NFL Power Rankings after Week 18: Lions, Bills clearly under most pressure this postseason

With all due respect to everyone else in the 2025 NFL playoff field, the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are clearly the main characters of this postseason. It’s not even close.

Detroit and Buffalo represent two of the most snakebitten franchises in league history, really even in American sports history. Prior to their recent Renaissances led by Dan Campbell and Josh Allen, they were perennial losers accustomed to snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory on a regular basis. They were cultural touchstones beloved (and bemoaned) specifically only by their respective fanbases in two cities that get very cold in the winter.

Now, they’re Super Bowl favorites with the pressure of finally delivering for their tortured fans after years and years of heartbreak. It’s a lot of weight to carry on one’s shoulders.

And you wanna know the best part for neutral observers over the next six weeks?

We could even see the Lions and Bills match up in Super Bowl 59, guaranteeing further ultimate sorrow for one NFL city. The suspense is terrible, and I hope it lasts. I’m not sure either of the Detroit or Buffalo metropolitan areas agree.

With the playoffs here this weekend, let’s take stock of all 32 teams in For The Win’s final NFL Power Rankings for the 2024 regular season. There’s a lot to unpack before we dive headfirst into what should be a thrilling postseason, so let’s get to it.