NFL Power Rankings - Week 18: Eagles in freefall, Packers surging
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Ryan Kang / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 1
Lamar Jackson is the NFL's MVP, and the Ravens might have the league's best defense on the other side of the ball. Look no further for your clear-cut Super Bowl favorites.
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)Previous Rank: 2
The 49ers are separating themselves from the rest of the NFC more with every passing week. Is this finally the year they avoid any playoff setbacks?
3. Buffalo Bills (10-6)Previous Rank: 3
The Bills somehow still haven't clinched a playoff spot. The rest of the AFC is probably hoping for some Week 18 chaos that keeps them out, because nobody wants to meet this team in the postseason.
4. Miami Dolphins (11-5)Previous Rank: 4
Injuries are starting to pile up for the Dolphins. This team can light up the scoreboard like few others, but the pass rush losing both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb will be tough to overcome.
5. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5
The Cowboys are now in the driver's seat for the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed. That means they'll have an opportunity for at least two games in Dallas, where they're a perfect 8-0 on the year.
6. Detroit Lions (11-5)Previous Rank: 7
Detroit would be the No. 2 seed in the NFC were it not for an officiating blunder on Saturday night in Dallas. But even being in a position to knock off the Cowboys at home should be taken as a sign that this team can hang with the big dogs.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)Previous Rank: 8
Scoring remains a real problem for Kansas City, but the defense is better than ever. If this team is going to go on another run, it'll look a lot different than it did in years past.
8. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)Previous Rank: 9
The Rams are another team that nobody wants to stare down right now. Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best ball of his career, and L.A. is getting major contributions from an incredible rookie class.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)Previous Rank: 6
The Eagles hit a new low with this week's loss to the Cardinals. While you can never count out a team with this much talent, the defensive issues aren't magically going to fix themselves. The coaching staff needs to figure things out soon.
10. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 10
Joe Flacco continues to amaze. The veteran quarterback has been exactly what the Browns needed to keep their season alive and give a supremely talented roster a chance to make a run.
11. Houston Texans (9-7)Previous Rank: 13
The Texans are right back in the mix after C.J. Stroud came back from a concussion. The rookie sensation picked up where left off in this week's win, giving Houston a chance to earn a playoff spot in Week 18.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)Previous Rank: 16
A meeting with the Panthers was exactly what the Jaguars needed to end their losing streak. Can the shutout win, along with Trevor Lawrence's potential return, finally get this team back on track?
13. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)Previous Rank: 17
The Colts simply refuse to go away. Shane Steichen deserves Coach of the Year consideration for giving Indy a shot at the playoffs with Gardner Minshew at quarterback.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)Previous Rank: 12
Losing to the Saints was a major setback, but a Week 18 win over the Panthers is all the Bucs need to lock up the NFC South title.
15. Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 21
Jordan Love is for real. The Packers can secure a wild-card spot with a win over the Bears, and they could be a sneaky tough out in the playoffs.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)Previous Rank: 18
It seems unlikely that the Steelers will finally enjoy some playoff success, but the consistency of this organization remains remarkable. Mike Tomlin has now gone 17 straight seasons without a losing record.
17. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)Previous Rank: 11
The Seahawks need help to get into the playoffs, and they have nobody to blame other than themselves. Giving up 30 points to the Steelers in a big spot at home is as disappointing as it gets.
18. New Orleans Saints (8-8)Previous Rank: 24
A convincing win over the Bucs showed what the Saints could be when they're firing on all cylinders. Those performances have been few and far between, though, so New Orleans needs a lot to go right in Week 18 to get into the playoffs.
19. Denver Broncos (8-8)Previous Rank: 15
The Broncos have been eliminated from playoff contention and it turns out they'd been considering benching Russell Wilson long before the move was made this past week. Sean Payton's first season has been a roller coaster.
20. Chicago Bears (7-9)
Quinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 22
Don't look now, but the Bears are heading in the right direction with wins in five of their last seven games. There may not be a coaching change in Chicago after all.
21. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)Previous Rank: 14
Falling to the Colts one week after beating the Chiefs to keep their season alive is a tough way to bow out of the playoff race. Finishing the year with a win might be important for Antonio Pierce's chances of getting the full-time coaching job in Las Vegas.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)Previous Rank: 19
Jake Browning has cooled off after a hot start as QB1, and the Bengals' playoff chances have disappeared as a result. Still, hanging around for this long without Joe Burrow should be considered a win.
23. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)Previous Rank: 20
Injuries have decimated the Vikings defense, and the offense can't stop cycling through quarterbacks. It's going to take some Week 18 madness for Minnesota to get into the playoffs.
24. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)Previous Rank: 23
A three-game stretch in which they lost to the Panthers, made easy work of the Colts, and got blown out by the Bears is the perfect way to sum up the Falcons' season. A lot of bad with some good mixed in.
25. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 28
The Cardinals have a long way to go, but they've been far more competitive than anyone could have expected. Beating the Eagles, Jonathan Gannon's former team, was a great moment for this young club.
26. New York Giants (5-11)Previous Rank: 26
The Giants getting better production from Tyrod Taylor than they did Daniel Jones tells you everything you need to know about their quarterback situation. Will they have the courage to admit the mistake with Jones' contract so soon?
27. Tennessee Titans (5-11)Previous Rank: 25
The Titans are in rough shape. After losses in seven of their last nine contests, it's never been more clear that this team needs a full rebuild.
28. New York Jets (6-10)Previous Rank: 27
We'll cut the Jets some slack here, as a healthy Aaron Rodgers clearly would have made this team more competitive. But this is the last year for excuses.
29. New England Patriots (4-12)Previous Rank: 30
Patriots fans have to be sweating their Week 18 matchup with the Jets. It presents a real opportunity for Bill Belichick to go out with an unnecessary win, potentially bumping New England out of position to draft a quarterback in the process.
30. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 29
Another lost season for the Chargers. Ownership needs to swing big in the upcoming head coach and general manager searches.
31. Washington Commanders (4-12)Previous Rank: 31
The Commanders are in position for the No. 2 pick and the right to draft one of this year's elite quarterback prospects. This season has been a slog, but that would be a major victory for a long-suffering franchise.
32. Carolina Panthers (2-14)Previous Rank: 32
The Panthers are the worst team in football - and they traded away the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Rebuilding this organization is going to be a long process. David Tepper can't afford to make another bad coaching hire.
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