The team that no opponent wanted to see in the playoffs — the red-hot Bengals — didn’t make it.
A 10-win team — the Seahawks — also has no more games left to play.
Exactly half of the NFL’s 32 teams finished with winning records and the other half finished with losing records. Fourteen of the 16 winning teams are going to the playoffs, while the Bengals and Seahawks are the odd ones out.
The final week of the regular season produced some quirky results as many playoff-bound teams sat starters and pulled quarterbacks. Winning took a backseat to health and even draft positioning under certain circumstances.
When it was all said and done, here is The Post’s final edition of power rankings for the 2024 season:
1. Kansas City Chiefs 15-2 (1)
When does a 38-0 loss to the Broncos not knock a team from its perch atop the No. 1? When the starters sat with the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs locked up. The biggest loser was pending free agent Carson Wentz, who went 10-for-17 with 98 yards passing as the Chiefs’ six-game winning streak evaporated.
2. Buffalo Bills 13-4 (2)
MVP candidate Josh Allen took one snap and went to the bench, extending his streak of 115 consecutive starts. Mitch Trubisky and Mike White split the game from there and lost to the Patriots, 23-16, just before New England fired head coach Jerod Mayo. James Cook tied O.J. Simpson’s single-season franchise record with a 16th rushing touchdown.
3. Detroit Lions 15-2 (3)
Jahmyr Gibbs stole the show in the biggest game of the NFL season, scoring four touchdowns to up his season total to a league-high 20 in a 31-9 rout of the Vikings. An injury-riddled defense attacked Sam Darnold and played honest man-to-man pass coverage. The Lions clinched the NFC North title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
4. Minnesota Vikings 14-3 (4)
None of that season-long Darnold magic was anywhere to be found in the loss to the Lions. The Vikings converted a combined 3 of 16 third and fourth downs and failed to find the end zone. Will Reichard made 3 of 4 field goals but his miss — trying to close the deficit to 17-12 — was the beginning of a second-half implosion.
5. Philadelphia Eagles 14-3 (5)
What a first career start for third-stringer Tanner McKee, who threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-13 win against the Giants. Saquon Barkley (who needed 101 yards to set the NFL single-season rushing record) and most other starters did not play, but the Eagles still beat the Giants in Philadelphia for the 12th straight time.
6. Baltimore Ravens 12-5 (7)
MVP candidate Lamar Jackson put the finishing touch on a historic season in a 35-10 win against the Browns to clinch the AFC North title. He became the first quarterback ever to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns with four or fewer interceptions. Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman caught touchdowns, but No. 1 option Zay Flowers left with a knee injury.
7. Green Bay Packers 11-6 (6)
The Packers’ 11-game winning streak against the Bears ended on a 51-yard walk-off field goal that sealed a 24-22 defeat. Not only did the Packers lose control of the NFC’s No. 6 seed, but they lost Jordan Love (elbow) and Christian Watson (knee) to injuries. Brandon McManus’ 55-yard field goal with 54 seconds remaining gave the Packers their first lead of the game.
8. Washington Commanders 12-5 (9)
After taking over for Jayden Daniels, who was dealing with leg soreness, Marcus Mariota threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with seconds remaining in a 23-19 win against the Cowboys. Mariota accounted for three touchdowns after the Commanders managed only 64 first-half yards behind Daniels, the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year.
9. Los Angeles Chargers 11-6 (10)
The Chargers completed their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2018 by winning 34-20 in Las Vegas. Justin Herbert passed for 346 yards, including 186 to second-year pro Quentin Johnston, who picked a good time for a career-high 13 catches. Ladd McConkey broke a rookie record with a 10th straight game reaching at least 50 receiving yards.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7 (8)
The Steelers will limp into the playoffs as losers of four straight, including a 19-17 defeat in the regular-season finale. With a suddenly struggling Russell Wilson at the controls, the offense netted just 193 yards, with Trey Hendrickson’s 3.5 sacks leaving Wilson out of sync. Pat Freiermuth caught a touchdown but had a crushing late fourth-down drop.
11. Los Angeles Rams 10-7 (11)
12. Denver Broncos 10-7 (12)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7 (13)
14. Cincinnati Bengals 9-8 (14)
15. Houston Texans 10-7 (15)
16. Seattle Seahawks 10-7 (16)
17. Arizona Cardinals 8-9 (19)
18. Miami Dolphins 8-9 (17)
19. Atlanta Falcons 8-9 (18)
20. Dallas Cowboys 7-10 (20)
21. Indianapolis Colts 8-9 (22)
22. San Francisco 49ers 6-11 (21)
23. Carolina Panthers 5-12 (23)
24. Jets 5-12 (27)
Aaron Rodgers threw his 500th career touchdown pass — and then added three more in a 32-20 victory against the Dolphins. In what might have been Rodgers’ final NFL game, he connected with four different receivers, including two longtime teammates that he had imported from the Packers (Davante Adams and Allen Lazard). Garrett Wilson became the second-ever Jet with a 100-catch season.
25. Chicago Bears 5-12 (28)
26. Las Vegas Raiders 4-13 (24)
27. New Orleans Saints 5-12 (25)
28. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-13 (26)
29. New England Patriots 4-13 (32)
30. Giants 3-14 (29)
Like most of the season, Malik Nabers was awesome in the loss to the Eagles. Like most of the season, the Giants anyway. Nabers pulled off a spectacular sideline balance-beam to score a 45-yard touchdown. Drew Lock threw an interception on the Giants’ final-minute possession. It clinched the first winless NFC record in franchise history.
