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2009 Power Rankings: Week 18
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Colts 14-2-0 Healing up and anticipating first-round results to learn whether they get Baltimore, the Jets or Cincinnati. (Kuharsky)
2 (2) Chargers 13-3-0 The Chargers are gathering more steam as "hottest team in the league" and a Super Bowl pick. (Kuharsky)
3 (5) Vikings 12-4-0 The Vikings finally seem more like the team that opened the season on fire. (Chadiha)
4 (9) Cowboys 11-5-0 The Cowboys' late-season run starts to remind you of what the Giants did on their way to Big Blue's last Super Bowl title. (Clayton)
5 (3) Saints 13-3-0 The bye week should help the Saints regroup, but they'll face a tough team in divisional round. (Sando)
6 (8) Packers 11-5-0 This will be a dangerous bunch once the postseason begins. (Chadiha)
7 (4) Eagles 11-5-0 To be shut out by Dallas in a game that meant everything to the Eagles has to be disturbing. (Clayton)
8 (6) Cardinals 10-6-0 Injuries suffered in "meaningless" finale could prove costly for two-time NFC West champs. (Sando)
9 (7) Bengals 10-6-0 They were wise to tank it in the season finale; now they'll see the Jets again in the first round. (Chadiha)
10 (10) Patriots 10-6-0 The loss of Wes Welker could be the blow that prevents the Pats from going to the Super Bowl. (Clayton)
11 (11) Ravens 9-7-0 The Ravens caught a break in the wild-card round when the Patriots' Wes Welker went down in Week 17. (Chadiha)
12 (14) Jets 9-7-0 The Jets fell short of the playoffs last year with Brett Favre but made it with rookie Mark Sanchez. Go figure. (Clayton)
The rankings were determined by a poll of four voters on ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton (AFC East, NFC East), Jeffri Chadiha (AFC North, NFC North), Paul Kuharsky (AFC South, AFC West), and Mike Sando (NFC South, NFC West).