2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 18: Bengals, Titans take their divisions

By Randy Gurzi | Jan 3, 2022

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) celebrates a go-ahead touchdown catch in the fourth quarter during a Week 17 NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-31. With the win the, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division and advance to the NFL playoffs.Kansas City Chiefs At Cincinnati Bengals Jan 2 /

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NFL Power Rankings; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

30. . . Previous: 28th. New York Jets. 28. team

28. New York Jets

A late decision not to kick a field goal might have come back to haunt the New York Jets. Up by four with 2:17 to play, Robert Saleh elected to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay seven. Zach Wilson was stuffed for no gain and that was all Tom Brady needed to go 93-yards on nine plays and lead his team to the 28-24 win (Tampa went for two to make sure New York had to score a touchdown in the final 15 seconds).

It was a rough way to lose after playing so well against the defending Super Bowl champions. They played clean and ran for 150 yards while also making things hard on Tampa Bay all day. Still, it wasn’t enough as they fell to 4-12 with the loss.

. . Previous: 26th. Carolina Panthers. 27. team. 87

27. Carolina Panthers

2021 has been a bad season for the Carolina Panthers but 2022 might be even worse for head coach Matt Rhule. There were reports ahead of their game against New Orleans that team owner David Tepper regrets the contract he gave to Rhule.

Tepper reportedly used words like “embarrassed” to describe his feelings on the deal he made as he found himself in a bidding war with the Giants. Now, let that sink in. The New York Giants who have failed to find a coach they liked enough to keep beyond two years since Tom Coughlin liked Rhule, so Tepper backed up the Brinks Truck. Maybe they should have seen the signs.

As for their game this weekend, they mustered up 10 points in their 11th loss of the season. This offseason could be interesting in Carolina, to say the least.

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