NFL power rankings, Week 18: Patriots rise, Vikings fall
The NFL power rankings for Week 18 are here, and while the New England Patriots are rising, the Minnesota Vikings took a big hit.
2-13-1. Previous: . Houston Texans. 32. team. 10.
The Texans have to lose once more and they have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft. However, the Colts loom…
. 3-13. Previous: . Chicago Bears. 31. team. 57
Chicago has hung tough in most of its games, but couldn’t against a motivated Lions team. One more game, and then a huge offseason.
. 4-12. Previous: . Denver Broncos. 30. team. 45
Denver put two scares into the Chiefs this season, but ultimately they’re sitting on a 15-game losing streak to Kansas City.
29. team. 32. . 4-12. Previous: . Arizona Cardinals
Nobody wants the season to end quicker than Arizona.
46. . 4-11-1. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 28. team
Jeff Saturday can’t be a serious candidate for the job moving forward.
51. . 5-11. Previous: . Los Angeles Rams. 27. team
After hammering the Broncos, the Rams found the going much tougher against the Chargers in a blowout loss.
44. . 6-10. Previous: . Atlanta Falcons. 26. team
Desmond Ridder looked good against the Cardinals. Now, is that because Ridder made progress, or because it’s the Cardinals?
. 6-10. Previous: . Las Vegas Raiders. 25. team. 28
Terrific effort and incredible showing from Jarrett Stidham, but not enough to beat the Niners.
24. team. 87. . 6-10. Previous: . Carolina Panthers
Carolina fought really hard the last few months under interim coach Steve Wilks, but losing out to Tampa Bay for the NFC South is probably good long-term.
. 7-9. Previous: . Cleveland Browns. 23. team. 53
Deshaun Watson has been underwhlming, but the Browns picked off Carson Wentz three times to win in Washington.
22. team. 15. . 7-9. Previous: . New Orleans Saints
The Saints had a very uneven year, and although they beat the Eagles in Philadelphia, they now look at a long winter.
. 7-9. Previous: . New York Jets. 21. team. 30
The Jets looked like a playoff team in early November. Now, with a week remaining and on a five-game losing streak, New York is eliminated.
team. 35. . 7-9. Previous: . Tennessee Titans. 20
Tennessee has lost six straight, and yet if it wins on Sunday, it doesn’t matter.
58. . 7-8-1. Previous: . Washington Commanders. 19. team
Starting Carson Wentz seemed like a terrible idea, and it proved even worse than imagined.
team. 55. . 8-8. Previous: . Pittsburgh Steelers. 18
The Steelers, incredibly, are in the playoff race.
team. 59. . 8-8. Previous: . Miami Dolphins. 17
Between injuries and a leaky roster, the Dolphins are on the brink of a complete meltdown. Still, a win over the Jets and a loss by New England puts it in the playoffs.
Previous: . New England Patriots. 16. team. 47. . 8-8
For a playoff spot, the Patriots have to win their final game, or the Dolphins must lose to the Jets.
. 8-8. Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 15. team. 36
Give the Seahawks credit, they aren’t going away in a year everybody assumed would be lost from the start.
14. team. 48. . 8-8. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers scored 30 points for the second time all year, and now they will host the No. 5 seed in the NFC Wild Card round.
8-8. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 13. team. 50.
Detroit is alive going into Week 18. Who thought that would happen at 1-6?
8-8. Previous: . Green Bay Packers. 12. team. 49.
Incredibly, the Packers are a home win away from getting into the playoffs. What a wild ride.
11. team. 31. . 9-6-1. Previous: . New York Giants
Kudos to Brian Daboll and the Giants, who fought through a four-game winless streak to make the playoffs. A great story.
. 12-4. Previous: . Minnesota Vikings. 10. team. 60
Minnesota is 12-4, and not a single person on earth is confident it’ll make the Divisional round.
10-6. Previous: . Baltimore Ravens. 9. team. 26.
Baltimore is in desperate need of Lamar Jackson returning.
52. . 8-8. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 8. team
Jacksonville has won four straight and is a dangerous team if it gets into the playoffs. Talent all over the roster.
. 10-6. Previous: . Los Angeles Chargers. 7. team. 13
The Chargers are playing their best ball and getting healthy with the return of Joey Bosa. Los Angeles is a legitimate contender.
Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 6. team. 123. . 12-4
Dallas needs Dak Prescott to stop turning the ball over, but the Cowboys have a killer defense and ample weapons.
Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 5. team. 42. . 12-4
San Francisco allowed Jarrett Stidham to look like a Pro Bowler, but found a way to win.
11-4. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals. 4. team. 56.
The only thing which matters is the health of Damar Hamlin.
Philadelphia Eagles. 3. team. 54. . 13-3. Previous:
The Eagles are getting really banged-up at the wrong time. Philadelphia now needs to win in Week 18, or it’s very likely going to be a wild card team.
Buffalo Bills. 2. team. 16. . 12-3. Previous:
Again, the only thing which matters is the health of Damar Hamlin.
. 13-3. Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 1. team. 124
The Chiefs let Denver hang around, but it took care of business. Very good season for Kansas City to this point.