NFL power rankings, final edition: Seahawks soared past expectations while others fell hard

Frank Schwab

from on 2026-01-05 22:05 (#72KSQ)

The Seattle Seahawks weren't expected to win the NFC West this season. They weren't even a serious consideration. They had the same BetMGM betting odds as the Arizona Cardinals to win the division.

The Seahawks were just 3-2 through five weeks, with tough late home losses to the 49ers and Buccaneers. There were signs the Seahawks could be a good team early in the season. But nothing that indicated they'd lose only one more game the rest of the regular season and be the clear No. 1 team in the NFL by the end of it.

One of the themes of this season was that there were many good teams (which we can see in one of the deepest playoff fields in recent memory) but perhaps no great one. Maybe the Seahawks, with three losses by a combined nine points, will be remembered as a great team if they win three more playoff games, including Super Bowl LX.

The defense is obviously stellar, and was at its best in a huge Week 18 win against the 49ers. The Seahawks held the 49ers to 173 yards, the fewest San Francisco has had in a regular-season game under Kyle Shanahan. The offense had some issues but still finished third in points scored, eighth in yards gained and 10th in offensive DVOA. Sam Darnold gets criticism but over the last two regular seasons his teams are 28-6. That's remarkable, even if he struggles to get proper respect.

The Seahawks aren't used to getting an inordinate amount of respect. They began this season with low outside expectations, considered one of many overlooked teams that weren't close to being a Super Bowl contender. By the end of the season the Seahawks weren't just a Super Bowl contender. They were the deserving Super Bowl favorite.

32 (previous ranking 32): Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)

The Raiders were supposed to be competitive this season. That's why Pete Carroll was brought in. Instead, they were the worst team in the NFL. That's why Carroll was fired after one year. The Raiders never seem to have a plan, and it's hard to trust them to make the right hire to help whichever quarterback will be the first overall pick. But the Raiders announced Tom Brady will be involved, which satisfies Mark Davis' desire to have recognizable names associated with his team.

31 (31): New York Jets (3-14)

The Jets being blown out again in Week 18, and finishing without a single interception on defense, which set an NFL record, sums up a miserable season. Aaron Glenn had a bad roster to work with, but the first-year coach also didn't do much with it. The Jets have to start the offseason by figuring out their quarterback problem, but that's far from the only issue New York has to fix. This rebuild might take a while.

30 (29): Arizona Cardinals (3-14)

The Cardinals actually started this season 2-0. Kudos to the Cowboys for being the only team Arizona beat after that. The horrific finish to the season cost Jonathan Gannon his job. It was interesting that general manager Monti Ossenfort was retained, given that it could be a deterrent to head-coaching candidates and it's not like Ossenfort has done a great job building the roster. After that disaster of a season, the Cardinals' opening might be the most unattractive in this cycle.

29 (30): Tennessee Titans (3-14)

Cam Ward had the Titans off to a fast start in Week 18 before suffering a shoulder injury on a touchdown run. The good news is that injury shouldn't affect much of his offseason. Ward was making progress in the second half of the season. Of his six best games of the season, in terms of passer rating, five came after the Week 10 bye. Now the Titans just need to find the right coach to get the most out of Ward.

28 (28): New York Giants (4-13)

There has been talk of Jaxson Dart's long-term viability as the Giants' quarterback, but did he really play below expectation? He was reasonable as a rookie, with some ups and downs. A final passer rating of 91.7 was more than acceptable. Had the Giants gotten the first overall pick - which would have been the case if they lost either of their last two games - then maybe there would be a reasonable debate. With the fifth pick, it seems smarter to build around Dart and get injured players like Malik Nabers back to full health.

27 (27): Washington Commanders (5-12)

What went wrong with the Commanders goes beyond Jayden Daniels starting and finishing only five games all season. The roster was the oldest in the NFL and it looked that way, as many aging stars failed to play up to their prime level. The defense became one of the worst in the NFL. None of the team's 2025 draftees, aside from seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt at running back, had a positive impact. A rebound in 2026, even with a healthy Daniels, isn't a guarantee.

26 (26): Cleveland Browns (5-12)

The Browns didn't show enough progress for ownership and fired Kevin Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year. Stefanski should be one of the hottest names in this coaching cycle, while the Browns might struggle to attract the best candidates. The one thing Browns ownership can sell to candidates is youth. Cleveland became the first team since the 1970 merger to have rookie leaders in passing yards (Shedeur Sanders), rushing yards (Quinshon Judkins), receiving yards (Harold Fannin Jr.) and tackles (Carson Schwesinger), according to Yahoo Sports' Andrew Siciliano.

25 (20): Miami Dolphins (7-10)

The Dolphins were competitive for a while, then lost three of their last four and the losses were by 13, 24 and 28 points. It's not a great way to go into the offseason, and the offseason will be messy with the team looking for a new general manager and likely parting ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It was a lost season and far from a guarantee to be better in 2026.

24 (25): Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)

The Chiefs lost to the Raiders in Week 18, a fitting end to a season we'll remember as either the end of their dynasty or a strange pause in the middle of it. The Chiefs should bounce back if their luck in close games gets better, but everything is cloudy until timetables emerge on Patrick Mahomes' recovery from knee surgery. It's hard to project anything for Kansas City with that hanging over the franchise.

23 (19): Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)

This is a massive offseason for the Bengals. They have to make sure Joe Burrow wants to be around, then build the roster around him. Cincinnati has more cap space than you'd think (seventh-most in the NFL at the moment, according to Spotrac) and the 10th pick of the draft. Fixing an offensive line and entire defense in one offseason is almost impossible, but that's the mission.

22 (24): New Orleans Saints (6-11)

The Saints should feel better than you'd assume for an 11-loss team. They got better as the season went on, which was a good sign for first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation for his strong play, and looks like he could be a long-term answer at the position. There's a lot of work to be done in the offseason but it was a positive second half to the season, which included a four-game winning streak.

21 (18): Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)

Dak Prescott had one of the most honest answers you'll hear from a player after the Cowboys' finale, in which he said (correctly) that the Cowboys' losing record wasn't his fault. "One of the first seasons, if not the first of my career where I can't directly correlate my play to the wins, the loss, or the end of the season or overall success of the season," Prescott said. "So that makes it frustrating." The translation: The defense needs to be better to support an offense that was pretty good. He's not wrong.

20 (23): Indianapolis Colts (8-9)

When the Colts were 7-1, it seemed impossible that they could finish below .500. It wasn't all Daniel Jones' injury - the decline started before that - but that was the death blow. The Colts are bringing back coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, which is fair after how the season started. The big question will be how to handle the Jones situation, as he attempts to come back from a torn Achilles. Jones is a free agent.

19 (21): Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)

The Buccaneers didn't get the help they needed to win the NFC South, but they didn't deserve to win the division after losing seven of eight before a season-ending win over Carolina. It was a team built to win now, so finishing under .500 and missing the playoffs is a massive disappointment. Baker Mayfield's severe slump over the last half of the season is what needs to be figured out and fixed over the offseason.

18 (15): Baltimore Ravens (8-9)

The Ravens just needed a 44-yard field goal to win the division. Don't blame Tyler Loop for missing it; this was a terrible season for the Ravens from beginning to end. There were plenty of chances to win on Sunday night before Loop's missed field goal, and countless chances before Week 18 to play like a playoff-level team. The Ravens' 8-9 record was well earned. And now the Ravens have to deal with some fascinating offseason decisions.

17 (22): Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

The Falcons' hot finish, winning four in a row, including one over the Rams, ultimately looked even worse for Raheem Morris. We could see in that stretch that the Falcons were better than their 8-9 record. Atlanta cleaned house, firing Morris and GM Terry Fontenot. Owner Arthur Blank clearly wasn't happy with the direction of the team and wasn't beholden to keeping the status quo after a late winning streak, which is a positive sign. The results simply weren't good enough given the talent on hand.

16 (17): Detroit Lions (9-8)

Only two teams finished in the top 10 of DVOA in offense, defense and special teams: The NFC's No. 1 seed Seahawks, and a Lions team that missed the playoffs. Detroit was third overall in DVOA. If you're looking for the team everyone will be picking for a rebound in 2026, this might be it. The Lions still have plenty of talent, which just makes a lost season even more frustrating.

15 (16): Minnesota Vikings (9-8)

Winning five in a row to end the season is a positive and also a reminder of what might have been, had Minnesota's quarterback play been even average. The Vikings' approach at quarterback will be watched closely. Perhaps just as important will be if defensive coordinator Brian Flores returns. He should get some head-coaching interviews, and he could conceivably leave as a coordinator elsewhere since his contract is up.

14 (14): Carolina Panthers (8-9)

Usually, being the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record would be a muted accomplishment. For Carolina, it's worth celebrating. The Panthers hadn't won the NFC South since 2015 and had six straight double-digit loss seasons. While it's hard to say Carolina has arrived, especially with a -69 point differential, winning the division is an important accomplishment. Even if the playoff stay might not be a long one.

13 (13): Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

The Aaron Rodgers story is pretty amazing. Only Tom Brady has had any level of success at age 42 among quarterbacks throughout NFL history. Rodgers delivered not one, but two go-ahead drives in the final minutes to help earn a division title for Pittsburgh. He went 11 of 14 for 133 yards in the fourth quarter. If that was Rodgers' final regular-season game, it was a deserving send-off. Rodgers' final season - if he does retire - could have gone a lot worse, based on history.

12 (12): Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)

Had you told someone after Week 2 that the Packers would finish with fewer than 10 wins, it would have been unbelievable. After Green Bay's hot start, offensive lineman Rasheed Walker said he thought the team could go undefeated. That proclamation was ridiculous, but it wasn't outlandish to think the Packers could be the NFL's best team this season. They weren't close. And the defense without injured Micah Parsons seems unlikely to lead a long playoff run.

11 (11): Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

The Chargers going 11-6 with their injury issues, especially on the offensive line, is a testament to Jim Harbaugh. If the Chargers can somehow get defensive coordinator Jesse Minter back and also get their offensive tackles healthy, this team will be a popular Super Bowl pick next season. As is, the Chargers are a very good No. 7 seed and not an easy matchup for the Patriots in the first round. It also helps that they got some key players a week of rest.

10 (10): Buffalo Bills (12-5)

The Bills are the AFC's most interesting team. They have the best player in the field, quarterback Josh Allen. They have won five of six, including wins over the Steelers and Patriots, and came a two-point conversion away from six in a row with another quality win against the Eagles. But it's not like the Bills don't have deficiencies, with an inconsistent defense and very little for Allen to work with in the passing game. The Bills could win the Super Bowl or be one-and-done.

9 (9): Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

Should the Eagles have played for the No. 2 seed? The Eagles didn't know the Bears would get upset in Week 18, opening up the possibility of taking the second seed. But a road of facing the Packers, rather than the 49ers, and then hosting a potential wild-card game against the Bears instead of going to Chicago, would have been much easier. The Eagles played backups and lost to the Commanders, when a win would have gotten them the second seed. We'll see if the rest is more valuable than the difference in seed, but it's worth keeping an eye on.

8 (7): Chicago Bears (11-6)

In the finale, the Bears were terrible for three quarters in a game they were trying to win, against a Lions team that was eliminated a week earlier. They rallied in the fourth quarter but still lost. That's not good. The Bears had a successful season but that gets completely overshadowed if they lose to the Packers, their biggest rival, in their first playoff game. There's a lot of pressure on the Bears this week. Let's see how they handle it.

7 (8): Houston Texans (12-5)

The Texans were oddly unconcerned about winning Sunday, when a victory would clinch the fifth seed and a much easier first-round matchup against the AFC North champs (which ended up being the Steelers). They won anyway, with Davis Mills leading what could be a pretty important game-winning drive after the Colts took a late lead. The Texans can still make a run as a wild-card team, especially considering they're favored to win on the road in their playoff opener.

6 (5): San Francisco 49ers (12-5)

The 49ers were one win in Week 18 from the No. 1 seed, and fell all the way to No. 6 and a road wild-card weekend game against Philadelphia, the reigning champs. It won't be easy to bounce back from that disappointment. The question is how the 49ers' offense responds. They had a great December, were absolutely shut down in the finale by Seattle and now they face another top-five defense in Philadelphia. It was a successful season given the injuries San Francisco dealt with, but there's a danger of a very sour ending.

5 (6): Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)

Are the Jaguars the hottest team in the NFL? They've won eight in a row, the longest current winning streak in the NFL other than the Texans, who have won nine in a row. Trevor Lawrence is playing the best ball of his career after an adjustment period to Liam Coen's offense. The defense has been very good at making big plays. No matter what happens in the playoffs, this has been a huge growth season for a franchise that needed something good to happen.

4 (4): Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

In the finale, the Rams trailed a terrible Cardinals team late in the third quarter before finally rallying. This was a good season and the Rams are a Super Bowl contender (especially with an advantageous wild-card weekend matchup at Carolina), but there were some troubling signs in the final few weeks. Getting Davante Adams back will be a huge help. The Rams are as dangerous of a wild-card team as we've seen in a while, assuming the mini-slump late in the season was an anomaly.

3 (3): New England Patriots (14-3)

It's hard to imagine a better regular season for the Patriots. Mike Vrabel could win NFL Coach of the Year and Drake Maye might win MVP. The Patriots are set there for a long time. The roster got plenty of improvements last offseason and still has room to grow in 2026. They overtook the Bills for the AFC East title, and it will be hard for Buffalo to take it back. A trip to the Super Bowl is obviously possible, but no matter what happens in the playoffs, this was a phenomenal season in New England. It might be the start of something big.

2 (2): Denver Broncos (14-3)

The Broncos are a bit of an odd case. It's hard to win 14 games in an NFL regular season. Getting the No. 1 seed in the AFC was an important and impressive accomplishment. Taking the AFC West from the Chiefs was the goal and they pulled it off. Yet, what's the Broncos' true level? They had a lot of close wins and some days on offense like Week 18, when they didn't score an offensive touchdown, that make you wonder if they'll be the latest No. 1 seed to get beat in their playoff opener. The Broncos should get more respect for what they've done this season, but it's also fair to point out the shortcomings.

1 (1): Seattle Seahawks (14-3)

The Seahawks' comeback against the Rams in Week 16, in what was probably the NFL's game of the regular season, could end up changing the history of this entire season. The Seahawks got the No. 1 seed after that win and are two home wins from Super Bowl LX. It will be very hard to beat Seattle given how good the defense is. Imagine how different Sam Darnold will be viewed if he wins a Super Bowl title. And a championship is certainly on the table for this Seahawks team.

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