Week 17 of the NFL season is in the books. Here are all 32 teams ranked worst to first heading into the final week of the NFL Season.
Getty Image / Tim Warner
Week 17 of the NFL season is in the books, and the playoff field is almost nearly set. Here are all 32 teams ranked worst to first heading into Week 18.
32. Tennessee Titans 3-13
Last Week: 20-13 (L) @ Jaguars
This Week: vs. Texans
The Titans find themselves at the bottom of the rankings after a loss to the lowly Jaguars. That’s not to say that there aren’t any building blocks moving forward. But, the quarterback situation must get figured out this offseason if this franchise is going to move forward.
31. New York Giants (3-13)
Last Week: 45-33 (W) vs. Colts
This Week: @ Eagles
The Giants played their best offense of the season in a game that they needed to lose to have the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft. It’s been a Murphy’s Law season for the Giants: what could go wrong, has gone wrong.
30. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
Last Week: 25-10 (L) vs. Raiders
This Week: @ Buccaneers
The Saints played competitive football for a while under interim head coach Darren Rizzi. But, with Derek Carr out, they’re now a non-competitive football team just playing out the end of the season. Some big decisions await a franchise that desperately needs a full rebuild.
29. Cleveland Browns (3-13)
Last Week: 20-3 (L) vs. Dolphins
This Week: @ Ravens
The Browns were a lot more fun, and a lot more dangerous, with Jameis Winston under center instead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson. They may play themselves into a position to select a quarterback in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
28. New England Patriots (3-13)
Last Week: 40-7 (L) vs. Chargers
This Week: @ Bills
The Patriots have been competitive more often than not this year, despite their record. That was not the case on Saturday. Jerod Mayo needs to be fired after just one season in charge. Unfortunately, I don’t see it happening.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Last Week: 20-13 (W) vs. Titans
This Week: @ Colts
The Jaguars could’ve quit on this season long ago. But, they keep playing hard. They’ve got a star in Brian Thomas Jr., and 2022 first-overal pick Travon Walker is really coming into his own, as well. This team is not that far away from playoff contention once again.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Last Week: 25-10 (W) @ Saints
This Week: vs. Chargers
Credit Antonio Pierce for having his team ready to play against New Orleans. Who knows, maybe this win means they will avoid picking a quarterback in an underwhelming quarterback crop in the 2025 NFL Draft.
25. Chicago Bears (4-12)
Last Week: 6-3 (L) vs. Seahawks
This Week: @ Packers
The Chicago Bears absolutely have to get it right this offseason at head coach, and depending on who they hire, offensive coordinator. If they waste Caleb Williams’ massive potential, they may not recover for a decade. This roster is ready to win right now, and they just need competent leadership. Sadly, that seems to evade the McCaskey ownership.
24. New York Jets (4-12)
Last Week: 40-14 (L) @ Bills
This Week: vs. Dolphins
Aaron Rodgers is washed, that much is clear. And, since that’s the case, the Jets not only continue to be an embarrassment, but may essentially be starting over as a franchise. Franchise cornerstones Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson both sound like they want out of the franchise. It’s truly stunning to see this franchise find new ways to be incompetent every year.
23. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
Last Week: 48-14 (L) @ Buccaneers
This Week: @ Falcons
The Panthers have been a much-improved team over the second half of the season. But, that didn’t show up on Sunday, as they were thoroughly outplayed by the Buccaneers. Still, you have to feel a lot better about this franchise than you did three months ago, that’s for sure.
22. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Last Week: 41-7 (L) @ Eagles
This Week: vs. Commanders
After weeks of playing good football despite the season essentially being over, the Cowboys finally laid an egg against Philadelphia. The roster isn’t that bad when healthy. But, it’s hard to feel optimistic about the franchise given the leadership of Jerry and Stephen Jones.
21. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
Last Week: 45-33 (L) @ Giants
This Week: vs. Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts should be just a win and a Broncos loss away from the playoffs heading to Week 18. Instead, they are now looking for direction as a franchise after a truly awful loss to the Giants. Shane Steichen did such a good job as a rookie head coach last year, but now his seat is warming up. Anthony Richardson has not improved, and it’s unclear where the franchise goes from here. Could this be the end for longtime team executive Chris Ballard?
20. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Last Week: 13-9 (L) @ Rams
This Week: vs. 49ers
Frankly, the Cardinals were a bit unlucky to lose on Saturday, as a dropped pass by Trey McBride at the goal line to take a late lead turned into an interception. But, this offense should be scoring more than nine points in a game. There’s simply too much invested in it to lay eggs like that.
19. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Last Week: 40-34 (L) vs. Lions
This Week: @ Cardinals
The offense looked good against a depleted Detroit defense. But, poor kicking from Jake Moody, bad turnovers by Brock Purdy, and a poor defensive effort doomed the San Francisco 49ers to another loss in a lost season. Will the team look to reload for next year, or will they pursue more of a rebuild?
18. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Last Week: 30-24 (L) @ Commanders
This Week: vs. Panthers
Raheem Morris simply cannot come back as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. His terrible clock management cost the Falcons the game, and likely the NFC South, on Sunday night. It’s not like he’s a great play-caller on either side of the ball or anything. Given that fact, he needs to be nearly perfect in game management, and he often falls short.
17. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Last Week: 6-3 (W) @ Bears
This Week: @ Rams
A 6-3 win still counts as win. Sadly, they were eliminated from playoff contention due to other results in Week 17. Missing the playoffs with a potential 10-7 record is a tough pill to swallow.
16. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Last Week: 20-3 (W) @ Browns
This Week: @ Jets
The Dolphins won a must-win game on Sunday against the Browns. Now, a Broncos loss and a win against the Jets will have them in the playoffs despite facing a ton of adversity this year. This season is probably the best coaching job of Mike McDaniel’s stint in Miami.
15. Houston Texans ( 9-7)
Last Week: 31-2 (L) vs. Ravens
This Week: @ Titans
The Texans will be in the playoffs as champions of the AFC South. It’s hard to see them winning a playoff game for a second straight year, as they’ve been pretty bad for a while. Wednesday’s loss to the Ravens was a new low, though. They looked like a team preparing to pick in the top five of the NFL draft, not one that is getting ready to host a playoff game. There’s a bit of a sophomore slump going on for both CJ Stroud and head coach Demeco Ryans.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Last Week: 29-10 (L) vs. Chiefs
This Week: vs. Bengals
Water always finds its level, and that seemingly applies to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whether they get off to a slow start or a fast one, they always correct to the mean. The last three weeks, losses to the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs, have shown that while Pittsburgh may be an above-average team, they are far from a Super Bowl contender.
13. Denver Broncos (9-7)
Last Week: 30-24 (L) @ Bengals
This Week: vs. Chiefs
The Broncos get a huge break in terms of how the schedule works out. They need to beat the 15-1 Chiefs to make the playoffs, unless they get a ton of help elsewhere. But, Kansas City is likely to rest their starters for all or some of the game. Denver should be able to win and make the playoffs. That’s quite the break.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Last Week: 48-14 (W) vs. Panthers
This Week: vs. Saints
The Buccaneers have overcome a ton of adversity all season long. And, after dominating the Panthers and the Falcons’ loss to the Commanders, they just need to beat the Saints to win the NFC South once again. They will have truly earned this division title. Baker Mayfield continues playing terrific football.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Last Week: 30-24 (W) vs. Broncos
This Week: @ Steelers
The Bengals are still alive, but it’s ultimately pretty unlikely that they will make the playoffs. That’s a shame, because Joe Burrow and that offense are as fun to watch as any in the league. But, they simply gave away too many games with awful defense early in the season. Just one of those games turning into a win would’ve been enough to get them into the playoffs.
10. Washington Commanders (11-5)
Last Week: 30-24 (W) vs. Falcons
This Week: @ Cowboys
Week 17 may have been the most satisfying win for the Commanders all season in a year full of great wins. Their come-from-behind win clinched a playoff berth. While they likely won’t do much in the postseason, the experience gained by Jayden Daniels and this young team will be really valuable going forward.
9. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Last Week: 13-9 (W) vs. Cardinals
This Week: vs. Seahawks
The inconsistent passing offense is becoming a bit concerning. But, what’s great about this Rams team, which has won 9 of 11 games, is that they can beat you a bunch of different ways. The winners of the NFC West will be dangerous in the postseason, that’s for sure.
8. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
Last Week: 27-25 (L) @ Vikings
This Week: vs. Bears
Frankly, the game against the Vikings wasn’t as close as the final score suggests, as the Packers laid a total egg in the game. But,
7. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Last Week: 40-7 (W) @ Patriots
This Week: @ Raiders
Are the Chargers a true Super Bowl contender? No, probably not. But, they’re going to be in the very near future. The passing offense is starting to heat up, and that makes them dangerous in terms of possibly pulling a playoff upset. That being said, if they end up with the fifth-seed, it won’t be an upset if they beat Houston.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Last Week: 31-2 (W) @ Texans
This Week: vs. Browns
The Ravens were absolutely dominant against a reeling Texans squad, and Lamar Jackson closed the gap on Josh Allen in the MVP Race. A win against the Browns will clinch the AFC North, despite trailing in the division for nearly the entire season. As we all expected, they will be Super Bowl contenders.
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Last Week: 27-25 (W) vs. Packers
This Week: @ Lions
No matter what happens, the rest of the way, this has been a fantastic season for the Vikings. In my opinion, Kevin O’Connell ought to be the NFL Coach of the Year. They played arguably their best three quarters of the season against Green Bay on Sunday. A winner-take-all game for the NFC North and home-field advantage awaits them in
4. Detroit Lions (14-2)
Last Week: 40-34 (W) @ 49ers
This Week: vs. Vikings
The defense is a serious problem. Frankly, it’s one of the league’s worst units right now, given the injuries. But, the offense continues to play so well that it may not matter. Jameson Williams’ emergence as a top option in the passing game makes this offense truly impossible to defend.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Last Week: 41-7 (W) vs. Cowboys
This Week: vs. Giants
The Eagles are locked into the number-two seed, so this weekend’s game is meaningless. But, Saquon Barkley is just 101 yards from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Whether he will play or rest up for the playoffs will be a huge NFL storyline all week.
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Last Week: 40-14 (W) vs. Jets
This Week: @ Patriots
The Bills, like the Eagles, are locked into the second-seed. Josh Allen is going to start to keep his consecutive starts streak going. But, I would be surprised to see Buffalo’s starters to play significant portions of this game. Is this the year they can bring the Lombardi Trophy home to Buffalo at long last?
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
Last Week: 29-10 (W) @ Steelers
This Week: @ Broncos
There are still some questions on the offensive line. But, the addition of Hollywood Brown has really opened up Kansas City’s offense. You may not want to hear it, but the Chiefs are rounding into form at the perfect time once again.