NFL’s ultimate 4 playoff groups, ranked by their probabilities of successful Tremendous Bowl 59

The NFL is right down to their model of the Ultimate 4.

On Saturday the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Washington Commanders punched their tickets to the AFC and the NFC Championship Video games, respectively. On Sunday the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Payments/Baltimore Ravens joined them.

4 groups are left, however who has the very best probability of taking dwelling the Lombardi Trophy in a number of weeks?

As we’ve got every week of the playoffs, we polled our writers and got here up with the rankings. Listed below are the final 4 groups left standing within the NFL Playoffs, ranked by their probability of successful the Tremendous Bowl.

Picture by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs

4. Washington Commanders

To borrow a line from Geno Smith, everybody retains writing the Washington Commanders off, however they’ve but to put in writing again.

After we ranked the 14 NFL Playoff groups forward of Wild Card Weekend, the sixth-seeded Commanders checked in at quantity ten on that checklist. Whereas that rating did put them forward of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who they defeated that weekend — they have been the sixth of seven NFC groups.

After we carried out that exact same train forward of the Divisional Spherical video games, they checked in seventh out of the eight groups.

But right here they’re, one of many final 4 standing within the league, and one of many final two standing within the NFC.

Jayden Daniels has been a revelation this season, and that has continued into the playoffs. He has performed near-perfect soccer for Washington and excelled when blitzed, one other signal of his great development as a rookie passer.

Add in an opportunistic protection, and a head coach who has discovered from the errors of his previous, and you’ve got a successful recipe.

A recipe that might bake for a number of extra weeks.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles would possibly simply be probably the most full crew left within the playoffs. This crew has is ready to morph itself to suit the state of affairs and continues to search out methods to thrive. The 2024 iteration of this crew is predicated on two fundamental ideas: Have Saquon Barkley brutalize you on offense, and dominate the road of scrimmage on protection. It’s the new-old college NFL the place working and trench work is supreme, and no person is ready to pull it off fairly just like the Eagles.

The large query mark round this crew is what occurs when (if) somebody is ready to cease Barkley? Jalen Hurts has had excessive factors this yr, however loads of low as nicely. The quarterback hasn’t been almost as profitable as in previous years as a passer, failing to achieve 3,000 passing yards for the primary time since being a rookie. Loads of that has to do with a change focus to the working recreation, however it’s nonetheless a little bit of a fear in case you’re a Philly fan.

That is now compounded by worries about damage, with Hurts getting banged up within the third quarter towards the Rams and limping off the sector. If he’s slowed that may very well be an issue.

2. Buffalo Payments

Josh Allen is again within the AFC Championship recreation for the primary time for the reason that 2020 season, and as soon as once more they’re going through the Chiefs. Lots has modified up to now 4 years, however for Buffalo it’s all about No. 17 as soon as extra.

This season has been a masterclass by the Payments’ QB. A phenom by the air and floor, the offense flows solely although Allen, asking him to win with hero ball most of the time. This has been the weakest supporting forged Allen has had in a while — and out of doors of working again James Cook dinner it’s straightforward to miss virtually everybody on the offensive aspect of the ball.

Nonetheless, the place this crew differs than the previous is confidence. As an alternative of enjoying like a crew apprehensive in regards to the Chiefs or Bengals, this yr Buffalo has been safe in themselves and enjoying like a extra mature group. The vibes are excessive with this crew, as we noticed towards the Ravens by forcing three turnovers that modified the face of the sport.

There are some particular issues right here shifting ahead. The Payments’ move rush isn’t pretty much as good correctly, they’ve a secondary that provides up explosive performs, and if a protection could make inside strain it takes away Allen’s consolation within the pocket and his capacity to run up the center.

On any given day Josh Allen is unstoppable although, and that makes Buffalo one of the brutal groups to face that is still within the playoffs.

Picture by David Eulitt/Getty Photographs

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

The march goes on.

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ relentless pursuit of NFL historical past — the primary crew to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls — continues for at the very least yet another week. Kansas Metropolis smothered C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans on Saturday, led partially by a profession recreation from move rusher George Karlaftis, and the Chiefs head to their seventh straight AFC Championship Recreation.

Positive, questions could linger. Questions on their age, in regards to the lack of explosiveness within the passing recreation, about luck working out, and about NFL historical past lastly catching up with them sooner or later.

However up to now, Kansas Metropolis has answered each single query thrown their means. Plus, the street to New Orleans runs by GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium.

And so they nonetheless have #15, who’s succesful one any snap of delivering but yet another magical second.