NFL Power Rankings Based on Super Bowl Odds Ahead of Week 18
By Peter Dewey
We're just one week away from having the NFL playoff fields decided, but one team has already locked up the No. 1 seed in its respective conference.
The Green Bay Packers.
While the Packers are set at No. 1 in the NFC, the No. 2 through No. 5 seeds are still not decided with the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams jockeying for position.
Every week this season, yours truly ranks each NFL team in relation to their Super Bowl odds at WynnBET Sportsbook in BetSided's NFL Power Rankings. If you’re looking for last week’s rankings to see where everyone moved to, you can find it here.
Let's break it down heading into the final week of the NFL's regular season:
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3, +350) LW: No. 2
Green Bay must've saw that I moved it to No. 2 in these rankings, as it dismantled the Minnesota Vikings and Sean Mannion on Sunday Night Football. The Packers now can rest in Week 18 and will have a bye as the NFC runs through Lambeau.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5, +450) Last Week: No. 1
The Chiefs lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, with Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow torching them three times for touchdowns. I'm not putting too much stock into this loss, as it may be good the Chiefs won't enter the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4, +850) LW: No. 3
Tom Brady orchestrated a comeback, without Antonio Brown, to help the Bucs beat the New York Jets. The Bucs offense is really banged up, but as long as Brady is at the helm, they'll have a chance to win the Super Bowl.
4. Los Angeles Rams (12-4, +800) LW: No. 5
The Rams can wrap up the NFC West by beating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. Matthew Stafford has thrown too many picks lately, but the Rams have kept winning.
5. Buffalo Bills (10-6, +750) LW: No. 7
The Bills moved one step closer to securing the AFC East by beating the Falcons in Week 17. Devin Singletary has led a suddenly potent run game, which could be a great sign for the Bills this postseason.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6, +1800) LW: No. 8
The Bengals have gone from worst to first in the AFC North, and they have an elite young offensive core with Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. This is a team I wouldn't want to face this postseason.
7. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, +1200) LW: No. 4
Dallas' offense just doesn't look right lately, and now Michael Gallup is out for the season. The Cowboys still can move up in the NFC, but right now they'd play the Cardinals again in the first round.
8. Tennessee Titans (11-5, +1200) LW: No. 10
The Titans are the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and they can hold it by winning against the Texans in Week 18. If Derrick Henry returns to the lineup this postseason, the Titans might be a tough out.
9. Arizona Cardinals (11-5, +2000) LW: No. 9
The Cardinals came up with a huge win over the Cowboys and now could still take the NFC West if the Rams lose in Week 18 and they win. Kliff Kingsbury moved to 13-3-2 against the spread as a road underdog in his career.
10. New England Patriots (10-5, +1800) LW: No. 11
The Patriots dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars to clinch a playoff spot in Week 17. This defense could wreak some havoc in the playoffs with the right matchup.
11. Indianapolis Colts (9-7, +2200) LW: No. 6
The Colts' loss to the Raiders has made Week 18 against the Jaguars a must-win game. I still think Indy is one of the more underrated teams in the NFL, but it is going to have to make a run as an underdog in the AFC.
12. San Francisco 49ers (9-7, +4000) LW: No. 13
Trey Lance was able to turn things around for the 49ers in the second half to beat the Texans. Lance was shaky at points, but the 49ers may be forced to play him going forward in Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) isn't able to go.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7, +6000) LW: No. 15
Nick Sirianni needs some serious consideration for the league's Coach of the Year award. The Eagles have clinched a playoff spot after trading away Carson Wentz and will have plenty of draft capital to improve the roster next season as well.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7, +6000) LW: No. 12
Win and get in. That's the scenario that the Chargers face in Week 18 when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders. We've seen this team squander chances before, but this is a chance for Justin Herbert to add a signature win to his resume in Year 2.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7, +25000) LW: No. 17
Give the Raiders some credit. They have turned things around to be in a win or go home spot in Week 18. Derek Carr and company have dealt with a lot this season, but this team has gotten hot when it matters most.
16. Baltimore Ravens (8-8, +25000) LW: No. 14
The Ravens have gone in the tank without Lamar Jackson, and they'll need a crazy scenario (detailed here) to make the postseason. Brutal injury luck really cost this team in 2021.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1, +100000) LW: No. 20
Big Ben's final home game was a success, as the Steelers stayed alive in the AFC playoff race. Mike Tomlin's ability to get something out of some really suspect talent should be commended year in and year out.
18. New Orleans Saints (8-8, +10000) LW: No. 18
The Saints were able to squeak by the Panthers to give themselves a shot at a playoff spot in Week 18. There's a chance we see a Saints-Bucs rematch in the first round of the postseason.
19. Miami Dolphins (8-8, N/A) LW: No. 16
The Dolphins' seven-game winning streak was snapped when they finally played a tough opponent in Week 17. The loss to the Titans also ended their playoff hopes. The 1-7 start was just too much to overcome.
20. Cleveland Browns (7-9, N/A) LW: No. 19
The Browns season was over before Week 17 started, but a loss to the Steelers was the final nail in the coffin. Baker Mayfield may be on his way out after a poor showing in 2021.
21. Atlanta Falcons (7-9, N/A) LW: No. 23
The Falcons hung tough with the Bills before getting outclassed in the second half. This is a win of a season for Arthur Smith, as his team competed all season despite being tabbed as one of the worst teams in the league prior to the season.
22. Minnesota Vikings (7-9, N/A) LW: No. 21
Sean Mannion wasn't able to get things done on Monday Night Football, and Mike Zimmer's squad will be under .500 again this season. He and Kirk Cousins could be out the door in 2022.
23. Denver Broncos (7-9, N/A) LW: No. 22
Drew Lock is bad, and so were the Broncos in Week 17. Denver officially was eliminated from the playoffs with a blowout loss to the Chargers, and it should be the end of the Vic Fangio era with another under .500 season.
24. Washington Football Team (6-10, N/A) LW: No. 24
Washington squandered an early lead against the Eagles to lose its 10th game of the season. Until Ron Rivera's squad gets a quarterback, I'm not sure that this team can compete with the Cowboys and Eagles.
25. Seattle Seahawks (6-10, N/A) LW: No. 26
The Seattle offense looked explosive as ever against the Lions with DK Metcalf catching three scores and Rashaad Penny running for two more. Russell Wilson looks healthy, but will he be in Seattle in 2022?
26. Chicago Bears (6-10, N/A) LW: No. 25
The Bears have won back-to-back games, but they did it without Justin Fields. That feels like a little bit of a loss in my books. Hopefully Fields is all that Chicago thought he is and will turn things around for them in 2022.
27. Carolina Panthers (5-11, N/A) LW: No. 27
Sam Darnold didn't rejuvenate the Panthers offense as they lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. Matt Rhule may be on the hot seat after the Panthers have lost 11 of their last 13 games since starting 3-0.
28. Houston Texans (4-12, +N/A) LW: No. 28
The Texans looked to be in control against the 49ers in Week 17, but their offense stalled out before blowing the lead in the second half. To make matters worse, Houston failed to cover the opening number of 14.5 despite leading 7-0 early.
29. New York Jets (4-12, N/A) LW: No. 29
The Jets put up a fight against the Buccaneers in Week 17, but Tom Brady erased a 24-10 deficit to pull out the win. Zach Wilson has looked solid the past few weeks, which is all you can ask for as a Jets fan.
30. New York Giants (4-12, N/A) LW: No. 30
The Giants were blown out by the Bears, and Joe Judge continues to make foolish statements to the media. Since Judge's job was deemed safe for next season, the Giants have lost every game by at least two scores.
31. Detroit Lions (2-13-1, N/A) LW: No. 31
The Lions and Tim Boyle couldn't keep up with a dominant offensive performance by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. The Lions play hard every week, but they simply didn't have enough talent to win gam
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14, N/A) LW: No. 32
The Jaguars gave up a 50 spot to the Patriots, but Trevor Lawrence finally threw a touchdown pass. Small wins, right? This team is going to need a serious makeover in the offseason.