NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Biggest Movers Heading into Huge Weekend

As the dust begins to settle on the 2012 NFL season, the power rankings have finally settled into something resembling a familiar pattern. The top teams have been well established, even if they do move a spot or two, and the bottom teams are still fighting to stay out of the last spot. 

Week 16 really is the last chance for teams to make any kind of move one way or the other, because the last week of the season will feature a lot of teams resting stars and preparing to get set for the playoffs. 

This is, for all intents and purposes, the last complete weekend of the season for the NFL in 2012. All 32 teams will be playing with everything they have. Some will be playing to lock up postseason berths and/or positioning. 

With that in mind, here are the teams whose performance in Week 15 has them making significant moves. 

Note: Biggest movers are headlined in italics.

No. 1 Denver Broncos (11-3)

The Broncos climbed to No. 1 this week thanks to a nine-game winning streak, a blowout victory against AFC North-leading Baltimore and being arguably the most consistent team on both sides of the ball. 

No. 2 San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1)

After spending the last few weeks hanging around the top five, the 49ers make a huge jump after their spectacular, thrilling victory at New England. That game was basically a tale of two different 49ers teams, with the good version coming out ahead. 

Some might say the defense fell apart before the offense was finally able to rescue them, thanks to the heroics of LaMichael James and Michael Crabtree. But that is missing the bigger picture of what this team does. 

How about the fact they put up 41 points against New England in a game in which they did not look sharp? Colin Kaepernick had issues getting the snap under center. They turned the ball over more often than normal. This was far from a perfect game for this team, yet they still dropped 41 against a team that was being talked about as the best in the NFL after Week 14. 

No. 3 New England Patriots (10-4)

The Patriots hurt themselves a lot in Sunday's loss to the 49ers, but a furious comeback showed the toughness and resiliency this team has. 

No. 4 Houston Texans (12-2)

The Texans need to find ways to beat the elite teams if they want to win a Super Bowl. They will get that chance in the playoffs after winning the AFC South for the second consecutive season. 

No. 5 Green Bay Packers (10-4)

Remember when we all talked about the possible ramifications of that Monday night game between the Packers and Seattle? The Packers trail the 49ers by half a game after winning nine of their last 11 games following that loss. 

No. 6 Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

The Falcons finally got that signature win they needed against the Giants, though now analysts are asking more questions about the losers than providing answers about the winners. They are just one win away from clinching home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. 

No. 7 Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

It has been a strange season for the Seahawks. They entered the season without a lot of expectations, even though we figured they would have a good defense. After dropping 108 points in the last two games combined, they are starting to get a lot of attention. 

Now, not only are they slowly climbing the power-rankings ladder, but they get a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night at home with a chance to clinch a playoff berth and keep their division-title hopes alive. 

Their streak of 50-point games is going to end, but Russell Wilson is on fire right now. They played San Francisco tough in Week 7, losing 13-6 in one of the most painful games you will see. 

No. 8 Washington Redskins (8-6)

Perhaps the Redskins have a quarterback controversy now...kidding. Whether it is Kirk Cousins or Robert Griffin III in Week 16, this team has to love where it's at right now. They control their destiny in the NFC East if they win the next two games. 

No. 9 Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

There is not a softer division leader in the NFL right now than the Ravens, which is remarkable considering how physically and mentally strong this team usually is. If they (namely, Joe Flacco) don't turn things around, the Bengals will catch them for the division lead. 

No. 10 Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

The only loss the Cowboys have suffered since November 11 came against division-rival Washington on Thanksgiving. They do have two very dangerous games left, at home against New Orleans and at Washington. If they win this week, the division title will be on the line in two weeks.

No. 11 New York Giants (8-6)

I wanted to move the Giants lower, I really did. Then I started thinking about it, and somehow, someway this team is going to find a way to win the last two games and get into the playoffs. That's what they do every year. Except those years when they don't. 

If you are confused, don't worry. That's how the Giants want you to feel. 

No. 12 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

There are good wins and bad wins. The Bengals definitely had the latter against Philadelphia in Week 15. The saving grace for them right now is that everyone else in the division, specifically Baltimore and Pittsburgh, have looked bad for the last month. 

No. 13 Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

Like the Giants, I wasn't entirely sure what to do with the Colts. I look at their record, and it's impressive. I look at the resume and numbers, then wonder how they made it over .500.

They will probably sneak into the playoffs, because the AFC is much weaker after the first three teams, but a one-and-done scenario seems to be in the cards for them. Still, a playoff berth one year after being the worst team in the NFL is quite an achievement. 

No. 14 Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

A month ago, we were ready to write the Vikings off as pretenders. Then Adrian Peterson turns into a hybrid of Walter Payton and Jim Brown, and the Vikings control their playoff destiny once again. 

No. 15 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

The Steelers, sadly, are just going to be victims of too many injuries. The fact that they are still in the playoff race after losing most of their secondary and Ben Roethlisberger for a few weeks is a testament to the depth on this roster. 

Unfortunately, the mountain just looks too steep to get all the way back to the top before time runs out. 

No. 16 Chicago Bears (8-6)

When the Bears are good, they can look really good. But when they are bad, they look really bad. That 7-1 start is a distant memory now. The defense is only giving up an average of 20 points per game during this run of five losses in six weeks, but the offense is averaging just over 14 points. 

Jay Cutler will get a lot of the blame, and most of it is justified, but this team still has a bad offensive line that gives him no help. Matt Forte has not been close to what he was in 2011. The only saving grace on offense has been Brandon Marshall. 

While the defense was lauded for its play early in the season, we have seen that they aren't as good when they don't get turnovers. There are going to be a lot of questions this team must answer in the offseason. 

No. 17 St. Louis Rams (6-7-1)

Give credit to Jeff Fisher for turning this team around so quickly. They still need more playmakers on the outside for Sam Bradford, but they aren't that far from being a playoff threat. 

No. 18 New Orleans Saints (6-8)

That 0-4 start will haunt this team all offseason. They don't have the defense needed to make a deep run in the playoffs, but with Drew Brees and that offense, they don't need to make a lot of stops to win games. 

No. 19 Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Lost in the shuffle of the Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson rookie quarterback talk has been the play of Ryan Tannehill lately. He has thrown three touchdowns and no interceptions in the last three games. 

With the AFC East being a one-team division right now, the Dolphins just need to make a tweak here and there in the offseason to be at least respectable in 2013. 

No. 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

As Josh Freeman goes, so go the Buccaneers. In games when he has thrown at least one interception, they are 1-5. When he doesn't turn the ball over, they are 5-3. He needs to develop consistency in order for this team to compete in 2013. 

No. 21 Cleveland Browns (5-9)

The Browns are still a long ways away, but at least they come out each week and play with a high intensity level. Some teams in their position would just try to coast by on their talent rather than put in the work. 

No. 22 Carolina Panthers (5-9)

It took 12 weeks for the Panthers to show some signs of life, but they are starting to look closer to the team we expected them to be when the season started. They have won three of their last four games, including an upset against Atlanta two weeks ago. 

No. 23 Tennessee Titans (5-9)

If you are looking for a proper way to define an ugly win, look at the Titans' victory over New York on Monday night. That was a game no one wanted to win, but the rules state someone has to based on who is ahead when time expires. 

No. 24 New York Jets (6-8)

Speaking of the Jets, the loss to the Titans might be the best thing that has happened to them all year. Head coach Rex Ryan could finally cave in and bench quarterback Mark Sanchez. 

No. 25 San Diego Chargers (5-9)

The best thing the Chargers can say about this season is that it is almost over. Hopefully that will bring an end to all the underachieving from the Norv Turner era. 

No. 26 Arizona Cardinals (5-9)

The Cardinals were able to stop the bleeding against Detroit in impressive fashion. It was a small bright spot in a season that was filled with such promise only to rapidly descend into disaster. 

No. 27 Detroit Lions (4-10)

How did this team, which looked like it was on the right track, fall apart so quickly? Not even Calvin Johson's superhuman performance over the last two months has been enough to save them. 

No. 28 Buffalo Bills (5-9)

The Bills were supposed to use their game in Toronto to make an impression. Instead, the Seahawks showed the Great White North why Buffalo has pretty much given up on this franchise. 

No. 29 Oakland Raiders (4-10)

A win is a win, I suppose. But the Raiders should not be celebrating after a 15-0 shutout against Kansas City that only saw them score thanks to the left leg of Sebastian Janikowski. 

No. 30 Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

No team is looking forward to the offseason more than the Eagles. They are going to look like a completely different franchise in 2013, I would be willing to bet. 

No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

The Chiefs wouldn't be that bad if they had a competent quarterback. Sadly, of the three currently on their roster, not one approaches that level. 

No. 32 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

At least the Chiefs have Jamaal Charles to make them watchable. The Jaguars don't even have Maurice Jones-Drew anymore. Barring some miracle, they are going to finish the season at the bottom of the rankings. 

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