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NFL Power Rankings Week 18: A New Number one!

Publish Date: 01/05/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Top 10

10) New York Giants

The Giants looked out of gas and were left for dead a month ago. Now they look like a team that could get a playoff win. Among the unsung heroes for the NFC’s locked-in No. 6 seed are WRs Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins, who share the club lead with four TD grabs apiece. Brian DaBoll should be the NFL Coach of the year.

9) Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are the worst 12-4 team in NFL history unless they win on Sunday by 50 points. They will own the worst point differential by a team with at least 12 victories since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. They have actually been outscored by 19 points this season.

8) Jacksonville Jaguars

I know they are just 8-8, but they are hot as of late and seem to be getting better every game. Trevor Lawrence is showing signs of being a franchise quarterback, and the defense is showing improvement.

7) Los Angeles Chargers

Austin Ekeler is the most underrated player in the league. He has never been selected for the Pro Bowl. Ekeler is one of only two undrafted players who had at least 1,500 yards of scrimmage and has 15 TDs in consecutive seasons. If he catches another, he will join Lenny Moore in being the only player with 30 TDs both running and receiving in their first six seasons.

6) Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys still have an outside shot at grabbing the number one seed, but that will probably not happen. How far the Cowboys go in the postseason will come down to how the defense plays. The offense will score points but as we saw in the Eagles game two weeks ago, the defense can sometimes struggle.

5) San Fransisco 49ers

The dominating defense that led this long win streak was somehow exposed by Jarret Stidham and the Las Vegas Raiders. Brock Purdy played well but do we trust him in a playoff situation?

4) Buffalo Bills

The Bills secondary is depleted, and they have difficulty running the ball. They are still dangerous, though, because of Josh Allen. The more significant issue right now is how will they respond to the tragedy that occurred on Monday night.

3) Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs as a whole are not as good as they have been in past years, but Patrick Mahomes has never been better as he is forcing fewer throws and always gives the Chiefs a chance to win any game they are in.

2) Philadelphia Eagles

The eagles suffered a second consecutive loss last Sunday, and I know that Jalen Hurts has been out, but the defense has not looked either. The Eagles must beat the Giants this week to secure the number-one seed.

1) Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are the most complete team in football, and the way they cut through the Bills’ defense on Monday night showed why. They have not lost since October and are almost as good on defense as they are on offense. Hopefully, the Bills game will be made up somehow, but even if it isn’t, the Bengals have to be the favorite coming out of the AFC.

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