Welcome to the NFL playoffs, six newcomers and plenty of old faces.
For the 34th straight season — every year since the NFL expanded to a 12-team format in 1990 — at least four teams made the playoffs after not qualifying the previous season.
This year’s group includes the Browns, Lions, Packers, Texans, Rams and Steelers.
The Browns and Texans actually were last-place division finishers one year ago, with the Texans making the remarkable jump from worst-to-first under the leadership of first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and likely Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
In the third season of the 17-game schedule era, a winning record no longer is good enough to make the playoffs.
Ron Rivera and Arthur Smith have been fired. Follow our live tracker for news, rumors, analysis and more for NFL Black Monday updates.
Of the seven teams that finished 9-8, only two will play past Week 18.
Here are The Post’s NFL final power rankings for the 2023 season:
1. Baltimore Ravens 13-4 (1)
With MVP favorite Lamar Jackson on the bench because the No. 1 seed in the AFC was wrapped up, Tyler Huntley threw for 146 yards and a touchdown in a 17-10 loss to the Steelers. Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon lost fumbles and the Ravens managed just seven points until Justin Tucker’s last-minute field goal preceding a non-recovered onside kick.
2. San Francisco 49ers 12-5 (2)
The NFC’s No. 1-seeded 49ers copied the Ravens’ blueprint and sat several starters, including quarterback Brock Purdy, in a 21-20 loss to the Rams, who also had nothing to gain. Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell and ran for a score, but a seven-point fourth-quarter lead evaporated.
3. Buffalo Bills 11-6 (6)
Five weeks ago, the Bills were No. 11 in the AFC. After beating the Dolphins, 21-14, to extend their winning streak to five games and steal away the AFC East title, the Bills are No. 2. Josh Allen threw for two touchdowns and converted a late fourth-and-1 and third-and-13 with his legs to chew clock. Deonte Hardy’s fourth-quarter 96-yard punt return touchdown turned the game.
4. Dallas Cowboys 12-5 (4)
Needing a win to clinch the NFC East, the Cowboys left no doubt by pounding the Commanders, 38-10, behind Dak Prescott’s four touchdown passes (compared to five incompletions) to up his league-high season total to 36. CeeDee Lamb scored twice. The Cowboys finished 12-5 for the third straight year under head coach Mike McCarthy.
5. Detroit Lions 12-5 (5)
Head coach Dan Campbell chose not to rest his starters for the momentum of finishing the season with a victory, which happened with a 30-20 win against the Vikings. The problem? Tight end Sam LaPorta — a standout rookie — suffered a potentially serious knee injury. The Lions will host a playoff game for the first time since 1993.
6. Miami Dolphins 11-6 (3)
Paper tigers? The Dolphins’ only have one win against a playoff team (Cowboys) and turned a chance for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs into no home game at all with back-to-back season-ending losses to the Ravens and Bills. Tua Tagovailoa’s second interception stopped a potential tying two-minute drive, and De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill were held in check without injured complements Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert.
7. Cleveland Browns 11-6 (7)
Locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC, the Browns sat Joe Flacco, Amari Cooper, Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward — four of their most important players — in a 31-14 loss to the Bengals. Jeff Driskel became the team’s fifth different starting quarterback this season, throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
8. Kansas City Chiefs 11-6 (9)
Harrison Butker’s 41-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining finished off a 13-12 win against the Chargers. With Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on the bench, the Chiefs’ only touchdown was a 97-yard fumble return by Mike Edwards. Blaine Gabbert engineered the game-winning nine-play, 51-yard drive to instill some confidence called upon in the playoffs.
9. Los Angeles Rams 10-7 (10)
The Rams improved to 7-1 since their bye, with backup quarterback Carson Wentz helping Puka Nacua get into the NFL record book. Nacua set rookie year records for catches (105) and receiving yards (1,480), scoring a 19-yard touchdown in the process. Brett Maher missed a PAT as the Rams’ season-long kick woes continued.
10. Philadelphia Eagles 11-6 (8)
You know things are really wrong with the Eagles — 1-5 since Dec. 3 — when they lose to the Giants. Looking completely disinterested despite an outside chance at clinching the NFC East, the Eagles fell behind by 24 points in a 27-10 loss that was just their fourth in the last 21 meetings between the teams. Jalen Hurts (finger) and A.J. Brown (knee) both were injured to make matters worse.
11. Houston Texans 10-7 (11)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7 (13)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8 (18)
14. Green Bay Packers 9-8 (20)
15. Seattle Seahawks 9-8 (14)
16. Cincinnati Bengals 9-8 (16)
17. New Orleans Saints 9-8 (17)
18. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8 (12)
19. Indianapolis Colts 9-8 (15)
20. Las Vegas Raiders 8-9 (22)
21. Denver Broncos 8-9 (19)
22. Chicago Bears 7-10 (21)
23. Atlanta Falcons 7-10 (23)
24. Minnesota Vikings 7-10 (24)
25. New York Jets 7-10 (25)
The streak is over! The Jets slipped a few spots in the draft order in exchange for the right to end a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots and spoil what might have been head coach Bill Belichick’s final game in New England with a 17-3 win on a snow-covered field. Breece Hall ran 50 yards for the game’s only touchdown.
26. Tennessee Titans 6-11 (26)
27. New York Giants 6-11 (27)
If it was the final game with the Giants for mainstays Saquon Barkley (two touchdowns), Xavier McKinney (two interceptions) and Sterling Shepard (moved into fifth place in franchise history with 372 career catches), all contributed to a rare victory against the Eagles. Tyrod Taylor threw for 297 yards and returned to action from two different injuries.