There is just one week left until the playoffs. This week we look into our crystal ball to predict how our top ten teams will end their season. Here are the week 18 NFL Power Rankings.
NFL Power Rankings
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Seattle Seahawks 13-3 (Last Week: 1)
The Seahawks took over in the second half and ran away from Carolina. Seattle has a home game for all the marbles this week.
Crystal Ball: Seattle has overcome all expectations this season. They make a nice run, but things end for the Seahawks short of the Super Bowl.
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Los Angeles Rams 11-5 (Last Week: 2)
The Rams were less than motivated on Monday night. There was not much to play for, and the Rams looked like it in the first half. We did not drop them in our ratings as we still see Los Angeles as a top two team despite the meaningless loss on Monday night.
Crystal Ball: Los Angeles is on the road for the playoffs, but it will not matter. With their health intact, this is still the NFC’s best team. The Rams will take the long way into the Super Bowl.
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New England Patriots 13-3 (Last Week: 3)
New England was barely challenged by the woeful Jets. The Patriots are very proficient at ending games with less capable teams in the first half.
Crystal Ball: The sledding gets tougher in January. The Patriots should be commended for their rapid rebuild, but the feel-good story ends for the Patriots early in the postseason.
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San Francisco 49ers 12-4 (Last Week: 4)
The Niners are one win away from the division crown and home field advantage. It is hard to believe how far San Francisco has come after the difficult first half and all the injuries.
Crystal Ball: Life is difficult in the NFC West. Three of the best teams in the league reside in the Niners’ division. San Francisco will fight on valiantly, but a Super Bowl berth is not in the cards this season.
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Denver Broncos 13-3 (Last Week: 5)
The Broncos got a big road win against the eliminated, but very motivated, Chiefs. Denver will be home for the playoffs if they win this week at home against the Chargers.
Crystal Ball: Denver is often criticized for winning close games. It is an odd critique. Some of the most highly regarded Super Bowl champions made a habit of winning close games. Denver is a solid football team, and their pass rush makes the Broncos a headache for any offense. Denver will fall short of the big game despite the huge home field advantage.
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Houston Texans 11-5 (Last Week: 6)
The Texans won their eighth straight game on Sunday on the road against the Chargers. The Texans are rolling and their defense will allow them to compete with any of the AFC’s top teams.
Crystal Ball: The Texans will be on the road for the playoffs, but it will not be a factor. Houston is going to ride their defense into the Super Bowl.
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Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4 (Last Week: 7)
The Jaguars got their seventh win in a row in Indianapolis. If Jacksonville can handle the Titans this week, they will secure the division title and a home game to start the playoffs.
Crystal Ball: Jacksonville is putting up over twenty-seven points per game, and their defense has been stout against the run. It is a proven formula for winning in the playoffs and the Jags will make some noise, but they will not be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl.
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Philadelphia Eagles (Last Week: 9)
The Eagles notched an impressive win on the road in Buffalo. Nothing is easy for Philadelphia who clearly lacks the big-play capability they had last season. The defense keeps things in reach for the Eagles.
Crystal Ball: The Eagles are just not as explosive as they need to be to make a long postseason run. Philadelphia will exit the postseason quickly this year.
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Buffalo Bills 11-5 (Last Week: 5)
The Bills came up short on Sunday and will be a wildcard team. Buffalo could only put up twelve points at home against Philadelphia. It was another example of the Bills’ troubles against top competition.
Crystal Ball: The Bills have glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball. Their playoff stay will be short lived.
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Chicago Bears 11-5 (Last Week: 8)
The Bears went punch for punch with the Niners but fell short. Chicago is the NFC North Champion, however, and they can lock in the number two seed this week.
Crystal Ball: The Bears are not equipped to deal with the deep and talented playoff field in the NFC. A more veteran team will find a way to send Chicago home from the playoffs.
New York Jets 3-10 (Last Week: 31)
The Jets were embarrassed Sunday against the Patriots. The team is losing in such a fashion as to ignite questions as to head coach Aaron Glenn’s job security. The failed but worthwhile experiment at quarterback was thought to be a major reason why Glenn would get a second year to prove himself, despite the Jets’ terrible record.
The team’s horrific play since Justin Fields was benched and the team traded away talented starters Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner is igniting questions about Glenn’s ability to lead an NFL club.
Crystal Ball: It is particularly difficult to predict what the Jets will do because of their erratic ownership. If this were a normal club, I would say the team moves on from Aaron Glenn given the failure to compete in an acceptable fashion over the final weeks of the season.
This is not a normal team though, so applying rational thought to predicting what the Jets will do is foolish. That said, we are going to do it anyway: I think the Jets retain Glenn.
The team will finish with a top three pick in the draft, allowing them to take one of the two top-rated quarterbacks. The team will be able to address the gaps it created by trading away Williams and Gardner. It will be more challenging to attract free-agent talent given the team’s history.
Aaron Glenn will enter 2026 on a very short leash, so developing the young quarterback is essential. The good news is that there is literally no way for the rookie quarterback to produce less than what the Jets got from the position this season.
The Jets’ only strength, their offensive line, will continue to mature, allowing the team to run the ball consistently and providing protection for the new signal caller. The Jets will be better, they cannot be any worse, in 2026. How much better depends on how quickly their new quarterback adapts to the NFL and how well the Jets use their newly acquired draft capital.
