What’s the ultimate dream in the modern 14-team NFL playoff era? It’s not just winning a Super Bowl or seeing your favorite team dominate. For true football nerds, it's the holy grail of divisional dominance: one division sending all four of its teams to the postseason. It’s a feat that’s never been accomplished, but we've flirted with it, getting tantalizingly close in recent years.
Until that historic day arrives, the debate rages on: which division is truly the best in the NFL? Welcome to our annual 2025 NFL division rankings.
Sure, we could just defer to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), but where's the fun in that? Instead, we're ranking all eight divisions based on a single, compelling question: Which division is most likely to send all four teams to the playoffs? This approach blends hard data with a healthy dose of opinion, so get ready to tell me I'm wrong. Let's dive in.
1. NFC North: The New Beast of the NFL
- Combined FPI: 7.8 (1st)
- Teams: Lions (2nd), Packers (3rd), Vikings (19th), Bears (20th)
Through five weeks of the 2025 season, the NFC North stands alone as the only division without a single team sporting a losing record. This isn't a fluke; it's a statement. The Lions and Packers aren't just good; they're ranked as top-three teams in the entire league by FPI. Both were playoff teams last year, and they look even more formidable now.
But what makes this division truly special is the improvement at the bottom. The Chicago Bears, under new coach Ben Johnson and a seemingly ascending Caleb Williams, look revitalized. They're no longer the division doormat. Likewise, while FPI is skeptical of the Vikings' quarterback situation, Kevin O'Connell has a track record of coaching his teams to overachieve. With one of the league's easiest remaining schedules, Minnesota is in a prime position to make a run. The North is deep, talented, and an absolute gauntlet.
2. NFC West: A Four-Headed Monster of Contenders
- Combined FPI: 5.1 (3rd)
- Teams: Rams (7th), 49ers (10th), Seahawks (13th), Cardinals (22nd)
If not for some truly mind-boggling bad luck, the Arizona Cardinals could easily be 3-2, and this division would feel even more claustrophobic. Their last-place status is deceptive; this is arguably the best last-place team in football. The NFC West is a brutal, top-to-bottom fight every single week.
The Rams and 49ers look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders, even with San Francisco battling a rash of injuries. The Seahawks, despite a recent shootout loss, have proven they can hang with anyone. What truly elevates this division is that every team feels like a legitimate threat. The Cardinals have an incredibly easy remaining schedule, and if they can clean up their costly mistakes, there's no reason they can't contend. A four-team playoff bid from the West wouldn't just be possible; it would feel earned.
3. AFC West: Stars, Quarterbacks, and One Big Question Mark
- Combined FPI: 6.7 (2nd)
- Teams: Chiefs (1st), Broncos (8th), Chargers (12th), Raiders (26th)
On paper, the AFC West has the highest ceiling of any division, boasting three of the league's most dynamic quarterbacks. The Chiefs, despite a surprising 2-3 start, are still FPI's number one overall team. We've learned by now that worrying about Patrick Mahomes making the playoffs is a waste of time. The Broncos' defense is elite, and the Chargers, under Jim Harbaugh, have a tough, new identity.
So, what holds them back from the top spot? The Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders feel like the clear weak link, with a struggling offense and a quarterback in Geno Smith who has been a turnover machine. While the top three teams could all make deep playoff runs, the Raiders' issues feel too significant to overcome, making a four-team sweep seem unlikely.
4. NFC East: A Tale of Two Halves
- Combined FPI: 2.1 (4th)
- Teams: Eagles (4th), Commanders (6th), Cowboys (15th), Giants (30th)
The NFC East is the definition of a top-heavy division. The Eagles and Commanders are powerhouse teams, boasting top-tier defenses and explosive offenses led by exciting young quarterbacks. Both look like they could make a run at the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys remain a dangerous, albeit inconsistent, threat with a high-powered offense that can beat anyone on any given Sunday.
However, the New York Giants are an anchor dragging this division down. They rank near the bottom of the league in almost every meaningful category and are already looking ahead to next year's draft. While the top three teams will beat each other up in a fascinating race for the crown, the Giants' struggles make a full-division playoff appearance a near impossibility.
5. AFC North: Grit, Grime, and a Glimmer of Hope
- Combined FPI: -12.2 (8th)
- Teams: Steelers (16th), Ravens (21st), Browns (25th), Bengals (31st)
Don't let the abysmal combined FPI rating fool you. This is where my opinion diverges sharply from the analytics. The AFC North is a black-and-blue division where every game is a war. The Steelers, under Mike Tomlin, consistently outperform expectations. The Ravens have been decimated by injuries, but they have the talent and pedigree to bounce back in a big way.
Even the last-place Bengals aren't ready to pack it in. Despite Joe Burrow's injury, their trade for Joe Flacco signals a team that refuses to quit. The Browns' defense is legit and has kept them competitive. While it would take a minor miracle for all four teams to make it, the sheer grit and coaching quality in this division give them a puncher's chance that other, lower-ranked divisions simply don't have.
6. AFC South: Are They For Real?
- Combined FPI: -3.6 (5th)
- Teams: Colts (9th), Texans (11th), Jaguars (17th), Titans (32nd)
The AFC South is one of the most intriguing and difficult divisions to project. Are the Colts and Texans genuinely top-tier teams, or are their hot starts a mirage? Can the Jaguars' opportunistic defense continue to carry their work-in-progress offense?
This division has three potential playoff teams, but it also has the Tennessee Titans, who rank as FPI's worst team in the entire league. The sustainability questions surrounding the top three teams, combined with the deep hole the Titans are in, keep the AFC South in the bottom half of these rankings.
7. AFC East: Two Contenders and Two Question Marks
- Combined FPI: -5.2 (6th)
- Teams: Bills (5th), Patriots (18th), Dolphins (24th), Jets (28th)
The Bills are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and the Patriots have shown signs of being a tough out. After that, however, this division falls off a cliff. The Dolphins and Jets both have bottom-tier defenses and offenses that have struggled to find any consistency.
The New York Jets, in particular, have been an unmitigated disaster. They are winless, turnover-prone, and have looked non-competitive in nearly every game. While the Bills are a force to be reckoned with, the deep flaws of the division's bottom two teams make a four-team playoff scenario a distant fantasy.
8. NFC South: The Bucs and Everyone Else
- Combined FPI: -11.5 (7th)
- Teams: Buccaneers (14th), Falcons (23rd), Panthers (27th), Saints (29th)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the four-time defending division champions and know how to win. They are a solid, reliable playoff team. Unfortunately, the rest of the division is mired in mediocrity and serious questions.
Can Michael Penix Jr. truly elevate the Falcons? Can the Panthers find any offensive rhythm under Bryce Young? The Saints lack top-end talent across the roster. Until one of the other three teams can establish itself as a legitimate contender, the NFC South will remain at the bottom of these rankings.
What are your thoughts on the rankings? Let us know which division you think is the best in the NFL in the comments below!