The final week of the regular season has come to an end and the Baltimore Ravens have solidified themselves as the best team in the NFL. They convincingly defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers claimed the No. 1 overall seed after defeating the Washington Football Team 28-10, while the Philadelphia Eagles suffered a loss. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys secured the No. 2 seed after a controversial win over the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.
In the AFC, teams like the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Pittsburgh Steelers maintained their playoff hopes. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Minnesota Vikings have maintained their chance for a Wild Card slot heading into the final regular season games. As we approach Week 18, let’s take a look at the final NFL Power Rankings of the 2023 season and the first Power Rankings of 2024.
The Carolina Panthers faced a tough defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars as they fell to a 2-14 record and 0-9 on the road. Owner David Tepper was seen in a controversial incident during the game, adding to the disappointing outcome for the Panthers. In Washington, the Commanders lost their seventh consecutive game, and their second-year quarterback Sam Howell now leads the NFL with 19 interceptions.
The New England Patriots also suffered a loss, earning a 4-12 record for the season, the most losses they’ve had in a year since 1992. The Tennessee Titans also faced a tough defeat against the Houston Texans, dropping to a 5-11 record. Rookie quarterback Will Levis was injured during the game, adding to the Titans’ woes.
The Los Angeles Rams secured a narrow victory over the New York Giants, securing a 26-25 win in a closely contested match. The New York Giants now sit at a 5-11 record for the season. The Los Angeles Chargers had another unfortunate loss, dropping to a 5-11 record after starting backup quarterback Easton Stick for a third straight game.
The Philadelphia Eagles were shocked by the Arizona Cardinals, who staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 35-31 win. The Eagles were unable to hold on to a 15-point lead as the Cardinals rallied in the closing moments of the game. The New York Jets, led by quarterback Trevor Siemian, suffered a 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns, rounding off their season with a 6-10 record.
In Indianapolis, the Raiders faced a 23-20 loss to the Colts, bringing their season to an end at 7-9. This loss effectively eliminated them from the AFC playoff race. The Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons faced off, with the Bears securing a 37-17 victory against the Falcons. Atlanta was hoping to make the playoffs, but their loss to the Bears has dashed those hopes.
The Green Bay Packers secured a win against the Minnesota Vikings, placing them in a good position for the NFC playoffs. They won by a score of 24-10, with quarterback Jordan Love leading the team to victory. Finally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a tough loss against the New Orleans Saints, adding more suspense to the NFC playoff picture.
As the regular season comes to a close, and we head into the playoffs, fans around the league are eagerly anticipating the thrilling matchups that are set to come. The final week of the 2023 NFL regular season certainly did not disappoint, leaving us all eagerly anticipating the start of the playoffs. With so much excitement and drama, the 2023 NFL season is sure to be one that fans will remember for years to come.
