NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Dangerous Teams Making Big Moves

When we assess teams heading into the playoffs, one of the most common words thrown around is dangerous. Who is playing the best right now? Who is the talented team that can sneak into the playoffs and make a Super Bowl run?

Last year it was the Giants, who won their last two regular season games en route to their second Super Bowl in five years. Two years ago, the Packers used the same method to win a Lombardi Trophy. 

As we break down the power rankings heading into Week 16, we want to look at the most dangerous teams poised to make big moves over the last two weeks. 

Note: Dangerous teams in italics

No. 1 Denver Broncos (11-3)

Obviously the Broncos can’t climb any higher than they are, so they will have to settle for being the No. 1 team in this week’s rankings, as well as being AFC West champions.

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

The 49ers continue to prove their worth against the best teams in the NFL. They won the season-opening road game against Green Bay and looked impressive in defeating New England on the road last week.

No. 3 New England Patriots (10-4)

A loss against one of the best teams in the NFL isn’t enough to drop the Patriots very far in the rankings. They are still the most dangerous team in the AFC heading into the postseason.

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. Their two losses were blowouts against Green Bay and New England.

No. 5 Green Bay Packers (10-4)

It has been a slow climb for the Packers, but now they have won the NFC North and have an outside shot at a first-round bye. This team has been decimated by injuries, yet they continue to find ways to win games.

If that sounds familiar, it is exactly what happened to the Packers in 2010. They don’t have to fight to get into the postseason this year like they did two years ago, but they are just as dangerous now as they were then.

No. 6 Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

The Falcons are still a notch below the 49ers and Packers in the NFC, but it would be a shock if they weren’t the No. 1 seed in the postseason after this weekend. 

No. 7 Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

The meteoric rise of the Seahawks might be getting a little overblown. Winning two games by a combined score of 108-17 is impressive, but beating Arizona and Buffalo is not exactly something a contender should brag about.

If they want to prove their worth, they will have the chance this weekend at home, where they are 6-0, against San Francisco. This game could end up catapulting the Seahawks to the NFC West title, if they win.

This team has a great defense and is improving on offense each week. Don’t sleep on them come playoff time.

No. 8 Washington Redskins (8-6)

The Redskins have turned their season around in a hurry. We will see if they can keep it up in these last two weeks, particularly in Week 17 against Dallas in what could turn out to be for the division title.

No. 9 Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

The Ravens are trending in the wrong direction heading into the postseason. They have lost their last three games and don’t appear to have any idea how to stop the bleeding. This team is in desperate need of a spark from someone.

No. 10 Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

If the Cowboys can avenge their Thanksgiving loss to Washington, they could be hosting a playoff game. Considering where they were five weeks ago, that is a remarkable turnaround. But now is not the time to take the foot off the accelerator.

We all know how talented the Cowboys are—it was always just a matter of putting everything together. They have finally done that, as they are firing on all cylinders right now. Tony Romo is playing as well as he ever has, which should quiet all the talk about his future with the team.

Credit head coach Jason Garrett for figuring out what this team does well and having them execute it as close to perfection as possible.

No. 11 New York Giants (8-6)

This is the year the Giants’ late-season run doesn’t come and they are left with an offseason of questions. They just don’t look like the same team they were last year.

No. 12 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

If you want to be taken seriously in the AFC North, Cincinnati, this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of. The Bengals play the Steelers and Ravens to end the season.

No. 13 Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

Credit the Colts for beating the bad teams on their schedule, though it does not make them one of the best teams in the AFC. They are still a long way from being a true Super Bowl contender.

No. 14 Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

With games against Houston and Green Bay, the odds of Adrian Peterson carrying the Vikings to the postseason look slim. Still, it would be foolish to bet against him based on what we have seen already.

No. 15 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

If you want to find a team that can make a Giants-esque run this season, look no further than the Steelers. They are on the outside of the playoff race right now, but they are as healthy as they are going to get, and can you really trust the Colts and Bengals to win out?

Just imagine the scene in Pittsburgh if the Steelers can sneak in. They still have the most dominant and physical defense in the NFL, and Ben Roethlisberger is back and making plays that only he can. This is a dangerous team heading into the final weeks of the season.

No. 16 Chicago Bears (8-6)

They are technically still alive, but the Bears make too many mental mistakes in games to be thought of as serious contenders anymore. The defense has been exposed now that they aren’t creating as many turnovers, and the offense continues to run hot and cold.

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

The Rams have a chance to finish the season over .500. Given where they were last year, 2012 has been a huge success.

No. 18 New Orleans Saints (6-8)

Even though the season started out as a disaster, at least the Saints were able to salvage it and play respectably down the stretch.

No. 19 Miami Dolphins (6-8)

The Dolphins still need more playmakers, especially on the offense, but there have been enough encouraging signs this season to give them hope for 2013.

No. 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

The Buccaneers would have been on the dangerous team list a few weeks ago, but they have completely bottomed out this month. As long as Josh Freeman continues to play Jekyll and Hyde, this team is not going to win big.

No. 21 Cleveland Browns (5-9)

Even with serious quarterback questions, there is a good foundation in place for the Browns to start getting excited about what the future might bring.

No. 22 Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Like Josh Freeman, Cam Newton needs to figure out what kind of quarterback he is moving forward in order for the Panthers to at least approach the .500 mark. They also need to add another playmaker on the defensive line.

No. 23 Tennessee Titans (5-9)

The Titans were given a gift win against the Jets in Week 15. There won’t be another game like that for them the rest of this season.

No. 24 New York Jets (6-8)

Quarterback changes, head-coaching blunders and no more Fireman Ed. This truly has been a disaster of a season for the Jets.

No. 25 San Diego Chargers (5-9)

The offseason can’t come fast enough for the Chargers, who really need to make a litany of changes to avoid another disappointing season in 2013.

No. 26 Arizona Cardinals (5-9)

While quarterback has to be the top priority for the Cardinals this offseason, if they don’t upgrade the offensive line, it won’t matter who is taking the snaps.

No. 27 Detroit Lions (4-10)

It was so great to see the Lions competing last season. Apparently that was an aberration, because they play as sloppy as any team in the NFL. Stupid penalties, bad turnovers and head-scratching decisions leave the Lions with no real answers right now.

No. 28 Buffalo Bills (5-9)

At least Mario Williams has started to play better. They also have C.J. Spiller at running back. Those are about the two best things you can say about the Bills in 2012.

No. 29 Oakland Raiders (4-10)

You have to wonder where the Raiders would be if Sebastian Janikowski wasn’t there to kick field goals. When your best player is your kicker, you are probably doing many, many things wrong.

No. 30 Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

The Eagles just need to separate themselves from anything and everything that has happened in 2012. It has been a disaster of epic proportions, which could turn out to be good for the long-term future of the team.

No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

When you have Jamaal Charles at running back, you hope to have a quarterback who plays well enough to not screw things up. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the Chiefs.

No. 32 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

The Jaguars have Maurice Jones-Drew to build around, but they really need to find a flashy, face-of-the-franchise type player who can get this team to compete and sell tickets. 

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