NFL Playoff Offensive Rankings 2023: Ranking The Best Offenses In The 2023 Playoffs
The season has finally come down to the top four teams in the NFL. With Conference Championship around the corner this Sunday, let’s take a closer look at offenses playing. All four teams have great offenses with numerous weapons so this was about as close a ranking as it gets. Let’s dive into how these teams stand.
NFL Playoff Offense Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs come in at number 1 because they’ve ranked in the top spot in numerous statistical categories and have the top QB in the league. Thanks to Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs offense ranked #1 in total yards, passing yards, and scoring during the 2022 season, racking up an average of 413.6 yards per game and 29.2 points per game. They additionally led the NFL in touchdowns scored, first downs, and yards per play.
The offense took a hit in their divisional round matchup versus the Jaguars when Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain. Backup QB Chad Henne played well and led a 98-yard touchdown drive while Mahomes was sidelined. Still, the Chiefs need Mahomes to overcome his injury if they want to beat the Bengals and win the Super Bowl. Even when Mahomes came back to play, he was limping through plays and looked like he was in pain. Mahomes is the magic that carries the Chiefs and consistently makes off-schedule plays and touchdowns which keep his team on the field.
In terms of skill position players, TE Travis Kelce is the star of the Chiefs. Kelce had a record-breaking performance versus the Jaguars, catching 14 passes for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kelce constantly finds soft spots and helps Mahomes and the Chiefs when plays break down. The Chiefs have also seen an improving running game behind Jerick McKinnon and Isaiah Pacheco. Pacheco added 95 yards on the ground at 7.9 yards per carry.
Isiah Pacheco reached a top speed of 20.97 mph on his 41-yard run, the fastest speed of his career as a ball carrier.
Pacheco gained +36 rush yards over expected on the run, and now he leads all rookies with +168 RYOE this season (including playoffs).#JAXvsKC | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/gvgdRad77V
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 21, 2023
If they can continue this versus the Bengals, it will add another element for the offense that the Bills didn’t have. This will be especially important for the Chiefs because Mahomes mobility will most likely be hindered due to his injury.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles come in at 2nd on this list thanks to their balance and the way their offensive line dominates. The Eagles quickly put any hopes from the Giants aside last week, outclassing them 38-7 and quickly putting up 28 points in the 1st half. Though Jalen Hurts only threw for 154 yards, the offense still managed one of the more commanding performances of the season.
The Eagles offensive line is in a class of its own. They didn’t just stop Dexter Lawrence and the upcoming Giants line, but neutralized them. Their line is the definition of sturdy and tough and nobody demonstrates that better than All Pro Lane Johnson who’s postponing surgery until after the season so he can continue to play. They face their toughest matchup of the season going up against Nick Bosa and the 49ers defensive front, who also hold the league’s best run defense. However the Eagles are not intimidated with DE Brandon Graham saying he would pick Lane Johnson over Nick Bosa “all day.”
Thanks in part to that stellar offensive line, the Eagles run game is rolling. They ranked 5th throughout the regular season averaging 147.6 yards per game. While Miles Sanders was the lead back during the season putting up over 1200 ground yards, Kenneth Gainwell stepped up to add 112 yards in the divisional round. Gainwell averaged 9.3 yards per carry versus the Giants and combined for over 200 rushing yards with Sanders. With the additional run threat from Jalen Hurts, it’s no surprise opponents have struggled to stop this offense.
We’ve already established just how stacked this offense is, and we haven’t even mentioned A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith at WR or Dallas Goedert at TE. Brown had the best season of his career going for 1,496 receiving yards and Smith also went for 1,100 yards making them one of the league’s top duos. With Jalen Hurts playing at an MVP-level season this year, it’s no wonder the Eagles went 15-1 with him playing.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Coming into the Divisional round, there was one central question surrounding the Bengals offense which was how their offensive line would play with the injuries. They answered the test, allowing just one sack to the Bills. With three offensive linemen stepping up from the bench they led a fierce running performance, blocking for Joe Mixon’s 2nd 100 running game of the season. However, they did go up against the Bills front who seriously missed Von Miller. Going up against Chris Jones with a chance at a potential matchup versus the 49ers or Eagles pass rushes will prove a taller test.
The good news for the Bengals is even if the offensive line isn’t perfect, they have the ultimate leader at QB in Joe Burrow. Even when pass protection isn’t holding up, Burrow makes up for it with one of the quicker release times across the league.
Isiah Pacheco reached a top speed of 20.97 mph on his 41-yard run, the fastest speed of his career as a ball carrier.
Pacheco gained +36 rush yards over expected on the run, and now he leads all rookies with +168 RYOE this season (including playoffs).#JAXvsKC | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/gvgdRad77V
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 21, 2023
Burrow also oozes of confidence which showed itself again as he had no trouble in bringing his team a win in snowy Buffalo. And don’t expect any nerves from him going up against mighty Kansas City. He’s 3-0 versus Mahomes and the Chiefs and already won in this exact setting last season to get to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs better have tougher defensive plans than the Bills did, because Burrow dices up zone coverages and is too accurate to give up easy completions to.
Out wide, the Bengals have arguably the top receiving trio in the league with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tyler Boyd. For the Chiefs young secondary, they’ll have to pick their poison and avoid letting these receivers exploit them.
4. San Francisco 49ers
It feels silly ranking the 49ers this low when they may have the most talented skill position group of the final four and whole league. Yet the inexperience at QB, slow starts in two playoff games, and the overall talent across the offenses of all four teams keep them in this spot. Still, the 49ers have an amazing group and could arguably occupy any of the top 4 spots.
The 49ers are led by Kyle Shanahan’s incredible scheme which has created top offenses on multiple teams and makes whoever’s playing at QB almost irrelevant to the team’s success. His scheme starts with his unique run game plans. Not only does he have Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, but also finds creative ways to utilize WR Deebo Samuel in the backfield. It certainly also helps having a pretty good offensive line led by the blocking from All Pro Trent Williams.
Out wide, the 49ers have a top 2 TE in George Kittle. When Kittle is healthy, he provides a reliable weapon and some acrobatic catches like we saw versus the Cowboys. Outside of Kittle there’s Brandon Aiyuk who’s developed a strong chemistry with Purdy and put up his first 1000 yard season, Deebo racing across the middle, and 3rd and Jauan Jennings.
GEORGE KITTLE 😱@gkittle46
📺 #DALvsSF on @NFLonFOX
📱 NFL+ https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/bqsFzm7LbU— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 23, 2023
The big question mark for the 49ers is Brock Purdy. Purdy has already exceeded expectations and done an incredible job just leading the 49ers this far despite being Mr. Irrelevant and relegated to a backup role all season. He’s undefeated thus far, accurate, and even willing to throw deep which was a facet the 49ers lacked with Garoppolo under center. Yet, he is a rookie and we certainly have seen some rookie struggles in the first halves of his two playoff games. Against the Eagles ferocious pass defense, he’ll need to not just be sharp, but avoid running backwards when pressure gets in his face.
