NFL Week 18 power rankings: NFC No. 1 seed down to wire, Bills stay on top

The National Football League is now headed into its final week of the 2024 regular season. There are a few things left to be determined over the final week, including the NFC's No. 1 seed, a couple of division winners, and even a few wild-card selections.

It is about as exciting as it can get in the sport, as we know the difference between the top teams and the lowly teams by now. There are some really good teams at the top, a lot of "mid" teams, and a couple of truly struggling teams at the bottom who are already looking ahead to the offseason.

Here are our Week 18 power rankings:

The Contenders

1. Buffalo Bills (Last Week: 1)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (Last Week: 3)

3. Detroit Lions (Last Week: 2)

4. Minnesota Vikings (Last Week: 6)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: 4)

6. Baltimore Ravens: (Last Week: 5)

7. Green Bay Packers (Last Week: 7)

8. Los Angeles Rams (Last Week: 13)

9. Washington Commanders (Last Week: 14)

10. Los Angeles Chargers (Last Week: 12)

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Week: 8)

12. Houston Texans (Last Week: 10)

All of these teams have clinched a playoff spot and have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Some of them have higher odds than others, but they all have an issue that you can point to and say that is the reason they won't get it done. They also all have something about them that makes them special. Three teams are going to the playoffs from the NFC North, and they all believe they have what it takes to win it all.

This tier is loaded with great quarterbacks, dominant defenses, and head coaches who can be trusted to make smart decisions in the highest-pressure moments. It feels like the AFC is going to be represented by one of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or Baltimore Ravens but we know by now not to assume anything in the NFL. As for the NFC, any of these teams can win, and nobody should be surprised.

Teams To Watch

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last Week: 9)

14. Denver Broncos (Last Week: 11)

15. Atlanta Falcons (Last Week: 16)

16. Cincinnati Bengals (Last Week: 17)

17. Miami Dolphins (Last Week: 19)

The teams in this tier are must-see TV this weekend. They are all playing for their playoff lives, as none of them have clinched, but they all have a chance. Some of them need a million things to go their way, and some just need to win their one matchup. This could get really interesting by the end of day on Sunday.

The Cincinnati Bengals are the team to keep the closest eye on. They didn't have a high chance of making the playoffs at all at the halfway point but here they are. Joe Burrow is one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, but his team has mostly let him down. If he gets his team in, it will make this year even more special for him on a personal level.

The winner of the NFC South between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is coming down to the wire. The second-place team won't even grab a wild-card spot, so everything is on the line for two teams that will be wondering "What could have been?" if they lose. The Denver Broncos are entering their third straight week of "win and clinch" but have lost the first two. A remarkable season will go down the drain if they don't find a way on Sunday.

Looking Towards The Draft

18. Seattle Seahawks (Last Week: 15)

19. Arizona Cardinals (Last Week: 18)

20. Indianapolis Colts (Last Week: 20)

21. Dallas Cowboys (Last Week: 22)

22. San Francisco 49ers (Last Week: 21)

23. New Orleans Saints (Last Week: 23)

24. New England Patriots (Last Week: 25)

25. New York Jets (Last Week: 28)

26. Las Vegas Raiders (Last Week: 32)

27. Cleveland Browns (Last Week: 24)

28. Chicago Bears (Last Week: 26)

29. Tennessee Titans (Last Week: 27)

30. Carolina Panthers (Last Week: 30)

31. New York Giants (Last Week: 29)

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last Week: 31)

From 18-20, you will find a few teams that had good years but fell short for different reasons. Everything below them is a hot pile of garbage. Outside of the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers, the teams in that group of 21-32 were expected to be here at the start of the year.

The 2025 NFL draft order is going to be finalized in Week 18, as well, which is what the teams in this tier are looking for. The only NFC North team not going to the playoffs, the Bears, for example, can have a top-10 pick but also get as low as five. Every team in the league is playing for something in a week like this.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL Week 18 power rankings: NFC No. 1 seed down to wire