Cover photo taken from NY Post.
1 – 
Ravens (13-4) 
“Super Bowl or Bust” is a lazy analysis, but it really feels that way for this Baltimore team. While their near future will be fruitful, this feels like the team that’s best-equipped to do what the 2019 team couldn’t.
They’re going to have to prove themselves in a big way, and Lamar Jackson is finally going to have to get the playoff monkey off his back.
2 – 
49ers (12-5)
The Niners feel like the best team in the league — or at least the favorites to win it all — and Vegas agrees. This team checks every box except for the one loss to Baltimore.
Will they have the chance to avenge it? We’ll find out in due time.
3 – 
Lions (12-5)
Considered swapping Detroit and Dallas, but I’m still being petty after the Week 17 shenanigans.
That being said, I’m not sure how to feel about the Lions now that we’re in the postseason. I think they drew a nightmare matchup with the Rams, and I think Sam LaPorta’s apparent knee injury could loom a lot larger than it seems. But we’ll get into that this weekend.
4 – 
Cowboys (12-5)
Alright, you’re in. And you’re the 2 seed. You won’t have to go on the road until the last Sunday of January, if you can get that far. You have no excuse not to.
5 – 
Browns (11-6)
As has been stated for weeks, the Browns are the AFC Wild Card team most suited for a run in this postseason. But it certainly won’t be easy. Let’s see just how far this Joe Flacco run — and this elite defense – can carry this team.
6 – 
Bills (11-6)
They did what they had to do. Now they have to keep it going in January — a month that has plagued them time and time again. Is this finally the year?
7 – 
Chiefs (11-6)
Getting serious 2018 Patriots vibes from the Chiefs at this point. That Patriots team won the Super Bowl thanks to its elite defense and all-time quarterback doing all the right things in the playoffs.
I’m not saying Kansas City is winning it all… I’m just getting similar vibes.
8 – 
Rams (10-7) 
2
Of all six wild card teams, the Rams are my favorite to go on a run. It doesn’t help that they’ll likely have to go to San Francisco if they win on Sunday night, but nobody wants to see this team right now.
They finished the year 7-1, the defense is cooking, and the offense has a plethora of weapons with both the rookies and the vets. I can’t wait to see what Sean McVay cooks for the postseason.
9 – 
Texans (10-7) 3
We did it. CJ and DeMeco did it. And man, what a story it is. Even if the Texans lose on Saturday, they should be extremely proud and even more excited for what the future holds with perhaps the best young QB/HC duo in the league.
10 – 
Dolphins (11-6) 
2
They are what we thought they were. And that’s about all that needs to be said. A season which once had Super Bowl aspirations will now end with a whisper in Kansas City.
What a waste.
11 – 
Eagles (11-6) 2
Every second of this second-half collapse has been absolutely delightful to watch. The only thing better will be if the Eagles lose in Tampa on Monday night.
At this rate, I don’t see anything to make me believe that won’t be the case.
12 – 
Packers (9-8) 4
The Packers have been a roller coaster this year, but now that the regular season is over and this team is in the playoffs, I’m officially going to take my victory lap.
Jordan Love is clearly a franchise guy, the rookies balled out, and the defense has seemingly found itself again in the final two games. If they beat Dallas, I assure you I will be insufferable.
13 – 
Buccaneers (9-8) 1
Perhaps no team in the NFL proved me wrong more than the Bucs. I tip my cap and apologize to Baker and the boys. Here’s to hoping they have one more victory in them.
14 – 
Steelers (10-7) 6
I don’t know how we got here, but I hate it. Mason Rudolph in the playoffs… good lord.
15 – 
Colts (9-8)
I feel for the Colts, who had a playoff berth right in their grasp and let it slip away. But, the future is undeniably bright. If they were able to do all of this with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, can you imagine what they’ll look like if/when Anthony Richardson develops into a cyborg?
16 – 
Saints (9-8) 3
The Saints did enough down the stretch to make me eat a bit of crow, but alas, it still was not enough to make the dance. Another mediocre season with no results puts them further into limbo.
What comes next? I have no idea. But with Dennis Allen still at head coach, it can’t be anything good.
17 – 
Jaguars (9-8) 6
I haven’t given it out in recent weeks, but the Jaguars deserve to be the final Team of Shame of the season. From 8-3 and the 1 seed to 9-8 and crashing out of the playoffs when you just needed a win to be division champs.
In the words of Master Yoda: “How embarrassing.”
18 – 
Seahawks (9-8) 5
With Seattle missing out on the playoffs and Pete Carroll retiring as head coach, I have no idea where this team is going to go. They’re talented enough to be competitive, but clearly not good enough to be anything special.
Is it time to finally kick off the rebuild? Might just be.
19 – 
Bengals (9-8) 1
There’s not much I can say about the Bengals. It’s a shame this season went the way it did, but they’ll be fine. They just have to limit the damage this offseason and find an adequate replacement for Tee Higgins.
20 – 
Raiders (8-9) 2
Do the right thing, Raiders. Hire Antonio Pierce as the full time head coach. You simply cannot make the same mistake twice.
21 – 
Broncos (8-9) 4
I tuned the Broncos out after the Russell Wilson fiasco went down. I think that was for the best.
22 – 
Bears (7-10) 1
Well, it looks like we have our answer. Even though the Bears are retaining Matt Eberflus (for some reason), it doesn’t appear that they’ll do the same with Justin Fields. I do believe he’ll be successful elsewhere, but it’s like I said last week: it makes a lot more sense to go in a different direction in the draft.
23 – 
Titans (6-11) 2
Thanks for giving us the funniest collapse of Week 18, y’all.
24 – 
Falcons (7-10) 1
After three years of head-scratching mediocrity, Arthur Smith is finally out. And thank goodness for that.
I’ll be very interested to see who the Falcons bring in to replace him, and far more interested to see if they’re actually capable of using the abundance of talent on this roster.
25 – 
Vikings (7-10) 1
Minnesota enters this offseason with one major priority: retain Justin Jefferson. I don’t see a world where they keep Kirk Cousins, so all the attention — and money — should turn to Jettas. If I were him, I don’t know if I’d stay. But the Vikings have no choice.
26 – 
Giants (6-11) 1
See: Tennessee.
27 – 
Cardinals (4-13) 1
The Cardinals ended the season the same way they carried themselves for its entirety: being competitive enough to be entertaining, but not quite enough to win football games.
28 – 
Jets (7-10) 1
Our long national nightmare is over. The Jets won’t play football again this season.
29 – 
Chargers (5-12) 3
There’s a lot of work to do this offseason if you’re the Chargers. Step one is probably to fire Brandon Staley. They’ve got to get going on that front.
30 – 
Patriots (4-13)
Bill Belichick leaving has been in the cards for a while. I personally don’t think he’ll be coaching again, but stranger things have happened.
Regardless, with a top 3 pick and a head coaching vacancy, the Pats are in full rebuild mode now.
31 – 
Commanders (4-13)
Ron Rivera is finally gone. The No. 2 pick is ours, along with the most cap space in the league. Perhaps the most attractive head coaching and general managing vacancies lie in our city.
It feels good to have hope. It feels better to have results. Let’s make it happen.
32 – 
Panthers (2-15)
Thank goodness that’s over. See you again at the bottom of the Power Rankings next year, Carolina!
Raza Talks Sports 