I have been skeptical of the Green Bay Packers all season long based on their penchant for playing in close games. They have never reached the No. 1 spot of these power rankings, until now.
Aaron Rodgers is the heavy favorite to win MVP and Green Bay has emerged as the clear team to beat in the NFC. Below are the full power rankings with one game remaining in the regular season. Odds courtesy of DraftKings on Jan. 4.
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
Last week: 3
Week 17 result: 37-10 win over Vikings
Week 18: Packers (-2.5) at Lions
Super Bowl odds: +400
The Packers have already wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC and are playing at an extremely high level. Green Bay has done this without stars like David Bakhtiari and Jaire Alexander, and there is a chance one or both could be back soon. Green Bay is looking primed for a Super Bowl run.
.@Foxworth24 says Aaron Rodgers is a lock for back-to-back MVPs.
"You want to be the champ, you gotta beat the champ. It doesn't feel like anyone's coming and taking that MVP from Rodgers." pic.twitter.com/22SbdXKurW
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 4, 2022
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5)
Last week: 1
Week 17 result: 34-31 loss to the Bengals
Week 18: Chiefs (-10) at Broncos
Super Bowl odds: +500
The Chiefs lost to the Bengals on Sunday, but the blip wasn’t anything worrisome. Patrick Mahomes is thriving again and Kansas City still has the best team in the AFC.
3. Los Angeles Rams (12-4)
Last week: 4
Week 17 result: 20-19 win over the Ravens
Week 18: Rams (-4) vs. 49ers
Super Bowl odds: +850
Matthew Stafford is the ultimate wild card. He has the raw talent to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl. He is also mistake-prone enough to send them home early. Despite that unknown, I think this team is the biggest threat to the Packers in the NFC because of the superstars that dot the roster.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)
Last week: 2
Week 17 result: 28-24 win over the Jets
Week 18: Buccaneers (-8) vs. Panthers
Super Bowl odds: +900
The Bucs won on Sunday, but it didn’t feel like it. Tampa had to rally to beat the woeful Jets, and star receiver Antonio Brown bizarrely quit in the middle of the game. The Bucs have Tom Brady and other talented players on both sides of the ball, but no Brown or Chris Godwin in the playoffs could really hurt the passing game, and this team’s title shot.
5. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Last week: 5
Week 17 result: 29-15 win over the Falcons
Week 18: Bills (-17) vs. Jets
Super Bowl odds: +750
The Bills trailed Atlanta at the half before taking care of business after intermission. Buffalo should cruise to a win over New York in the season finale and then take aim at a Super Bowl run. This team certainly looks like the most serious challenger to the Chiefs in the AFC.
6. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
Last week: 6
Week 17 result: 25-22 loss to the Cardinals
Week 18: Cowboys (-10.5) vs. Washington
Super Bowl odds: +1100
The Cowboys had the superior personnel on Sunday but were thoroughly outcoached by Kliff Kingsbury and Vance Joseph of the Cardinals. Dallas is still the better team, which is why it stays above Arizona in the power rankings, but will need a better game plan if they face off again in the wild card round of the postseason.
7. Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
Last week: 8
Week 17 result: 25-22 win over the Cowboys
Week 18: Cardinals (-7) vs. Seahawks
Super Bowl odds: +2000
The Cardinals aren’t the same dominant offensive unit without DeAndre Hopkins, but Kyler Murray’s dual threat abilities are still a handful for defenses. If Arizona plays clean football like it did against the Cowboys, a win or two in the playoffs is on the table.
8. New England Patriots (10-6)
Last week: 7
Week 17 result: 50-10 win over the Jaguars
Week 18: Patriots (7) at Dolphins
Super Bowl odds: +1600
The Patriots know how to smash inferior teams, but it might be a year early to consider them serious Super Bowl contenders. New England is built to play from ahead, which may not happen against quality teams in the playoffs, and Mac Jones will be hard-pressed to rally his team to win against formidable foes.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
Last week: 12
Week 17 result: 34-31 win over the Chiefs
Week 18: Bengals (-3) at Browns
Super Bowl odds: +2000
It’s been a fantastic season for the Bengals, and Zac Taylor is now the co-favorite for NFL Coach of the Year. Joe Burrow has thrown for a mind-blowing 971 yards and eight touchdowns over his past two games, and the Cincy passing game is a serious strength heading into the playoffs.
Joe Burrow has 42 more passing yards than Patrick Mahomes this season on 94 fewer attempts.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) January 4, 2022
10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
Last week: 9
Week 17 result: 34-13 win over the Broncos
Week 18: Chargers (-3) at Raiders
Super Bowl odds: +4000
The Chargers have a star quarterback, talented skill guys and difference-makers on defense. They aren’t super consistent, but are good enough to be a scary team if they can get into the playoffs.
11. San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
Last week: 10
Week 17 result: 23-7 win over the Texans
Week 18: 49ers (+4) at Rams
Super Bowl odds: +3500
The story has been the same all season long. San Francisco has a very deep and talented roster, but what will the quarterback play be like on a weekly basis? Trey Lance was up and down on Sunday and it’s unknown when Jimmy Garoppolo will be back from his thumb injury.
12. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
Last week: 11
Week 17 result: 23-20 loss to the Raiders
Week 18: Colts (-15) at Jaguars
Super Bowl odds: +1800
It’s a similar story for the Colts. Talented roster, but how far can this team go with Carson Wentz at quarterback?
13. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
Last week: 13
Week 17 result: 20-19 loss to the Rams
Week 18: Ravens (+2.5) at Bengals
Super Bowl odds: +40000
The Ravens will likely fall short of the playoffs, for two reasons. The first is injuries, as Baltimore was ravaged on both sides of the ball. The second was close-game luck, as the Ravens have four losses by a combined five points over the past five weeks.
14. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
Last week: 14
Week 17 result: 34-3 win over the Dolphins
Week 18: Titans (-10.5) at Texans
Super Bowl odds: +1200
The Titans may very well end up the No. 1 seed in the AFC and get a first-round bye, but they are not the best team in the conference by a longshot. In fact, they may be the worst team in the AFC postseason despite the record. They remain middle of the pack in these power rankings.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
Last week: 17
Week 17 result: 20-16 win over Washington
Week 18: Eagles (+7) vs. Cowboys
Super Bowl odds: +5000
The Eagles are 6-1 after a 3-6 start and have clinched a playoff berth. They may end up as the worst team in the postseason and have precious little chance of a deep run, but Phily is on the upswing and will have a bounty of draft picks this offseason to add more talent.
16. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Last week: 15
Week 17 result: 18-10 win over the Panthers
Week 18: Saints (-4.5) at Falcons
Super Bowl odds: +13000
The Saints need some help to get into the postseason. Even if they make it, their quarterback woes will likely turn it into a one-and-done showing.
17. Las Vegas Raiders (9-7)
Last week: 20
Week 17 result: 23-20 win over the Colts
Week 18: Raiders (+3) vs. Chargers
Super Bowl odds: +10000
Give the Raiders credit. They keep winning important games. But they still aren’t very good.
18. Denver Broncos (7-9)
Last week: 18
Week 17 result: 34-13 loss to the Chargers
Week 18: Broncos (+10) vs. Chiefs
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Denver has some good pieces, but in the end, couldn’t overcome an injury to quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and more recently, a COVID outbreak.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1)
Last week: 22
Week 17 result: 26-14 win over the Browns
Week 18: Steelers (+5.5) at Ravens
Super Bowl odds: +40000
The Steelers are still alive for a playoff spot, but it’s unlikely to happen. Pittsburgh needs a better quarterback next season as Ben Roethlisberger heads off into retirement.
Najee Harris led the Steelers offense, setting new career-highs for rushing yards (188), RYOE (+65), and rush EPA (+8.5).
Harris gained 181 of his 188 yards after contact, the 3rd-most in a game in the NGS era (since 2016).#CLEvsPIT | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/BMxwzo6uOZ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 4, 2022
20. Cleveland Browns (7-9)
Last week: 16
Week 17 result: 26-14 loss to the Steelers
Week 18: Browns (+3) vs. Bengals
Super Bowl odds: N/A
It was an extremely disappointing season for the Browns, who couldn’t overcome erratic quarterback play. Now the big question: Does Baker Mayfield return in 2022?
21. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Last week: 17
Week 17 result: 37-10 loss to the Packers
Week 18: Vikings (-2.5) vs. Bears
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Minnesota’s season came to an end with a thud against the Packers. Now we wait and see if Mike Zimmer keeps his job.
22. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Last week: 21
Week 17 result: 34-3 loss to the Titans
Week 18: Dolphins (+7) vs. Patriots
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Dolphins did all that work to get back into playoff contention and then fell on their face against the Titans. The season is now over, and questions about Tua Tagovailoa persist.
23. Seattle Seahawks (6-10)
Last week: 24
Week 17 result: 51-29 win over the Lions
Week 18: Seahawks (+7) at Cardinals
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Impressive performance by the Seahawks against Detroit. Too bad it came after the season was already lost, and too bad it came against the Lions.
24. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Last week: 25
Week 17 result: 29-15 loss to the Bills
Week 18: Falcons (+4.5) vs. Saints
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Falcons hung around for a while against the Bills, which is a microcosm of their season. Never really a big threat, but the record was palatable.
25. Washington Football Team (6-10)
Last week: 23
Week 17 result: 20-16 loss to the Eagles
Week 18: Washington (-6.5) at Giants
Super Bowl odds: N/A
It was only a couple weeks ago that WFT was in line for a playoff berth. But this is where they belong.
26. Chicago Bears (6-10)
Last week: 27
Week 17 result: 29-3 win over the Giants
Week 18: Bears (+2.5) at Vikings
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Chicago has won two straight! Unfortunately, neither came with rookie quarterback Justin Fields at the helm.
27. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Last week: 26
Week 17 result: 18-10 loss to the Saints
Week 18: Panthers (+8) at Buccaneers
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Sam Darnold stinks. Cam Newton stinks. The Panthers are a mess.
28. Houston Texans (4-12)
Last week: 30
Week 17 result: 23-7 loss to the 49ers
Week 18: Texans (+10.5) vs. Titans
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Texans have looked like a competent team down the stretch, which is more than we can say about some of the other teams at the bottom of the rankings.
29. New York Jets (4-12)
Last week: 31
Week 17 result: 28-24 loss to the Buccaneers
Week 18: Jets (+16.5) at Bills
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Jets almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year against the Buccaneers, but alas, blew it at the end.
30. Detroit Lions (2-13-1)
Last week: 29
Week 17 result: 51-29 loss to the Seahawks
Week 18: Lions (+2.5) vs. Packers
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Lions are bad enough with starting quarterback Jared Goff. They stand little chance without him.
31. New York Giants (4-12)
Last week: 29
Week 17 result: 29-3 loss to the Bears
Week 18: Giants (+6.5) vs. Washington
Super Bowl odds: N/A
The Giants have fallen apart down the stretch, with coach Joe Judge and GM Dave Gettleman under fire. It’s going to be an interesting offseason.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)
Last week: 32
Week 17 result: 50-10 loss to the Patriots
Week 18: Jaguars (+15) vs. Colts
Super Bowl odds: N/A
Not much debate, really. The Jaguars are the worst team in the NFL.
