We’ve reached the final week of the regular season; 12 teams have been eliminated, nine teams have clinched a playoff berth – that leaves 11 teams that have an opportunity to make the playoffs this week. I will do my best to outlines the scenarios for each of those teams in this week’s article.
The MVP race looks a lot different now than it did a week ago. Lamar Jackson is now the clear-cut favorite and I only see two possible scenarios that could change that – and ironically both are in the final regular season game of the season. If Tyreek Hill were to go for 200+ receiving yards this week (or 283 and get to 2,000 for the season), he would have an outside shot. The more likely scenario would be Josh Allen. If Allen does what we know he’s capable of, and puts up four or five touchdowns and 300+ yards and leads the Bills to a division title, he will certainly give Lamar a run for his money.
In the Prime Time Pick’em this week, we went 2-1 to move the overall season record to 38-26. This week, we’re going to pick both of the Saturday games, the Sunday night game, as well as any game in which both teams are trying to clinch a playoff berth; which appears to just be the Falcons/Saints game.
On Saturday, since the Ravens have nothing to play for and the Steelers have everything to play for, give me Pittsburgh – though I expect the Ravens will certainly do everything they can to knock out their biggest rival. In the nightcap, give me the Texans to go on the road and clinch a playoff spot by beating the Colts. I like the Saints to win at home against the Falcons and give me the Bills to get a huge road win over the Dolphins.
Here are the rankings as we head to Week 18. Teams’ previous ranking in ( ).
1. Baltimore Ravens (2): Lamar Jackson went from MVP candidate to MVP favorite with his five-touchdown performance as the Ravens clinched the #1 overall seed in the AFC.
2. San Francisco 49ers (3): The 49ers bounced back after their worst game of the season, and thanks to some help from their divisional foes from Arizona, locked up the #1 seed in the NFC.
3. Cleveland Browns (5): It’s time for the rest of you to stop questioning this team. They’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders, which is astonishing considering the players they’ve lost to injury this season.
4. Buffalo Bills (4): A win this week gives Buffalo a home playoff game; a loss could quite possibly eliminate them from the playoffs. Josh Allen could throw his name into the MVP debate with a big game (and win) this week.
5. Dallas Cowboys (8): They may not have deserved their win against the Lions, but every great team has luck on their side at some point during the season. Dallas locks up the NFC East with a win this week against Washington.
6. Miami Dolphins (2): This is a team that could get hot and make it all the way to the Super Bowl, or lay an egg in their first-round game. They’re in the playoffs, but a win this week would give them the AFC East title and a home playoff game.
7. Detroit Lions (7): Lions fans feel like they got hosed this week, but that feeling will be short lived when they host their first playoff game in multiple decades two weeks from now.
8. Los Angeles Rams (9): The Rams tried to give one away against the Giants but ultimately got the job done, and have clinched a playoff berth.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (6): Losers in four of their last five, including at home against the Cardinals this week and the Eagles are looking like a wounded-bird as they quite literally back into the playoffs.
10. Houston Texans (12): The return of CJ Stroud helped the Texans get a much-needed win and they are now in the driver’s seat; win this week and they’re in the playoffs (if they get a little help, they can even win the division).
11. Kansas City Chiefs (11): They’re going to host yet another home-playoff game but there’s no guarantees they’d get another one, if they were to win.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10): How a team can look as good as Tampa looked the last few weeks, and then be down 20-0 at home in the 4th quarter, with a chance to win the division, is beyond me. Luckily for Tampa, they still control their own fate; a win this week gives them a home playoff game.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (15): CJ Beathard stepped in for Trevor Lawrence and ended the Jags’ four game losing streak. A win this week gives them the AFC South title and a home playoff game.
14. Indianapolis Colts (16): The Colts hung on for another win and are guaranteed to finish the season over .500. But better yet, a win this week clinches them a playoff berth (and with some help, could even host a playoff game).
15. Green Bay Packers (19): The 2023 Packers find themselves in the exact same position as the 2022 Packers; win a home game in Week 18 against a divisional opponent that has nothing to play for, and clinch a playoff berth. Last year, Aaron Rodgers and company couldn’t get the job done against the Lions. Will Jordan Love finish the job this year against the Bears?
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (17): The Steelers went into Seattle and got an enormous win; their second straight behind Mason Rudolph. They have several paths to the playoffs, the easiest being a win against the Ravens this week coupled with a loss by either the Bills or Jags.
17. Chicago Bears (18): The Bears are the highest ranked team that has been eliminated from playoff contention. That may not be saying much, but they could finish the season at 8-9 and eliminate the Packers from the playoffs and that would be one of the most successful seasons in recent memory for Chicago.
18. New Orleans Saints (21): The Saints played one of their best games of the season at the most critical time. They do not control their own destiny, however. They need a win and a Bucs loss to get in.
19. Seattle Seahawks (13): Seattle lost control of their own destiny with their home loss to the Steelers. Their path to the playoffs is simple – beat Arizona this week and hope the Packers lose to the Bears.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (14): The Bengals showed a lot of grit after Joe Burrow went down, but ultimately it wasn’t quite enough as they were eliminated with their loss to the Chiefs.
21. Denver Broncos (20): The Broncos appear primed to release Russell Wilson prior to next season, and I still can’t quite wrap my brain around that decision.
22. Minnesota Vikings (22): The Vikings got torched on Sunday night, though their playoff hopes remain on life support. They need a win against the Lions, losses by the Packers and Seahawks and a loss by either the Bucs or Saints. So you’re saying there’s a chance!
23. Las Vegas Raiders (23): The Raiders gave it everything they had against the Colts but came up just short, and were subsequently eliminated. I expect them to play hard in Week 18 for interim coach Antonio Pierce as it seems he has a legitimate shot to earn the job heading into next season.
24. Atlanta Falcons (24): The Falcons are the lowest ranked team that is still mathematically alive. There’s only one path to the playoffs for them, and it would result in a division title. Unfortunately, they need the Bucs to lose to the 2-14 Panthers, in addition to getting a win against the Saints.
25. Arizona Cardinals (30): The Cardinals played spoiler to the Eagles, not only ruining their chances of the #1 seed, but also hosting a home playoff game. Arizona looks to continue in that role by beating Seattle this week and ending any playoff hopes they may be clinging to.
26. New York Jets (25): The Jets were eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago, and their defense decided to stop playing, giving up 65 points in those two games.
27. New York Giants (27): The Giants gave the Rams quite a scare but Mason Crosby couldn’t connect on a game winning field goal.
28. Tennessee Titans (26): After several close games in a row, the Titans appear to have thrown in the towel, as they were trounced by the Texans 26-3 and remain on track for a top 7 pick in the draft.
29. Los Angeles Chargers (28): Not that the Chargers were going to make much noise in the playoffs, but the injury bug really hurt them down the stretch.
30. New England Patriots (29): The Patriots may only have 4 wins, but they’ve played in quite a few close games. The only question on anyone’s mind right now is whether this week’s game against the Jets will be the final game in which Bill Belichick is on the sideline for New England.
31. Washington Commanders (31): Washington has lost seven straight and nine of 10 and it’s more or less a foregone conclusion that Ron Rivera will not return as head coach next season.
32. Carolina Panthers (32): A week after their best offensive performance of the season, the Panthers follow it up with their worst, as they get shut out by the Jags.
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