NFL Week 18 Power Rankings: Packers Inching Toward Playoffs
Week 17's action was all about playoff positioning. Several teams were eliminated from playoff contention. New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers kept their postseason hopes alive with huge wins.
Houston Texans lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-3. With a loss in Week 18, Houston will clinch the No. 1 pick for the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions 41-10. The offensive line was dominated and the passing game totaled 75 yards. If the Bears lose in Week 18 and if the Texans win, they will clinch the No. 1 seed.
The Indianapolis Colts lost 38-10 to the New York Giants in the NFL's Week 17. The defense had its worst performance of the season, allowing 217 rushing yards on 5.9 yards per carry.
Arizona Cardinals lost 20-19 to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17. Arizona is 4-12 and coach Kliff Kingsbury is likely to be fired.
Denver Broncos lost 27-24 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The defense looked much better after the embarrassing 51-14 loss against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16. Rumors are swirling about the Broncos' coaching search. Michigan's Jim Harbaugh is the hot name this week.
The Atlanta Falcons won 20-19 against the Arizona Cardinals. Rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder led a game-winning drive. The team made progress on the offensive line and in the run game this season.
The Los Angeles Rams lost 31-10 to the Los Los Los Angeles Chargers. The Rams will play the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense was much improved against the San Francisco 49ers. Jarrett Stidham started at quarterback and the team managed to gain 500 yards in his first start. The defense allowed 454 yards and rarely generated pressure.
Deshaun Watson had a 122.5 passer rating in the win over Washington Commanders. The defense dominated with three turnovers and allowed only 124 passing yards and 3.7 yards per carry.
Carolina Panthers lost 30-24 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Carolina's defense was shredded for 432 passing yards and the secondary struggled without cornerback Jaycee Horn. The Panthers will likely look for a new quarterback in the draft.
The New Orleans Saints beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-10. The defense recorded six sacks and nine QB hits. Marshall Lattimore returned from injury with a pick-six.
Washington Commanders were eliminated from the playoff race after losing to the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers. The Commander's quarterback Carson Wentz had a terrible game, throwing three interceptions with a 31.4 passer rating.
Tennessee Titans lost 27-13 to Dallas in the last week's game. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs got his first start in that game and will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars in regular-season finale.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff hopes came down to one game. Tom Brady was sharp with 432 passing yards and a 127.3 passer rating in the 30-24 win against the Carolina Panthers. Mike Evans had a monster day with 207 receiving yards, three touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 16-13. It was the second consecutive game that rookie Kenny Pickett led a game-winning drive.
The New York Jets lost to the Seahawks 23-6. Quarterback Mike White did not make a difference in his return from injury. Rumors of the Jets signing Derek Carr have emerged.
Miami Dolphins have lost five consecutive games. They lost 23-21 to the New England Patriots. To make the playoffs, they must defeat the Jets in Week 18 and the Patriots lose.
The New England Patriots' defense helped them to another win. The team will clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.
Seattle Seahawks beat the New York Jets 23-6. Kenneth Walker III had 133 rushing yards. The defense allowed only six points. Seattle needs to beat Los Angeles Rams and lose to Detroit to make the playoffs.
The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 41-10. Running back D'Andre Swift was impressive. Quarterback Jared Goff was sharp. Detroit plays the Packers in the primetime game in Week 18.
The Vikings lost to the Packers 41-17 in the NFL Week 18. The defense was not the reason for the loss. Justin Jefferson was held to only 15 receiving yards.
The New York Giants clinched their first postseason appearance since 2016. Quarterback Daniel Jones shined with a 125.2 passer rating.
The Baltimore Ravens lost 16-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. The team is struggling without quarterback Lamar Jackson. Running back J.K. Dobbins has been one of the team's only bright spots recently. Baltimore must beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18 to have a chance to win the AFC North.
Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Houston Texans 31-3 in Week 17. The team's playoff hopes will be decided on Saturday night against the Tennessee Titans.
Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 41-17 on Sunday. The defense is finally playing well. Green Bay is one win away from a playoff berth.
The Los Angeles Chargers have won four consecutive games. They beat the Los Rams 31-10. The Chargers defense allowed 166 rushing yards. On offense, Los Los had 192 rushing on 6.2 yards per carry.
Dak Prescott is having a slow start and is throwing too many interceptions. He is tied for the most interceptions at 14. The Cowboys beat the Titans 27-13 on Thursday. They will play the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost 20-10 to the New Orleans Saints. The defensive line dominated with seven sacks. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to return in Week 18.
The Kansas City Chiefs have won four consecutive games. They have beaten the Texans and Broncos by one score in the last three weeks. The team's defense is getting worse and the run game is inconsistent.
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Las Vegas Raiders 37-34. Quarterback Brock Purdy had another solid game. Christian McCaffrey had more than 190 scrimmage yards. Deebo Samuel is nearing his return from injury. The 49er's are tied with the Eagles as favorites to win the NFC with +200 odds.
Damar Hamlin's incident puts football in perspective.
