The NFL has finally reached the final week of the regular season, which brings us to the conclusion of the divisional power rankings for the year. Interdivisional games have come to an end as the league schedules all divisional matchups for Week 18.The NFC West was challenged throughout the year, yet the preseason No. 1 ended the year on top. A dominant Week 17 sealed the top spot for the NFC West, which has an opportunity to get three teams from its division into the postseason (the AFC West is the only other division that can accomplish this). The AFC South staked its claim as the worst division in football, even though it may get two teams in the postseason. The NFC East wasn't as bad as we predicted and the AFC East ended up being much better .The final edition of the divisional power rankings is here. Football out west ended up ruling the league in 2021.Final interdivisional record: 16-28 (.364)Last week's ranking: 8The AFC South is hurt by the and having two of the worst records in the AFC, yet the division is
Austin Bryant Jersey a win away from having the No. 1 seed in the conference ( ). The are also a win away from a playoff spot, but could have locked up that spot if they beat the at home. The Titans were the only team in the division to win last week, as the
Joel Heath Jersey AFC South is 26-38 (.406 win percentage) with one week to play. The AFC South wasn't the worst division in NFL history, but it was poor throughout 2021.Final interdivisional record: 18-25-1 (.420)Last week's ranking: 7The NFC North wasn't a good division all year either, but the having the best record in football hid that from the rest of the league. Three teams are going to finish with a losing record, one of which ( ) has the worst record in the conference. The NFC North should be a better division than it demonstrated this season, a year after producing two playoff teams.There will be changes in the NFC North after the season, as the division is 28-35-1 (.445) with one week to play. Final interdivisional record: 20-24 (.455)Last week's ranking: 6The NFC East was the worst division in football last year, yet managed to improve in 2021 and get two playoff teams in the and . The division had one of the worst teams in football in the , but improved as a whole thanks to the emergence of Philadelphia. If the Eagles beat the Cowboys on Saturday, the NFC East will have two 10-win teams in 2021.The NFC East is 30-34 this season, as the .469 win percentage is a ma sive improvement over last year.Final interdivisional record: 22-22 (.500)Last week's ranking: 5The NFC South had one of the best teams in the league in the , yet all the injuries to the hampered their playoff chances, but the Saints can still sneak in with a win and a 49ers lo s. The had another poor finish to the year, but
Julian Okwara Jersey the improved in their first season under Arthur Smith. This division flirted with .500 all year, and will end up at the .500 mark. The NFC South is 32-32 headed into the final week of the year.Final interdivisional record: 22-22 (.500)Last week's ranking: 4The AFC East also will end up at the .500 mark, but this division will have two 10-win teams in the and -- both headed to the playoffs. The had a seven-game win streak, yet it wasn't enough to overcome a 1-7 start in the end.This division can still get three teams over .500 if the Dolphins win this week, which only the NFC West and AFC West can claim. The AFC East is 32-32 headed into Week 18. Final interdivisional record: 23-20-1 (.534)Last week's ranking: 3The AFC North held the title as the best division in football for a bit this year, but the going on a five-game losing streak and the having a disappointing finish took them out of the top spot for good. This division may only get one team in the playoffs ( ), as the depth of the AFC North showed throughout the year. There was no easy out in the AFC North.The AFC North is 33-30-1 heading into the final week, finishing with the third-best win percentage of the divisions (.523). All four teams in the division will have at
Ifeatu Melifonwu Jersey least seven wins.Final interdivisional record: 26-18 (.591)Last week's ranking: 2The AFC West was good throughout the year, as the had their six-year stranglehold on the division tested before they won seven games in a row to seal it. The Las Vegas Raiders and both have a shot at the playoffs, setting themselves up for what could be a winner-take-all finale. Three teams in the AFC West have nine or more wins, one of only two divisions that can stake that claim. The AFC West could get three teams in the playoffs,
Night Train Lane Jersey too, ( ) if the Colts find a way to lose Sunday.An entertaining division all year, the AFC West is 36-28 heading into the final week. That .563 win percentage is second-best in the NFL.Final interdivisional record: 28-16 (.636)Last week's ranking: 1The NFC West was the best division in football throughout the year, and its interdivisional record proved that -- winning over 63% of their games against nondivisional foes! A perfect 4-0 week in Week 17 cemented the NFC West's status as the best division in football, the only division that has two 11-win teams (and could have two 12-win teams after Week 18). Two teams in the NFC West are going to the playoffs, and a third is on the way if the win Sunday. No division in the NFL will be able to stake that claim if the Colts and 49ers win (Colts win eliminates three AFC West teams getting in the AFC playoffs), showcasing the strength of the division.The NFC West could get three teams with 10 wins if San Francisco wins this week. The division is 38-26, as the .594 win percentage is the best in football.