A lot of teams lost pivotal games last week. Here’s how the the NFL Week 17 Power Rankings break down heading into the final week of the regular season.

(Won-Loss Record and Last Week’s Ranking in parentheses)

  1.  Arizona Cardinals (13-2)(2) – Toughest schedule, best results.
  1.  Carolina Panthers (14-1) (1) – Loss of momentum or pressure is off?
  1.  Denver Broncos (11-4) (7) – Guess who’s back.
  1.  New England Patriots (12-3) (3) – Going cold at the worst time.

T-5.  Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) (5) – Are they for real or a product of the schedule?

T-5.  Seattle Seahawks (9-6) (4) – Only a blueprint to beat them if you have the Rams front four.

  1.  Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) (9) – Close but no cigar.
  1.  New York Jets (10-5) (10) – Only they believed. . .
  1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) (6) – The costliest mistake of all.
  1.  Minnesota Vikings (10-5) (11) – Have to prove they belong next week.
  1.  Green Bay Packers (10-5) (8) – Are you “playoff ready” if you’re ready to exit them?
  1.  Oakland Raiders (7-8) (12) – Looking to end on a high note.

T-13.  Washington RacialSlurs (8-7) (14) – To put them in context, the NFC as a whole has the worst record against the rest of the NFL since 19 frigging 70.  OK?

T-13.  Houston Texans (8-7) (15) – Season savin’, Cowboy baitin’, Browns too late-in Brandon Weeden.  How ‘bout that?

  1.  Atlanta Falcons (8-7) (16) – Back to the drawing board.
  1.  New York Giants (6-9) (13) – Do you know how quick Tom Coughlin gets a new job if they are stupid enough to fire him?
  1.  Buffalo Bills (7-8) (18) – The endless enigmas.
  1.  St. Louis Rams (7-8) (20) – Finally playing to their strengths.
  1.  Detroit Lions (6-9) (21) – Do you know how fast Calvin Johnson gets picked up if they release him?
  1.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9) (17) – I think Jameis Winston would love to play spoiler against Cam Newton.
  1.  Indianapolis Colts (7-8) (22) – They have one week of oxygen left.
  1.  New Orleans Saints (6-9) (24) – Brees power.
  1.  Chicago Bears (6-9) (26) – Nothing to see here folks.
  1.  Baltimore Ravens (5-10) (27) – Overcoming adversity, injury, and having to play Ryan Mallett.
  1.  Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) (23) – Yeah, they need to put a defense on the field to match that great young offense.
  1.  Philadelphia Eagles (6-9) (19) – Sam Bradford wants to come back to Philly.  Someone get him season tickets.
  1.  Dallas Cowboys (4-11) (25) – The thrill is gone.
  1.  Cleveland Browns (3-12) (28) – I’d honestly rather be the Browns than any of the teams below them except maybe Tennessee.
  1.  Miami Dolphins (5-10) (29) – Try to predict the future of this roster.  Or coaching staff.  Or front office.
  1.  San Diego Chargers (4-11) (30) – Phil, you deserve better.
  1.  San Francisco 49ers (4-11) (31) – Did some idiot actually suggest they want Alex Smith back?

32.  Tennessee Titans (3-12) (32) – Better with Mariota.  Too bad he’s been hurt half the year.

 

Featured image via Rob Perez