Ranking the eight remaining units in the NFL playoffs

Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

And then there were four.

After the divisional round of the NFL playoffs produced some tantalizing football, we’re now down to the final four teams: the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots in the AFC in addition to the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams in the NFC.

That leaves eight remaining units: four offenses and four defenses. All have their strengths, and all have their weaknesses, but who are the best and worst remaining units in the conference championship games?

1. Seattle Seahawks defense (84.8 PFF grade; 2nd in EPA, 3rd in success rate)

The Seahawks’ defense is the epitome of a modern NFL defense. It is hard-hitting, excellent against the run and pass, incredibly deep, and most importantly, it can line up however it wants. The Seahawks don’t let offenses decide what package they run. They dictate the game on their own terms. The Seahawks line up almost exclusively in nickel and dime packages, 75.3% and 16.5% of their snaps — and no team is in base formation less than the Seahawks’ defense (6.5%).

Mike Macdonald’s unit has been historically good in 2025. Its 84.8 PFF grade is third among all defenses, and they rank second in EPA per play and third in success rate. It also leads the league with an 89.8 PFF coverage grade. The Seahawks' greatness comes from the fact that they don’t do anything too much. They blitz at one of the lowest rates in the NFL, they run simulated pressures on 19.7% of their passing down snaps — 14th in the NFL — but continuously win with four up front and pressure opposing quarterbacks 41.6% of their dropbacks, the fifth-highest rate.

Even in coverage, the Seahawks are multiple in their looks, running Cover 3, Cover 6, Quarters, Cover 1 and Cover 2 at rates of 10.0% or higher. By definition, they’re a team that has the answers to all of the tests.

2. Los Angeles Rams offense (93.0 PFF grade; 1st in EPA, 1st in success rate)

The Rams’ offense stuttered against the Chicago Bears in the cold of Chicago in the divisional round, but make no mistake, this is the NFL's premier offense. Led by one of the best offensive innovators in the business in Sean McVay, the Rams have the highest PFF grade (93.0) among all offenses, leading the league in EPA per play and success rate. Whether it’s on the ground or through the air, the Rams can move the ball at will and score points in bunches.

Matthew Stafford (92.9 grade; first) has had a career-best season in 2025, completing 65.0% of his passes for 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions, as the Rams led the league in passing success rate. It’s Stafford’s connection with receiver Puka Nacua (96.1 grade; first) that gives the Rams their edge. Nacua caught a league-best 129 passes for 1715 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, and the Rams averaged 1.166 EPA per play when Nacua caught the ball.

Even beyond Nacua, the Rams have plenty of options. Receiver Davante Adams (84.2 grade; 10th) led the NFL in regular-season touchdown catches and is one of the NFL's best red-zone threats. The Rams have compelling tight ends that can feature in the passing game and an excellent run game to complement the passing attack. Their 89.1 PFF run grade is fifth in the NFL.

3. Denver Broncos defense (78.7 PFF grade; 6th in EPA, 2nd in success rate)

The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015 and, in the process, clinched the top seed in the conference with a 14-3 record. Though their offense flashed at times, the defense led the charge with a 78.7 PFF grade as one of the best defenses in the NFL. Vance Joseph’s unit got after the quarterback more than any other unit in the NFL, sacking opposing quarterbacks 79 times in the regular season and pressuring them on 42.1% of their dropbacks, the league's second-highest rate.

The defense gets the job done by blitzing at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL and overwhelming offensive lines with number mismatches, but there are still heaps of talent across the defensive line. Edge defender Nik Bonitto (79.5 grade; 16th) finished the season with 18 sacks, the second-most, and 80 pressures, while interior defender Zach Allen (64.5 grade; 45th) led the team with 81 pressures.

They’re excellent in coverage, as cornerback Patrick Surtain II (70.3 grade; 27th) is arguably the NFL's best, while hard-hitting safety Talanoa Hufanga (68.3 grade; 36th), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (74.8 grade; 20th) and linebacker Alex Singleton (70.1 grade; 28th) make the Broncos an equally tough proposition against the run. All across the board, the Broncos are supremely talented.

4. Los Angeles Rams defense (87.6 PFF grade; 8th in EPA, 8th in success rate)

Not to be outdone by the offense, the Rams’ defense has played lights out in 2025 and carried the load on the rare occasions the offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Chris Shula has a unit that finished 27th in EPA per play in 2024 rolling this season, as the Rams’ defense has gone from a potentially promising group of players to one of the best defenses in the NFL. Its 87.6 PFF grade is first among all defenses while placing eighth in EPA per play allowed and success rate.

The Rams defense's improvement in 2025 can be attributed to a variety of reasons, but signing free agent interior defender Poona Ford (88.1 grade; fourth) has been one of the key ones. Ford has compiled a 78.7 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 and helped stuff opposing rushing attacks at the line of scrimmage with 25 stops, while third-year edge defender Byron Young (85.5 grade; 9th) is second in run stops among edge defenders.

The defensive line is where the Rams flash the most talent, and its 41.8% pressure rate is third in the NFL. Edge defender Jared Verse (79.7 grade; 14th) has 87 pressures in 2025, the fifth-most in the NFL, and having an elite edge rusher that can earn four or five pressures a game in the playoffs is a big boon for any defense looking to win a Super Bowl.

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5. New England Patriots offense (83.4 PFF grade; 5th in EPA, 8th in success rate)

After barely two seasons, the Patriots have found their guy in quarterback Drake Maye (87.4 grade; fifth). Maye had a promising rookie season but has lifted off in Year 2 with Josh McDaniels as his play-caller, leading the NFL in completion percentage (70.6%) while throwing for 4,841 yards, 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. As of now, Maye is locked in a fight with Stafford for MVP honors and is quarterbacking one of the NFL’s best offenses.

The Patriots’ 83.4 PFF offense grade is third in the NFL, and it places fifth in EPA per play and eighth in success rate. The offense's real strength comes from Maye and the passing game. The Patriots lead the NFL in EPA per passing play, and Maye has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at pushing the ball downfield. His 37 completions of 20-plus yards are the third-most in the NFL, and his 52.1% completion rate on those throws is third. Maye isn’t chucking and praying; he’s throwing the ball downfield with accuracy, and showing off one of the best arms in the NFL. On paper, the Patriots aren’t blessed with the best receiving talent. Receiver Stefon Diggs (85.5 grade; ninth) was the team’s big free-agent signing in the summer, and he’s caught 91 passes for 1,069 yards and five touchdowns this season, but receivers Kayshon Boutte (73.8 grade; 36th) and Demario Douglas (76.7 grade; 25th) have both stepped up to help elevate the passing attack.

The Patriots’ 73.0 PFF pass-blocking grade is fifth among offensive lines, too, as the unit is a key reason for the improvements up front, even if Maye has been sacked the second-most times in the NFL. Even after a slow start, the Patriots’ run game has been competent. Running backs Rhamondre Stevenson (76.3 grade; 20th) and TreVeyon Henderson (68.4 grade; 42nd) have combined for 36 rushes of 10-plus yards in 2025.

6. Seattle Seahawks offense (85.3 PFF grade; 11th in EPA, 10th in success rate)

The Seahawks have presented themselves as, potentially, the most well-rounded team in the NFL. The defense is a force-shattering unit full of talent, and though the offense doesn’t have that same depth of talent, it’s still one of the better offenses in the NFL. Its 85.3 PFF grade is second in the NFL, and the Seahawks rank 11th in EPA per play and 10th in success rate. Though they don’t live and die by Jaxon Smith-Njigba (92.8 grade; second), he’s the fulcrum of their world. Smith-Njigba broke out in his third season in the NFL, catching 119 passes for a league-best 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and he led the NFL with 16 catches of 20-plus yards.

The offense’s explosiveness remains its calling card, too. It has the sixth-most explosive plays in the NFL in 2025, and quarterback Sam Darnold (79.9 grade; ninth) has the highest completion percentage in the NFL on deep pass attempts (56.6%). In recent weeks, the rushing attack, which had started the season slowly, has picked up, too. Running back Kenneth Walker (90.7 grade; first) went nuclear in the 41-6 divisional round win, carrying the ball 19 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns while forcing four missed tackles and breaking off four rushes of 10-plus yards, earning a 90.6 grade. Losing his running mate, Zach Charbonnet (86.6 grade; third), to a torn ACL is a big blow for the Seahawks, but Walker could shine with more carries.

There’ll naturally be question marks about Darnold, who compiled a 73.5 grade in the win against the San Francisco 49ers, going up against a defense that’s had his number this season — Darnold has thrown six picks in two games against the Rams, notching a 48.4 grade, but offensive playcaller Klint Kubiak has done well to make life easier for Darnold, while the offensive line allows pressure on just 30.5% of the passing snaps.

7. New England Patriots defense (78.3 PFF grade; 4th in EPA, 15th in success rate)

The argument can be made that the Patriots’ defense has faced a schedule that’s been kind to it, as its 78.1 PFF grade is seventh in the NFL, and its fourth in EPA per play allowed and 15th in success rate. In their last two playoff games, the Patriots are second in EPA per play allowed and third in success rate, thanks to two excellent performances against the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.

The Patriots are excellent up front, pressuring opposing quarterbacks at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL and have 46 sacks on the season. They’re not the greatest finishers, but the Patriots can win up front with power and speed, putting opposing quarterbacks under duress. Edge defender K’Lavon Chaisson (60.8 grade; 80th), in particular, has had a career year, generating a team-high 68 pressures and 12 sacks while seven separate defenders have at least 20 pressures on the season. The Patriots, as a unit, blitz at the 10th-highest rate in the NFL.

It’s not just up front where the Patriots win. Their 89.8 PFF coverage grade is the second-highest in the NFL, and cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (72.3 grade; 21st) and Carlton Davis III (71.3 grade; 25th), as well as slot CB Marcus Jones (72.1 grade; 22nd), have been excellent in coverage, and the Patriots have allowed the 14th-fewest explosive passing plays in the NFL.

8. Denver Broncos offense (76.3 PFF grade; 12th in EPA, 21st in success rate)

Moments after their win against the Bills in the divisional round, the Broncos were handed the devastating news that quarterback Bo Nix (77.1 grade; 13th) would miss the rest of the postseason due to a fractured ankle. Nix had looked excellent in the 33-30 win against the Buffalo Bills, throwing for 279 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while earning an 80.1 grade. His loss is a massive blow for the Broncos, who will look to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead them to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2015.

Even with Nix, the Broncos offense still had its flaws. Its 76.3 PFF grade is 13th, and it is 12th in EPA per play, but it is 21st in success rate, and Nix has underwhelmed at times. His 22 turnover-worthy plays were the ninth-most in the NFL, and his 6.4 yards per attempt were 32nd out of 43 quarterbacks in 2025. Despite that, Nix had earned a 78.2 grade since Week 15. The drop off from Nix to Stidham, who earned a 55.5 grade in 2023 when he last started an NFL game, is concerning, but the Broncos have one of the best pass-blocking offensive lines in the NFL — its 79.1 grade leads the league — and head coach Sean Payton knows how to call a football game.

With Nix out of the picture, the Broncos are going to need to run the ball better. Their 78.4 PFF run grade is 18th in the NFL, and they’re 22nd in EPA per rushing play and 25th in rushing success rate.