NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Teams with Seasons on the Line on Sunday

The AFC playoffs are all set, but the NFC is still unsettled. The Vikings, Bears, Giants and Redskins are all in contention for a wild-card spot, while the Redskins and the Cowboys are going to play for the NFC East crown.

These teams will produce the most entertaining football this week. They are playing for everything and will play as such.

How they fit into the NFL standings, though, is a little more difficult to project. Here is where every team falls, with a special emphasis on those teams playing to save their seasons. Those teams will be listed in italics.

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)

No matter what happens in the playoffs, this is a team built to succeed both now and in the future. John Elway and company have done a great job drafting talent like Derek Wolfe and Von Miller, and Peyton Manning looks as healthy as ever. The Broncos are the front-runners in the AFC right now. 

2. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

Aaron Rodgers and company are getting healthier every week and have been getting more and more deadly as a result. They are riding a four-game winning streak, meaning they're peaking at the right time. Watch out for the Packers in the playoffs.

3. New England Patriots (11-4)

Home to the NFL's top offense and 27th-ranked defense, the Patriots need to score to succeed. They've had little problem doing that this year, with a more balanced attack than they've had in recent years. They will struggle to beat the Broncos on the road, though, if they don't shore up that defense.

4. Atlanta Falcons (13-2)

Their record is the best in the NFL, but the Falcons rarely look that impressive on the field. Still, they keep winning, and they might have the best tandem of receivers in the NFL. The Falcons have tons of talent, but the onus remains on Matt Ryan to deliver this team a postseason win.

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-5)

The NFL's hottest team, the Seahawks have scored an average of 50 points per game in the past three weeks. That's one of the most impressive runs in NFL history, showing how dangerous this team is. Paired with the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense, the Seahawks are poised for great things.

6. Houston Texans (12-3)

Teams are figuring out the Texans' Achilles' heel, their pass defense. Ranked a mediocre 16th in the NFL, the Texans have found themselves getting beaten through the air with alarming regularity in recent weeks. Even Christian Ponder had his best game in weeks against this defense. How will they be able to handle Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the playoffs?

7. San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)

The 49ers got hammered by the Seahawks, but that seems like a fluky performance. Assuming the 49ers win this weekend, they will get a home playoff game and should advance to the next round. From there, it's anyone's guess. Colin Kaepernick has been too inconsistent to gauge yet.

8. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

The Baltimore Ravens had the bounce-back game they needed against the Giants, and they'll look to keep the momentum going in Cincinnati. As their defense gets healthier, they could be a sleeper team in the playoffs, but it will be Joe Flacco and the offense who determine where this team goes.

9. Washington Redskins (9-6)

The Redskins are the NFL's hottest team, riding a six-game winning streak. This week is probably all-or-nothing for the Redskins. A loss to the Cowboys doesn't disqualify them from the playoffs, but they would need some help.

The Skins don't want to get in that way, though. They are one of just four teams to have not won a division title since realignment, and they've never had a better chance than they have this Sunday. Blowing it would sting.

To be fair to this team, though, the Skins have completely outperformed anyone's expectations. The running game is averaging almost 60 yards more per game than last year's squad, as well as featuring one of the NFL's most efficient passing games. Nobody saw this coming before the season. 

As good as the Redskins have been, their season is on the line against the Cowboys. Win and they're in, lose and they'll probably be out. 

10. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

The other rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck, has guided his team to the playoffs and double-digit win totals in his first season. In any other year, Luck would be talked about like the rarity he is, but he's a victim of the success of RGIII and Russell Wilson. This team is on the right path.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

The NFL's most improved team since Week 1, the Bengals have established an identity as a strong defensive team with a quick-strike offense. A.J. Green and Geno Atkins may be two of the best players in the NFL, but it's an improved running game and pass rush that has this team in the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

12. Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

The Vikings have exceeded all expectations this year. They are one win away from a guaranteed playoffs berth. All they need to do is beat the Packers. Good luck with that.

So maybe the Vikings aren't ready for prime time yet, but Adrian Peterson keeps this team alive in nearly any game they play. With great talent along the offensive and defensive lines, this team should only keep getting better.

Unfortunately, they don't look likely to go far this year. The Packers need a win to seal a first-round bye, so you can count on them playing their starters. The Vikings can certainly win that game, but they'll need their best performance.

We'll see what this team is capable of with their season on the line on Sunday.

13. Chicago Bears (9-6)

The Bears need some help and a win over the Lions on Sunday to get into the playoffs. After a brilliant start to the season, the wheels fell off, and the Bears' season derailed. Their win over the Cardinals this past Sunday ended a three-game losing streak.

Their defense remains one of the best in the NFL, but Jay Cutler is starting to look more and more like a liability. His completion percentage is under 60 percent, and he leads the NFL's 29th-ranked passing attack.

With a Vikings' loss, though, the Bears can still get into the playoffs. They still have the talent to beat the best teams in the NFL, but they need to prove it on Sunday.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)

No team in the NFL has a clearer playoff scenario than the Cowboys. Win and they're in, lose and they're out.  

Tony Romo brought this team from the brink of disaster to playing in what is basically a playoff game this week. What he's done in recent weeks can't be overstated, but it will all be for naught if the Cowboys lose on Sunday.

They'll have a tough task travelling to Washington and playing the red-hot Redskins. The Cowboys struggled badly against Griffin in their first matchup, and DeMarcus Ware has gotten beaten up over that span. The Cowboys could struggle without their best defensive player at full strength.

This game was destined to be a shootout anyway, so it will be in Tony Romo's hands. The stakes have never been higher for the embattled quarterback.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-8)

The Saints have gone 7-4 since their 0-4 start, but their defense remains the NFL's worst. On offense, the Saints have been inconsistent this year because they lack balance. Their 24th-ranked running game has not been getting it done in the Saints' losses, forcing Drew Brees to carry the team. He's been mostly up to the task this season, but not against top teams.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-7-1)

The Rams are hard to make sense of. They've gotten destroyed by the New York Jets, but they went 1-0-1 against the 49ers. Their defense can slow down anybody, but their offense is stagnant. Jeff Fisher has this team on the right track, though.

17. New York Giants (8-7)

As bad as the Giants looked against the Ravens, they are still technically alive. They need to beat the Eagles and see the Vikings, Bears and Cowboys lose. Crazier things have happened, but not many.

The Giants' defense was the problem in Baltimore, and it has been a problem for most of the season. 

The inconsistency of Eli Manning hasn't helped either, but Manning never had a chance last week against the Ravens' pass rush. 

Even if the Giants do get into the playoffs, they don't look likely to make any noise once in. Then again, these are the Giants. Never count them out.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)

This has been a disappointing season for the Steelers, and they have their 21st-ranked offense to blame. The offensive line has been a disappointment, as have been the running backs. The Steelers could have stayed alive with a win last week, but they fell apart in crunch time. Their offseason will be difficult to project.

19. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

Ryan Tannehill quietly has improved this team to the point of competitiveness, but that's about it. The defense, led by sack-master Cameron Wake, has been excellent, but the offense needs work. Tannehill should only improve, though, so this is a team with some hope.

20. Carolina Panthers (6-9)

Cam Newton is the NFL's hottest player, despite stupidly making contact with a referee last week. His decision-making remains suspect, but at his best, Newton has this team competitive.

21. San Diego Chargers (6-9)

Wholesale changes are coming in San Diego. Believe it or not, the Chargers rank 29th in the NFL in total offense, with a pathetic running game being mostly to blame. Ryan Matthews is starting to look like a bust. 

22. Cleveland Browns (5-10)

The Browns have plenty of talent on defense that keeps them competitive, but Brandon Weeden hasn't been impressive. Could the Browns be looking for another quarterback this offseason?

23. Detroit Lions (4-11)

This team is better than their record suggests, but they need to play with more discipline. Their running game could also use a major overhaul, but Matt Stafford remains a talent. Obviously, Calvin Johnson is a keeper as well.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9)

The Buccaneers were one of the NFL's hottest teams at the midpoint of the season, but now they have completely collapsed. They've lost five straight, as Josh Freeman and Doug Martin have not been able to make up for a poor defense.

25. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11)

The Eagles might be the NFL's most changed team in 2013. Expect a new coach, a new quarterback and a new direction. They can't save anyone's job against the Giants this week.

26. Buffalo Bills (5-10)

There are plenty of weapons in Buffalo, with C.J. Spiller, Stevie Johnson and Scott Chandler providing a nice trio to build around. They just need a new quarterback to get them the ball. Fixing the NFL's worst run defense would help as well. 

27. New York Jets (6-9)

The Jets might be the NFL's most interesting team this offseason. They are unsettled at quarterback and at head coach, but they might not make any significant changes. This is a team to monitor.

28. Arizona Cardinals (5-10)

The Cardinals have had the worst quarterback play in recent memory this season, and they have virtually no running game. They have serious holes at nearly every position on offense, except wide receiver. Until they figure out how to play offense, the Cardinals will be stuck in the NFL's cellar for a while.

29. Tennessee Titans (5-10)

Jake Locker is capable of being amazing and is just as capable of leading his team to a blowout loss. After giving up over 50 points to the Packers, the Titans clearly need to upgrade this defense.

30. Oakland Raiders (4-11)

The Raiders could be a top 15 team in terms of talent, but they lack good quarterback play and discipline. Their defense is full of overpaid, underperforming former stars, and they only have a few bright young talents on this team.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13)

Expect to see plenty of Jacksonville on ESPN this offseason with Tim Tebow likely headed there. Until then, the Jaguars will remain virtually unwatchable. They have, however, gotten close to upsetting the Texans and the Patriots, and they actually beat the Colts. At least the Jaguars aren't a free win.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (2-13)

The Chiefs have performed admirably in the face of serious adversity, and they have enough talent to be competitive in most games. Matt Cassell and Brady Quinn just aren't getting it done at quarterback.