• Josh Allen is the perfect quarterback remaining: With our rating primarily based solely on 2024 efficiency, Allen takes the highest spot over Patrick Mahomes.
• The Eagles’ defensive position may wreak havoc: Philadelphia simply boasts the perfect defensive entrance of the remaining NFL playoff groups, with Jalen Carter proving to be a constant drive for the unit.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL group.
Estimated Studying Time: 12 minutes
We’re right down to the ultimate 4 groups within the NFL playoffs, and every has reached this level uniquely. Let us take a look at the place every group is the strongest and the place they could be weak heading into the penultimate NFL Sunday.
Quarterback
1. Payments
2. Commanders
3. Chiefs
4. Eagles
Earlier than Chiefs followers collect en masse with pitchforks, this rating relies solely on 2024 efficiency. Whereas Patrick Mahomes has already entered the GOAT dialogue earlier than turning 30, Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels every had higher seasons this yr from a statistical standpoint. Each earned increased PFF passing grades and PFF total grades whereas additionally beating Mahomes in nearly each different fundamental statistic, reminiscent of passing yards, landing passes and interceptions. Allen will get the nod over Daniels, largely because of an absurd 94.4 PFF dashing grade, which comfortably led your complete NFL, not to mention quarterbacks.
Highest-Graded Quarterbacks | 2024 Common Season and Postseason
Jalen Hurts closes out this rating each by default and due to his current well being considerations. Not solely did he battle concussions late within the season, however he obtained rolled up on late within the Eagles’ win over the Rams and the results of this harm have been visibly obvious, leaving many to surprise if he’ll be 100% for the NFC Championship recreation.
Operating Again
1. Eagles
2. Payments
3. Commanders
4. Chiefs
Saquon Barkley had a season for the ages in his first yr in Philadelphia, so it’s no shock that the Eagles prime this record regardless of their different operating again, Kenneth Gainwell, ending with the second-worst PFF grade amongst qualifiers on the place. Barkley ran for greater than 2,000 yards in the course of the common season regardless of sitting out the final recreation and has continued to dominate within the postseason, including one other 324 yards between the Eagles’ two playoff wins.
Whereas Barkley has been a one-man wrecking crew, the Payments have extra depth. Along with James Cook dinner’s breakout season, Buffalo backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson have additionally carried out nicely when known as upon, as they each rank within the prime half amongst qualifying operating backs in PFF total grade.
Whereas the Commanders don’t have any backs whom individuals would name a “celebrity,” the trio of Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols all featured PFF total and dashing grades above 70.0, leaving the Commanders in good arms no matter whose flip it’s within the rotation.
Well being was a difficulty for the Chiefs’ backfield, as lead again Isiah Pacheco missed a lot of the season because of harm. Kareem Hunt proved succesful in his absence, nonetheless, with a 74.4 PFF total grade that ranked twenty first amongst qualifying backs.
Broad Receiver
1. Eagles
2. Commanders
3. Payments
4. Chiefs
This was a tricky ordering. Regardless of the Eagles that includes arguably the 2 finest receivers remaining within the postseason, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, they’re sorely missing in depth. Their solely different receivers who performed sufficient snaps to qualify, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson, ranked in or close to the underside 10 amongst huge receivers in PFF total grade.
Nevertheless, the other could also be stated of the opposite three remaining groups; most lack a real No. 1 receiver whereas that includes a number of cross catchers who may very well be thought-about high quality depth items. The Commanders clearly have a prime receiving risk in Terry McLaurin with a slew of fellows who’ve proven flashes of being potential No. 2 choices, reminiscent of Olamide Zaccheaus, Noah Brown and Dyami Brown.
The Payments overhauled their receiving room within the offseason and even a bit into the common season, as they acquired Amari Cooper in a mid-season commerce with the Browns. The outcomes have been blended: Other than Khalil Shakir, an after-the-catch machine, many of the Payments’ receivers have ranked in the midst of the pack.
Shedding Rashee Rice was an enormous blow to the Chiefs’ receiver room. DeAndre Hopkins has proven he nonetheless has one thing left within the tank, sporting a 77.7 PFF total grade, however not one of the Chiefs receivers graded out significantly nicely. Their next-best receiver was Xavier Worthy, at 65.4. Marquise Brown’s well being can be paramount for the Chiefs as they give the impression of being towards a three-peat.
Tight Finish
1. Chiefs
2. Payments
3. Eagles
4. Commanders
After a sluggish begin to the season, Travis Kelce quietly put collectively a really strong marketing campaign, which, whereas pedestrian by his requirements, can be a profession yr for many tight ends. He hauled in 97 passes for 823 yards in a “down” yr. Noah Grey picked up among the slack, catching 40 passes for 437 yards and 5 scores in a profession yr for the previous fifth-rounder out of Duke.
Dalton Kincaid didn’t have the statistical breakout that some have been hoping for, however he was a top-10 tight finish this common season by PFF total grade (76.6) regardless of not recording a single recreation with greater than 53 receiving yards. Dawson Knox and Reggie Gilliam have additionally made their presences felt in massive moments for the Payments’ offense.
The Eagles and Commanders are in related boats, that includes one influence tight finish with restricted depth behind them. The sting was given to the Eagles, as Dallas Goedert beat out Zach Ertz in PFF total grade this season (69.2 to 64.0).
Offensive Line
1. Eagles
2. Chiefs
3. Invoice
4. Commanders
The Eagles coming in at No. 1 ought to shock no person, as they earned PFF’s “Finest Offensive Line” award. They function the perfect sort out duo within the league, with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson every ending as top-10 tackles this season. Mailiata was the highest-graded participant at any place this yr, posting a 95.4 mark. The inside of the offensive line was additionally stellar, as every of Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton and Cam Jurgens completed within the prime 20 at their respective positions. Dickerson ranked because the fourth-best guard.
The Chiefs have arguably the perfect inside line trio within the league with Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. However with their woes at offensive sort out, they needed to do some shuffling. Thuney has since kicked out to left sort out with reasonable success. Their inconsistencies outdoors of their massive three may very well be their undoing, although, as Jawaan Taylor earned a poor 57.4 PFF pass-blocking grade and solely Laremy Tunsil had extra accepted flags towards him.
The Payments don’t have any star offensive linemen however have been a strong unit all season. 4 of their 5 normal starters rank within the prime half at their respective positions, with proper sort out Spencer Brown grading out the very best (75.3). Connor McGovern efficiently moved to heart this season, rating ninth on the place with a 70.7 PFF total grade.
The Commanders ranked twenty second in group pass-blocking grade and twenty eighth within the run recreation — and that was earlier than Sam Cosmi tore his ACL towards the Lions within the divisional spherical. They may have their arms full with a vaunted Eagles defensive position, which we’ll get to shortly.
Defensive Line
1. Eagles
2. Payments
3. Chiefs
4. Commanders
Among the many Eagles’ 10 defensive linemen who performed sufficient snaps to qualify, eight ranked within the prime half of their place in PFF total grade and 9 surpassed a 64.0 mark. That type of effectivity doesn’t come round day by day. The Eagles boasted, by far, the highest-graded group protection within the NFL this season (90.6), with the subsequent closest being the Chiefs at 79.7. Philadelphia’s 88.0 PFF pass-rushing grade trailed solely the Steelers.
Regardless of being in Yr 14, Von Miller hasn’t let off the gasoline one bit. His 85.3 PFF total grade ranked eleventh within the league. Greg Rousseau fashioned a wonderful counterpart to Miller, as he additionally put up a excessive PFF total grade (82.4). In the meantime, Ed Oliver took over the center of the road together with his 71.6 mark. All three gamers recorded PFF pass-rushing grades above 77.0, making the Payments’ defensive position quietly one of many extra formidable models within the league.
Chris Jones did quite a lot of the heavy lifting for the Chiefs’ defensive position. His 89.9 PFF total grade trailed solely Cam Heyward amongst inside defenders. After him, although, the remainder of Kansas Metropolis’s entrance was kind of common. George Karlaftis was the next-highest-graded member, with a 69.3 grade.
On paper, one would suppose the Commanders would rank a lot increased on this record. Nevertheless, quite a lot of their big-name expertise had down seasons. Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen every posted career-low PFF total grades, whereas Dorance Armstrong was the unit’s highest-graded participant, at simply 66.5 (although he did sport a powerful 78.6 PFF pass-rushing grade). Couple that with Allen lacking quite a lot of the season because of a torn pectoral, and it turns into clear how this unit had its share of struggles.
Linebacker
1. Commanders
2. Eagles
3. Chiefs
4. Payments
Bobby Wagner continues to disclaim Father Time, incomes an 88.3 PFF total grade to rank third amongst linebackers. Frankie Luvu has additionally been a dependable possibility for the Commanders, sporting a 65.3 PFF total grade. Depth could also be a priority, although, as Washington‘s different three linebackers have a mixed 109 snaps between them.
The highest spot right here probably would have gone to the Eagles had Nakobe Dean not suffered a season-ending knee harm towards the Packers within the wild-card spherical. Dean had been having fun with a breakout season, firmly entrenching himself into the beginning function and incomes a 76.6 PFF total grade that ranked twelfth on the place. Whereas Zack Baun graded out as the perfect linebacker in 2024 (90.2), Dean’s harm leaves quite a lot of query marks. Oren Burks has performed nicely in restricted motion, however he’s historically been extra of a particular groups man. And Jeremiah Trotter Jr hasn’t seen the sphere a lot in 2024 as a fifth-round rookie.
Leo Chenal had a powerful breakout season for the Chiefs, registering an 83.6 PFF total grade that ranked fifth amongst linebackers. Chenal excelled towards the run to the tune of a 90.1 grade in that division, putting him fourth on the place. Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill have each been high quality choices, as nicely, rating within the prime half in PFF total grade.
The one Payments linebacker to place up a PFF grade above 70.0 was Joe Andreessen, at 72.1, but the hometown rookie performed simply 116 snaps. Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard each tallied sub-60.0 PFF total grades and have been significantly poor in protection, every incomes PFF protection grades under 40.0. With Matt Milano wanting wholesome for the primary time in a very long time, this unit may doubtlessly be on the rise.
Secondary
1. Eagles
2. Chiefs
3. Payments
4. Commanders
The Eagles boast a 93.0 group PFF protection grade — significantly better than the second-place Chargers’ 87.9 quantity. Their secondary was thrashed for a lot of 2023, however new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio helped flip the unit round. Regardless of the secondary that includes two rookie cornerbacks as starters, each carried out admirably. Quinyon Mitchell ranked sixteenth with a 75.5 PFF total grade, and Cooper DeJean positioned seventh (77.7). Darius Slay has additionally confirmed that age is only a quantity by placing up a 69.9 PFF total grade regardless of being 34 years outdated. The Eagles have additionally gotten quite a lot of manufacturing out of their safeties, as Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson every ranked within the prime 20 on the place in PFF total grade.
Regardless of buying and selling L’Jarius Sneed within the offseason, the Chiefs didn’t miss a beat, incomes the third-best group PFF protection grade (83.9). Trent McDuffi completed the yr as PFF’s highest-graded cornerback, with 80.0-plus marks in protection, in run protection and at the same time as a pass-rusher. Jaylen Watson additionally carried out nicely, as his 72.6 PFF grade ranked twenty third. At security, Justin Reid had his finest season as Chief, placing up a 75.5 PFF total grade, whereas Bryan Cook dinner and rookie fourth-rounder Jaden Hicks additionally proved to be dependable choices.
Cornerback was a robust level for the Payments. Christian Benford graded out because the fifth-best cornerback within the league (79.4), together with a 78.8 mark in protection. Whereas his enjoying time was diminished, Kaiir Elam quietly put collectively a strong season, with a 70.2 grade. Taron Johnson was up and down within the slot, as his 61.1 grade attests. Security was extra of an issue for the Payments this season. The one member of the group with a 60.0-plus PFF total grade was Cam Lewis (65.1). Nevertheless, Taylor Rapp was excellent towards the run, rating seventh on the place in PFF run-blocking grade regardless of in any other case poor marks.
The Commanders‘ secondary doesn’t have a lot to put in writing dwelling about. Amongst their regulars, solely rookie Mike Sainristil, Jeremy Chinn and mid-season acquisition Marshon Lattimore posted season-long PFF protection grades above 60.0. Lattimore has been a disappointment since being traded from the Saints on the deadline: Not solely has he missed quite a lot of time because of harm, however he sports activities only a 47.5 PFF protection grade since making his Commanders debut in Week 15, together with an abysmal displaying within the wild-card Spherical towards the Buccaneers (25.9 protection grade). Of the seven Commanders secondary gamers to play sufficient snaps to qualify, three have PFF protection grades under 50.0. That received’t fly if the group hopes to hoist its first Lombardi Trophy in 33 years.
