NFL Power Rankings: Final Regular Season Rankings Heading into Postseason

It's not how you start, folks.

It's how you finish.

With the NFL's regular season wrapped up, we are headed to the playoffs. For postseason teams, it's an exciting and nerve-wracking time. For the losers of the NFL, it's a time to weep and stuff yourself with burritos shamelessly.

The New York Giants have risen after two straight wins to end the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts are still the worst team in the NFL and the New Orleans Saints have serious potential to upset the Green Bay Packers before the Super Bowl.

Oh yeah, and head coach Norv Turner still has a job after the San Diego Chargers choked...again.

Here are my final regular season power rankings, complete with analysis and jokes along the way (the jokes are for fans whose teams make them tense).

Bottom of the Barrel

32. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): You expected the Colts'offense to drop off after losing Peyton Manning for the season. You didn't expect the defense to be this bad, allowing 26.9 points per game and recording a league-low eight interceptions.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-14): The Rams scored 17 points against the San Francisco 49ers in their final quarter of the season. Unfortunately, their other 63 quarters of the season weren't very good. Quarterback Sam Bradford, after a strong rookie season, struggled behind a disappointing offensive line and didn't have many options at receiver.

Hopeless

30. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): The Vikings have two stars on their entire team: defensive end Jared Allen and running back Adrian Peterson. When they lost Peterson for the season due to injury, they lost any semblance of being an actual NFL team.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): The Buccaneers were virtually the same team this season as they were when they went 10-6 last season. Maybe that was the problem. If you aren't looking ahead in the offseason, you set yourself up to fail in the regular season.

28. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Running back Peyton Hillis was a victim of the Madden Curse this season. Unfortunately for the Browns, they've been cursed for decades. Worst part is, their "franchise quarterback," Colt McCoy, didn't look like much of a franchise quarterback this season.

27. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): I'm frankly shocked that the Chiefs even had seven wins this season. (Fired) head coach Todd Haley didn't have this team prepared from the start, nor did management add many pieces in the offseason. Hopefully, the resurgence under interim coach Romeo Crennel is a sign of things to come in Kansas City, but a 7-3 win over the Denver Broncos isn't exactly inspiring.

Can't Get Past That Hump

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): The Jaguars probably owe all five of their wins to running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has been magnificent this season. Other than that, rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been disappointing, and he doesn't have many options in the receiving corps, either. There's no way a team with Jones-Drew should average 15.2 points per game.

25. Washington Redskins (5-11): I like the Redskins' chances in the long run if they find a franchise quarterback (ahem, Robert Griffin III), but for now, their emerging defense has been let down by bad quarterback play.

24. Carolina Panthers (6-10): The Panthers have to be pleased with Cam Newton's rookie season, although he still has some developing to do. As for the defense, it needs help. Badly.

23. Miami Dolphins (6-10): The Dolphins always seem to be that team that plays top teams tough, but can't get past the hump. They went 6-10 this season despite not having a starting quarterback (OK, technically they had one). If they can find a franchise QB, they could finally get past their woes. Then again, easier said than done.

Have Some Promise

22. Buffalo Bills (6-10): The Bills won five of their first seven games, then went on to win one game the rest of the season. A large part of that has to do with their defense, which is why they fired defensive coordinator George Edwards. It doesn't help that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 23 interceptions, either.

21. Chicago Bears (8-8): The Bears appeared headed to the playoffs until starting quarterback Jay Cutler was lost for the season. They can blame their string of losses on that, but the reality is, the defense let this team down, too.

20. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Pete Carroll's Seahawks beat top teams, then lose to poor ones. It makes no sense. After beating the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round last season, the Seahawks beat the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens this season while losing to such teams as the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. A top quarterback would do this team wonders.

19. Arizona Cardinals (7-9): The Cardinals are actually a candidate for me to rise next season. Their young defense got significantly better in the second half of the season, and it's a reason why they won seven of their last nine games despite having a bad quarterback situation.

The Model of Inconsistency

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): The Chargers continually play below their talent level. They lose six straight games, then go on the beat the Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders when it doesn't mean anything. Why head coach Norv Turner still has a job is beyond me.

17. Oakland Raiders (8-8): The Raiders crumbled this season when they needed only nine wins to capture the AFC West. There's certainly promise in this team, but when you lose four of your last five games (including a season-ending embarrassment to the Chargers), you wonder where this team's head is at.

16. Denver Broncos (8-8): Tim Tebow led the Broncos to six straight victories, then lost three straight games to end the regular season, including a 7-3 embarrassment to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. A young, emerging defense and an offense that has trouble throwing the ball.

15. New York Jets (8-8): So much for head coach Rex Ryan's proclamation that the Jets would win the Super Bowl. What a disgrace. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is not the answer in New York, but Ryan can't grasp that. It will doom the Jets for years to come.

Getting There

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Another inconsistent team. They say a team takes on the personality of its quarterback. That may be the case with Tony Romo and the Cowboys. They had the division in their hands and dropped it.

13. Tennessee Titans (9-7): This team needs a new quarterback and receiver Kenny Britt back (as well as running back Chris Johnson), but the defense allowed less than 20 points per game this season.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): I predicted the new Eagles would struggle early and then get things together in time to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, it took longer than I thought. The Eagles started 4-8, then won their last four games. They still have the offense and defense to capture the NFC East next season.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): The Bengals organization, and rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, deserves a wealth of praise. Called one of the worst teams in the NFL in the preseason, the Bengals offense developed faster than expected and the defense surprised.

10. New York Giants (9-7)

When you have a quarterback like Eli Manning, not to mention a stud rookie receiver in Victor Cruz, you are always dangerous.

The Giants got off to a bad start, but won their last two games in convincing fashion to win the NFC East.

This team needs help at linebacker and the secondary, but the pass rush is riveting, and the offense has the talent to explode on opponents.

9. Houston Texans (10-6)

The Texans would likely be higher on the power rankings to end the regular season if it weren't for the loss of starting quarterback Matt Schaub.

I love this team's emerging defense, however, and the Texans could be scary next season with all their weapons.

8. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

Quarterback Matt Ryan solidified his status as the Falcons franchise quarterback this season, running back Michael Turner is still a stud and receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones add to this team's explosive attack.

This team has a lot going for it, but the 45-16 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 was troubling.

7. Detroit Lions (10-6)

Maybe it's just me, but the Lions seemed imbalanced this season, and I don't mean they passed more than they ran.

This team has a lot of talent, an emerging defense and an exciting young quarterback in Matthew Stafford, but an ugly loss to the Chicago Bears, blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints and forgiving defensive effort against Matt Flynn and the Green Bay Packers makes me wonder if the Lions are focused enough to be a Super Bowl team.

However, they do have the ability to be a Super Bowl team down the line.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

The Steelers have given up a league-best 14.2 points per game this season, but the offense hasn't been as good as last season, averaging 20.3 points per game.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, given they have receivers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, and they've averaged a respectable 4.4 yards per carry.

However, you wonder if this team is in need of a star running back. Rashard Mendenhall hasn't looked as good this season.

5. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

The Ravens have been inconsistent this season, which bothers me, but they still have the defense and offense to make it to the Super Bowl.

I worry about a team that loses to the Titans, Jaguars, Seahawks and Chargers, though.

Something's off with the Ravens this season.

4. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

The 49ers have the best defense in the National Football League, I'm just going to put it out there.

They've allowed 14.3 points per game this season, and beyond linebacker, Patrick Willis and defensive tackle Justin Smith have two emerging stars in linebackers Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman. On top of that, cornerback Carlos Rogers has revitalized his career and safety Dashon Goldson has been a big-time playmaker.

Did I mention this team's offense has grown by leaps and bounds from last season?

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Quarterback Drew Brees has been fantastic this season, and he's led the Saints to eight straight wins to end the regular season.

When you score this many points, you have the ability of beating anyone, and that includes the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.

Running back Darren Sproles has also been a godsend for this team.

2. New England Patriots (13-3)

There are concerns with the Patriots pass defense, but when you have an offense led by Tom Brady, the reality is, the Patriots can still win the Super Bowl.

Not to mention, head coach Bill Belichick is the best in the league and knows the postseason like he knows how to hide injuries.

1. Green Bay Packers (15-1)

The Packers have an offense that can dominate anyone, and while their pass defense gives up a lot of yards, it also has 31 interceptions on the season, by far the most in the NFL.

That combination of offense and turnover margin can be deadly, as 15 teams have discovered this season. It's the reason why I have the Packers winning their second straight Super Bowl in 2012.