2023 NFL Power Rankings
Tony Mario Last Updated: January 4, 2024.
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Carolina Panthers 2-14-0
- Bryce Young looks inexperienced. Carolina Panthers owner Dave Tepper has fired four coaches on the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC in the last eighteen months. Carolina also doesn't have a first round pick in 2024 thanks to trading up for Bryce Young. This team was playing very uninspired football. Carolina's two home wins came on a game-winning field goal at the end. You can honeslty argue that this is one of the ten worst NFL Teams of All Time.
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New England Patriots 4-12-0
- New England has benched Mac Jones for good. Outside of Carolina, the one other team that looks like they have no identity is the New England Patriots.
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Washington Commanders 4-12-0
- I'm honestly torn between how Washington's current administration is handling the US Border and how the Washington Commanders offensive line is handling Sam Howell. Both are doing an equally poor job in that respect. Sam Howell was supposed to be benched for Jacoby Brissett in week 17, but Brissett got injured. Sam Howell is starting in week 18.
Previously Ranked: 26th
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New York Giants 5-11-0
- Daniel Jones is out for the year. Tyrod Taylor is injured. New York has an undrafted quarterback named Tommy DeVito starting. This is a bottom four team in the league despite the fact that the New York Giants are currently picking outside of the top 4 in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Los Angeles Chargers 5-11-0
- The Los Angeles Chargers have a ton of star players. Justin Herbert is one of the leagues best quarterbacks. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Chargers have a GM and head coach that refuse to take accountability. Justin Herbert also suffered .
Previously Ranked: 18th
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New York Jets 6-10-0
- The New York Jets now have Trevor Siemian at quarterback. Their season is over regardless of what happens in week 18 against New England.
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Arizona Cardinals 4-12-0
- Arizona beat three teams with winning records by defeating Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. The other win came against Atlanta. Arizona is closer to contention than people think with a strong offseason.
Previously Ranked: 30th
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Tennessee Titans 5-11-0
- Tennessee has some good core players on defense. Unfortunately the offense is awful. Will Levis has done alright at Nisssan Stadium, but has struggled on the road. Levis got injured against Houston for the second time this season.
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Denver Broncos 8-8-0
- Denver allowed Miami to drop 70 on them. Denver's come a long way since then winning five in a row defeating Kansas City, Buffalo, and Cleveland. Denver lost to Detroit and New England after being in position to get a wild card. Denver also benched Russell Wilson for Jarrett Stidham, so I have the Broncos in my bottom 10 now as a result.
Previously Ranked: 10th
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Atlanta Falcons 7-9-0
- Atlanta has benched both quarterbacks. Atlanta has playmakers, but not a face at the most important position.
Previously Ranked: 19th
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Chicago Bears 7-9-0
- Justin Fields has played well the last two weeks since returning from his injury. Chicago has improved to 7-9 and even if Justin Fields wins in Green Bay, Chicago might still draft a quarterback first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Previously Ranked: 28th
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Seattle Seahawks 8-8-0
- Seattle's offensive line dealt with injuries once again against Pittsburgh in week 17. Seattle's center, right guard, and right tackle are all out with injuries.
Previously Ranked: 12th
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Las Vegas Raiders 7-9-0
- I love Antonio Pierce as the interim head coach. Unfortunately, I don't trust Aidan O'Connell at quarterback.
Previously Ranked: 22nd
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Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7-0
- Pittsburgh's defense is actually good enough to win them the AFC North. Broderick Jones looks like an All Pro left tackle, but is now starting at right tackle. Pittsburgh fired Matt Canada. Pittsburgh has an easy strength of schedule. Pittsburgh blew their chances at a playoff spot by starting Mitchell Trubisky when Kenny PIckett was injure. Mason Rudolph is now 2-0 as a starter.
Previously Ranked: 9th
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Green Bay Packers 8-8-0
- Jordan Love looked great in the first three games. He's struggled immensely for a while, but has bounced back the last two weeks against the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving despite not having David Bahktiari at left tackle or Luke Musgrave at tight end. Green Bay can secure the last wild card spot in the NFC with a home win over the Chicago Bears. Even if the Green Bay Packers make this years NFL Playoffs, they are arguably the weakest team in the NFC Playoff Pool.
Previously Ranked: 21st
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New Orleans Saints 8-8-0
- New Orleans would be 9-7 not 8-8 if the Saints hadn't blew a 17-0 lead in the four quarter when Derek Carr was injured and all three running backs were dealing with injuries. New Orleans looks like one of the weaker teams in the NFC, but needs to handle Atlanta help from the Carolina Panthers in week 18.
Previously Ranked: 23rd
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Minnesota Vikings 7-9-0
- Minnesota did defeat New Orleans in week 9 without Kirk Cousins. I put them here at 16 because I honestly believe they would be ahead of both Green Bay and New Orleans if Kirk Cousins never got injured. Minnesota is still in the thick of things, but is a long shot to make the playoffs since they need a lot of help to get the last wild card. Minnesota would have to beat Detroit, but they would also need Chicago to beat Green Bay, Arizona to beat Seattle, Tampa Bay to defeat Carolina, and Atlanta to defeat New Orleans in order to secure the final wild card. If Carolina defeated Tampa Bay after the other three scenarios came to fruition, the Buccaneers would beat out the Vikings for the last wild card.
Previously Ranked: 11th
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Jacksonville Jaguars 9-7-0
- Jacksonville has their entire defense back at full health. Jacksonville can win the AFC South with a road win over Tennessee, but they've been less disciplined tha Houston or Indiaapolis despite having more talent this season.
Previously Ranked: 7th
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-8-0
- Maybe the Bucs might have a chance at doing something with Baker. Chris Ransom pointed out that Baker Mayfield is 27-6 when he has 0 interceptions or fumbles lost back in September. He's 27-8 without a turnover since losing to Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud. Baker won three more games without a turnover to improve to 30-8 without a turnover. Tampa Bay has a good defense, but the offense has been stagnant outside of Mike Evans at wide receiver and Tristian Wirfs at left tackle as of late.
Previously Ranked: 24th
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Houston Texans 9-7-0
- Houston should have their offensive line back to full health minus left guard Kenyon Green and right tackle Tytus Howard, who moved to left guard after Kenyon Green got injured. Juice Scruggs moved to left guard after Tytus Howard suffered a season ending injury. C.J. Stroud did well in his first game back from a concussion. Houston can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Saturday.
Previously Ranked: 15th
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Indianapolis Colts 9-7-0
- Indianapolis doesn't have Anthony Richardson for the rest of the season. Jonathan Taylor came back. Indianapolis gets the Texans at home while Jacksonville goes on the road. Indianpolis is my highest ranked AFC South team, but I'm not sold on any of the AFC South winners against Cleveland in the wild card round.
Previously Ranked: 14th
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Cincinnati Bengals 8-8-0
- Joe Burrow is out for the year. That's one reason why the Cincinnati Bengals season is over. It's amazing this team has a chance to play for a winning record in week 18.
Previously Ranked: 20th
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Los Angeles Rams 9-7-0
- The Rams made quite the statement win against Seattle in week 1 and managed to sweep Seattle too. Los Angeles also swept the Arizona Cardinals and defeated the Indianapolis Colts in week 4 when both teams were as close to fully healthy as possible before Anthony Richardson suffered his season ending injury with the Colts. Los Angeles secured a wild card spot and a win means they would be the six seed in the NFC. Los Angeles plays San Francisco whose secured the 1 seed in the NFC.
Previously Ranked: 17th
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Cleveland Browns 11-5-0
- The Cleveland Browns don't have Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones, or Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the rest of the season. Cleveland has managed to make this years NFL Playoffs with Joe Flacco starting at quarterback.
Previously Ranked: 16th
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Philadelphia Eagles 11-5-0
- Philadelphia won the NFC Championship game last year before losing Super Bowl 57. Philadelphia is 1-4 since Jessie Waters picked the Eagles to win Super Bowl 58. Darius Slay is also injured at cornerback. Philadelphia's pass defense has been suspect without Slay and even if they win in the wild card round, I don't see the Eagles returning to the NFC Championship.
Previously Ranked: 1st
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Miami Dolphins 11-5-0
- Tua Tagovailoa is having a crazy good season. Tyreek Hill also leads the NFL with receiving yards with a historically good season at wide receiver and Jaylen Waddle compliments him well. Miami has the weapons to get the 2 seed in the AFC and potentially make the AFC Title game. Miami lost Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to a season ending injuries as both of Miami's top two pass rushers suffered season ending injuries. Miami will make the playoffs, but they will lose in the wild card round to either Buffalo or Kansas City assuming both teams make the playoffs.
Previously Ranked: 6th
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Detroit Lions 11-5-0
- Detroit has enough talent to win a wild card game. If Alim McNeil and C.J. Gardner-Johnson return from injuries for the wild card round, they could push Dallas to the limit for a spot in this years NFC Championship game after Brad Allen screwed Detroit out of a week 17 win.
Previously Ranked: 2nd
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Dallas Cowboys 11-5-0
- Dallas is good enough to get past the wild card round. I think Dallas can win a second playoff game at home. I'm not convinced Dallas would beat San Francisco in the NFC Title game. Even if they defeated the 49ers, Dallas would have to play Baltimore, Kansas City, or Buffalo in Super Bowl 58. I like all of those teams in the AFC over Dallas.
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Buffalo Bills 10-6-0
- Buffalo's offense is fully healthy. Buffalo won't have Tre'Davious White or Matt Milano the rest of the season. Buffalo can get the 2 seed if they beat Miami on Sunday which would ensure the Buffalo Bills two home playoff games.
Previously Ranked: 13th
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Kansas City Chiefs 10-6-0
- Kansas City has their defense at full health once again. With a fully healthy defense, the sky is the limit for the Kansas City Chiefs. I think Kansas City can get back to the AFC Championship. They could repeat as AFC Champions if Cleveland knocks out the Ravens.
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San Francisco 49ers 12-4-0
- San Francisco won't have Hufanga at strong safety the rest of the year. The thing is San Francisco destroyed Dallas in week 5 to the point where they belong in the top 4 of these power rankings until the San Francisco 49ers lose a fourth game. San Francisco lost to Baltimore by two touchdowns.
Previously Ranked: 4th
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Baltimore Ravens 13-3-0
- Baltimore has secured the top seed in the AFC. Their resting their starters in week 18 giving Baltimore two weeks to recover for the Divisional Round.
Previously Ranked: 8th