GSM NFL Power Rankings- Week 18
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After 4 long, action packed months the NFL regular season is winding down to a close.
While some teams have clinched their playoff positions (such as the Ravens and 49ers, who will each receive the #1 seed and a first round bye in their respective conferences), there’s plenty at stake in week 18. Teams like the Cowboys, Eagles, Dolphins, and Lions will all be fighting for seeding position, while teams such as the Packers, Seahawks, Saints, Steelers, and Texans will be clawing in a desperate attempt to secure one of the few remaining wild card spots.
It’s the playoffs before the playoffs in the NFL, and you can be assured the action will live up to the hype, as it has every year before this one.
With so much happening all at once, it’s a good time to slow down a bit now and update the GSM NFL Power Rankings for the final time this regular season. Enjoy.
1. Baltimore Ravens (Prev. 1)
#1 seed in the AFC, #1 record in the NFL, and odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. The Ravens are soaring high heading into the playoffs.
2. San Francisco 49ers (Prev. 2)
The 49ers are the #1 seed in the NFC, and have to be considered the favorite to make it out of the conference.
3. Dallas Cowboys (Prev. 5)
A big (if slightly controversial) win over Detroit has put Dallas in the drivers seat to win the NFC East.
4. Miami Dolphins (Prev. 3)
Miami. Buffalo. Week 18. Sunday Night Football. Winner takes the division. Grab your popcorn, folks.
5. Buffalo Bills (Prev. 4)
Here come the Bills, straight out of left field. Division is on the line on SNF.
6. Detroit Lions (Prev. 7)
Dan Campbell may actually bite a referee’s kneecap off if the Lions end up in another situation like Saturday night. Peak entertainment, if you ask me.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev. 6)
After starting 9-1, it’s been all downhill for the Eagles. The division will be on the line on Sunday.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (Prev. 8)
Division champions once again. You can bet that nobody wants to face the reigning champs in the playoffs.
9. Cleveland Browns (Prev. 9)
Joe Flacco and the Browns have clinched a playoff spot. Is this real life?
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev. 10)
A solid win over Carolina keeps the Jags on top in the divisional race, but Houston and Indianapolis linger right behind. There’s a lot yet left to unpack in the AFC South.
11. Los Angeles Rams (Prev. 11)
Playoffs clinched, job done, now it’s just a matter of seeding for the Rams.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev. 12)
The Steelers are right in the thick of the wild card chase, but the opponent on Saturday night is the #1 seeded Ravens. Pittsburgh will be hoping the Ravens decide to rest their starters, no doubt.
13. Houston Texans (Prev. 15)
CJ Stroud’s return resulted in a major win for Houston. It’s going to be a tight one in the AFC, folks.
14. Indianapolis Colts (Prev. 17)
The Colts will have a chance to slip in to the playoffs in week 18 after edging out the Raiders.
15. Tampa Bay (Prev. 14)
The late season slip continues as Tampa Bay’s hold on the NFC South has slipped away. They’ve still got a chance, but there’s only one game left to do it with.
16. Green Bay Packers (Prev. 19)
All of a sudden, the Packers have a win and in game to get into the playoffs. Truly wild.
17. Seattle Seahawks (Prev. 16)
Things just got out of hand.
18. New Orleans Saints (Prev. 22)
And here come the Saints. They are in the thick of the NFC wildcard race, and have an attainable shot at winning the NFC South.
19. Atlanta Falcons (Prev. 18)
Technically the Falcons have a shot to make the playoffs. Realistically, it’s a very long shot.
20. Minnesota Vikings (Prev. 21)
Losing a pivotal late season game is bad. Losing a pivotal late season game to the rival Packers is worse.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (Prev. 13)
Hope was officially extinguished as the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss last Sunday. A lost season in Cincy.
22. Las Vegas Raiders (Prev. 20)
It’s officially over for Las Vegas, and what a year it was. A lot of changes are on the way for the Raiders.
23. New York Jets (Prev. 23)
One more week until it’s over.
24. Denver Broncos (Prev. 24)
The Broncos are eliminated despite winning on Sunday. Fun times in Denver.
25. Tennessee Titans (Prev. 25)
This season can’t end soon enough.
26. Los Angeles Chargers (Prev. 26)
Same feeling as Tennessee, but different reasons.
27. Chicago Bears (Prev. 27)
The Bears have been rolling and now get the chance to make a statement in their season finale by ending Green Bay’s playoff chances on Sunday.
28. Arizona Cardinals (Prev. 28)
The Cardinals might own the NFC East.
29. New York Giants (Prev. 29)
They were close on Sunday, so that was fun.
30. New England Patriots (Prev. 30)
Bill Belichick is on to next season… we think.
31. Carolina Panthers (Prev. 31)
Congratulations to the Carolina Panthers, who with the worst record in the NFL have clinched the #1 draft pic… oh wait, that pick is owned by Chicago. Whoopsie daisy.
32. Washington Commanders (Prev. 32)
Beating the Cowboys in week 18 would certainly make a lot of the pains of this season go away. Ok, probably not all of them, but some of them at least.
