(Won-Loss Record and Last Week’s Ranking in parentheses)
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3) (1) – Chink in the armor?
2. Denver Broncos (12-3) (2) – All hail Peyton!
3. San Francisco 49ers (11-4) (3) – Mean and scary is a good look heading into the playoffs.
4. Carolina Panthers (11-4) (4) – Have earned their place.
5. New England Patriots (11-4) (7) – Just when you thought it was safe to forget about them. . .
6. Indianapolis Colts (10-5) (8) – They needed that confidence builder.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) (9) – The road question will dog them.
8. New Orleans Saints (10-5) (5) – The road question will REALLY dog them.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4) (6) – Finishing weak.
10. Arizona Cardinals (10-5) (10) – Hands down the best team that will be watching the playoffs on television.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) (14) – There for the taking.
12. Dallas Cowboys (8-7) (14) – No Romo.
13. Baltimore Ravens (8-7) (11) – Will have to earn it in a big way…at Cincinnati.
14. Miami Dolphins (8-7) (12) – That line couldn’t block a garden gnome.
15. San Diego Chargers (8-7) (17) – Need help, but also need to beat the Chiefs.
T-16. Chicago Bears (8-7) (13) – For all the marbles
T-16. Green Bay Packers (7-7-1) (16) – Who will win the division everyone tried not to win?
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) (19) – Still alive.
19. St. Louis Rams (7-8) (20) – One more chance to play spoiler – they can cost Seattle home field.
20. New York Jets (7-8) (21) – Win for Rex!
21. Detroit Lions (7-8) (18) – The collapse will almost certainly cost Schwartz his job, and maybe Matt Stafford too?!
22. New York Giants (6-9) (22) – The good news is they’re right in the hunt for next year.
23. Tennessee Titans (6-9) (23) – Off season puzzler: try again or start over?
24. Buffalo Bills (6-9) (24) – Stuck inside this mediocre team is a kind of good team fighting to get out.
25. Cleveland Browns (4-11) (25) – Gearing up for a rebuild around their two first rounders (that Trent Richardson trade is looking pretty smart).
26. Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1) (26) – Can’t win with that kind of defense.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) (27) – Have seen more than enough to know that Mike Glennon is worth another look next year as the starter.
28. Atlanta Falcons (4-11) (28) – Could become the Saints’ best friends ever if they beat Carolina this week.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) (29) – Injuries hurt everyone, but when you’re pretty down to begin with. . .
30. Oakland Raiders (4-11) (30) – Have lost 7 of their last 8.
31. Houston Texans (2-13) (31) – One more loss and the healing can begin.
32. Washington Redskins (3-12) (32) – Who’s gonna be dumb and give them a good draft pick for Kirk Cousins?
Power Image of the Week
Luke learning the ways of the force in Star Wars
