As the NFL playoffs draw nearer, the standings are beginning to take shape. The pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the NFC intensifies with a pivotal Week 18 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The outcome of this game will determine who claims the top seed in the conference. Additionally, the AFC North and NFC South divisions remain undecided, alongside the final playoff spot in the AFC, which is still very much up for grabs.

In Week 17, significant developments unfolded as the Atlanta Falcons lost to the Washington Commanders, effectively securing a playoff position for Washington while placing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a favorable position in the NFC South. The Seattle Seahawks triumphed over the Chicago Bears in a lackluster Thursday night game, while a victory from the Los Angeles Rams, compounded by various tiebreaks, resulted in the Rams claiming the NFC West title. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins still cling to playoff hopes in the AFC, although both teams require favorable outcomes in other games, entailing a loss by the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

At the bottom of the standings, teams vying for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft find themselves in a competitive race, but certain squads seem to be misstepping in this pursuit. Notably, wins by the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Raiders have positioned the New England Patriots in a commanding position for the top draft choice come April. The contrasting objectives of teams, either striving for playoff contention or aiming for draft prospects, restructured the league's hierarchy once again in Week 17. As analysts from Moneyline assess the situation, they provide insights into the current state of the 32 NFL teams, ranking them from worst to first ahead of the final week of the regular season.