BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 26: (L-R) Senior Coordniating Producer for ESPN’s NFL studio shows Seth Markman, Sunday NFL Countdown Host Sam Ponder and Former NFL coach & ESPN analyst Rex Ryan of ‘ESPN’s Sunday’s NFL Countdown’ speak onstage during the ESPN portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Here are the top 5 NFL teams as we head into the weekend of week 18!
1. Kansas City Chiefs:
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 24: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts before the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on January 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The band Talking Heads had a song with the line, “Same as it ever was, same as it ever was…” This is the case for the Chiefs. They began the season in the top spot, and here they are at the end of the year with the top spot.
2. Buffalo Bills:
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 16: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills calls a play at the line during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
The Bills are the only team to defeat the Chiefs this season, and an AFC matchup in Kansas City between these two teams seems poetic.
3. Minnesota Vikings:
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: Aaron Jones #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs for a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Vikings are the improbable team at the top of this list. Nobody thought they’d be 14-2 heading into a wk.18 showdown with the Lions. A loss, taking them to 14-3 drops them all the way into the fifth seed in the NFC, with no bye and a road playoff game. A win gives them the top spot and a first-round bye.
4. Detroit Lions:
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 24: Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions scores a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
The Lions were expected to be here, but everything I wrote about the Vikings is the same for the Lions. A win gives them the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye, but a loss drops them to fifth and a first-round road game.
5. Baltimore Ravens:
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, JANUARY 20: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Texans 34-10. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
The Ravens somehow have five losses on the year and in many ways, have been the most resilient team in the league. They hold the lead in the AFC North, and heading into the playoffs; they are a team nobody will want to face. Realistically they will have to head to Buffalo in the divisional round.
