Week 18 NFL Power Rankings: Drama Continues Entering Final Week

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Well, folks, it is finally here: the last week of the 2025 NFL regular season. There are still top seeds and a couple of playoff spots to sort out, and the action will be hot and heavy this coming week. Let's take a look at our updated version of the NFL power rankings as we prepare to close the season with Week 18.

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3): The Seahawks won a battle for NFC West supremacy against the Rams in Week 16 to take the lead in the division, and stay atop the rankings this week after securing a win against the Panthers on Sunday. But the San Francisco 49ers are also hot in recent weeks, and have played their way into making the Week 18 showdown with Seattle a battle to decide the divisional crown and the top NFC seed in the playoffs. If the Seahawks can win this weekend, they'll prove they earned this top spot.

2. New England Patriots (13-3): The Patriots climbed a spot this week as they clinched the AFC East Championship with another MVP-caliber effort from Drake Maye in a blowout win over the Jets. The Patriots need to win and for the Broncos to lose in Week 18 to earn the top playoff seed in the AFC.

3. Denver Broncos (13-3): The Broncos are back on the rise after knocking off the Chiefs on Christmas Day, and they have clinched the AFC West title. Now all they need to do this week is to win, and they will secure their top playoff seed, but they have already demonstrated they are among the league's elite teams thus far.

4. San Francisco 49ers (12-4): The 49ers have won six straight games since losing to divisional rival Los Angeles on November 9, and secured a major win over the Bears to keep themselves alive in the NFC West and for the top NFC playoff seed. Another win this weekend will boost their stock even higher.

5. Los Angeles Rams (12-4): The Rams dropped three spots this week due to strong showings from divisional opponents, while they dropped a game to the Atlanta Falcons, who are long eliminated from playoff contention. The Rams still have plenty to play for, but they look weaker entering the final week of the season.

6. Chicago Bears (11-5)

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

8. Houston Texans (11-5)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)

10. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

11. Buffalo Bills (11-5)

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

13. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

14. Detroit Lions (8-8)

15. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

17. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)