Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll
Frank Coyle / Head scout
www.draftinsiders.com
Lions vs Vikings to Determine NFC North Title
Teams of the Week
Vikings Win Shootout over Packers – 27-25
Ravens Blast Texans – 31-2
Rams Edge Broncos – 13-9
Players of the Week
Offense – QB Joe Burrow – Bengals
Defense – LB Tyrel Dodson – Chiefs
Rookies of Week
Offense – WR Malik Nabers – Giants
Defense – CB Max Melton – Cardinals
Games of Week 18
Saturday
Cincinnati (8-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) 8:00 pm
Sunday
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) @ Denver Broncos (9-7) – 4:25 pm
Minnesota Vikings (14-2) @ Detroit Lions (14-2) – 8:20 pm
Draft Insiders’ – NFL Power Poll – Week 18
Frank Coyle
NFL Team Poll
Ranking /Record /Team
#1 – 15-1 Chiefs
Chiefs slammed the Steelers on Christmas day behind a well oiled machine. Travel to Denver for a meaningful game for Broncos, though the Chiefs hold the #1 seed in the AFC.
#2 – 14-2 Lions
Lions edged the 49ers in a shootout. Host the Vikings Sunday night for the division title and #1 seed in the NFC. Lions defense has failed in big spots.
#3 – 13-3 Bills
Bills bombed the Jets behind another big Josh Allen performance. Travel to the Patriots this week with nothing at stake and the #2 seeding in the AFC.
#4 – 14-2 Vikings
Vikings edged the Packers in a wild playoff type matchup. QB Sam Darnold has been outstanding throughout the season and looks to close with big performance vs the Lions with everything on the table.
#5 – 13-3 Eagles
The Eagles bombed the Cowboys to clinch the NFC East and continue to peak. Travel to Metlife to close vs the Giants with a few key players expected to sit out.
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#6 – 11-5 Ravens
Ravens pounded the Texans behind a complete team performance. Host the Browns needing to win to clinch the AFC North.
#7 – 11-5 Commanders
The Commanders clinched the wild card spot with a big win vs the Falcons behind rookie Jayden Daniels. Need to win in Dallas to gain a better postseason matchup in the first round.
#8 – 11-5 Packers
The Packers lost a wild matchup vs the Vikings. They still are a wild card club. Host the Bears in the finale looking for a win to gain a more favorable matchup in the postseason.
#9 – 10-6 Steelers
Steelers came up short again, this time vs the Ravens where they were totally overmatched. Still alive for the AFC North title with a win over the Bengals. Their highly rated defense will be tested to the limit vs the incredible Joe Burrow who is playing crazy great currently.
#10 – 9-7 Bucs
Bucs pounded the Panters behind another top performance by Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. Host the Saints with the NFC South title in the balance.
#11 – 10-6 Rams
Rams clinched the NFC West title with a tight win over the Cardinals. Host the Seahawks in a meaningless NFC West matchup. QB Matthew Stafford has performed well and is peaking with the playoffs here to give the Rams a chance to advance.
#12 – 10-6 Chargers
Chargers bounced back with wins over the Broncos and Patriots to earn a wild card berth. Travel to Las Vegas and playing for the highest rated wild card team. Looking like a sleeper in the AFC postseason.
#13 – 9-7 Texans
The Texans were crushed by the Ravens in latest game, though clinched the AFC South and the #4 seed. Travel to Nashville for a meaningless game for the standings, though important for them to reverse their recent performances.
#14 – 9-7 Broncos
The Broncos fell short vs the Bengals. Host the Chiefs in a must win situation and earn a wild card spot with a victory. Rookie QB Bo Nix has been outstanding and faces a #1 seed Chiefs club who sits out a few key players.
#15 – 9-7 Seahawks
Seahawks failed in big spots down the stretch which cost them any chances in the finale. Face the Rams with key questions on their future roster.
#16 – 8-8 Bengals
The Bengals continue to peak behind amazing performances by QB Joe Burrow. They have long playoff chances and travel to Pittsburgh in a must win situation where they also need help vs the Dolphins and Broncos.
#17 – 8-8 Falcons
The Falcons have won two in a row behind rookie QB Michael Penix. They host the Panthers and need help ironically from the Saints who face the Bucs with the NFC South title in the balance.
18 – 8-8 Dolphins
Dolphins are still alive with a key game vs the Jets at Metlife. They are in a three team race for the final playoff spot with the Broncos and Bengals.
#19 – 7-9 Cardinals
The Cardinals came up short down the stretch despite a much-improved roster. They compete their season hosting the 49ers and looking forward to 2025 for a playoff run.
#20 – 7-9 Colts
The Colts lost another close game this time vs the desperate GMen. Their host the struggling Jaguars to compete a very disappointing season with broadscale upcoming changes expected.
#21 – 6-10 49ers
The 49ers lost another tight game this time vs the Lions. They will complete their first sub .500 record since 2020. Play out the string at Arizona this Sunday.
22 – 7-9 Cowboys
The Cowboys were crushed by the Eagles in last one. Host the Commanders in another meaningless game this week. There first sub .500 record since 2020 will dictate many changes this offseason.
#23 – 5-11 Saints
Saints were smacked by the Raiders last week. They can play spoiler with a win in Tampa this week.
New HC Darren Rizzi could earn a new contract with an upset.
#24 – 4-12 Bears
The Bears lost to the Seahawks 6-3 in the Boring Bowl last week. Travel to Green Bay, playing only for pride on another poor performance. Only 20 wins over the past four seasons. QB Caleb Williams needs extensive development and refinement.
#25 – 4-12 Jets
Jets talked a ton of smack this season, but eat their words after missing the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, a league record. They host the Dolphins hoping to spoil their playoff hopes in the finale.
#26 – 4-12 Jaguars
Jaguars edged the Titans last week. Go to Indy in finale of two disappointing AFC South clubs. Both clubs face major issues this offseason if they expect to be contenders in 2025.
#27 – 4-12 Raiders
The Raiders beat the Saints which pushes them back in the draft order. Host the Chargers where they hope to hurt their wild card position in the playoffs.
#28 – 3-13 Browns
Browns fell to the Dolphins with another weak offensive performance. They travel to Baltimore on Saturday to close the season where many changes on offense are expected this offseason.
#29 – 4-12 Panthers
Panthers were blasted by the Bucs last week. Travel to Atlanta in a must win situation for the Falcons to earn a final playoff spot. Young QB Bryce Young will be the key personnel decision this offseason.
#30 – 3-13 Giants
The Giants finally won a home game vs the Colts. Travel to Philly to face the embarrassing Saquon Barkley situation, though he plans to sit out and get ready for the postseason.
#31 – 3-13 Patriots
The Patriots were outmatched by the Chargers. They continue to struggle especially offensively despite rookie QB Drake Maye’s solid performance. This roster needs major turnover at all the impact positions.
#32 – 3-13 Titans
The Titans lost to the Jaguars in another lackluster offensive performance. Host the Texans in the finale playing only for next season in their third consecutive sub .500 season.
Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 30+ years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.
