NFL Power Rankings 2025: Week 18, All 32 Teams

The Jaguars have extended their winning streak to seven as Trevor Lawrence’s unbelievable run rolls on. In those last seven games, Lawrence has amassed a league-high 21 total touchdowns (16 passing, five rushing) with a third-ranked 102.4 passer rating. He scored twice against Indianapolis on Sunday, both on runs inside the 10-yard line, to give Jacksonville a third-quarter lead. Even with another standout performance from Lawrence, the game came down to Cam Little, who connected on all three of his second-half field goal attempts to stay perfect through this winning streak (he’s hit 12/12 field goal attempts and 23/23 extra points since Week 10). Even with a commanding 12-4 (.750) record, the Jaguars will have to put one final nail in the coffin to solidify their claim to the AFC South title. They’ll host the Titans in Duvall next week with a chance to win the division for the first time since 2022.

The proving grounds that make up this home stretch of games leading up to the playoffs have pushed this 49ers offense to its limits, and they came up victorious again. Week 17 brought with it another shootout of epic proportions, as Brock Purdy recorded yet another five-touchdown day. Those didn’t all come through the air as they did in last Monday’s win over the Colts, however, as Purdy registered a rare pair of rushing touchdowns (just his second and third of the season) to keep his team one score ahead of the Bears through the first half. While the defense did allow a 31st-ranked 286 yards to Chicago’s offense in the second half, Purdy dialed up an eighth-ranked 139 passing yards on his own. He capped off San Francisco’s final drive with his 13th touchdown in the last three games (the league’s most in that stretch), a 38-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings that would win the 49ers their 12th game of the season. The Niners now sit just one game behind the 13-3 (.813) Seahawks, but they’ve held a tie-breaking win over their division rivals since Week 1. Week 18 provides a chance to turn that tie-breaker into a first-round bye.

Just feet from the finish line, Matthew Stafford has taken yet another stumble in the MVP race. The Rams’ field general forced some regrettable throws after finding himself behind in the second quarter, turning the ball over three times and finishing the night with a 29th-ranked 64.5 passer rating against the Falcons. Just a week after his career-best 225-yard day in Seattle, Puka Nacua was held to his lowest receiving total since Week 6 (although he had a pair of big plays called back on offensive holding penalties). That didn’t stop the third-year wideout from finding the end zone on an 11-yard catch-and-run to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles was unable to come up with a reception on the game's final drive, however, as their 21-point comeback came up short. This, their fifth loss of the season, has pushed the Rams out of contention for the NFC West title, but they have locked up a trip to the playoffs as a Wild Card.

The Bills went for the throat on Sunday after Josh Allen scored on his second rushing touchdown (both in the fourth quarter) of the day, bringing the Bills within two points of a win over the Eagles. Allen overshot Khalil Shakir on the two-point conversion attempt (a decision that can be attributed to Michael Badgley‘s blocked extra point attempt on Allen’s first rushing score), and Dallas Geodert scooped up the ensuing onside kick attempt to end the game in favor of Philadelphia. After Sunday’s kicking issues, Buffalo made the call to cut Badgley on Monday after acquiring him from Indianapolis just two games ago. They are expecting to get Matt Prater back in time for their first playoff matchup, although the loss (in conjecture with New England’s win) has put that first-round playoff bye out of reach.

The Texans extended the league’s longest active winning streak with another resounding defensive performance. The pass rush kept Justin Herbert on his heels throughout the contest, pressuring him 20 times (ranked third in Week 17) and sacking him five times (including a strip sack by Denico Autry that was recovered by Herbert). Offensively, C.J. Stroud had his ups and downs. On one hand, he completed just 57.1% of his passes (ranked 25th), throwing two interceptions in the second quarter. On the other hand, two of Stroud’s completions went for deep touchdowns to Jayden Higgins (75 yards) and Jaylin Noel (43 yards), as he notched multiple passing scores in a single game for just the fifth time this season. A loss in Week 18 could drop Houston out of the AFC’s No. 5 seed, but they still hold head-to-head wins over the Chargers and Bills.

The Packers left the floodgates open at Lambeau on Saturday, allowing the Ravens’ backfield to amass a league-high 307 rushing yards while they responded with just 79 of their own. Malik Willis held his own respectably in his first start of 2025, completing 85.7% of his passes (ranked second this week) for 288 yards (ranked seventh) and three total touchdowns. He also commanded the majority of Green Bay’s limited rushing success, generating 60 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns on just nine carries (which was still a team-high). Christian Watson also did his part with a season-high 113 yards and a score on five catches, but the team fell out of pace as Baltimore’s rushing onslaught continued. The Packers have now lost their third consecutive game, but they maintain their place as the NFC’s seventh wild card as everyone below them has failed to break .500 after 17 weeks.

12. Los Angeles Chargers

In a fatal blow to their division championship bid, the Chargers suffered their first loss since the Week 12 bye, falling to 11-5 (.688). Justin Herbert was battered by five sacks as the offensive line proved just how much they missed Jamaree Salyer (on top of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater). Amidst the madness, Herbert did manage a goal-line passing score to Oronde Gadsden, but not before throwing his 13th interception of the season (the fourth-most in the league). Los Angeles’ fifth loss of the season has trapped them firmly in a wild-card spot as we approach the final week of the regular season, but a Week 18 win is still pertinent as they jockey for position with the Bills.

The Panthers fell back to .500 on the season after failing to keep pace with Seattle’s offense in the second half. The game was tied at just three a side after two quarters as Carolina’s defense held the Seahawks to just 3.9 yards per play (ranked sixth in Week 17), which fell to a 17th-ranked 4.7 in the final two quarters. Bryce Young’s limited success on Sunday came from the rushing attack, as he took nine carries for 27 yards and the team’s only touchdown. Young managed just 54 yards through the air, his lowest passing total as a starter since his career began three years ago. This was Carolina’s fifth loss in their last nine games, but they squeezed out enough wins in that window to keep their lead over the NFC South heading into a win-and-in matchup at Raymond-James Stadium this week.

The Steelers’ offense was slowed to a crawl again on Sunday as Aaron Rodgers completed just 53.8% (ranked 29th in Week 17) of his fourth-ranked 39 passing attempts on the week. Rodgers’ lack of productivity through the air forced Pittsburgh to run the ball more than they would have liked against this stout Browns front, and they were predictably unsuccessful beyond Connor Heyward’s single positive carry of 29 yards. Take away that rush, and the Steelers would rank just 21st with 102 total ground yards divided among five separate rushers. The offense also fumbled the ball three times on the day, but they managed to recover all of them without surrendering a turnover. The defense held its own with 15 pressures (ranked seventh), two sacks, and two interceptions, but the team’s downfall would be Shedeur Sanders’ seventh touchdown pass in as many games. Pittsburgh failed to punch the ball into the end zone on the game’s final drive, with three consecutive incompletions wrapping up their fourth consecutive loss in Cleveland. The loss drops Pittsburgh to 9-7 (.563), setting up a divisional matchup for all the marbles next week against Baltimore.

While their playoff hopes were already dashed as of last week, the Colts continued to play hard with Philip Rivers under center. The 44-year-old quarterback completed just 56.7% of his passes (ranked 27th in Week 17), but he still managed 147 yards and a touchdown pass to Mo Alie-Cox. This effort, combined with the persistence of Jonathan Taylor, was enough for the Colts to keep pace with Jacksonville’s high-powered offense through three quarters, but they were unable to dial up another score as the lead was taken from them with a trio of field goals. The Colts will visit Houston in Week 18, hoping to snap this seven-game losing streak before the 2025 regular season expires.

The Falcons hung on to kick a game-winning field goal after surrendering their 21-point second-half lead. After Bijan Robinson dominated early on with a league-high 125 yards in the first half (with a little help from two of the defense’s three interceptions on the day), Kirk Cousins maintained his composure to lead his team on a successful two-minute drill. Following Puka Nacua’s game-tying touchdown, Cousins marched his team 32 yards down the field on nine plays to set up Zane Gonzalez for a 51-yard game-winning field goal. This is the type of win that inspires tangible morale in a team even after playoff elimination, and it may have been enough to buy Raheem Morris some much-needed job security.  

The Cowboys controlled the pace of this week’s game from end to end, ranking fourth in the league with a +17:28-minute time of possession margin. Their long, methodical scoring drives kept the ball out of Washington’s hands, and their wave of first-half scoring allowed them to close out the win with just six points in the second half. The closeness of this game highlighted persistent flaws in Dallas’s secondary, and it may have contributed to the release of Trevon Diggs on Monday. They’ll likely prioritize a defensive rebuild to give Dak Prescott and this high-powered offense something to play for in 2026.

Quinn Ewers may have completed just 14 passes on Sunday, but he was able to turn those into a sixth-ranked 118.0 passer rating and a couple of touchdown passes. One of those scores came on a 63-yard completion to Theo Wease Jr. on the third reception of his young NFL career. The defense kept Baker Mayfield and company at arm’s length for long enough to outlast their blockbuster fourth quarter, blocking a field goal attempt at the end of the second quarter to enter halftime with a 10-point lead. Jason Marshall Jr. and Ashtyn Davis also recorded interceptions on Mayfield, with Quinton Bell coming up with one of the quarterback’s two fumbles. Miami’s season is over, but they’ll have a chance to slow down New England’s unexpected run. A Dolphins win in Week 18 would end the Patriots’ hopes of a Wild Card Weekend bye.

Tampa’s already-turbulent path to the playoffs got even rockier this week, as the team picked up their eighth loss in the nine games since their Week 9 bye. Baker Mayfield’s league-leading 172 yards in the fourth quarter proved too little too late after a slew of turnovers (and a blocked field goal) kept them off the board in the second and third. By some miracle, this four-game skid since their Week 13 win over Arizona has not removed the Buccaneers from playoff contention, but this most recent loss takes them out of control of their own destiny with just a week remaining before the playoffs. Their postseason hopes are now contingent on a Falcons’ win over the Saints as well as their own victory over the Panthers.

The Saints notched their fourth consecutive win in comeback fashion this week after falling behind by 10 after the first half. Tyler Shough put an exclamation point on his bid for the 2026 starting job with an unprecedented 333 yards (ranked second in Week 17). Shough finished the day with a 147.2 passer rating (also ranked second) while registering multiple passing scores for the first time since New Orleans’ last loss five weeks ago. This team hit their stride too late in the year, but they could still influence the NFC South playoff race with a win over the Falcons this week.

The Titans started off hot as they have in these last three games, but the train derailed once again as Cam Ward struggled through the second half. The rookie completed just 40% of his 25 attempts in the final two quarters as he was sacked three times. They’ll face a Panthers’ team in Week 18 that needs the win to control their own playoff destiny, which provides Tennessee a choice that many teams face at the end of the season. Will they focus on draft stock or become the ultimate spoiler?

Kansas City’s recent woes continued in Chris Oladokun’s second start, as the team managed just 139 total yards on the day. In fairness to the Chiefs' third-string passer, generating yards against this Broncos’ defense is a tall order for even the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Oladokun did achieve one passing score, a five-yard pitch-and-run to Brashard Smith, and he avoided turning the ball over through four long quarters. The Chiefs will have an opportunity to finish this forgettable season on a high note, as they’ll attempt to snap this five-game losing streak in Las Vegas.

The Commanders’ offense showed sparks of life in the second half despite Josh Johnson’s awkward outing, scoring 13 points in the final two quarters to bring the game within one score. Jacory Croskey-Merritt kept this offense afloat, gashing Dallas for 105 yards and a pair of scores on just 11 total touches. His efforts fell short, however, as Washington failed to regain possession following a final Jake Moody field goal. The loss does help the Commanders hold their place at sixth in the draft order, but in the words of Terry McLaurin before Week 17’s game, “I’ll be damned if we’re going out sad.” A revenge win over the Eagles in Week 18 could take precedent over a slightly higher pick in the eyes of this unwaveringly proud Commanders’ team.

In a tradition as old as these two teams themselves, the Jets took another beating from New England as the defense allowed a 30th-ranked 11.4 yards per attempt to Drake Maye. New York allowed a league-high five passing scores, as the Patriots ran up a 21-point lead before the Jets could even respond with a Nick Folk field goal. The Jets’ season isn’t truly over, however, as they’ll have one last game to trip up the Bills as their rivals from up north grapple for playoff position.