NFL Power Rankings Week 18: Patrick Mahomes moves Chiefs on top, Lions, Vikings and Eagles lead in NFC and Bears keep slipping
The NFL’s playoff bracket is nearly filled out. We’ve got some seeding issues and the NFC South to sort out, but we’ve got a good idea of who will represent their conferences in the postseason. It’s a loaded and talented field, but that doesn’t mean that group wants the Cincinnati Bengals in the crew.
Joe Burrow is playing lights out, and while they need to win and get some help to rise up from a terrible to start to their season, but they’re still alive after that crazy win over the Denver Broncos.
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We’re also getting tons of NFC North representation, with everyone save the Bears continuing to play. There’s a huge game between the two-loss Lions and Vikings, and the swing is massive. Those teams will either get the No. 1 seed, plus the homefield advantage and first-round bye that comes with it, or a drop to the No. 5 slot where the road becomes common. That’ll be a huge one, as will games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. The Bucs win and they’re in.
The Bears, however, continued their free fall after a 10th straight loss to the Seahawks.
Let’s take a look at how the league shakes as compared to last time in these Week 18 NFL power rankings:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1): Pat Mahomes did all that on a busted ankle. Super human.
2. Detroit Lions (14-2): Even in a game that didn’t mean a thing, the Lions still ball out. Oh, and Ben Johnson might be a genius.
3. Minnesota Vikings (14-2): The Vikings can’t let Sam Darnold go.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): Kenny Pickett played awesome with broken ribs? Great showing from a backup QB.
5. Buffalo Bills (13-3): How does Josh Allen never take a sack? Staying out of negative plays is as important as his highlight reel.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): How does Derrick Henry keep doing it? He’s a marvel.
7. Washington Commanders (11-5): Tell me Dan Quinn didn’t love locking up a playoff spot against the team that fired him.
8. Green Bay Packers (11-5): Simply put: Jordan Love has to be better.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): Jim Harbaugh is a culture builder. And he works fast.
10. Los Angeles Rams (10-6): This might be Sean McVay’s finest coaching job yet.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): Russell Wilson playing a big role in recent losses. Gotta tighten up.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): Bucs win and they’re in. Tough to imagine Baker letting a golden opportunity slip away.
13. Denver Broncos (9-7): Bo Nix is a very good quarterback. Broncos lose a tough one to Cincy, but playoff hopes are still alive. Can they lock up a spot in the bracket?
14. Atlanta Falcons (8-8): Raheem Morris left a tough loss to Washington game management in question. Bears fans know all-to-well that shouldn’t happen.
15. Houston Texans (9-7): Texans might be the worst playoff-bound team, maybe worse than some that get left out.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8): Tee Higgins is gonna get PAID.
17. Seattle Seahawks (9-7): That Seahawks defense is tough. That team still has too many holes. After watching them live, it’s no shock they’ll be on the outside looking in.
18. Miami Dolphins (8-8): Tyler Huntley comes through huge. Dolphins are somehow still in it.
19. San Francisco 49ers (6-10): Deebo Samuel just ain’t the same dude.
20. Dallas Cowboys (7-9): The Cowboys are shutting it down early. Nightmare season full of disappointment.
21. Arizona Cardinals (7-9): I’m just gonna say it. Kyler Murray is just a guy. Fast as heck with flash moments, but not a QB to lead a perennial playoff contender.
22. New Orleans Saints (5-11): No Derek Carr. No Alvin Kamara. No chance.
23. Indianapolis Colts (7-9): How the Colts have now been eliminated from playoff contention. Something that should’ve happened a while ago. They are not good.
24. Carolina Panthers (4-11): Chuba Hubbard getting placed injured reserve showed how valuable he is to Carolina.
25. Chicago Bears (4-12): The Bears are one game away from a full-scale overhaul of their coaching staff. Gotta get it right this time.
26. New York Jets (4-12): Aaron Rodgers looks awful these days. Time for the Jets to move on.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12): Build the franchise around Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby. Those dudes can ball.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12): Trent Baakle’s gotta go.
29. New York Giants (3-13): The Giants need the No. 1 overall pick. So bad. Gotta get the best QB available.
30. Cleveland Browns (3-13): It’s clear that the Browns are counting the seconds til they can cut Deshaun Watson, but there are so many seconds remaining.
31. Tennessee Titans (3-13): Brian Callahan is expected back in 2025, as he should be. It’s the talent level, not the coaching that has sacked the Titans season.
32. New England Patriots (3-13): The Pats have a line towards the No. 1 overall pick, which they don’t need with Drake Maye in the fold. Still, though, trade it for a ton to a team desperate for a QB.