The Sportsletter - New Year Rank 'Em

BY JEFF YODER

 JAN. 4, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

And happy Wednesday. In our first mid-week edition of 2023, we're unleashing power rankings for all three major sports in season (NFL, NBA and NHL). On a slow news day where the sports world is still holding its breath and saying prayers for Bills' safety Damar Hamlin, let's pause from the action and rank 'em. Hopefully your team's future looks bright in 2023...

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 18 Power Rankings

Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

Top Teams Shuffle Down the Stretch, But Rodgers, Brady, Belichick & Tomlin Are Surging Late

After the holidays, there’s only one week left in the NFL season to determine the postseason picture. The teams at the top have shuffled a bit down the stretch with nine teams boasting double-digit wins. Four franchises with iconic leaders dominated December in order to put their teams in position for the playoffs, and once they’re in, there’s no telling what they might do. Tom Brady (Bucs), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Bill Belichick (Patriots) and Mike Tomlin (Steelers) have all had a rough year. All four teams won in Week 17 with Rodgers (W4) and Brady (W2) riding win streaks toward the postseason. The Jags and Lions are also hot down the stretch. Here’s our final NFL Power Rankings before the playoffs.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 18)

1. Chiefs (13-3) | ↑2

2. Eagles (13-3) | ↓1

3. Bills (12-3) | ↓1

4. 49ers (12-4) | —

5. Cowboys (12-4) | —

6. Bengals (11-4) | —

7. Chargers (10-6) | ↑3

8. Vikings (12-4) | ↓1

9. Ravens (10-6) | ↓1

10. Giants (9-6-1) | ↑1

Teams 11-20: 11. Buccaneers (8-8) | 12. Packers (8-8) | 13. Patriots (8-8) | 14. Lions (8-8) | 15. Jaguars (8-8) | 16. Dolphins (8-8) | 17. Titans (7-9) | 18. Seahawks (8-8) | 19. Steelers (8-8) | 20. Jets (7-9)

Teams 21-32: 21. Saints (7-9) | 22. Browns (7-9) | 23. Raiders (6-10) | 24. Commanders (7-8-1) | 25. Panthers (6-10) | 26. Rams (5-11) | 27. Falcons (6-10) | 28. Broncos (4-12) | 29. Colts (4-11-1) | 30. Cardinals (4-12) | 31. Bears (3-13) | 32. Texans (2-13-1)

Biggest Risers: Bucs, Lions, Packers, Jaguars & Chargers

Biggest Fallers: Dolphins, Jets, Titans & Commanders

Editor's Note: Do you agree or disagree with any of today's Power Rankings? Reply to today's newsletter to share your thoughts.

NFL Playoff Picture | Week 18 Schedule

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Week 18 Clinching Scenarios for AFC & NFC Contenders

ESPN: NFL All-Pro Team: The Best Players at Every Position

Sporting News: NFL Power Rankings Heading Into Week 18

NBA

Post-Holiday NBA Power Rankings

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Nets & Nuggets Soaring as NBA Calendar Transitions Into 2023

It’s been a strange start to the NBA season with teams grinding through seasons within a season. Ups and downs have shook out and each franchise has begun to find their identity. Our first 2023 NBA Power Rankings are based on overall record and each team’s play over the last few weeks. The Nets (W12) and Nuggets (7 of last 10) have vaulted to the top while teams like the 76ers (8 of last 10) and Mavericks (W7) are surging while the Kings and Pacers are a bizarre surprise. Here’s where we see the NBA hierarchy as we launch the new year.

NBA Power Rankings

1. Nets (25-12)

2. Celtics (26-12)

3. Nuggets (24-13)

4. Grizzlies (23-13)

5. Bucks (24-13)

6. Mavericks (22-16)

7. Cavaliers (24-14)

8. 76ers (22-14)

9. Pelicans (23-14)

10. Pacers (21-17)

Teams 11-20: 11. Warriors (20-18) | 12. Heat (20-18) | 13. Suns (20-18) | 14. Kings (20-16) | 15. Clippers (21-18) | 16. Blazers (19-17) | 17. Knicks (20-18) | 18. Jazz (19-21) | 19. Wizards (17-22)  | 20. Lakers (15-21)

Teams 21-30: 21. Hawks (17-20) | 22. Bulls (16-21) | 23. Raptors (16-21) | 24. Timberwolves (17-21) | 25. Magic (13-24) | 26. Thunder (16-21) | 27. Hornets (10-28) | 28. Spurs (12-25) | 29. Pistons (10-30) | 30. Rockets (10-27)

Biggest Risers: Nets, Nuggets, Mavericks, Pacers & Kings

Biggest Fallers: Suns, Jazz, Pelicans, Hawks & Bucks

Additional Storylines

NBA: Week 12 Power Rankings: Nuggets Climb to No. 1 to Begin New Year

The Athletic: NBA Power Rankings: Nets Keep Winning, Luka Lifting Mavs, Other 2023 New Year’s Resolutions

NHL

Power Rankings On Ice

Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Hurricanes Lead Stacked Metro Race as NHL Point Leaders Shake Out

Let’s go for the hat trick! Our third dose of power rankings in this glorious mid-week edition heads to the ice. The Bruins have a stranglehold on the NHL entering 2023, but the Hurricanes stole the show with an 11-game win streak (it was snapped by the Rangers last night). We also watched the Devils — once on a 13-game heater — fall off in dramatic fashion. The Metropolitan Division has six of its eight teams with 44 points or more to open 2023. No other division has more than three. It was a busy night on ice (check our highlights section), but here’s where we’ve got ‘em heading into the second half of the year.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Bruins (29-4-4) | 62 points

2. Hurricanes (25-7-6) | 56 points

3. Golden Knights (26-12-2) | 54 points

4. Stars (23-10-6) | 52 points

5. Maple Leafs (23-8-7) | 53 points

6. Capitals (21-13-6) | 48 points

7. Lightning (24-11-1) | 49 points

8. Wild (21-13-2) | 44 points

9. Jets (24-13-1) | 49 points

10. Kings (22-13-6) | 50 points

Teams 11-20: 11. Rangers (48 points) | 12. Devils (49 points) | 13. Avalanche (41 points) | 14. Flames (43 points) | 15. Penguins (44 points) | 16. Islanders (46 points) | 17. Kraken (44 points) | 18. Oilers (42 points) | 19. Red Wings (39 points) | 20. Sabres (40 points)

Teams 21-30: 21. Blues (39 points) | 22. Senators (39 points) | 23. Panthers (38 points) | 24. Predators (38 points) | 25. Canucks (35 points) | 26. Flyers (35 points) | 27. Canadiens (33 points) | 28. Coyotes (31 points) | 29. Sharks (31 points) | 30. Ducks (24 points) | 31. Blue Jackets (24 points) | 32. Blackhawks (20 points)

Biggest Risers: Hurricanes, Capitals, Bruins, Lightning

Biggest Fallers: Devils, Red Wings, Panthers, Avalanche

Additional Storylines

B/R: Updated 2023 Hart Trophy Rankings for NHL’s MVP

ESPN: NHL Power Rankings: New Year’s Resolutions for Every Team

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🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Giannis Erupts for Career-High 55

The points keep coming! After a bucket-getting outburst in the NBA on Monday night, Tuesday brought a season-high 55-point outing from Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Bucks’ win over the Wizards (123-113). Giannis finished with 55-10-7. It was his third straight game with 40-plus.

🏒 NHL: Rangers Rally to Rip Hurricanes Streak

A busy night on ice yielded a streak-snapper in the Metro with the Rangers rallying past the Hurricanes in the third period (5-3) to end Carolina’s 11-game win streak. It was the Hurricanes’ first regulation loss in 18 games.

THE STORYLINES

⚽️ Pelé’s Farewell

Brazil was in mourning on Tuesday as legendary soccer player Pelé was laid to rest after his death last week at the age of 82. Arguably the greatest of all time, over 200,000 mourners paid tribute to him before his burial. (CBS Sports)

🏀 Expanding March Madness?

After nearly a year’s worth of meetings, the transformation committee, charged with reshaping archaic NCAA policies, produced a 40-page final report that was released Tuesday to potential expand March Madness fields. (Sports Illustrated)

🏈 X-Factors for the Natty

After a pair of thrilling semifinal games on New Year's Eve, the only hope is that college football's final game will come close to matching the drama. Georgia vs. TCU has a David vs. Goliath feel about it. (Bleacher Report)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• NFL Announces Bills-Bengals Will Not Be Rescheduled for This Week (SI)

• UFC President Dana White Admits He Hit His Wife in NYE Altercation (USA Today)
• Fans Give $4 Million & Counting to Damar Hamlin’s Toy Drive Charity (ESPN)
• Red Sox & Rafael Devers Avoid Arbitration With 1-Year, $17.5 Million Deal (CBS Sports)
• Panthers Reach Out to Jim Harbaugh for Head Coaching Job (B/R)

• Pelicans Zion Williamson to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury (Yahoo! Sports)

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Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

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