NFL power rankings: Ranking the Chargers and every playoff team in the NFL

Six weeks into the NFL season and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. There is plenty of football left to play but with a third of the season in the books, the haves are starting to separate themselves from the have-nots. Thankfully, the LA Chargers appear to be in the former.

But where do the Chargers stack up compared to the other playoff teams in the NFL? Nobody is expecting a Super Bowl run out of the Chargers in 2024, but the more they can climb the NFL power rankings the better for the future.

NFL power rankings, playoff teams edition:

14. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts cannot even figure out who the starting quarterback is with Joe Flacco coming in and outplaying Anthony Richardson (Richardson is the starter, he just didn't play in Week 6 as the Colts are being extra cautious).

Former Chargers offensive coordinator Shane Steichen has established himself as one of the best coaches in the league and if the Colts are going to make the playoffs, they need him at his best.

13. LA Chargers

The Chargers need to prove more if they want to move up these rankings. While a 3-2 record is great, two of the team's wins are against bad teams while the other was against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.

Los Angeles righted the ship in Week 6 and they may not rack up quality wins as the upcoming slate of games is extremely easy. That being said, the Chargers may start to create some cushion in the AFC playoff picture.

12. Washington Commanders

The Commanders are the talk of the league with Jayden Daniels and as great as the rookie quarterback as looked, the list of teams who the Commanders have beaten is not the most impressive.

That being said, Daniels and the Commanders hung with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, proving that they are a capable playoff team that nobody will want to play in the first round (if they get there).

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

At their best the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a dynamic offense that can hang with the best teams in the league. At their worst, the defensive woes start to show up and Baker Mayfield played like a below-average quarterback.

Based on the early part of the 2024 season, NFL fans can expect the Bucs to continue a will-they, won't-they game of "are they actually great?"

10. Atlanta Falcons

The Buccaneers are probably a better team than the Falcons at their best but with a win in the head-to-head matchup, Kirk Cousins and his guys get the nod over their NFC South foes.

Atlanta has all the right pieces to get hot when the weather starts to cool down and make a run in the wide-open NFC. That is, of course, as long as Cousins can stay healthy and show up when the lights are the brightest.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

The vaunted Steelers defense has come back down to Earth in recent weeks but that does not change the fact that Week 6 was pure domination. Pittsburgh played what looked like a home game in Las Vegas and absolutely handed it to the Raiders.

Justin Fields has been serviceable thus far but many are waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under him. The Steelers' stout defense will always make them a tough team to beat but it is hard to bet on them down four with two minutes left.

8. Green Bay Packers

The Packers may not have the most impressive wins this season but they were also able to navigate life without Jordan Love and not tank the season with early losses. Green Bay survived that injury and outside of a slow start against the Minnesota Vikings, have looked like one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

Love showcased all of his powers in Week 6 in what was a routing for the Packers over the Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay might only be the seventh seed in the NFC but they may have the highest ceiling of anyone in the conference.

7. Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are like the Buccaneers if the Buccaneers actually had an elite quarterback. Buffalo does not have nearly as good of offensive weapons but they are in the same boat that when they are really good, they are really good.

Buffalo could be bounced in the first round of the playoffs if the team has two inopportune turnovers and the defense crumbles. However, the Bills could also legitimately make a Super Bowl run solely on Josh Allen's back.

6. San Francisco 49ers

A fully healthy 49ers team ranks higher on this list but that is not the reality right now. The 49ers have really missed Christian McCaffrey, and more concerningly, have taken a huge step back on defense this season (not surprising with Brandon Staley in the building).

By the time the playoffs roll around the 49ers may re-establish themselves as the cream of the crop in the NFC. Right now, that is not the case.

5. Baltimore Ravens

Another top-tier team that can beat any team in the league (just ask the Bills) that is not very consistent. A loss to the Raiders really tanks the Ravens' stock but at the end of the day, Baltimore has still beaten several quality teams.

With wins over the Cowboys, Bills, Bengals and Commanders, the Ravens have a more impressive track record than other teams in the playoff picture (record aside for the Cowboys and Bengals).

4. Houston Texans

CJ Stroud very well may be the MVP favorite after he picked apart the New England Patriots in Week 6. The Texans have not had the prettiest wins imaginable but they have a star quarterback with a great head coach and a rock-solid defense.

Houston is a real candidate to not just be in the final four in January, but to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

3. Detroit Lions

There may not be very many more weeks in the 2024 season where the Detroit Lions are not in the No. 1 spot. Detroit had a slow start to the season but has really been ramping it up, resulting in a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.

Losing Aidan Hutchinson is a massive blow to a defense that has played well this season. Even without Hutchinson, though, the Lions might be the most complete two-way team in the entire NFL.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have dealt with injury after injury this season and will not lose. Kansas City has fought tooth and nail for every single win this season and while they all have been ugly, they all count the same.

Any other team would have doubts with the way the Chiefs are winning ball games but they are the defending Super Bowl Champions. They know how to win games, and will keep doing so as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center.

1. Minnesota Vikings

It seems flukey. It probably is. But at the end of the day, the Vikings are the only undefeated team in the NFC and they have arguably the best resume in the entire league. Minnesota has three wins over teams who are also in these power rankings.

Would we take the Chiefs over the Vikings in a head-to-head matchup? Absolutely. Could the Vikings finish the season on a 5-7 run to go 10-7 on the year? Probably. But right now, they deserve the No. 1 ranking.