Robert Kowalski is back for his NFL Power Rankings – Wild Card edition!
**Note** A Par score of 0 is set for calculating rankings week to week.
| Rank | Team | WC Playoffs | Week 18 | Notes |
| 1 | BUF | 9 | 8.5 | Peak Buffalo right now with all cylinders firing |
| 2 | KC | 8.75 | 8.25 | #1 seed in the AFC for 3rd time in 5 seasons |
| 3 | CIN | 6.5 | 7 | 8 game win streak into the playoffs |
| 4 | SF | 6.25 | 5 | 10 game win streak into the playoffs |
| 5 | DAL | 5.5 | 6.5 | Flopped like a bag of wet cement into the playoffs |
| 6 | PHI | 5 | 6.25 | Will Hurts be ready in 2 weekends? |
| 7 | TB | 4.5 | 2.75 | Clean slate and a home playoff game to start |
| 8 | LAC | 2 | 1.5 | Williams and Bosa expected to play vs Jacksonville |
| 9 | JAX | 1.75 | 2 | AFC South Champs 1st time since 2017 |
| 10 | CLE | 1.75 | 0.5 | |
| 11 | NO | 1.5 | 0.5 | |
| 12 | SEA | 1.5 | 0.75 | Playoff bound after a win vs LAR and the Lions upset of GB |
| 13 | DET | 1.5 | 0.5 | |
| 14 | NE | 1 | 0.75 | |
| 15 | GB | 0.75 | 1.5 | |
| 16 | MIA | -0.25 | -0.25 | Looks like Syler Thompson at QB or the Wildcat all day with Hill and Waddle |
| 17 | MIN | -0.25 | -0.5 | Fluke of a regular season? Critics can be shut down with a win vs NYG |
| 18 | NYG | -0.5 | 0.5 | Healthy and rested for a rematch vs Minnesota |
| 19 | PIT | -0.5 | -0.75 | |
| 20 | CAR | -1 | -0.75 | |
| 21 | DEN | -1.25 | -1.5 | |
| 22 | BAL | -1.75 | -0.5 | No Lamar Jackson vs Bengals in WC Match |
| 23 | WAS | -2.5 | -3 | |
| 24 | LAR | -3 | -3 | |
| 25 | ATL | -3.75 | -4 | |
| 26 | NYJ | -4.25 | -3.5 | |
| 27 | TEN | -4.5 | -3.5 | |
| 28 | CHI | -5 | -4 | |
| 29 | LV | -5 | -4.5 | |
| 30 | HOU | -7 | -6.25 | |
| 31 | ARI | -7.75 | -7.75 | |
| 32 | IND | -9 | -9 |
