NFL’s Power Rankings after Week 18: Lions top seed and top spot, Chiefs second, Vikings fall back

Week 18 kind of feels like the last week of school when you are a kid. The smart kids have checked out, the teachers are trying to keep order and those who slacked off all year are trying to do all they can to make sure they stay on course for next year. The Lions topped the Vikings in what was an underwhelming game of the year. The Bucs secured the NFC South while Mike Evans cashed in but not as much as Geno Smith who missed out on the playoffs but is $6 million richer than he was in Week 17. Now that the season is over it’s time to start thinking about the playoffs, but not before we give you our end of season Power Rankings.

1) Detroit Lions 15-2, last week 3

Just when we think we had the Lions figured out and their long list of injuries were going to hurt them in the most important time of the season, they come out and show us just how impactful great game planning and incredible coaching is. The defense had Sam Darnold on alert all night, and when they weren’t sacking or pressuring him they were moving him out of the pocket and keeping Justin Jefferson almost anonymous all game. On the other end, Jahmyr Gibbs put up one, two, three, four TDs having the best game of his life in the biggest game of his life. There are no words. Just actions from the Lions. So I’m following suit. Boom. Lions. Top team in the league after Week 18.

2) Kansas City Chiefs 15-2, last week 1

The Chiefs didn’t drop from the one spot because of their loss to the Broncos. In fact the Chiefs didn’t drop because of anything that they did at all. It’s got more to do with the Lions than it does with the Chiefs. I’m not even going to comment on the game in Denver on Sunday, because that wasn’t the Chiefs team that we have seen all year. I will however comment on Andy Reid’s decision to rest his starters for what will be more than a two week break. Mahomes and the starters last played on Christmas, and their next game will be on the 18th of January at the earliest. I’m not one to question Andy Reid and his incredible resume as the Chiefs coach, but I’m also not one to over look the rest vs. rust argument that seems to be tilting overwhelmingly in favor of rust. Regardless, the three peat is still on, and the Chiefs are in prime position to make another run at at the Lombardi trophy. Only a fool would bet against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, with home field advantage.

3) Philadelphia Eagles 14-3, last week 2

The Eagles had the luxury of enjoying their “BYE” week in their final game of the season knowing they already had the two seed wrapped up in the NFC. Nick Sirriani was awfully secretive about the status of Jalen Hurts before and after the game, but the Philly QB will most likely be ready for the showdown against the Packers. That means that he will be rested and refreshed, along with Saquon Barkley and the rest of the starters who sat back and watched the the back ups beat the Giants. The Eagles have been cruising along under the radar while the Vikings and Lions have been battling for the one seed, but I think that the Eagles are the most complete team in the NFC heading into the playoffs.

4) Buffalo Bills 13-4, last week 5

Josh Allen got the start, played one snap and kept his start streak going. They lost, but who cares? It didn’t mean anything as they already had the two seed locked up meanwhile, Allen and company got some much needed rest. This is still the team the Chiefs should most fear in the AFC, and with a week off before kicking into postseason mode, they should be ready for next week’s game against the Broncos and beyond.

5) Baltimore Ravens 12-5, last week 6

The one thing that we haven’t really been talking about over the last few weeks during the Ravens’ streak of blowout wins is how healthy they were considering the stage of the season we are at. The unspoken good fortune suddenly changed on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore when two of the Ravens’ WRs went down with injury, one a bit more serious than the other. Rachod Bateman got hit hard on a pass over the middle, but he’s going to be okay. The worries surround Zay Flowers who got tackled and immediately clutched his knee. He is set to miss at least the first round, and Lamar Jackson’s favorite target being sidelined might slow this Ravens pass game down more than a bit. Let’s get one thing clear, Jackson and Derrick Henry are the stars of the show, but Flowers is as important as anyone outside of those two.

6) Minnesota Vikings 14-3, last week 4

This is what worried me, and I’m sure everyone in Minnesota. Despite the glitzy record and the nine game win streak the Vikes were on before Week 18, there was always that shadow of doubt surrounding Sam Darnold. He’s never been in a big game before and in the first truly big game he looked rattled. It’s not all his fault. He was under constant pressure all night long as the Lions hit him with blitz after blitz, but even when he had time and receivers open, he was over throwing his receivers and that’s a sign of a QB that is letting his emotions, and the moment get the best of him. I bought in on the Vikes a little too early, and now I’m jumping ship. This three loss team now has a serious chance of being knocked out of the Wild Card round by a team that has already beaten them this year.

7) Los Angeles Rams 10-7, last week 8

Sean McVay decided that giving his guys some rest heading into the playoffs was more important than trying to get the three seed and avoid the four seed (which ended up being Minnesota) in the first round. They already beat the Vikings once this year, so I like the move especially considering the Rams are 8-2 (not including Week 18) since the return of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in Week 8 which just so happened to be that game against the Minnesota Vikings. The eyes of the nation were on that Sunday Night Football game between DET and MIN, but no one was paying more attention than McVay and the Rams who had the blueprint on how to beat the Vikes laid out for them by the Lions in Detroit.

8) Green Bay Packers 11-6, last week 7

It didn’t really look like Matt LaFleur had a concrete plan of what he wanted to do in Week 18 and how he wanted to manage his starters. Jordan Love injured his elbow and that was it for him, until it wasn’t. As soon as they had a chance to win and the Commanders were trailing, Love started to warm up to potentially return to the game to make a late comeback bid. In the end he stayed on the bench, the Commanders won and the Packers head into the playoffs with the 7 seed which means they will have a rematch of their Week 1 showdown with the Eagles in Philly next week.

9) Washington Commanders 12-5, last week 9

Dan Quinn played his starters but you wouldn’t have known it by the way they played in the first couple quarters. There wasn’t a whole lot to play for, but it looked like they were just going through the motions. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially considering they won and avoided the Eagles, and they got their guys a little bit of run while keeping them healthy for next week. Marcus Mariotta came in and led them to victory and now they can turn their attention to their game in Tampa Bay against the Bucs.

10) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7, last week 10

It’s hard to imagine the Bucs coming out as flat as they did after battling so hard to put themselves in position to win the division. There were some nervy moments all the way into the fourth quarter, but when it mattered most Baker and the Bucs offense showed up and wrapped up the NFC South with a spectacular catch from Jalen McMillan just moments after he was called for a taunting penalty that put the Bucs playoff chances in jeopardy. The moment of Week 18 was Mike Evans getting his 1,000 yards and his $3 million bonus on the last play of the regular season as his teammates swarmed him to celebrate his big pay day. That’s a team that’s together. That’s a coach that cares about his guys. And it’s a group of guys that is clicking at the right moment, and everyone else in the NFC should be worried about seeing them in the playoffs.

11) Los Angeles Chargers 11-6, last week 12

Maybe the formula was right all along. Maybe Jim Harbaugh was letting his defense carry the way because he knew the offense would turn on when he needed them to, and that’s exactly what they have done. They are averaging 36 points a game in their last three games and Justin Herbert has passed for 280 yards or more in each of those games. Wherever Jim Harbaugh goes, he wins, and he is doing the same thing with the Chargers but just getting to the playoffs isn’t going to be enough for this team. They want to make a run and after getting the five seed they are going to have a chance against the Houston Texans which is the team that everyone wanted to draw in the first round.

12) Cincinnati Bengals 9-8, last week 13

The Bengals finished the regular season with a five game win streak and wouldn’t you know it? It was the defense that closed the door at the end of their game with the Steelers. It’s too bad they couldn’t step up and win a game or two before because this team would have been scary in the playoffs and I think the Chiefs knew that. They had no problem letting the Broncos beat them and get into the playoffs to make sure they didn’t potentially meet Burrow and the Bengals on their path to a three peat.

13) Denver Broncos 10-7, last week 14

Are we taking the Broncos demolition of the Chiefs with a grain of salt considering KC didn’t play any of their starters in the final week of the season? Hell no. Let’s call it as we see it. Bo Nix is a rookie quarterback who was playing the two time defending champions in Week 18, needing a win to get into the playoffs. So what did he do? He put up a passer rating of 152.4, which is somehow not perfect even though he went 26/29 for 321 yards and 4 TDs. Shame on whoever is responsible for assigning ratings, but my eyes told me what the ratings couldn’t. This dude was perfect in a game his team needed him to step up, and the defense locked down the second stringers of the Chiefs pitching just the second shutout of the season. This is a scary 7 seed, and if I’m the Bills I would have much rather seen the Steelers or Chargers coming to town next week.

14) Atlanta Falcons 8-9, last week 16

The pain of not making the playoffs might sting now, but the feeling the Falcons fans should be waking up with today should be one of hope and aspiration for the future. It didn’t work out this week, but winning the Super Bowl with Kirk Cousins was always going to be a shot in the dark because he fades as the season goes on, and he showed the again this year. It took a little too long to pull the trigger on Michael Penix as the starter and that cost them a spot in the playoffs, but Penix is the real deal, and you could see that at the end of each half. He led ATL to a late second quarter TD to take the lead heading into the break and a game tying drive with under four minutes to go. Sure they fell short, but this is the step back before they take two steps forward in the years to come.

15) Houston Texans 10-7, last week 18

After a disastrous last few weeks where it looked like the Texans had hung it up, they got a chance to smooth out some of the rough edges against the Titans before heading into the playoffs. CJ Stroud and the starters played just a series but that was enough to get a brief tune up and dust off some of those cob webs that have been blanketing them over the last few games. This is the team that the Wild Cards were hoping to play, but I have a feeling they will be a different looking side once the playoffs come rolling around.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7, last week 11

We talked about the end of the season gauntlet of a schedule defining this team, and right now Steelers fans should be slamming their dictionaries shut. The same old problem that has plagued this team for years and years is back at the forefront of the Steelers four game losing streak. They have not only lost the AFC North, but they will be traveling in the first round of the playoffs, and this isn’t a team that looks like they are ready to win a playoff game on the road, no matter how good their defense can be. This coming week is going to be a make or break week for Russell Wilson, and for Mike Tomlin who is looking to win his first playoff game since the 2016 season. This isn’t the kind of losing skid you want heading into the playoffs, and if the Steelers are dealt an early exit, it’s going to leave a terrible taste in the mouth of fans for the entirety of the offseason.

17) Seattle Seahawks 10-7, last week 17

Seattle knew they weren’t getting into the playoffs, but they came out and showed out for their quarterback. The Bucs, Broncos and the Lions were the big winners in the NFL on the final weekend of the regular season, but individually no one came out on top more than Geno Smith who is going to have quite the offseason after racking up $6 million in incentives in the final game of the season. Seattle needed to get to 10 wins, he needed to throw for 185 yards and keep his completion percentage over 69.755% for the season to get each of his three bonuses worth $2 million each. Seattle won 30-25 after the defense came up with a 4th down stop inside of their 10 yard line. Smith went 20/27 ending the season with a 70.4% completion percentage and he threw for 223 yards surpassing his 4,282 yards mark to check off all the boxes and rack in the full $6 million on a very lucrative season finale.

18) Miami Dolphins 8-9, last week 15

I’m sure the Jets stadium staff didn’t refrain from posting the Broncos score early and often around Metlife Stadium playing a bit of a mind game with the Dolphins who needed a win, and needed the Broncos to lose against KC. Even before the game in the Mile High City was out of reach the Dolphins looked flat, and they looked defeated against a Jets team that seemed like they had more to play for on the final week of the season. So what’s next for the Dolphins? Mike McDaniels is sticking around according to the Miami owner Steven Ross, but Tyreek Hill seems like he’s got a foot and a half out the door in South Beach. This team has the tools even if Hill leaves, but they have to find some huevos in the offseason, because without a set of huevos they will never win a big game.

19) Indianapolis Colts 8-9, last week 20

The last thing the Colts wanted after blowing their playoff chances last week was an overtime game, but that’s what they got against he Jags in a game that didn’t matter to anyone but at least there was a sense of pride shown that was missing last week in the Meadowlands. That could be the last time we see Joe Flacco, I know it’s not the first time we’ve said that, but if it is, you have to tip your cap to the 39 year old who had a hell of a career. The Colts however shouldn’t be as excited about their next chapter, there is still a lot of work to do in the off-season to make this team a real contender in the AFC.

20) Carolina Panthers 5-12, last week 22

Was it the last day we see Bryce Young in a Carolina Panthers jersey? Maybe, probably not. The second year QB and the Panthers have come a long way since he was benched and brushed aside by the team, but Dave Canales made a declaration of faith after the game tying “we’ve got our guy.” That is going to give those in the front office plenty to think about in the offseason and if we know anything about them, that’s what they do worst.

21) Arizona Cardinals 8-9, last week 24

The Cardinals didn’t make the playoffs and they had a late season implosion that cost them their spot at the top of the NFC West after losing five of six following their BYE week, but I think there is more to be excited about than disappointed about following the season. The Niners weren’t supposed to stink this year, so they had a chance at a division that no one expected them to compete for, and they were in it until the very end. There is a good core in the desert, and Johnathan Gannon looks like he has this squad going in the right direction as long as he can break the team out of some of the bad habits they have developed over the last few years.

22) Dallas Cowboys 7-10, last week 19

Trey Lance got his first start in Dallas on the final week of the season, but they made sure to not give him enough time to build any momentum. It’s all in the name of protecting Dak, whether that is in the best interest of the franchise or not. In any case, it was another loss at home to close out a terrible season at AT&T Stadium. Cowboys fans watched their team win just twice in Dallas and that isn’t going to cut it in Big D. Jerry Jones said he’s sticking with Mike McCarthy, but its going to be an interesting couple of days as the chopping block in the NFL is officially open.

23) New York Jets 5-12, last week 27

I’ve been pretty rough on Aaron Rodgers this year, but now that his career might be coming to a close, or at least his era in New York might be at an end, it’s time to get real. We are talking about one of the best QBs to ever step on a football field. He’s a four time MVP, a Super Bowl champ and one of five QBs to throw for 500+ TDs. He is a living legend and we should bow down in the presence of greatness. If it is indeed the end for Rodgers throwing four TDs in a winning effort is a fitting final game for one of the most enigmatic, charismatic QBs the game has ever seen.

24) New Orleans Saints 5-12, last week 23

No injuries or playoff elimination can erase the hate that the Saints have for the Bucs. Since they were eliminated from playoff contention ages ago, you knew they had this game circled, and the fact that it mattered for Tampa made the motivation even bigger. They gave it their all as the defense kept Baker Mayfield and company under check for three and a half quarters, but in the end the Saints weren’t able to close out the game and finally they can close the book on a season that seemed cursed from the start.

25) San Francisco 49ers 6-11, last week 21

The nightmare is over, but one question is looming around the Bay following this disastrous season: has the Super Bowl window closed in San Francisco? The Niners are either going to have to pay Brock Purdy or let him go, and either way that’s going to be costly. If they pay him there will be departures in the offseason. If they let him walk, then the Niners will have to look for someone to run their offense in the years to come, and that’s not an easy thing to do even though Kyle Shanahan seems to make it work with just about everyone he puts under center. It’s going to be an awfully interesting saga playing out in San Fran this offseason.

26) Las Vegas Raiders 4-13, last week 25

The win streak was short lived in Las Vegas, but it was a nice end to the season for Antonio Pierce who saw a big improvement from a team that had no shot to compete in the AFC West. If this franchise want to have any sort of shot at stability they will keep Antonio Pierce on board and give him an actual shot at winning by putting together a competent team, and that starts at the quarterback position and trickles all the way dow the roster. Unfortunately their two game win streak took them out of the No. 1 pick sweepstakes, but they have the 6th pick and hopefully they can make the right decision with that pick and bring in some talent in free agency this offseason. It’s going to be a long rebuilding process, but you have to start somewhere and it looks like Pierce is already starting to turn things around in Vegas.

27) Jacksonville Jaguars 4-13, last week 26

The best thing to happen to the Jags on Sunday was the season ending. The best thing to happen to the Jags this season was Brian Thomas Jr. emerging as one of the next superstars at the wide receiver position. He had another 100 yard game, and finished his rookie year with 1,179 yards. Now if they can just get the rest of the team to follow suit, this team might have a chance to be competitive.

28) New England Patriots 4-13, last week 29

New England didn’t need the one pick because they have their QB of the future and a QB will probably be taken with the 1 and 2 pick. So that gave them the green light to try and win the game, but they did so giving Joe Milton the nod under center. He was fantastic in his first start in the NFL, going 22/29 for 241 and leading his team to the win, but that wasn’t enough to save his coaches job. The first coach to hit the unemployed line was Jerod Mayo who was canned less than an hour after the end of the season. Curious decision by a franchise and an owner that had their previous coach for over two decades.

29) Chicago Bears 5-12, last week 31

One last chance to get a win and send off the season with a rare ray of sunshine and Caleb Williams delivered on the final drive of the year. The best part about the win was they did it in a place and against a team that has dominated them for the better part of a decade. They snap the 11 game losing streak to the Packers, and that will make Bears fans happier than any of the wins they amassed in the early part of the season. It wasn’t a great, or even good season in Chicago, but this win should give them something to hang their hats on heading into the offseason.

30) Cleveland Browns 3-14, last week 28

The season is over and the QB carrousel has come to an end, at least for this year. Watson is restructuring his contact, but it doesn’t seem like Browns fans are interested in him being their QB1. There is a whole lot to figure out in the offseason if they Browns want to turn things around and finally start to build a winning culture in Cleveland. One playoff appearance in between lengthy spells of losing seasons has become the norm in Cleveland, and there has to be a way out, but who will be the one to save them from that cycle?

31) New York Giants 3-14, last week 30

As was the case for the Giants all season, they just didn’t show up in their Week 18 game against the Eagles. You would have thought that a chance to beat their bitter rivals would have got the juices flowing a little bit, but there was no juice on display in Philly. It’s been way too long of a season for the Giants this year, and it’s time to put this campaign in the rear view and never look back.

32) Tennessee Titans 3-14, last week 32

Job done. Other than the Lions the Titans were the big winners in Week 18. It took the entire season, but they finally came out on top and they did it in a losing effort. The Titans got the number one pick and all signs point to Shaduer Sanders being taken as the first overall selection in this spring’s NFL Draft. It was a season to forget, but Titans fans should be excited about what is to come. Like they say in the Batman movie, the night is darkest before dawn, we shall see if Sanders will bring some sunlight back to a franchise that has had a tough couple of seasons.