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As we head into Week 18 of the NFL season, we examine all 32 teams in our latest NFL Power Rankings. Who rose and who fell in the rankings following Week 17?
As we head into the final week of the NFL regular season, most teams know where they stand. Whether that be already looking forward to 2025 or preparing for the rigors of the NFL Playoffs, only a handful of squads are currently on the postseason bubble.
Teams like the Bengals, Broncos, Dolphins, and Falcons will be sweating this out in Week 18, while a monumental Sunday night clash between the Lions and Vikings will determine the NFC's No. 1 seed.
This article examines all 32 teams in our latest NFL Power Rankings. Where does your favorite team land on our list?
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
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32. New York Giants (3-13)
Giants fans were treated to their first home win of the season, but at what cost? Drew Lock led an offensive explosion to move New York out of the top spot in April’s draft. Finding the next franchise quarterback may have gotten a bit more difficult.
99% of Giants fans feel exactly how Micheal Strahan put it.
True or False? pic.twitter.com/gxypxSfJ52
— New York Revival (@NewYorkRevival) December 30, 2024
31. Tennessee Titans (3-13)
The Titans currently hold the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will it be Shedeur Sanders? Will they fall in love with Cam Ward? One thing is certain: Will Levis will not be Tennessee’s starter next season.
30. New England Patriots (3-13)
With one more loss, the New England Patriots will be on the clock. Drake Maye is the franchise quarterback. The offensive line and defense need improvements. The front office will have interesting decisions to ponder until April.
29. Cleveland Browns (3-13)
The Browns and Deshaun Watson restructured his contract this week. Myles Garrett publicly noted he wants out unless there’s a clear, winning plan. Things are just as bad off the field as they are on it.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
A win Sunday over the Tennessee Titans won’t be enough to save Doug Pederson’s job. Even worse, they gifted division-rival Tennessee a better draft pick and a chance to find a franchise quarterback.
27. New York Jets (4-12)
The Jets were better with Zach Wilson than with Aaron Rodgers. Garrett Wilson reportedly wants out if Rodgers returns to the team, as Rodgers and Davante Adams work on their own legacy instead of helping the team win.
26. Chicago Bears (4-12)
Get Caleb Williams a competent coaching staff and an offensive line that can keep him upright. Those should be the off-season goals for general manager Ryan Poles.
Me at the start of the Bears season vs. me at the end of the Bears season pic.twitter.com/B9lRjgf38N
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) December 30, 2024
25. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
Give the Saints a little credit. Most teams wouldn’t compile five wins with all of the injuries New Orleans has endured. Spencer Rattler is doing his best with the depleted skill positions around him.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Back-to-back wins (over fellow bottom-dwellers) came at the best time for head coach Antonio Pierce but the worst time for the franchise’s future. The Raiders currently sit eighth in April’s draft order while desperately needing a franchise quarterback.
23. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
Bryce Young has earned another year as Carolina’s starting quarterback. The front office has to field an improved defense, or it won’t matter how Young develops.
22. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
With their season on the line, the Colts allowed the New York Giants, who averaged the fewest points entering Week 17, to score 45. There aren’t many more embarrassing ways to lose out on the postseason.
21. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
While the 49ers competed hard on Monday night against the Lions, the focus has been on the offseason. Brock Purdy is eligible for an extension, and a big contract will have ripple effects across the roster.
20. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Sunday’s blowout loss to Philadelphia aside, the Cowboys played well enough down the stretch to warrant a new contract for Mike McCarthy. There are still a lot of holes on the roster for Jerry Jones to fill.
Micah Parsons said “if you take away the scoreboard the game would have been close” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/l7iMvSYLOV
— YouTuber: Eagle AL (@kb_973) December 30, 2024
19. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Arizona’s offseason should be devoted to getting Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. on the same page. With Trey McBride and James Conner manning the other skill positions, the offense can be elite.
18. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Michael Penix Jr. made some clutch throws to force overtime against Washington. It wasn’t quite enough. The Falcons are average on offense and defense and now need a win and help to make the playoffs.
17. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Seattle will not make the postseason, mathematically eliminated leading into a Week 18 matchup with the Rams. Now, the front office must decide how long the team sticks with Geno Smith as the starting quarterback.
16. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Tyler Huntley did enough to keep Miami’s postseason chances intact. A win and Denver loss would put the Dolphins in a Wild Card spot. Responsibility may fall on Huntley again with Tua Tagovailoa injured.
15. Houston Texans (9-7)
The Texans are locked into the AFC’s fourth seed as winners of the AFC South. But after two straight losses to playoff teams (Kansas City and Baltimore), head coach DeMeco Ryans is choosing to play his starters in Week 18, probably in an effort to get back on track.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
An MVP-worthy performance from Joe Burrow kept Cincinnati’s season alive (despite some questionable choices by head coach Zac Taylor). Still, they must beat Pittsburgh and see Denver and Miami lose on Sunday.
The #Bengals win their 4th straight game, and they are somehow still alive going into the final week of the season!
Here is what Cincinnati needs to have happen to pull off arguably the most improbable run to the postseason in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/knptYquGSn
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) December 29, 2024
13. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Broncos have lost two in a row on the road, failing to clinch a playoff spot on both occasions. A third try could be easier. They’ll host the Kansas City Chiefs, who have nothing to play for and should rest starters.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Tampa Bay is back in the driver’s seat to claim the NFC South. Baker Mayfield is to thank. Cast aside three times, Mayfield is one of the league’s best passers and tossed five touchdowns against one of his former teams.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
The Steelers limped through the toughest part of their schedule. With double-digit losses to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Kansas City, aspirations of an AFC North title are on life support. They’ll know if they have a chance by the time they kick off on Saturday.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Gone are the days of the Chargers painfully losing and missing the postseason. Jim Harbaugh ensured his team got the wins needed to clinch their spot. Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey dominated en route to a 33-point win over New England.
9. Washington Commanders (11-5)
Jayden Daniels engineered a second straight double-digit comeback to secure Washington’s playoff spot. He’s playing the best football of his debut season and has all but secured the Rookie of the Year trophy.
.@JayD__5 made history while clinching a playoff berth for the Washington @Commanders on Sunday!
Daniels is the ONLY rookie in @NFL history to have 3+ passing TDs and 125+ rushing yards in a single game. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TdLlSTkHrG
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 31, 2024
8. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
The Los Angeles defense improves every game. With an already high-powered offense, the Rams are one of the most dangerous NFC teams. The division is locked up thanks to a strength of victory tiebreaker.
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Green Bay’s title chances hinge on the defense and running game. Things can get ugly when they must depend on Jordan Love and the up-and-down wide receiver corps (like what happened on Sunday).
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Lamar Jackson is playing better than in the two seasons he won MVP. Now, the defense is playing its best football of the season. With a win (or Pittsburgh loss), the Ravens clinch the AFC North and the third seed.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
No Jalen Hurts, no Kenny Pickett, no problem. Saquon Barkley took over the game, eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards, and Philadelphia became the first back-to-back NFC East champion since 2004.
4. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Underestimated again, the Vikings were home underdogs and dismantled the Packers for three-and-a-half quarters. A late push by Green Bay made the score closer than it looked. Minnesota will play for the top spot in the NFC in Detroit next weekend.
Game 272.@Vikings vs. @Lions for the NFC North and the No. 1 seed.
Sunday Night Football. pic.twitter.com/DC8urE2Y0r
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024
3. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
Mission accomplished. The path to a three-peat runs through Kansas City after the Chiefs clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Kansas City’s 19-point win over Pittsburgh was their largest margin of victory this season.
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Buffalo compiled an undefeated record at home. It may be enough to help elevate Josh Allen to MVP status, but it wasn’t enough to win the top spot in the AFC. The Bills are locked in as the second seed, regardless of the outcome against New England in the regular season finale.
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
Despite the San Francisco game meaning nothing, Detroit played their starters until the final whistle. They picked up a win and emerged without any major injuries. With an undefeated road record, the Lions return home to try and clinch the top seed in the NFC.
For the first time in franchise history, the @Lions have gone undefeated on the road during a season.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/tPK00VcmSP
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 31, 2024
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