For the remainder of this Power Rankings series, I’m only going to focus on the teams still alive in the race to reach Super Bowl 60 next month. And that makes this a really hard project because all four remaining teams have, of course, enjoyed very good seasons.
In a season when the leading contenders have often looked good, but have also looked beatable; I now believe a true favourite has emerged and they are the team that has occupied top spot in my Power Rankings for quite a few weeks now.
- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (No.1 last week)
The Seahawks have won 12 of their last 13 games and they appear to be growing stronger as this season rolls along. And they have asked quarterback Sam Darnold – who led the NFL with 20 giveaways this season – to take on a safer and lesser role. Darnold has still enjoyed a great campaign, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season. But he threw for just 124 yards, one touchdown and no picks in the Divisional Round as Seattle flexed their offensive muscle through the ground attack. On the defensive side of the ball, Seattle have grown and morphed into an absolute monster capable of taking over games and shutting down offenses. They looked historically good against San Francisco in Week 18 and in the Divisional Round. Last week’s 41-6 win was the Seahawks’ largest in the playoffs since a Super Bowl 48 demolition of the Denver Broncos – a contest. The Seahawks appear to be on course for a fourth Super Bowl appearance, with Darnold’s history (not even his current form) being the only nagging concern.
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (No. 2 last week)
The Patriots are another team on an incredible run, winning 15 of their last 16 games and surely they have finally done enough to silence the ‘they haven’t beaten anybody’ crowd? Drake Maye had some very strong moments in the Divisional Round win over Houston, including a game-clinching beauty of a touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte after the Texans had pulled to within five points. But Maye also failed to take care of the football and has now fumbled a league-high 14 times in this 2025 season. He is not being helped by protection up front. New England have allowed their second-year quarterback to be sacked five times in each of their two playoff games to date. But what makes New England so good is the fact that they are well-coached and they can win in other ways. Their defense stepped up in a big way last weekend, recording four interceptions of CJ Stroud. Maye remains the headline – he is now just 60 minutes from where Tom Brady lived for so many years… the Super Bowl.
- LOS ANGELES RAMS (No. 4 last week)
Of all the teams remaining in the playoffs, the Rams are the most likely and most capable of getting red hot on offense. Matthew Stafford’s next touchdown pass will be his 50th of this season, the receiver partnership of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams is proven and it was notable that the ball was sent in their direction on Los Angeles’ game-winning drive in Chicago last Sunday. Running back Kyren Williams has scored 16 touchdowns on the year and the tight ends can also contribute. But, for some reason, the Rams don’t seem to be operating on the high levels of mid-season. Head coach Sean McVay was critical of himself after the Divisional Round win over Chicago and his role will be pivotal moving forward. Defensively, the Rams can get after the quarterback and take the ball away from opposing offenses. That means they remain a dangerous, if flawed, team as we head towards the NFC Championship Game.
- DENVER BRONCOS (No. 3 last week)
Dropping Denver – the number one seed in the AFC – this low is not meant to be disparaging to the whole team. It is purely a reflection of the uncertainty now surrounding the sport’s most important position. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham has made just four starts in his seven-year career and he has not thrown a regular-season pass in two years. Can he do enough to lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl? He doesn’t need to lead them at all, to be honest. He needs to stay out of trouble, protect the football and let Denver lean heavily on a defense that has led the league in sacks for each of the past two seasons. The Broncos remain a dangerous proposition because of the strength of that unit and because, like the Patriots, they are so well coached by a man who knows how to navigate proceedings at this stage of the season in Sean Payton.