NFL Power Rankings: Breaking Down Where Every Team Stands in Week 16

Week 16 of the 2012 NFL season is here, and it’s time to evaluate how every single team in the league is standing with just two games left on the slate.

Let’s take a look at some playoff scenarios and offseason needs and make some general comments about the state of the league in this edition of our power rankings.

1. Denver Broncos (11-3)

Peyton Manning and Von Miller may just be the NFL’s offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, and have the Broncos surging to a nine-game win streak and a probable bye in the postseason.

2. San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1)

Colin Kaepernick has made coach Jim Harbaugh look like a genius.

Harbaugh's decision to switch to the young signal-caller on a permanent basis after incumbent starter Alex Smith was knocked out with a concussion five weeks ago has paid dividends, and the 49ers look like the most dangerous team in the NFC with two regular season games left to play.

3. New England Patriots (10-4)

The Pats were humbled against the Niners, but not before Tom Brady asserted himself as the NFL’s best QB and nearly led the team to an improbable win before faltering short in the final few minutes of Week 15’s Sunday Night Football matchup.

If they can take care of the ball and avoid turnovers (there were four against San Fran), the Patriots are certainly going to be tough to stop on their march back to the Super Bowl.

 

4. Houston Texans (12-2)

The Texans locked up the AFC South title and will be looking to get a bye this week.

That will not be easy, as they have to face a Vikings squad that showcases a resurgent Adrian Peterson gunning for Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing yards record—and the Houston run defense has looked lackluster over the past two weeks.

5. Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

It looks like the Falcons have locked up a bye and should be able to clinch the top seed in the NFC this week against a lowly Detroit Lions squad this coming Saturday night.

We hope the Falcons can finally find some success in the playoffs, as they will continue to be underrated until they flip the switch when things count the most.

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

Green Bay has been steadily improving and finally locked up a playoff spot, but has to get key players (such as Jordy Nelson) back on the field if they are going to make another serious Super Bowl run.

7. Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

The Seahawks are one of the most dangerous teams at home, and they get a chance to keep the NFC West title in play if they can knock out the Niners at CenturyLink Field on Sunday.

It’s going to be tough for any team to beat Seattle if it can somehow secure a home playoff game and win the division, and this group has proven to be a stable road unit with a big win last week against Buffalo.

8. Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

While the Texans humbled the Colts last week, Andrew Luck and co. still put up a huge fight and aren’t going to lie down in the Week 17 rematch.

We’re betting they can pick up an easy win against the Chiefs this weekend in order to secure a postseason berth.

9. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

The Ravens are in the midst of a three-game slide, but it’s hard to imagine John Harbaugh’s resilient group faltering for a fourth straight week against the New York Giants.

We still think they can lock up the AFC North, but Sunday’s loss to the Broncos made it a lot trickier.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

These surging Bengals are still very much alive in the AFC’s wild-card race and may even end up being crowned AFC North champs.

With just one loss (by a single point in Week 14 to Dallas) in the past six weeks, Cincy is atoning for its dismal four-game slide from Weeks 5 to 9.

It’ll be a blood bath in Pittsburgh this week, as the Steelers are holding on to slim hope they can still grab the sixth and final seed in the conference.

11. Washington Redskins (8-6)

It doesn’t matter who is under center in Washington, because as long as Alfred Morris is generating huge yards and the defense is making stops, this team is going to keep winning.

Kirk Cousins filled in adequately for Robert Griffin III in Week 15, and may be the starter when the ‘Skins square up with the slumping Eagles. A win would put them one step closer to winning the NFC East.

 

12. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

The Cowboys' overtime win against the Steelers kept them alive in the NFC East race, but they need to beat New Orleans this week to stay in contention when they close the season against Washington.

13. New York Giants (8-6)

Being shut out by the Falcons was not the ideal scenario for Big Blue, and they are now facing a do-or-die matchup against the Ravens on the road.

14. Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

AP is chasing Dickerson’s rushing record while his team is surging towards an improbable wild-card appearance.

However, we have a strong feeling that QB Christian Ponder’s play is going to dictate whether or not the Purple People Eaters have the chops to knock off the mighty Texans in their impending matchup.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) 

Don’t sleep on Big Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to win these last two games and put Pittsburgh back in the playoffs.

The Steelers control their own destiny and a win against Cincinnati and Cleveland will afford a postseason berth.

 

16. Chicago Bears (8-6)

After a hot start, the Bears have significantly cooled down and lost their chance at the NFC North crown with a home loss to Green Bay on Sunday.

However, they aren’t out of contention yet, but they do need some help. The team’s official website does a better job explaining all the different scenarios that the Bears need to happen in order to secure a playoff berth.

17. New Orleans Saints (6-8)

Guerry Smith of CBSSports.com dug deeper into the ridiculous amount of things that need to happen in order for the Saints to wind up in a five-way tie at 8-8 for the NFC’s last playoff spot.

It would take an absolute miracle for New Orleans to make the postseason, but the team would get a nice boost heading into the offseason by winning out regardless.

18. St. Louis Rams (6-7-1)

By allowing Adrian Peterson to go off in a loss to Minnesota last week, the Rams submarined their slim postseason chances and will have to look forward to next year—unless an alarming amount of fortunate breaks go their way.

19. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Here’s another team with practically no playoff chance, but somehow the ‘Phins are still kicking and fighting to reach .500 before the season ends.

It’ll be an absolute godsend if Miami made the postseason, but a strong finish would bode well for this tight unit in 2013.

20. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Cam Newton is trying to lead his team to a 7-9 finish after a 1-6 start destroyed any shot of making the playoffs in his sophomore season. They have a relatively easy road to that record, with Oakland in Week 16 and New Orleans in the finale.

 

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

Before the Bucs' four-game skid, there was tremendous hope around Raymond James Stadium. Now things are looking grim and the Bucs were their own worst enemy by losing three close games before being absolutely destroyed by the Saints last week.

22. San Diego Chargers (5-9)

These last two games are likely the swan song for Norv Turner and his tenure in Southern California.

Even if the Bolts win out, we expect a massive overhaul this summer for the team, as they need to re-tool in order to beat Peyton Manning in the AFC West.

23. Cleveland Browns (5-9)

Cleveland can play spoiler to a number of teams, especially those in their own division, by winning these last two matchups.

We expect the Browns will try hard to knock off the Broncos and Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks.

24. Buffalo Bills (5-9)

After playing St. Louis close two weeks ago, the Bills were absolutely decimated in Toronto by the Seahawks this past Sunday.

They are a poor team with lots of needs entering this upcoming offseason, and we hope they can finally address some of the most glaring problems (coaching, QB, etc.).

25. Tennessee Titans (5-9) 

The abysmal Titans actually managed to win a game against the lowly Jets on Monday Night Football by simply allowing the opposition to make more mistakes.

Jake Locker needs to improve in order to live up to his first-round draft status in 2011, or the team will soon be looking in a new direction.

 

26. Arizona Cardinals (5-9)

Arizona finally grabbed a win in Week 15, after losing nine straight and plummeting from a team to watch to a team to ignore.

They aren’t out of the woods yet and have two tough contests remaining against teams with motivation to win: Chicago and San Francisco.

27. New York Jets (6-8)

There isn’t a worse starting QB in this league than Gang Green’s Mark Sanchez, and it would be ridiculous if he were allowed on the field again in 2012 after committing five turnovers in a nationally televised loss.

It’s a shame the Jets went from back-to-back AFC Championship appearances to two-straight terrible seasons. There are more problems in New York than Sanchez, but he’s the biggest and must be the first addressed this summer.

28. Detroit Lions (4-10)

We’re just as surprised as you are that Arizona finally grabbed a win, especially against this team.

The Lions were supposed to make a second-straight postseason appearance, but were derailed by inconsistent offense, defensive meltdowns and atrocious coaching.

29. Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

All the Eagles can do at this point is build hope for next season by giving Nick Foles more reps and working in inexperienced players during the last two pointless games.

 

30. Oakland Raiders (4-10)

Will the Raiders brass once again replace the coaching staff? Dennis Allen’s fate is likely hanging in the balance of the next two contests.

31. Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

This couldn’t be a tougher season for KC, and everyone that’s a part of the organization or supports it cannot wait for the offseason to get here.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

The Jaguars made a thrilling case for the league to contract teams in 2012, as they were absolutely awful to watch and a shining example of just how pitiful a poorly managed NFL team can be.