Week 16 NFL Power Rankings: To the Victor Go the Spoils

1. Indianapolis Colts (14-0): The Indianapolis Colts are the best team in football right now—this very moment, this season. They are 14-0 and will cruise into the playoffs after a first-round bye.

The AFC crown goes through Indy this season.

2. New Orleans Saints (13-1):  The Saints face Tampa Bay next. The Saints will finish out 15-1 and have the NFC Championship game due in New Orleans. Saints, just don't have one of those bad halves against a good team.

3. Minnesota Vikings (11-3):   Okay, the Vikings are 11-3 now and looking human. Brett is not tired. Still, this looks to be one of the teams in the final four, so to speak.

4. San Diego Chargers (11-3):  You've come a long way, L.T., and now it's time to wrap a a great career with a Super Bowl. Get hot in the playoffs and see you in Pasadena.

5. Arizona Cardinals (9-5): This is the team no one wants to play in the playoffs. If they get hot, boom—21 points. Larry Fitzgerald, I dare you to do it again.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4): The Eagles won again while other teams with good records took losses. Philadelphia was one quarter away from the Super Bowl last season, and now they have added some weapons in youth and speed. Watch out for this team also.

7. Dallas Cowboys (9-5): Dallas has interesting work ahead of them. Win a playoff game—that would be a great start. Washington should not pose a problem this week as Dallas goes to 10-5. 11-5 may not win the division, however.

8. Green Bay Packers (9-5): The Packers dropped a couple of spots after losing to Pittsburgh with a poor defensive showing.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (9-5): Cincinnati is dealing with much off the field and will have to regroup after a tough going last week in San Diego.

10. New England Patriots (9-5): The Patriots must keep winning now and try to shore up the defense that has gone on vacation early. C'mon Belicek, get it together.

11. Baltimore Ravens (8-6): The Ravens have the big test in Pittsburgh this week.

12. Denver Broncos (8-6): The Broncos are needing to keep winning and find other weapons besides Brandon Marshall.

13. New York Giants (8-6): The Giants are still alive in the playoff race. They must win out and get some breaks. I do not think they will make the playoffs.

14. Miami Dolphins (7-7): Miami will fall just short in this playoff race and might lose to Houston, which will kill their playoff hopes for sure.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7): Jacksonville is not going to make the playoffs. New England will take care of that plan this week. No playoffs, no top 12. I'm sorry.

16. Houston Texans (7-7): Houston is desperately clinging to playoff hope. Forget it, it's over. 9-7 will not cut it.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7): Pittsburgh is right there with ya, Houston. Beat Baltimore first, and they need a lot of help. Could be 9-7—not great.

18. Tennessee Titans (7-7): The Titans also have a scat-cat chance of making the playoffs. Nice to save the 0-6 start with a 9-7 season. Just awesome, dudes.

19. Atlanta Falcons (7-7): Atlanta has a decent record at 7-7, but this will not be enough with Dallas and Philly both playing well. They sure can't catch the Packers.

20. New York Jets (7-7):  The Jets will be toast soon. The quarterbacking was spotty, at best. But a rookie, thrown in Week One, is not that bad. He will improve.

21. San Francisco 49ers (6-8): They didn't quite cut it this season.

22. Oakland Raiders (5-9): The Bay Area stays together with the Raiders moving up to No. 22. Hooray!

23. Carolina Panthers (6-8)

24. Chicago Bears (5-9): Chicago needs a lot of work.

25. Washington Redskins (4-10): Washington needs even more work.

26. Buffalo Bills (5-9): Buffalo is shopping for a coach. Is Marv Levy around?

27. Kansas City Chiefs (3-11): Not so fun out of New England, huh Matt? Kansas City, here we come.

28. Seattle Seahawks (5-9): Seattle just lost to Tampa Bay at home. Have I said enough?

29. Cleveland Browns (3-11): Cleveland has really moved up out of the cellar with a huge game by Marvin Harrison.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12): Tampa Bay got win number two.

31. Detroit Lions (2-12): Detroit keeps losing.

32. St. Louis Rams (1-13): The worst team in the NFL is still the St. Louis Rams.