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NFL power rankings Week 18: Several worthy No. 1 options going into regular-season finale
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- NFL power rankings Week 18: Several worthy No. 1 options going into regular-season finale
NFL power rankings entering Week 18 of the 2024 season ( previous rank in parentheses ):
1. Buffalo Bills (1):It would be a copout to cluster a half-dozen teams as tied for first place here, though certainly not difficult to make compelling cases that that many clubs – at minimum – should be viewed as bona fide Super Bowl contenders. But the Bills have had a special season, winning all their home games for the first time in 34 years, establishing franchise records for total touchdowns (63) and points (509) all while being led by the possible league MVP in QB Josh Allen . Could this be the year they finally break through for their first Lombardi Trophy?
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2. Kansas City Chiefs (3):Sure, the style points have largely been lacking in 2024. Yet K.C. could still join the 2007 Patriots as the only teams to win 16 regular-season games. That aside, does anyone doubt that a core that's won three titles in the past five seasons can elevate its performance in January? As such, could this be the year we finally see a historic three-peat Lombardi breakthrough?
3. Detroit Lions (2):Despite all the injuries, they're on the verge of the first No. 1 playoff seed in team history . And regardless of the defensive health , this group is capable of beating anyone in a shootout – and most definitely so at Ford Field (though it's also incumbent to note that the Lions are the first team to go undefeated on the road in four years). Could this be the year they finally break through for their first Lombardi Trophy?
4. Minnesota Vikings (5):Give this team the respect that it's due. Give QB Sam Darnold the respect that he's due. Recognize their more than reasonable chance to pull that No. 1 seed out from under the Lions at the 11th hour and what a tough venue U.S. Bank Stadium has become. Could this be the year they finally break through for their first Lombardi Trophy?
5. Philadelphia Eagles (6):As QB Jalen Hurts continues navigating the concussion protocol for the newly crowned NFC East champs, let's hope discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley , who's 101 yards shy of the league's single-season rushing record .
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6. Baltimore Ravens (7):QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry deservedly command the lions' share of this club's attention. But the Ravens really seem to have turned the corner over the last six games thanks to a stabilized defense, which is permitting an average of 16.3 points and 267 yards over that stretch.
7. Green Bay Packers (4):Did you know – they could be the first 12-win team relegated to a seventh seed in postseason history? That could be reality for the Pack, though there is some question about how dangerous they actually are given they only have two wins against teams that are going to the playoffs this season. Still, they kinda remind you of the 2023 Packers, who did a lot of postseason damage despite a relatively quiet entry into the field.
8. Los Angeles Rams (9):Did you know – they're the first team ever to win a division courtesy of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker? Gonna need some more, uh, strong victories in the coming weeks. They kinda remind you of the 2023 Rams, who entered the postseason on a heater before a one-point loss to Detroit in the wild-card round.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11):Did you know – they've scored at least 40 points on three occasions this season, including twice in the past three weeks? They kinda remind you of the 2023 Bucs, who weren't awash in respect as NFC South champs but had nearly enough firepower and playoff experience that they almost reached the NFC title game.
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10. Washington Commanders (10):Of all of rookie QB Jayden Daniels' insane numbers , consider this – he has five TD passes in the final 30 seconds or overtime of a game this season, which is two better than any other quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
11. Los Angeles Chargers (12): Justin Herbert has joined Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson as the only quarterbacks to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 20 TDs in each of their first five seasons.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (8):Wilson, now 36, better find that younger form soon given how much his current team has struggled to score or move the ball through the air during a three-game losing streak that might portend another early playoff exit for Pittsburgh.
13. Cincinnati Bengals (14):He almost certainly won't win the MVP award, but that doesn't mean that QB Joe Burrow hasn't been the league's most spectacular player in 2024. Here's hoping he and his team overcome heavily stacked odds and get to show off in the postseason showcase.
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14. Seattle Seahawks (16):They fell short of the playoffs, but Mike Macdonald joined Chuck Knox and Mike Holmgren as the only first-year Seattle head coaches with winning records – and, more importantly, seems to have established another winning culture after predecessor Pete Carroll's approach grew stale.
15. Denver Broncos (15):They don't have a single player with 1,000 yards from scrimmage – and WR Courtland Sutton is the only one who's even exceeded 800.
16. Houston Texans (13):They may be AFC South champs for the second straight year, but they also look like a very inviting opening-round playoff matchup .
17. Atlanta Falcons (17):You have to wonder how this season might have been different if they'd gone to rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. earlier … or simply burned a few timeouts Sunday night .
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18. Arizona Cardinals (19):If TE Trey McBride notches his fourth 12-catch game of the season in Week 18, he'll set the century-plus-old franchise's mark for receptions in a single campaign with 116.
19. Miami Dolphins (21):Be nice to have QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) back Sunday, but the Dolphins are 12-2 in their last 14 games against the Jets with a variety of passers.
20. San Francisco 49ers (22):Drink this in – over the past 22 seasons, they've either advanced as far as the NFC championship game or (like this year) have missed the playoffs entirely.
21. Dallas Cowboys (18):They've been generally average rushing the ball during HC Mike McCarthy's tenure, yet Rico Dowdle is their third different 1,000-yard back in the past four seasons.
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22. Indianapolis Colts (20):A team not known for its passing prowess has managed to produce a trio of 700-yard receivers ( Alec Pierce , Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs ). Expand on that – even incrementally – in 2025, and this should be a team that can win a playoff berth rather than just challenge for one.
23. Chicago Bears (25):This is a record-setting squad, folks. It's the first team in NFL history to allow the opening score in a game 15 times; QB Caleb Williams ' rookie record for passes without an interception hit 353 before being snapped Thursday night; and Chicago's 67 sacks allowed (66 of Williams) represent a new franchise nadir.
24. Carolina Panthers (23):While there's reason for optimism, there's also a lot of work to do here. Per Next Gen Stats, Bryce Young was pressured on 69% of his 24 dropbacks in Sunday's loss, the highest pressure rate any quarterback has faced this season.
25. New England Patriots (24):They're currently projected to pick first in the 2025 NFL draft – a valuable commodity in any year, but especially so when you already seem to have a young franchise quarterback ( Drake Maye ) in the building.
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26. Las Vegas Raiders (27):You have to admire the grit they've shown, especially late in the season, even if it might once again push them out of range of getting a first-round quarterback.
27. New York Jets (26): Garrett Wilson is the first player in franchise history to begin his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Hopefully for the Jets, he'll want to stick around for a fourth and beyond.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (30):Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. has been the silver lining to an otherwise dark season. His 1,227 yards from scrimmage are 449 more than anyone else on the team, and Thomas owns one-third of Jags' 30 offensive TDs, which rank near the bottom of the league.
29. New York Giants (32):WR Malik Nabers and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. are the first rookie tandem on a single team to both clear 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 18 years. Imagine what they could have done with some semi-effective quarterback play … before Drew Lock 's Week 17 outburst anyway.
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30. New Orleans Saints (28):When rookie QB Spencer Rattler leads you in rushing yards in successive weeks … well, the outcomes were basically inevitable.
31. Cleveland Browns (29):They quietly restructured QB Deshaun Watson 's contract … which should create badly needed roster flexibility, even if Watson is virtually assured of sticking around for another season.
32. Tennessee Titans (31):Coach Brian Callahan, please sum up this season: "There's no joy in this process. There's no fun in this. It's terrible. I feel it every day I walk into work." How do you really feel, boss?
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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings Week 18: Lions, Bills, Chiefs all vie for No. 1
