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NFL power rankings, Week 18: Bengals roar, Colts sink

By Matt Verderame

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates the win at the conclusion of the fourth quarter during a Week 17 NFL game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-31. With the win the, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division and advance to the NFL playoffs.Kansas City Chiefs At Cincinnati Bengals Jan 2
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates the win at the conclusion of the fourth quarter during a Week 17 NFL game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-31. With the win the, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division and advance to the NFL playoffs.Kansas City Chiefs At Cincinnati Bengals Jan 2 /
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In our final NFL power rankings of the season, the Cincinnati Bengals climb while the Indianapolis Colts fall.

LW: 32. Jacksonville Jaguars. 32. 52. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2-14. player

One more loss and it’s the No. 1 overall pick.

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. LW: 31. Detroit Lions. player. 2-13-1. 31. 50

The Lions have played hard most of the year, but that was ugly.

4-12. 30. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 31. LW: 30. New York Giants

Fire everyone.

4-12. player. 10. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. LW: 29. Houston Texans. 29

The Texans can sweep the Titans on Sunday, but that’s a tall order.

LW: 28. New York Jets. 30. 4-12. Pick Analysis. 28. player. Scouting Report

Nobody beats the Jets and gets away with it.

Scouting Report. 5-11. LW: 27. 27. 87. Pick Analysis. Carolina Panthers. player

The Panthers gave some hope to their fans, then laughed and turned into a pumpkin.

Scouting Report. Seattle Seahawks. 26. player. Pick Analysis. 6-10. LW: 26. 36

Maybe a parting gift from Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll for Seattle fans.

Pick Analysis. LW: 25. Chicago Bears. 57. Scouting Report. 6-10. 25. player

Nice of the Bears to show up the last two weeks and tank their draft stock.

LW: 24. Atlanta Falcons. 24. player. Scouting Report. 7-9. 44. Pick Analysis

Atlanta actually hung around for a bit, then remembered it’s Atlanta.

Pick Analysis. Minnesota Vikings. 22. 60. Scouting Report. 7-9. LW: 22. player

Goodnight.

58. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 6-10. Washington Football Team. 20. LW: 20. player

Washington and its stadium fell apart in rapid fashion.

7-9. Denver Broncos. 21. player. 45. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. LW: 21

The Broncos have pieces, but they desperately need a quarterback in 2022.

Pick Analysis. LW: 23. Cleveland Browns. 7-9. 20. player. 53. Scouting Report

Brutal season for a team that had Super Bowl ambitions in September.

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 8-8. LW: 16. 19. Baltimore Ravens. player. 26

Injuries polished off the Ravens. Very tough collapse.

LW: 14. Miami Dolphins. 59. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 8-8. 18

Great run, but in the end, the Dolphins couldn’t beat good teams.

Scouting Report. Pittsburgh Steelers. 17. player. 55. Pick Analysis. 8-7-1. LW: 18

And with that, Ben Roethlisberger is done in Pittsburgh. Great career, tough ending.

8-8. New Orleans Saints. 15. LW: 17. 16. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

The Saints need to rebuild their offensive weaponry, but they have no cap space to do it.

9-7. LW: 15. player. 54. Pick Analysis. Philadelphia Eagles. 15. Scouting Report

Beating Washington isn’t exactly cause for celebration, but making the playoffs is.

Pick Analysis. 9-7. Scouting Report. LW: 19. Las Vegas Raiders. 14. player. 28

The Raiders have done a heck of a job down the stretch. Win and in on Sunday.

Pick Analysis. 9-7. LW: 8. Indianapolis Colts. 13. 46. Scouting Report. player

Can’t lose that game. The Colts will make the playoffs, but that’s a hideous loss.

9-7. LW: 13. Los Angeles Chargers. player. 13. Pick Analysis. 12. Scouting Report

The Chargers only need to win a game they’re expected to for a playoff spot. What can go wrong?

9-7. 11. Pick Analysis. LW: 12. San Francisco 49ers. player. 42. Scouting Report

Trey Lance was rough, but the Niners won and that keeps hope alive for the playoffs.

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 10. 47. 10-6. LW: 10. New England Patriots. player

Beating the Jaguars was great, now the Patriots need to handle quality teams in January.

11-5. LW: 5. Dallas Cowboys. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 9. 123

The Cowboys went from having two home playoff games to only one. Rough weekend.

8. 32. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 11-5. LW: 11. Arizona Cardinals. player

Great win to reestablish their position as an NFC contender before the playoffs. Nice job.

LW: 9. 7. player. 56. 10-6. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cincinnati Bengals

Phenomenal win by the Bengals, who put the full star-power of Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow on display.

Buffalo Bills. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 6. player. 16. 10-6. LW: 6

The Bills did what they needed to do, but Josh Allen can’t be throwing three interceptions.

12-4. LW: 4. Los Angeles Rams. 5. player. 51. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

The Rams are winning, but Matthew Stafford isn’t playing winning football.

35. Scouting Report. LW: 7. Tennessee Titans. 11-5. 4. player. Pick Analysis

With their victory and the Chiefs’ loss, the Titans likely have the AFC’s bye.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. player. Scouting Report. 12-4. 48. Pick Analysis. LW: 3. 3

The Buccaneers are now without Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin. Not ideal.

LW: 2. Kansas City Chiefs. 2. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 11-5. player. 124

The Chiefs lost, but they don’t drop. They remain the AFC’s best, but the road is now tougher.

Pick Analysis. 13-3. LW: 1. 1. player. Scouting Report. Green Bay Packers. 49

The NFC will go through the Packers, and that’ll be a tough chore.

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