Technically, the Los Angeles Chargers sit second in the AFC West behind the Kansas City Chiefs — on tiebreaks — despite the fact they’re 11-3 and have already secured a playoff spot.
That said, they might also be the best team in the entire conference after beating the Chiefs in a marquee Thursday night matchup.
See below for how our expert power-rankings panel sorts out this and other late-season conundrums.
As always, the panel includes editors Geoff Lowe and Craig Battle, as well as staff writers Donnovan Bennett and Emily Sadler.
1. New Orleans Saints
2018 record: 12-2
Last week: 1
Imagine how relieved Tommylee Lewis feels this morning. He fumbled the ball into the end zone on his first carry of the game last night, giving the Panthers the ball down three with almost two minutes left on the clock. If Cam Newton marches down the field for a TD or field goal, that mistake becomes a permanent bullet point on his resumé (see: Ty Montgomery bringing the ball out of the end zone earlier this season). But his defence bailed him out and now the Saints are one win from securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Phew. (CB)
2. Chicago Bears
2018 record: 10-4
Last week: 4
No team has improved more throughout the year more than the Bears. In Week 1, the Bears lost by a point to the Packers. On Sunday, they beat Green Bay to clinch the NFC North title and a playoff spot for the first time since 2010. The Bears went worst to first as they finished in last in the division last year. (DB)
3. Los Angeles Chargers
2018 record: 11-3
Last week: 5
The club answered a lot of lingering questions Thursday night. They erased a two-touchdown deficit against the AFC West-leading Chiefs with less than five minutes to go in a game that might end up deciding the division. Coach Anthony Lynn’s gutsy call for a two-point conversion was the exclamation point at the end of a statement game for the playoff-bound Chargers. (ES)
4. Kansas City Chiefs
2018 record: 11-3
Last week: 2
The class of the AFC West for much of the season has some company atop the division now after losing to the Chargers. They’ve still got the leg up if it comes to a division-record tie-breaker, but this race will go down to the wire. (ES)
5. Los Angeles Rams
2018 record: 11-3
Last week: 3
Jared Goff threw seven picks through the Rams’ first 12 games. In their last two he’s lobbed six … against zero touchdown passes. Suffice to say, the Rams have lost both. (CB)
6. Houston Texans
2018 record: 10-4
Last week: 8
It wasn’t pretty, but the Texans left New York with a seven-point comeback victory over the Jets. They now get a tough road matchup with a desperate Eagles team before finishing up at home versus the hapless Jags in Week 17. The division is all but wrapped up. (CB)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
2018 record: 8-5-1
Last week: 10
With a big win over the Patriots, the Steelers are in the driver’s seat in the AFC North. If the Steelers split their last two games (at New Orleans, home vs. Cincinnati) then the Ravens need to sweep their last two (at LA Chargers, home vs. Cleveland) to win the division. (DB)
8. New England Patriots
2018 record: 9-5
Last week: 6
Uncharacteristic mistakes and misplays means the Patriots have lost back-to-back games in December for the first time since 2002. (GL)
9. Indianapolis Colts
2018 record: 8-6
Last week: 12
Another week, another statement game against a team from Texas. In a matchup of super-hot teams, the Colts blanked the Cowboys 23–0 to stay in the playoff hunt. But with only one AFC wild-card spot up for grabs between them, Baltimore and Tennessee, Indy will likely need to win out. A Week 17 matchup with the Titans looms incredibly large. (CB)
10. Minnesota Vikings
2018 record: 7-6-1
Last week: 13
The Vikings are locked into second in the NFC North, so a wild-card berth is the only way they’ll make the post-season. Because their seeding in the division is set so are their 2019 road opponents. They will play road games against the Packers, Bears, Lions, Giants, Cowboys, Chargers, Chiefs and Seahawks which could mean as many as five road games against playoff teams next year. (DB)
11. Dallas Cowboys
2018 record: 8-6
Last week: 7
The shutout loss in Indy highlighted the real concern about the Cowboys heading into the playoffs: Dak Prescott and the offence. Dallas put together three five-minute drives in the first half and came away with nothing. (GL)
12. Baltimore Ravens
2018 record: 8-6
Last week: 11
Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens’ playoff push, but they aren’t out of the woods yet. By next week, the Ravens could lead AFC North or be eliminated from playoffs. Baltimore can take over first place in the division by winning in San Diego and Pittsburgh losing in New Orleans. The Ravens can be eliminated if they lose to the Chargers and three teams (Steelers, Titans and Colts) all win. (DB)
13. Tennessee Titans
2018 record: 8-6
Last week: 14
They’re down in the tie-breakers right now, but with a little help from Baltimore’s opponents and a home win over Indy in Week 17, this team can slide into the final wild-card spot. Caveat: When the Titans and Colts met a month ago, Indy won 38–10. (CB)
14. Seattle Seahawks
2018 record: 8-6
Last week: 9
The bad news is the Seahawks had a major letdown in Sunday’s tilt versus the 49ers and lost in overtime. The good news is the NFC wild-card picture is kind of a mess and, at 8-6, they’re still in the driver’s seat for the first spot. (CB)
15. Philadelphia Eagles
2018 record: 7-7
Last week: 19
When the Eagles control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball like they did on Sunday, they’re a team that can compete with any in the NFC. Unfortunately, it may be too late to salvage the season. (GL)
16. Miami Dolphins
2018 record: 7-7
Last week: 15
Despite keeping their heads above water this late in the season, the Dolphins have one of the league’s worst rushing defences and the Vikings took full advantage Sunday. (GL)
17. Cleveland Browns
2018 record: 6-7-1
Last week: 20
With the Steelers’ win Sunday, the Browns were eliminated from the AFC North race but are still alive for the No. 2 wild card. However, Cleveland’s only path requires a Colts-Titans tie in Week 17, so don’t hold your breath Browns fans. (DB)
18. Washington Redskins
2018 record: 7-7
Last week: 23
As unlikely as it has seemed over the last eight weeks, Washington is still very much alive in the NFC wild-card race. It’s fair to say, however, we’d all be shocked if this is the team to claim that sixth spot. (GL)
19. Carolina Panthers
2018 record: 6-8
Last week: 18
The Panthers got gifted a shot to save their season Monday night. All they needed was about 45 yards to get into field-goal range, and they seemed more than willing to use the centre of the field to do it. But Cam Newton’s sore shoulder couldn’t get them there. They’ve now lost six in a row, and their season is essentially over. (CB)
20. Green Bay Packers
2018 record: 5-8-1
Last week: 16
Aaron Rodgers had his record streak without an interception snapped. With another post-season missed, the Packers should shut No. 12 down for their final two games and let Rodgers fully heal in what has been a lost year. (DB)
21. Denver Broncos
2018 record: 6-8
Last week: 17
With the loss to the Browns, the Broncos have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. Denver can at least take solace in its rookie class, which includes difference makers on offence and defence in Bradley Chubb and Philip Lindsay. (CB)
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2018 record: 5-9
Last week: 21
And the playoff-less streak extends to 11 straight years. And hey, speaking of sad Tampa Bay sports stuff, here’s a depressing article about coming to terms with the Rays eventually leaving town. (CB)
23. New York Giants
2018 record: 5-9
Last week: 22
Just when the Giants were beginning to garner some praise, they lay an egg at home against the Titans. Now eliminated from playoff contention, this team becomes one of the more fascinating to watch this off-season. (GL)
24. Cincinnati Bengals
2018 record: 6-8
Last week: 26
The Bengals snapped a five-game losing streak, but were still officially eliminated from playoff contention. In hindsight, their fans would prefer superior draft position than the Raiders rather than a win over them. (DB)
25. Buffalo Bills
2018 record: 5-9
Last week: 28
The Bills never win pretty, but Josh Allen and the offence deserve credit for Sunday’s victory given Buffalo played large portions of the game without a single running back. (GL)
26. Atlanta Falcons
2018 record: 5-9
Last week: 27
Silver lining for a frustrating campaign: Julio Jones is having what will go down as one of his best seasons in the NFL. He topped 100 catches for the third time in his career Sunday, and is leading the league (by a mile) with 1,511 receiving yards. (CB)
27. Detroit Lions
2018 record: 5-9
Last week: 24
The Lions lost once again. The good news is the loss was worth at least four spots in the 2019 draft order. Detroit is currently slotted at No. 7. With a win, they’d have been in position to pick 11th. (DB)
28. San Francisco 49ers
2018 record: 4-10
Last week: 31
With wins over the Broncos and Seahawks in the last two weeks, the 49ers are playing themselves out of a shot at the No. 1 pick, which — even with no need for a long-term solution at QB — could be a really nice bargaining chip for a team with aims at contending sooner rather than later. (CB)
29. New York Jets
2018 record: 4-10
Last week: 25
Jets fans saw what Sam Darnold is capable of, enjoying the best game of his rookie season Saturday against the likely AFC South champs. Now it’s up to the front office to properly build around him. (GL)
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
2018 record: 4-10
Last week: 29
This team was 3-1 at one point. The Jags need help all over the offence, and no more so than at quarterback. (CB)
31. Oakland Raiders
2018 record: 3-11
Last week: 30
No one knows where the Raiders will play next season, which is both unheard of and strangely fitting of the dysfunction surrounding this team. (CB)
32. Arizona Cardinals
2018 record: 3-11
Last week: 32
You know it’s not a great time for sports fans in the Valley of the Sun when news outlets are writing columns asking Larry Fitzgerald not to retire (and then trying to figure out what other sports he could play). Fitzgerald, by the way, is still getting it done, even in this offence, catching seven of eight targets Sunday for more than 80 yards. (CB)
[relatedlinks]
