We wouldn’t have it any other way for Week 18: Two more division crowns are up for grabs. Three wild card berths still need to be determined.
Every game carries some importance. Most of them hold playoff implications, while others will determine the 2024 NFL draft order. Giddy up for a weird and wacky Week 18, folks.
So with that, let’s dive into our Week 18 edition of the 2023 NFL power rankings.
32. Carolina Panthers (32)
The Panthers clinched football’s worst record with Sunday’s humiliating 26-0 blowout loss against the Trevor Lawrence-less Jacksonville Jaguars. So with that, congrats to the Chicago Bears on locking down the first overall pick!
Amid another miserable year in Carolina, here’s where it gets fun: They can spoil the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playoff hopes next week with a win at home to close out the year.
31. Washington Commanders (31)
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What? Did you really think the Commanders would beat the NFC’s top seed? Of course you didn’t.
With Jacoby Brissett out, Ron Rivera had no choice but to start Sam Howell, who threw two interceptions in the 27-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The good news? One more Washington loss to Dallas next week clinches the No. 2 pick.
30. New England Patriots (29)
The Patriots put up quite the fight against the red-hot Buffalo Bills, but Bailey Zappe’s three interceptions doomed Bill Belichick’s squad in a 27-21 loss.
The good news? The loss keeps New England in top-three pick territory. They just need to somehow and some way lose to the New York Jets at home next week in what might be Bill Belichick’s final game with the Patriots…
29. Los Angeles Chargers (28)
As expected, the Justin Herbert-less Bolts didn’t put up much of a fight on offense in Sunday’s 16-9 road loss to the Broncos.
Honestly, that’s fine. This is an awfully flawed team that needs the highest pick possible. They have a top-10 selection locked up, but losing to Kansas City on Sunday pushes them closer to a potential franchise-changing top-five pick. Just saying.
28. Tennessee Titans (27)
The Titans were punchless in their 26-3 blowout loss to the Texans, dropping them to 5-11 on the year. The loss also clinches the Titans’ worst record since the 2015 group that went 3-13.
Like Chargers fans, the Titans’ faithful may as well cheer for a Week 18 loss and a higher draft pick.
27. New York Giants (26)
Mason Crosby’s missed 54-yarder at the end cost the Giants a chance to play spoiler against the playoff-hopeful Rams. Nonetheless, it was a spirited effort by a Giants team that had little business making it that close in the first play.
2023 will go down as a wasted season for Big Blue, yes. But keep in mind that four Giants losses thus far have been by a single possession. Not bad given all the injuries they’ve suffered.
Brian Daboll’s group has improved tremendously in the second half, and there’s a lot to like and build on for 2024.
26. New York Jets (25)
Their 37-20 blowout loss in Cleveland was just another reminder that Jets fans are sick of hearing: The season can’t end soon enough.
Without Aaron Rodgers — or a competent QB for that matter — the Jets aren’t going to win anything. On the bright side…a top-10 pick awaits Gang Green. Also, the Knicks and Rangers are doing pretty well huh?
25. Arizona Cardinals (30)
The glass is half empty side: The Cardinals might have cost themselves a top-three pick with their stunning road win over the Eagles.
The glass is half full side: Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray showed everybody what this team can do when all things are clicking. The Redbirds are now 3-4 since Murray’s return — highlighted of course by shocking road wins in Pittsburgh and now Philly.
The fact Gannon has squeezed out a minimum of four wins with this roster tells us two things: 1) Arizona got it right with this coaching hire and 2. Brighter days are ahead in The Desert.
24. Minnesota Vikings (23)
It’s not mathematically over, but the Vikings’ ugly home loss to Green Bay on primetime essentially put their playoff hopes to sleep. But how much can you blame a team that was using its fourth starting QB this season?
Minny has seven wins despite losing Kirk Cousins for the final nine games, and despite losing Justin Jefferson for seven. It’s a testament to Kevin O’Connell’s coaching and Brian Flores’ excellent work running the defense.
23. Atlanta Falcons (20)
Sunday’s road loss to Chicago clinched the Falcons’ sixth straight losing season.
Story of their season: The Falcons were held back by lackluster QB production in their 37-17 loss to the Bears. If Arthur Smith is to get another year as head coach, the Falcons oughta give him a competent QB to work with. Russell Wilson, anyone?
22. Las Vegas Raiders (18)
The Raiders’ 23-20 road loss to the Colts officially eliminated them from postseason contention. Bummer, because Aidan O’Connell had a tremendous outing with 299 yards passing, two touchdowns and no picks.
Vegas will now close out on Sunday against a rival Broncos squad that was also eliminated from playoff contention. The loser of that game is actually the real winner, with a higher draft pick and all…
21. Chicago Bears (24)
They left it too little too late, but the Bears sure look like a playoff-ready team for 2024. Sunday’s demolishing of the Falcons marked Chicago’s fourth victory in their last five contests — a remarkable turnaround after starting out 0-4.
In related news, the Panthers’ loss clinched the first overall pick for the Bears. But with Justin Fields playing his best football yet, Caleb Williams at first overall is no sure-thing. A fascinating offseason decision awaits the Bears. But first, they’ll try to spoil the Packers’ season when they visit the Cheeseheads on Sunday
20. Denver Broncos (21)
The biggest story in Mile High City wasn’t even the Broncos’ win over the Bolts, but rather the decision to bench Russell Wilson because of their issues with the injury guarantees in his contract.
That overshadowed what has been a stellar bounce-back season for Wilson, who awkwardly watched his team win a low-scoring affair from the sidelines. The Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention, yes, but a win on Sunday at least clinches the franchise’s first winning season since 2016…
19. Cincinnati Bengals (13)
The Joe Burrow-less Bengals put up a heroic effort against the defending champions. But at the end of the day, asking Jake Browning to beat Patrick Mahomes on his own turf in Week 17 was probably asking for too much.
Cincy’s loss to KC eliminated them from playoff contention. It’s obviously nothing to smile about, but we remain utterly impressed that they’re finishing no worse than 8-9 a
18. New Orleans Saints (22)
Derek Carr played hero for the Saints and led them to a rather surprising season-saving 23-13 road win over the Bucs.
Their slim NFC South division hopes are still alive, but the Saints can also win a wild card berth with a W over Atlanta and Seattle and Green Bay losses. Hey, at least they’re not going down fighting.
17. Green Bay Packers (19)
The Pack’s roller-coaster of a season continued with a blowout win over the Vikings on prime time to keep their playoff hopes alive. And now it’s simple: Beat the Bears at home, and the Packers are in the playoffs.
Green Bay, of course, failed in their win-or-go-home scenario against Detroit last year in what was Aaron Rodgers’ final game. How fitting would it be if Jordan Love did what Rodgers couldn’t in this same circumstance a year ago?
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12)
That was quite the letdown for the Bucs. Chance to clinch the division and relax in Week 18? No thanks, apparently, because that was an atrocious effort in Sunday’s home loss to New Orleans.
Anywho, the Bucs just need a win over football’s worst team, the Panthers, to finally lock down the division. What could go wrong…?
15. Seattle Seahawks (11)
The Seahawks kept it close with the equally desperate Steelers on Sunday, but Pittsburgh’s top players just made a few more plays in a 30-23 victory.
Just like last year, Seattle now needs a win and a Packers loss in Week 18 to snag a wild card berth. This exact scenario played out last year in Seattle’s favor.
Nonetheless, they’ll have to clean up a few things if they’re to get by Kyler Murray’s Cardinals. The Packers-Bears game is out of their hands.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (17)
No Trevor Lawrence, no problem. CJ Beathard did his job against the punchless Panthers to end a four-game losing skid — and to keep the Jaguars in the driver’s seat for the AFC South.
All the Jaguars need to do is win on the road against, essentially, a checked-out Tennessee team to lock up a second straight division crown.
13. Houston Texans (16)
Like seemingly half the league, Houston kept its playoff hopes alive with a much-needed win — and an easy one at that — against Tennessee.
So now it’s this simple: Win in Indianapolis on Saturday, and the Texans end a four-year playoff drought. A win and a Jaguars loss or tie would secure Houston the division crown.
12. Indianapolis Colts (15)
The Colts kept the magic alive with a close home win against the resilient Raiders. That win set up the win-or-go-home scenario with the Texans on Saturday.
Indy has to win to qualify. They cannot make the playoffs with a loss. Regardless of what happens, the fact we’re talking about at minimum a nine-win team in year one of a drastic rebuild is truly admirable. What a job by first-year head coach Shane Steichen.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
Mason Rudolph-mania continued in Emerald City, giving the Steelers a much-needed W over Seattle. With the win, the Steelers also ensured their 20 straight non-losing season. A job well done by Mike Tomlin. Again.
Pittsburgh still needs some help to get in. They need to beat Baltimore for starters. Then they need Buffalo or Jacksonville to lose….or for the Colts and Texans to tie.
Hold tight onto your seats, Steeler fans.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (7)
Are the Eagles okay or what? They just lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals and likely cost themselves the NFC East division crown.
Philly has now lost four of their last five, and let’s not forget their one victory in that span was a sloppy eight-point win against the hapless New York Giants.
The reigning NFC Champs are now facing the strong likelihood of having to win three road games to get back to the Super Bowl. Given the mind-boggling issues on both sides of the ball, nobody should be surprised if they’re one-and-done, though.
9. Los Angeles Rams (10)
The Rams barely held on for a close one-point win over the Giants to improve to 9-and-7, but that’s not all. Seattle’s loss to Pittsburgh clinched a playoff berth for the Rams. What an incredible one-year turnaround after a wasted 2022 season.
Two years removed from a Super Bowl. Yeah, nobody wants to play these guys.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (9)
It was ugly for much of the game on the offensive side of the ball yet again. But thanks to Isiah Pacheco’s heroics, the Chiefs got back on the winning track against the Bengals at Arrowhead.
Eight straight division titles now for the Chiefs, who need to find a way to get back to championship football with the playoffs right around the corner. Week 18 against the Chargers is a get-right game…if they decide to play their starters.
7. Dallas Cowboys (8)
Thanks to yet another officiating controversy involving the Lions, the Cowboys barely snuck away with a one-point victory to keep their NFC East division hopes intact.
With the Eagles losing at home to Arizona, Dallas now just needs a victory to win the NFC East and clinch the No. 2 seed. That’s absolutely pivotal, because it means they’d only have to play one road game max — against San Fran in the NFC title game — to reach the Super Bowl.
6. Detroit Lions (3)
Did the Lions get screwed by a questionable officiating call? Perhaps. Did they also give it away? Without a doubt.
They had three attempts to get the two-point conversion right. Or, you know, Dan Campbell could have just played for OT. Maybe Saturday’s loss will remind Campbell he doesn’t need to be overly aggressive on EVERY play call.
5. Buffalo Bills (6)
The Bills outlasted the Patriots then watched Miami get crushed by Baltimore to keep their AFC East hopes alive. Incredible stuff, given where the Bills were just five weeks ago.
One more win in Miami, and Buffalo improbably clinches a third straight division crown. Even if they’re a wild card team on the road, do you think anybody wants to play these guys? After Baltimore, no AFC team has looked more dangerous since Week 13.
4. Miami Dolphins (4)
Not gonna knock on Miami too much for losing in blowout fashion to Baltimore. Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert were inactive, and they sadly lost Bradley Chubb in the game with a torn ACL that ended his promising season.
Miami still controls its own destiny for the AFC East. Beat Buffalo, and they get a home playoff game for the first time since 2008. Let’s see how Mike McDaniel’s group responds
3. Cleveland Browns (5)
Just as, ahem, nobody predicted, Joe Flacco is suddenly 4-1 as the Browns’ starting QB. Oh, and he clinched the Browns’ second 11-win season in four years. Comeback Player of the Year honors, anybody?
Cleveland is locked in as the No. 5 seed. At this time, it’s most likely they’ll visit the Jaguars in the Wild Card Round. You think the Jags — or any AFC team for that matter — wanna go against this defense or QB with a Super Bowl MVP on his resume?!
2. San Francisco 49ers (2)
Following their humiliating prime time loss to the Ravens, the 49ers got back to business and made easy work of the Commanders. With that, the 49ers locked down the No. 1 seed and thus can rest all their guys for Week 18 against the Rams.
The NFC runs through San Francisco — a team who by the way hasn’t lost a home game to a conference rival since Week 9 of the 2021 season, 26 months ago. Good luck to the rest of the NFC!
1. Baltimore Ravens (1)
The Ravens further cemented themselves as the No. 1 team by beating up on, well, a beaten-up Miami team by a final score of 56-19.
Even without Hill and Mostert, the Dolphins are still a dangerous team — so Baltimore’s 37-point victory is absolutely nothing to scoff at. The AFC runs through Baltimore, meaning the Ravens need just two home victories to reach their first Super Bowl in 11 years.
Oh, and congrats to Lamar Jackson and probably locking up his second MVP award.
What changes would you make to our Week 18 power rankings?
