NFL Power Rankings: Who Are the Top NFL Playoff Contenders?

As we head towards Week 17 of the 2011 NFL season, two teams have separated themselves from the pack in my opinion and appear locked in to a collision course. If things keep trending this way, the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots will hit head on in Indianapolis at Super Bowl XLVI.

The Packers currently sit at 14-1 and have clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Green Bay has been the league's best team all season, and aside from a stumble in Week 15 in Kansas City, the team has looked better than everyone in the league by a country mile. 

For the Packers, it all starts under center, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having one of the best seasons in NFL history. Through 15 games, the 28-year-old has completed 343-of-502 passes (68.3 percent) for 4,643 yards, with an NFL-best 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also leads the league in yards per attempt (9.25), and his ridiculous 122.5 quarterback rating is a full 14.1 points higher than second place (Drew Brees, 108.4).

Rodgers leads an offense that is fifth in the NFL in yards (395.5 per game) but has been so efficient that it leads the league in points per game (34.3). In addition to that, the Cal product has completed 25 or more passes to seven different players. 

While the team's defense has some holes, and has allowed 286.3 passing yards per game (31st in the NFL), the Packers have also intercepted opposing quarterbacks a league-leading 29 times. Right now, I don't see anyone standing in Green Bay's way or giving them trouble on their path to a secondstraight NFC title.

Meanwhile, the Patriots just keep on rolling. Quarterback Tom Brady has his team on a seven-game win streak, and while Rodgers may have the NFL's MVP award all wrapped up, the 34-year-old Michigan product is having quite a season himself.

Through 15 games, Brady has completed 378-of-576 passes (65.6 percent) for 4,897 yards, with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His passer rating of 105.1 ranks third in the NFL. The offense he leads is second in the league in yards per game (424.5), second in passing yards per game (316.1) and third in scoring (30.9 points per game).

The Pats are absolutely dominant on offense. Tight end Rob Gronkowski has blown up and has been all but uncoverable this season, while wideout Wes Welker is leading the league in receptions (116) and receiving yards (1,518).

New England is currently 12-3 and will lock up home-field advantage with a win over the 5-10 Miami Dolphins in Week 17. With the way they are currently playing, I don't see anyone in the AFC besting the Patriots in the playoffs.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 17
 
1. Green Bay Packers (14-1)
2. New England Patriots (12-3)
3. New Orleans Saints (12-3)
4. San Francisco 49ers (12-3)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
7. Detroit Lions (10-5)
8. Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
9.  Houston Texans (10-5)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
11. Denver Broncos (8-7)
12. New York Giants (8-7)
13. Oakland Raiders (8-7)
14. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
15. New York Jets (8-7)
16. Seattle Seahawks (7-8)
17. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
18. San Diego Chargers (7-8)
19. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)
20. Miami Dolphins (5-10)
21. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8)
22. Carolina Panthers (6-9)
23. Buffalo Bills (6-9)
24. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
25. Washington Redskins (5-10)
26. Chicago Bears (7-8)
27. Cleveland Browns (4-11)
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)
30. Minnesota Vikings (3-12)
31. Indianapolis Colts (2-13)
32. St. Louis Rams (2-13)