This is an objective, unbiased ranking in the same vein as the NFL Title Belt. As such, the number 1 ranked team will always be the same as the current NFL Title Belt holder.
This is Conference Week of the NFL Title Rankings of the 2023 season. See here for last week’s rankings.
The Chiefs beat the Ravens to keep the NFL Title Belt and first ranking. The 49ers will now have a chance at taking the Title Belt and first. Because the Belt made the playoffs, first and the NFL Title Belt will now go to the Super Bowl champion.
With the Commanders losing to the Cowboys in the last game of the season, the Commanders will remain last place until their first win next year.
The lowest ranked team still in the playoffs is the 49ers at 9. That means that 10-32 are locked in until next season. But everyone else could shift.
Let me know if you’d like to see more of this, if you’re curious about how I came up with these rankings, or if you noticed any mistakes.
Ranking
2023 Divisional Round
Δ
Notes
1
Chiefs
--
The Chiefs beat the Ravens to keep the NFL Title Belt and first.
2
Bills
--
3
Steelers
--
4
Bengals
--
5
Ravens
--
6
Texans
--
7
Browns
--
8
Saints
--
9
49ers
+7
The 49ers jumped 7 spots by beating the Lions.
10
Lions
-1
11
Bucs
-1
12
Titans
-1
13
Jaguars
-1
14
Dolphins
-1
15
Jets
-1
16
Rams
-1
17
Packers
--
18
Bears
--
19
Seahawks
--
20
Cardinals
--
21
Colts
--
22
Raiders
--
23
Patriots
--
24
Falcons
--
25
Cowboys
--
26
Broncos
--
27
Giants
--
28
Eagles
--
29
Chargers
--
30
Vikings
--
31
Panthers
--
32
Commanders
--
The Commanders will remain last for the offseason.
This ranking assumes that there are never any fluke games and all teams are appropriately ranked. If you beat a team that is higher ranked than you, you move ahead of them and they move down one spot. However, other teams can jump in front of teams that are higher ranked than you, moving you further down the rankings.
Bonus rankings! This one is more straightforward. Teams get points for wins. They get more points for beating good teams and fewer points for beating bad teams. (+32 for beating the best team, +1 for beating the worst). Teams lose points for losses. They lose more points for losing to bad teams and fewer points for losing to good teams. (-32 for losing to the worst team, -1 for losing to the best) The points total has been reset with the first game of the season.