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NFL power rankings: 49ers, Bengals, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars on fire entering NFL playoffs

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
·7 min read
6

Several NFL teams are streaking into the NFL playoffs.

Five teams have at least a five-game win streak entering the postseason, including four in the AFC.

The Cincinnati Bengals have won eight games in a row, the Buffalo Bills have won seven and the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars have both won five games in a row entering the NFL playoffs' Super Bowl Card Weekend games.

The longest win streak in the NFL, however, belongs to the NFC's San Francisco 49ers, who have won 10 straight games.

Only one playoff team can end the season with a win streak.

NFL playoff odds: Seahawks vs. 49ers | Chargers vs. Jaguars | Dolphins vs. Bills | Giants vs. Vikings | Ravens vs. Bengals | Cowboys vs. Buccaneers

Will it be one of those five teams or one of the nine others?

We don't have to wait long to find out with the postseason finally here.

Check out how we rank all 32 NFL teams after the regular season, from lowest to highest. Previous ranking in parenthesis.

NFL playoff schedule: Seahawks vs. 49ers | Chargers vs. Jaguars | Dolphins vs. Bills | Giants vs. Vikings | Ravens vs. Bengals | Cowboys vs. Buccaneers | TV info.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entering the NFL playoffs with a 5-game win streak.
The Jacksonville Jaguars entering the NFL playoffs with a 5-game win streak.

32. Chicago Bears (31)

Lost to Vikings, 29-13, to finish 3-14. The Bears will have the coveted No.1 NFL draft picks in 2023. What will they do with it? Cue an offseason of speculation for Chicago.

31. Houston Texans (32)

Beat the Colts, 32-31 to finish 3-13-1. Lovie Smith won his final game as the Texans' coach, but Houston lost the No. 1 NFL draft pick in the process.

30. Arizona Cardinals (30)

Lost to 49ers, 38-13, to finish 4-13. The Cardinals are in search of a new coach and new GM, but they appear to need a roster overhaul as well after an abysmal season.

NFL playoff picks: Seahawks vs. 49ers | Chargers vs. Jaguars | Dolphins vs. Bills | Giants vs. Vikings | Ravens vs. Bengals | Cowboys vs. Buccaneers

29. Indianapolis Colts (28)

Lost to Texans, 32-31, to finish 4-12-1. This team lost seven straight games to end the season and enters a pivotal offseason for the franchise.

28. Los Angeles Rams (27)

Lost to Seahawks in overtime, 19-16, to finish 5-12. Hey, the Rams always have that Super Bowl to fall back on. Talk about a Super Bowl hangover.

27. Denver Broncos (29)

Beat Chargers, 31-28, to finish 5-12. How attractive of a job is the Broncos' job with Russell Wilson at quarterback?

26. Las Vegas Raiders (25)

Lost to Chiefs, 31-13, to finish 6-11. Another franchise with huge questions at quarterback entering the offseason.

25. Cleveland Browns (22)

Lost to Steelers, 28-14, to finish 7-10. It will be interesting to see how good the Browns will be with a full season with Deshaun Watson at quarterback.

More:NFL playoffs odds: Point spreads, moneylines, over/unders for Super Wild Card Weekend

24. Atlanta Falcons (27)

Beat Buccaneers, 30-17, to finish 7-10. Did this team bench Marcus Mariota too soon this season? They were just a game back in the woeful NFC South.

23. New York Jets (21)

Lost to Dolphins, 11-6, to finish 7-10. Six straight losses to end the season and tons of questions about the quarterback position entering the offseason.

22. Tennessee Titans (23)

Lost to Jaguars, 20-16, to finish 7-10. This team came very close to securing a playoff berth even with a 7-game losing streak to end the season.

21. New Orleans Saints (20)

Lost to Panthers, 10-7, to finish 7-10.

20. Carolina Panthers (24)

Beat Saints, 10-7, to finish 7-10. We're not sure if the Panthers are going to retain Steve Wilks at coach, but we think they probably should.

19. New England Patriots (17)

Lost to Bills, 35-23, to finish 8-9. Is Mac Jones the answer at QB for the Patriots? Can they find someone to unlock his potential, if he is?

18. Green Bay Packers (12)

Lost to Lions, 20-16, to finish 8-9. It could be a very interesting offseason in Green Bay. This team underachieved this season.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)

Lost to Falcons, 30-17, to enter playoffs with 8-9 record. The Buccaneers won the NFC South with an 8-9 record and get to host the 12-5 Cowboys in the playoffs because of it. Is that fair?

More:Super Bowl odds: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills favorites to win NFL playoffs

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the NFL postseason with a losing record, and a home playoff game.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the NFL postseason with a losing record, and a home playoff game.

16. Washington Commanders (19)

Beat Cowboys, 26-6, to finish 8-8-1. We can't help but wonder if their season could have ended differently if it had played Taylor Heinicke more earlier, and later, in the season.

15. Miami Dolphins (18)

Beat Jets 11-6 to enter playoffs with 9-8 record. The Dolphins finally ended their huge skid to sneak into the postseason. It's hard to see them staying in it long.

14. Seattle Seahawks (16)

Beat Rams in overtime, 19-16, to enter playoffs with 9-8 record. Seattle owes Detroit a huge thank you for the Lions beating the Packers, putting the Seahawks into the postseason.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)

Beat Browns, 28-14, to finish 9-8. This team ended the season with four straight wins and barely missed out on the postseason. What a turnaround in Pittsburgh.

12. Baltimore Ravens (10)

Lost to Bengals, 27-16, to enter playoffs with 10-7 record. This team is limping into the postseason without Lamar Jackson. Do they have any shot without him?

11. Detroit Lions (13)

Beat Packers, 20-16, to finish 9-8. Yes, they didn't make the postseason, but they probably could beat several playoff teams the way they are playing right now.

10. New York Giants (9)

Lost to Eagles, 22-16, to enter playoffs with 9-7-1 record. The Giants get a rematch against the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8)

Lost to Broncos, 31-28, to enter playoffs with 10-7 record. The Chargers vs. Jaguars playoff game could be must-see TV.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (11)

Beat Titans, 20-16, to enter playoffs with 9-8 record. Too high for Jacksonville? Perhaps, but a 5-game win streak entering the postseason deserves rewarding.

7. Minnesota Vikings (7)

Beat Bears, 29-13, to enter playoffs with 13-4 record. We're still not sold on this team, but a win over the Giants in the playoffs would help our belief.

6. Dallas Cowboys (6)

Lost to Commanders, 26-6, to enter playoffs with 12-5 record. We aren't reading into their loss to the Commanders much as they didn't really have anything to play for.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (2)

Beat Giants, 22-16, to enter playoffs with 14-3 record. Jalen Hurts and his health is the major question for Philadelphia enter the postseason. They need the QB healthy.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (4)

Beat Ravens, 27-16, to enter playoffs with 12-4 record. The Bengals' offense is going to be very hard to stop in the playoffs with everything clicking right now.

3. Buffalo Bills (3)

Beat Patriots, 35-23, to enter playoffs with 13-3 record. This team could play inspired football for Damar Hamlin, making them even more dangerous in the postseason.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5)

Beat Raiders, 31-13, to enter playoffs with 14-3 record. We're giving the Chiefs a boost because they have one less game to win than the Bills and Bengals thanks to their bye.

1. San Francisco 49ers (1)

Beat Cardinals, 38-13, to enter playoffs with 13-4 record. How far can the 49ers go with Brock Purdy? Perhaps all the way, the way the rookie quarterback is playing.

What changed?:NFL power rankings Week 18: San Francisco 49ers surging toward NFL playoffs

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL power rankings: 49ers, Bengals, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars on fire