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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Moraitis

NFL power rankings Week 18: Steelers, Packers keep playoff hopes alive

With the “Sunday Night Football” game in the books, it’s time to take a look at our updated NFL power rankings going into Week 18 of the 2023 season.

The Sunday night contest saw the Green Bay Packers go into U.S. Bank Stadium and manhandle the Minnesota Vikings, 33-10. With the win, the Packers kept their slim playoff hopes alive.

Along with the Packers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Vikings, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons are still alive in the NFC playoff picture with just two spots left.

The Baltimore Ravens made yet another emphatic statement in Week 17 after destroying the Miami Dolphins, 56-19. In the process, Lamar Jackson made his MVP case even stronger.

In the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans all won their games, which means they enter the final week with the same record at 9-7. However, the Jaguars currently hold the tie-breaker to keep them in first place.

There are currently five teams alive for three remaining spots in the AFC playoff race, a list that includes the aforementioned AFC South teams, along with the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now, a look at our NFL power rankings going into Week 18 of the campaign.

32. Carolina Panthers (2-14) - Last week: 32

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK

31. Washington Commanders (4-12) - Last week: 31

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

30. New England Patriots (4-12) - Last week: 28

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

29. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11) - Last week: 29

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

28. New York Giants (5-11) - Last week: 27

Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

27. Tennessee Titans (5-11) - Last week: 26

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

26. New York Jets (6-10) - Last week: 25

Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

25. Arizona Cardinals (4-12) - Last week: 30

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

24. Atlanta Falcons (7-9) - Last week: 22

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

23. Minnesota Vikings (7-9) - Last week: 23

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

22. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) - Last week: 21

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

21. New Orleans Saints (8-8) - Last week 24

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

20. Chicago Bears (7-9) - Last week: 20

Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

19. Green Bay Packers (8-8) - Last week: 19

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) - Last week: 14

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

17. Denver Broncos (8-8) - Last week: 16

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

16. Seattle Seahawks (8-8) - Last week: 11

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

15. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) - Last week: 12

Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

14. Indianapolis Colts (9-7) - Last week: 18

Hali Tauxe-USA TODAY Sports

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) - Last week: 17

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) - Last week: 15

Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

11. Houston Texans (9-7) - Last week: 13

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

10. Los Angeles Rams (9-7) - Last week: 10

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

9. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) - Last week: 9

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

8. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) - Last week: 7

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

7. Detroit Lions (11-5) - Last week: 8

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

6. Miami Dolphins (11-5) - Last week: 5

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dallas Cowboys (11-5) - Last week: 6

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

4. Buffalo Bills (10-6) - Last week: 4

Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

3. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - Last week: 3

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

2. Cleveland Browns (11-5) - Last week: 2

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3) - Last week: 1

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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