The playoff field will be decided soon. But it wouldn’t be the final week of the NFL season without a little drama.
Five teams are competing for two playoff spots.
At the end of this season…
Here’s where the league stands in the latest power rankings heading into Week 18 of the 2024 season.
32. New England Patriots (Last week: 29)
Record: 3 wins, 13 losses
With the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots…
31. New York Giants (Last week: 32)
Record: 3 wins, 13 losses
It’s a weird flex to score 45 points when you’re a week away from potentially getting a top pick, but that’s okay. Malik Nabors has the potential to be a superstar, but unfortunately he is playing in this incompetent team.
30. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 30)
Record: 3 wins, 13 losses
Please remove Mason Rudolph from my screen forever. I really miss Will Reavis.
29. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 27)
Record: 3 wins, 13 losses
Cleveland could select one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. Will they go in that direction? Will they be able to find a way to break his contract with Thou Who Must Not Be Named?
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 31)
Record: 4 wins, 12 losses
If Brian Thomas Jr. looks this good with Mac Jones, imagine what a second-year jump will be like when a healthy Trevor Lawrence throws him the ball. Build around him.
27. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 28)
Record: 4 wins, 12 losses
Me in Week 7: “Brock Bowers may break the record for a rookie tight end.” Fast forward to Sunday, where he broke the record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history. he said.
26. Chicago Bears (Last week: 26)
Record: 4 wins, 12 losses
Offseason priorities go like this: Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line, offensive line, offensive line.
25. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 25)
Record: 4 wins, 12 losses
Bryce Young played well again, and if he does that next week, he should have a chance to be the Week 1 guy next year.
24. New York Jets (Last week: 24)
Record: 4 wins, 12 losses
The best thing Garrett Wilson can do is request a trade from New York. Because I don’t think things will be that much better next year. Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers on another record-breaking season. It’s true, check it out.
23. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 23)
Record: 5 wins, 11 losses
Hi. The most watched team in soccer will be off our screens in just over a week.
22. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 22)
Record: 6 wins, 10 losses
With nothing to do, San Francisco’s offense played its best game of the season. Go figure. They don’t have to struggle to get a higher draft pick or an easier 2025 schedule. This organization has too much pride. But then the second half started, and then… it stopped.
21. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 19)
Record: 7 wins, 9 losses
Oh yeah, that’s why Cooper Rush is the backup. But it’s even more embarrassing for a defense to be torn to shreds by a second- and third-string quarterback.
Here are five things to know about Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
20. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 20)
Record: 7 wins, 9 losses
They say patience is a virtue, and tight end Trey McBride knows that better than anyone. Perhaps not your best offensive weapon, but scoring your first touchdown of the season in Week 17 is a sign that your offense is pretty bad.
19. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 21)
Record: 7 wins, 9 losses
If Joe Flacco was the starting quarterback all season, this team could make the playoffs. The offensive line he has under center is far more capable than Anthony Richardson.
But their defense on Sunday was terrible, allowing over 40 points to the lowly Giants. This team is headed to the right place at the beginning of 2025: home.
18. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 18)
Record: 8 wins, 8 losses
Miami, with center Tua Tagovailoa, has historically not played well in cold weather. But that didn’t seem to be the case for Tyler Huntley in Week 17 against Cleveland. Their playoff hopes remain alive.
17. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 15)
Record: 8 wins, 8 losses
Michael Penix Jr. has ice running through his veins. The rookie QB’s memorable first touchdown pass helped highlight an impressive performance in a tough overtime loss.
16. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 16)
Record: 9 wins, 7 losses
All Seattle had to do was score six points to keep their playoff hopes alive (for a few days). That’s pathetic. What happened to my favorite game?
15. Houston Texans (Last week: 10)
Record: 9 wins, 7 losses
This team has been eliminated in the first round. A very strange and disappointing season should end in the wild card round.
14. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 17)
Record: 8 wins, 8 losses
I want to believe it, I really believe it. Because if there’s one guy who knows how to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, it’s Joe Burrow.
As the final week of the regular season draws to a close, the NFL playoff race is heating up, with more teams clinching playoff spots.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 14)
Record: 9 wins, 7 losses
There’s an argument that Baker Mayfield is one of the four quarterbacks who should receive MVP votes after throwing five touchdown passes on Sunday. Yes, you read that correctly.
12. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 13)
Record: 10 wins, 6 losses
This week, the two teams competing for the NFC West title have a combined 19 points. Los Angeles didn’t seem like a team that could host a playoff game in two weeks, but here they are.
11. Denver Broncos (Last week: 11)
Record: 9 wins, 7 losses
Bo Nix and the Broncos aren’t necessarily Super Bowl contenders, but I think they’ll make more noise in the playoffs than teams like Houston or Pittsburgh.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 8)
Record: 10 wins, 6 losses
This is a good team, but not a great team. They lost badly at the wrong time and their playoff journey won’t last long. But hey, Mike Tomlin secured another winning season.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 12)
Record: 10 wins, 6 losses
I had big doubts about the Chargers’ offense for most of the season, but the promotion of Rad McConkie went a long way toward proving me wrong. He may not look like a true number one alpha receiver, but he definitely is.
8. Washington Commanders (Last week: 9)
Record: 11 wins, 5 losses
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Jaden Daniels will advance to the playoffs. Imagine if Washington fans were only able to tell about this season last year. The atmosphere of the organization has completely changed.
7. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 6)
Record: 11 wins, 5 losses
Green Bay is one of the best teams in the league, and if you squint, you can see a Super Bowl contender. If you look at it with your eyes wide open, you’ll see that they’re a really good team. But not elite. There are levels to this.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 7)
Record: 11 wins, 5 losses
Lamar Jackson has decided to pit the MVP race against Josh Allen. And now I’m leaning towards the former, with a good chance of him getting the third one.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce both made history on Christmas Day 2024.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 4)
Record: 13-3
Jalen Hurts? Kenny Pickett? Tanner McKee? It doesn’t matter if they have Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, or DeVonta Smith.
4. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 5)
Record: 13-3
If Buffalo’s defense can carry Sunday’s performance into January, the Bills will win the Super Bowl. There’s no question about that.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 3)
Record: 14 wins, 2 losses
Sam Darnold didn’t turn back into a pumpkin as much as many, including myself, expected after a hot start to the season. Either his magical season will have a storybook ending, or he’ll have to wait until the playoffs. Next week’s game against Detroit will be made into a movie.
2. Detroit Lions (Last week: 1)
Record: 14 wins, 2 losses
A win is a win, but the defense looked absolutely terrible against a depleted San Francisco offense. I know they’re making a fuss, but I was worried Monday night.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 2)
Record: 15 wins, 1 loss
The AFC playoffs will be officially held through Arrowhead. Will one of Kansas City’s conference rivals finally beat them at home? The top stories of the NFL postseason have been decided.
In Week 17, the Chiefs and Ravens emerged as the Christmas Day winners.
Source link
