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2022 NFL Power Rankings Week 18: Tom Brady clinches, Aaron Rodgers on the verge

By Randy Gurzi

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spikes the ball after rushing for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spikes the ball after rushing for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /
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2022 NFL Power Rankings
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 29: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown scored by Dalton Schultz #86 against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Previous: 7th. Dallas Cowboys. 6. team. 123. .

6. Dallas Cowboys

The way this season is closing out, the Dallas Cowboys have to be kicking themselves for letting a couple of wins get away from them this season. They had a 14-point lead given up against Green Bay and then a 17-point lead was lost to the Jaguars.

With their win over Philly last week, they could have made a real run after the NFC East title and maybe even the No. 1 seed. Now, they’re 12-4 and left hoping the Eagles will lose out. Of course, they got a huge hand when the Saints beat the Eagles in Week 17 but Jalen Hurts should be back in their finale, and the Giants have little to play for with a postseason berth already clinched.

Those early losses really haunt them as they’re now counting on the Giants to give them a Week 1 bye, and if not, they stay at No. 5 in the playoff seeding and will have to go on the road to face Tampa Bay and the Bucs.

Previous: 5th. Cincinnati Bengals. 5. team. 56. .

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Plays on Monday Night Football vs. Buffalo Bills

Entering Week 17, the Cincinnati Bengals have reeled off seven wins in a row, including an impressive victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and a comeback over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, their latest test is going to be the toughest, and possibly most important, of the regular season.

At 11-4, they’re still in play for the No. 1 overall seed. Kansas City won, which means they’re 13-3 but should they fail to win against Las Vegas in Week 18 (they did struggle with the Broncos), Cincinnati could tie things up, and they have the head-to-head win.

None of that matters if they can’t beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 though. Buffalo is also ahead of them at 12-3, but a win means they knock them down a peg and have a tie-breaker over both teams.

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