Maxx Crosby right after he said he wanted to fight hard to beat the Giants.