NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Making a Case for the League's Best Team

There is only one team that has clearly been the best in the NFL all season, and that is the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

Other than a stumble in Kansas City in Week 15, the Packers have been consistently dominant all season. Dating back to last season, Green Bay has won 20 of its last 21 games and sits atop the NFC at 14-1. 

For the Packers it all starts under center, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be having the greatest season for a quarterback 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-high 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also leads the league in yards per attempt (9.25) and his 122.5 quarterback rating is an incredible 14.1 points higher than second place (Drew Brees, 108.4).

Led by Rodgers, Green Bay's offense ranks fifth in the NFL in total yards (averaging 395.5 yards per game) but that unit has been so efficient that it leads the league in points per game at 34.3. The Cal product has also done a great job spreading the ball around to his targets, as seven different players have caught 25 or more passes for the Packers this season.

Green Bay does have some holes defensively, as it has allowed 286.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL. That said, the Packers have intercepted opposing quarterbacks a league-leading 29 times. 

Right now it is difficult to see any opponent slowing down Rodgers and Green Bay's offense to make the defense's lapses matter for much.

The Packers can outscore anyone, and their playmakers on defense should be enough to make the difference against any potent offense.

It's hard to argue against Green Bay being the league's best team entering Week 17.

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)