NFL Power Rankings Week 18 – The Last Entrance

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Ab Stanley

Senior Writer at The 3 Point Conversion

Atlanta, GA

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This is it, we’ve arrived to the final week of the NFL season. A season that took a long time and (somehow) went by fast simultaneously. The drama of the final week will always be high, with records being broken and playoff spots to be determined. There will even be a number of teams concerned with draft positioning this week.

The bittersweet feeling of the regular season’s conclusion is a hard pill to swallow,. The bright side is whether they have a great record or a terrible one, every fan will have a new hope when this week is over.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
It’s seems written in stone that the Chiefs will three-peat as champions, with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce riding off on a white horse to Disney World.

2. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
If Minnesota can defeat Detroit this weekend they win the NFC North Division. Imagine saying this out loud a day before the regular season started.

3. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Josh Allen could very well be the league’s MVP, but his legacy will not be written by regular season accolades alone. He has to win in a significant way this post season or else the questions will continue.

4. Detroit Lions (14-2)
Detroit’s defense has to be a concern going into the playoffs. A win on Sunday will be the difference between the top overall seed and the fifth.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
You can make the argument that Saquon Barkley is the league’s best player and the Eagles are the best team in the NFL. There’s no arguing over whether or not Barkley made the right decision signing in Philadelphia.

6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Lamar Jackson’s third MVP bid is almost wrapped up and another great performance may put him over the top. Baltimore can secure the third seed and AFC North title with a win on Saturday.

7. Washington Commanders (11-5)
After their dramatic win over Atlanta, the Commanders have moved up to the sixth seed in the NFC. A win against Dallas and they’re locked into that slot.

8. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
The Packers lost their grip on the sixth seed and they’ve actually fallen down to seventh. They can get back to the sixth seed if they can win their game against Chicago and Washington loses to Dallas.

9. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
The Rams have won the NFC west title and will have almost nothing to play for this weekend. Head coach Sean McVay has hinted towards resting his starters against Seattle.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Pittsburgh is headed to the playoffs on a bad losing streak. They’ve lost three in a row, all against playoff teams. Now they play a Cincinnati team fighting for a playoff spot this weekend, while they’re fighting for a division title.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
The Chargers and head coach Jim Harbaugh should be proud of the team they’ve put together this year. They’re probably ahead of any timeline they’ve given themselves to be a contender.

12. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Broncos’ offense has gone three and out 13 times after their defense has stopped the opposition on fourth down. They’ll need to snap a two game losing streak if they want to end a long playoff drought.

13. Houston Texans (9-7)
Houston has lost two in a row, but they’ve secured the AFC South title. They’re locked into the fourth seed.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
The Buccaneers can win their fourth division title in a row with a win over the Saints on Sunday.

15. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Seattle has fallen out of playoff contention because of a league tie-breaking procedure. They’ll lose the tie-breaker scenario with the Los Angeles Rams because of strength of victory. So even if they finish tied, they’re out.

16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
If Cincinnati ever found a way to get that seventh seed in the AFC, everyone ahead of them will be a little frightened by their presence.

17. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Miami needs a win and a Denver loss, combined with three wishes from a genie and the collection of ten four leaf clovers to make the playoffs.

18. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Raheem Morris owned up to his clock mismanagement against Washington on Sunday night. The loss puts Atlanta in a “win and hope Tampa Bay loses” scenario to get into the playoffs.

19. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
The Colts went from being a contender for their division title, to making plans for the NFL draft. Losing to the New York Giants is a fitting nail in their coffin.

20. Dallas Cowboy (7-9)
The Cowboys cut ties with running back Ezekiel Elliott for the second time in three seasons. This gives Elliott a chance to sign in with a playoff team a week before the playoffs are set to begin.

21. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
The Cardinals won’t be getting rid of Kyler Murray any time soon, but there’s whispers around the organization that he might be the problem in Arizona.

22. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Brock Purdy won’t play against Arizona in the team’s season finale. Purdy hurt his right elbow in the Sunday night loss to Detroit.

23. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
The Saints can play spoiler against Tampa Bay with a win on Sunday. Then they’ll have to figure out a bunch of stuff with their roster, because they’ve had a massive fall off in production after week two.

24. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
Carolina has looked like a much better team since Bryce Young took back the starting quarterback duties. Carolina will need to add some major talent if they want to take him to the next level.

25. New York Jets (4-12)
That Aaron Rodgers 500 yard four touchdown game is loading as we speak. He’s sitting on 499 career touchdown passes and I’m sure he’ll want to get his 500th before the season is over.

26. Chicago Bears (4-12)
The Bears need to let Caleb Williams loose this weekend. No restrictions, no holding back plays, just let the kid have one game where he’s having fun and not worrying about any pressure.

27. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Brock Bowers has now passed Mike Ditka’s record for most receiving yards for a rookie tight end with 1,144 yards in 16 games. He also passed Puka Nacua’s 105 catches in 2023 to break the record for most overall catches for a rookie. And finally he broke the record for most catches by a Raiders’ player with his 108th catch on Sunday.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
With a bunch of players with big contracts on injured reserve, the Jaguars could look very different next year. It seems like their whole offense has been on that list at one point or another this season.

29. New York Giants (3-13)
Drew Lock had himself a field day on Sunday in a game which the Giants had no business winning. Them winning literally hindered the team going forward, by knocking them down to the fourth position in the NFL draft.

30. New England Patriots (3-13)
Right now the Patriots hold the coveted number one overall pick in the NFL draft. With them being set on Drake Maye running the show next season, you wonder if they’ll trade the pick or draft a non- quarterback.

31. Cleveland Browns (3-13)
Can the Browns take advantage of having one of the earlier draft picks on the board? With their restructuring of Deshaun Watson’s contract, they could receive a nice bounty if they remain in a top two draft position.

32. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
Well, Tennessee has put themselves in a position for a top three draft pick. The question is whether or not they’re interested in a quarterback or a trade?