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

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)
3 of 16
2022 NFL Power Rankings
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Baker Mayfield #17 of the Los Angeles Rams directs his team during the first quarter in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

28. Denver Broncos

Is it a coincidence that the first game for the Denver Broncos after firing Nathaniel Hackett might have been their best of the year?

While they didn’t win, they hung with the Chiefs, even taking a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter. Kansas City went up 27-17 with a strong spurt but the Broncos pulled to within three with 6:14 left.

They couldn’t pull off the upset as time ran out but Russell Wilson finally wasn’t a complete liability — he had one touchdown pass and two on the ground. He had one ugly pick during the Chiefs’ run but overall, he looked more like himself than he had all season.

27. Los Angeles Rams

It was fun watching Baker Mayfield play out of his mind when the Los Angeles Rams dropped 51 on the Denver Broncos — who later fired their coach — but that wasn’t happening against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Their defense was ready for Mayfield and the Chargers’ offense was too much for their L.A. counterpart. In the end, the Rams lost 31-10 and are now just 5-11 on the season. Just one year after winning it all, they’re now focused on seeing what they have in Mayfield as they wait to see if Matthew Stafford is going to be able to return to form.