Postseason Power Rankings: Is the Patriots Dynasty Dead?

Written by Sam DeCoste

The regular season is over, and the playoffs are about to get underway. We began with 32 teams, and now we are down to 12. Only 12 teams remain in the hunt for the Super Bowl, some with longer roads ahead than others to get there. If your team is in the playoffs, congratulations, and get ready for an exciting postseason. If your team was eliminated, my dearest grievances for you, but don't fret, the draft will be here before you know it.

In this postseason edition of power rankings, I will rank each of the 12 playoff teams based on their roster, coaching, regular season record, and probability of making it to the Super Bowl. These power rankings will tell you in order from 12 to 1 who has the best chance of making a deep postseason run, and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in just under five weeks. 

The playoffs are here! Let's get right into it! 

12. Seattle Seahawks (11-5)

The Seahawks are the coldest team entering the playoffs. Losers of three of their last four games in December, including two home losses to divisional opponents, and will be playing on the road this postseason. Russell Wilson's hot MVP play has fallen off, the receivers are not making the same plays they were earlier in the season, the backfield is injury riddled, and the defense is struggling. Hopefully for Seattle, the late addition of Marshawn Lynch back from retirement will invigorate the running game, and the team, because right now the Seahawks do not have the makings of a playoff roster and certainly do not have the confidence going into the postseason as their opponents will. It is going to be very challenging for this depleted roster to win any games in the playoffs, especially away from Seattle. Russell Wilson will have something to say about it, but a first round exit beckons.

11. Minnesota Vikings

A promising midseason tear from the Vikings offense led by Kirk Cousins has fizzled out and cost them a division title, and any postseason momentum. Their Week 16 performance against the Packers with the NFC North on the line still sticks out. In a game which their defense forced 3 turnovers, the offense mustered just 7 first downs. It doesn't help that Dalvin Cook is out of the lineup, and he is the focal point of the Vikings offense, but Kirk Cousins and the offense has continued to shrivel up when the lights come on. Mike Zimmer's Vikings are known to go in hiding when the stakes intensify, with their only playoff win since 2015 coming in the Minneapolis Miracle, and unfortunately for them, lightning doesn't strike twice. The Vikings are bound for a first round exit, and it could mark a period of transition in Minnesota for 2020.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

Besides Lamar Jackson, no quarterback played better football this season than Carson Wentz, given the circumstances. Remarkably, Wentz became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards without a receiver who had at least 500 receiving yards. That stat in itself shows how phenomenal Wentz has played this season, with all of his weapons falling like flies, and still leading his team into the playoffs. While Wentz is playing at a high level, the injuries, and the inexperience of this roster will cost them in the postseason. This will be the first time Carson Wentz suits up for a playoff game, and he will be surrounded by Boston Scott, Greg Ward, Joshua Perkins, and Deontay Brunett. If the Eagles are able to advance and they play either the Packers or 49ers defense in the playoffs, Wentz will be shut down, and his inexperienced weapons will not be able to bail him out. Doug Pederson's Eagles are tough, resilient, and they have been through so much together since they were crowned Super Bowl champions two seasons ago, and they have what it takes mentally to win in the playoffs. But the talent on the field is not there to advance beyond the Divisional Round.

9. Tennessee Titans

Boy, the Titans are fun to watch. Ryan Tannehill salvaged his career and then some since coming in as starting quarterback of the Titans. The Titans went 7-3 with Tannehill under center, he threw 22 touchdown passes and posted a quarterback rating of 117.5, which ranks fourth all time for a season passer rating. Running back Derrick Henry won the rushing title with 1,540 rushing yards and a mark of 16 touchdowns on the ground. Rookie wide receiver AJ Brown racked over 1,000 yards in his first season in the league, and scored 8 receiving touchdowns. The Titans are dynamic, explosive, and can win a game in so many different ways on offense. This team is playing terrific football and are entering the postseason with swagger, confidence, and the feeling that they can beat anybody, which they certainly could. 

8. Buffalo Bills (10-6)

The Buffalo Bills, the team nobody is scared of, but the team nobody wants to play. While far from a sexy team, the Bills are balanced, well-coached, gritty, and know how to win one-score games. Their defense finished the season third in total yards allowed, only behind the Patriots and 49ers. Cornerback Tre'Davious White is the only defensive back to allow zero touchdowns in coverage this season, and he is capable of shutting down any number one receiver. Quarterback Josh Allen has taken massive strides to becoming the Bills franchise quarterback, and has thrown just 2 interceptions since Week 7. The Bills have also come from behind to win in the second half 5 times this season, which shows they will fight to the very end. While this group is a resilient bunch, their offense has been inconsistent all season long, and there is not a lot of explosiveness in the receiving corps to move the chains against playoff defenses. Their playoff demise will come from the lack of number one receiver, which this team needs to take a step towards championship contention. But overlook the Bills at your own peril, they thrive on proving the doubters wrong.

7. Houston Texans (10-6)

Since 2015, the Houston Texans have won the AFC South four out of five years, but have advanced beyond the first round just once. The Texans have become the Bengals of the NFL playoffs, who have made a habit of exiting in the first round. But this season, the Texans have gone all-in. They acquired talented left tackle Laremy Tunsil and complementary wideout Kenny Stills while trading draft picks for cornerback Gareon Conley and running back Duke Johnson. The Texans have sacrificed future assets and draft picks so they could win this year, which puts more pressure on this team than ever before to deliver in the playoffs. But as long as you have a franchise quarterback like Deshaun Watson, one of the best receivers in the game in DeAndre Hopkins, and a defense which is welcoming back JJ Watt, you have a shot. They also have head to head wins over the Chiefs and Patriots this season already. When the offense is humming, Houston can beat any outfit in football. But the AFC playoffs are filled with talented defenses who can slow them down, and the Texans defense has been inconsistent all year long. The road to the Super Bowl is long for the Texas, and it is going to be difficult for Deshaun Watson to lead Houston to a championship all by himself.

6. New England Patriots (12-4)

The Patriots have never looked more vulnerable than they do right about now. The standout defensive performances from the first half of the season have significantly dipped, and they are not shutting down their opponents at the same level. The offense is extremely average, and there are no receivers in the passing game who are capable of changing the game. The Patriots haven't found a replacement for Gronk's production, or even a receiver as talented or explosive as someone like Josh Gordon. But the most alarming part of the Patriots second half spiral is that they are losing. The Patriots finished December with a record of 2-3, and their only wins over winning teams this season are the Bills and Eagles. Because of their struggles, New England will play on Wild Card Weekend, and will have to go on the road to make it back to the Super Bowl. But the Patriots have never won the Super Bowl when they did not have a first round bye, and this team is the worst Patriots team we have seen all decade. The AFC is wide open this year, and it comes down to the inadequacy of the Patriots on both sides of the ball. Not to mention their quarterback is 42 years old.

5. Green Bay Packers (13-3)

Arguably one of the weakest 13-3 teams we have seen this decade, the Packers were able to clinch the two seed in the NFC, and will play at least one playoff game at home this postseason. Former MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers has not played at the same level as Packers fans are used to, the offensive weapons are not as explosive as years past, and the team seems to lack the swagger of a team with their record. Nonetheless, the Packers are extremely dangerous in the playoffs because they have Aaron Rodgers, who can change the game in a moment's notice, and carry the Packers over high level playoff defenses. The Packers defense is also substantially improved from last season, which just schooled the Vikings offense in the NFC North title game. And don't forget, they are at Lambeau for the Divisional Round. It is going to unimaginably frigid, and whoever comes into Green Bay in the playoffs will need to conquer the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. While the Packers may not be the sexiest Super Bowl pick, knocking out Aaron Rodgers and this team is easier said than done. 

4. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

It seems fitting that the Saints play on Wild Card Weekend as a result of the non pass interference call on Sunday night which gave the 49ers the bye instead of them. Contrary to popular belief, playing on Wild Card Weekend may be a blessing in disguise for New Orleans. The Saints are on a hot streak, and have won 5 of their last 7 games, while Drew Brees has stamped his name atop multiple NFL records in December, including the most passing yards and touchdowns in NFL history. Alvin Kamara is starting to pick up his play, Michael Thomas is catching every ball thrown his way, and Drew Brees is playing better than ever. If the defense can be consistent in the playoffs, the Saints can go anywhere in the playoffs and return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years. While it could be challenging playing outside of New Orleans in the postseason, the Saints won 7 of their 8 games on the road this season, with their only loss being when Drew Brees went down with his early season wrist injury. The Saints have been able to win away from the dome this season, and they can carry that momentum all postseason long, wherever that may be.

3. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

The Niners were two inches away from playing this weekend in Philly, but a heroic tackle from Drew Greenlaw salvaged home field advantage for San Francisco, and they sit as the top seed in the NFC. Clinching the first round bye is the best thing that could have happened for this squad, which has not had a rest since their bye all the way back in Week 4. Playing every week may be the reason for the defensive regression, as the NFL's top ranked passing defense has given up 208 points in the second half of the season after surrendering just 102 in the first half. In each of the Niners' 3 losses this season, the game was decided on the final play, and their last 5 games all came down to the wire. When the 49ers are in action this postseason, it will all the way once again. And the 49ers have already proved they can beat the top teams in the NFC, including a dominant win over the Packers and a dramatic last second win over the Saints in New Orleans. The 49ers have the blueprint for January football: they can run the ball well and play sensational defense. Opposing quarterbacks beware, to make it to the Super Bowl, you will need to take down the best defense in the NFC.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

A dramatic comeback win for the Dolphins in Foxboro handed the Chiefs the number 2 seed in the AFC, which is absolutely deserved. The Chiefs are winning football games differently from how they did last year. In 2018, MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes was slinging the ball all over the yard, and the Chiefs were winning high scoring shootouts while their defense gave up over 30 points virtually every week. This year, the Chiefs defense has stepped up its game, with Chris Jones and Frank Clark wrecking the pocket for opposing quarterbacks, and the secondary led by Tyrann Mathieu is no longer a liability. In the month of December, the Chiefs gave up an average of 10.4 points, and did not allow a touchdown in three of those contests. When you partner this surging defense with a high octane offense led by the most talented quarterback in the league, the Chiefs can beat anybody. And if you have doubts if the Chiefs can march into Baltimore and win, the Chiefs have already beat the Ravens this year, so they certainly have what it takes.

1. Baltimore Ravens (14-2)

The Ravens have been the hottest team in football since October, and they ended the season on a 14 game win streak after starting the season 2-2. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the frontrunner to win MVP this season, and rightly so, because he has been unstoppable in 2019. Jackson threw for 36 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions during the regular season, including just 1 pick in the final 10 games. The 14-2 record of the Ravens also can be accredited to head coach John Harbaugh, who has transformed the identity of this team from the Joe Flacco air attack to a ground and pound team straight out of Madden which nobody has been able to stop. Baltimore has something special with their football team, and it is going to be one tall task to defeat this bunch.