NFL power rankings: 2021 edition: Buccaneers dethrone the Chiefs
A wild card team wins the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010.
With Sunday’s 31-9 resounding win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers captured their second Lombardi Trophy and first since 2002. It also means a wrap on the NFL’s 101st season. So here are the final NFL Power Rankings for 2020, with a little look ahead (salary cap numbers via Spotrac) to 2021.
There’s already been plenty of coaching changes, a few notable retirements and a huge trade involving quarterbacks (which doesn’t become official until mid-March.
Note: Win-loss records include playoffs.
. 1-15. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 32. team. 52
The team will take a 15-game losing streak into 2021 but will also be led by a new head coach in Urban Meyer, who carved out quite a niche in college football. There were some bright spots for a team that finished last in the AFC South for the third straight year. Undrafted rookie running back James Robinson opened some eyes and wide receiver D.J. Chark continues to impress. The Jaguars allowed the second-most total yards and points in the NFL.
50. . 5-11. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 31. team
Another year and another disaster in the Motor City for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991. The Matt Patricia Era came to an end after three straight finishes in the NFC North basement and a combined 14-33-1 mark. The Lions allowed 519 points, the second-highest total in a season in NFL annals. The team’s newest head coach is exuberant Dan Campbell. And once official, Matthew Stafford is out and Jared Goff is headed to Detroit.
. 2-14. Previous: . New York Jets. 30. team. 30
The club dropped its first 13 games of the season and most of those setbacks in embarrassing fashion. But Adam Gase’s club played better down the stretch and actually knocked off the playoff-bound Rams and Browns. It was another disappointing year for 2018 first-round quarterback Sam Darnold. The Jets now own the league’s longest playoff drought (2010) and the new head coach is former San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
29. team. 56. . 4-11-1. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals
The team finished with the worst record in the league in 2019 and earned the first overall pick last April. The club snatched LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and while he was upright he proved his mettle. But he’s currently on the mend after suffering a knee injury. When it was all said and done, the resilient Bengals doubled their victory total from ’19 and there were definite strides made in Zac Taylor’s second season as the franchise’s head coach.