NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post-Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 17

Week 16 really separated the contenders from the pretenders, as some teams made their cases for playoff berths and others crumbled under the pressure. Power rankings have been adjusted accordingly.

At the beginning of the week, only four teams had clinched spots in the postseason. Through Sunday, nine teams are now officially in line to see action in January, and the Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to make it 10 with a win on Monday night. There may only be as few as two playoff spots available heading into Week 17.

Analysts around the web are already weighing in on which teams have the best shot to advance to the playoffs based on recent performances. Here's what Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has to say:

Does your team still have a shot? Checking the league's latest hierarchy will help answer that question.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-13)

The Titans continue on their quest for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft after losing their ninth consecutive game in Week 16. This team could only muster 13 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars and truly looks like it belongs in the gutter of the AFC South.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-13)

Tampa Bay is giving chase for the No. 1 pick after a loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Buccaneers scored just three points on Sunday, making the possibility of obtaining Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota extremely intriguing.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

Well, the Jaguars won a game, but it wasn't due to a stellar performance from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles. His learning curve still looks steep, and Jacksonville may still be a few years away from obtaining an elusive winning record as a result.

29. New York Jets (3-12)

The Jets put up a good fight Sunday against the New England Patriots, but that's generally the case when those two teams face off. The fact of the matter is this team still has plenty of holes to fill before it can climb back into contention in a highly competitive AFC East.

28. Washington Redskins (4-11)

Washington earned a big win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, but one big question continues to linger: Is Robert Griffin III truly the future of this franchise? Yes, he looked good at times in Week 16, but much of that was a result of wide receiver DeSean Jackson torching his former team.

27. Oakland Raiders (3-12)

It really is quite difficult to figure out this Raiders team. Oakland has plenty of playmakers, but they seem to pick and choose when they want to show up. When this team puts it all together, it looks ready to compete. However, those performances are generally sandwiched between a couple of goose eggs.

26. Chicago Bears (5-10)

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The Jimmy Clausen experiment didn't translate to a win, yet it can be argued he put up a better performance than Jay Cutler probably would have—he did only throw one pick. The Bears continue to be one of the league's most underachieving teams, and we should expect plenty of changes to take place over the offseason.

25. St. Louis Rams (6-9)

The New York Giants put up 37 points on the Rams in Week 16, ending any kind of dispute about if this is truly one of the league's best defenses. Yes, St. Louis has some nice defensive players, but inconsistency has been the issue for this team throughout the season. We saw a big example of that on Sunday.

24. New Orleans Saints (6-9)

New Orleans had a great opportunity to clinch a postseason berth in Week 16, but it squandered that opportunity and is now officially eliminated from contention. Drew Brees and Co. couldn't move the ball efficiently against a bad Atlanta Falcons defense, continuing their own trend of inconsistency.

23. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)

Week 16 pretty much summed up the 49ers' season. They displayed what they're truly capable of when firing on all cylinders, getting out to a big lead over the San Diego Chargers, following that up by collapsing in all phases and ultimately losing the game. We'll see what a new coaching regime can do for this team.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)

Mike Zimmer is building a nice squad in Minnesota. The Vikings put up a great effort against a good Miami Dolphins team, losing by a last-minute safety on a blocked punt. Teddy Bridgewater is looking like one of the most promising quarterback's from the 2014 draft, and with a couple more weapons around him, Minnesota will become contenders.

21. Cleveland Browns (7-8)

Johnny Manziel left Sunday's contest with a hamstring injury, but not before he looked terrible once again, completing three of his eight attempts for 32 yards and rushing twice for three yards. After a promising start to the season, Cleveland is now in danger of finishing below .500 and facing an offseason filled with uncertainty yet again.

20. Carolina Panthers (6-8-1)

With a victory over the Browns on Sunday, the Panthers have a shot at a playoff berth with another win in Week 17. Carolina's utilization of a run-heavy scheme allowed it to control the clock, keeping its offense on the field for more than 38 minutes while its defense remained fresh, allowing just eight first downs.

19. New York Giants (6-9)

How good is the Giants offense right now? Odell Beckham Jr. is quickly becoming one of the league's best receivers, and Eli Manning has been revitalized because of the rookie's presence. Andre Williams looked great on the ground, complementing the passing game nicely. This team could be scary when it's healthy next season.

18. Buffalo Bills (8-7)

Buffalo may have been the most disappointing team in Week 16. A victory over the Raiders would have put the Bills in position to make a run at the playoffs, but they completely choked, abandoning the running game and falling apart in the secondary. It will be a long offseason full of second-guessing in Buffalo.

17. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

The Falcons stepped up in a big way in Week 16, looking like a true playoff contender and defeating the Saints 30-14. Matt Ryan continues to play great football behind an offensive line that has improved tremendously, and even Atlanta's defense came around, sacking Brees five times and picking him off twice. This team is one win away from the playoffs.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (8-7)

Kansas City put up a good fight against the Pittsburgh Steelers, remaining stout on defense for the most part. However, there's only so much bubble screens will accomplish on offense. This team needs reliable wide receivers in the worst possible way, and that should be head coach Andy Reid's first priority during the offseason.

15. Miami Dolphins (8-7)

Miami squeezed out a close win over Minnesota, but the team was eliminated from playoff contention anyway. Although, according to owner Stephen Ross, head coach Joe Philbin appears to be coming back for another season due to the win, via James Walker of ESPN.com. ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted the same news:

We'll see if that decision pays off.

14. Baltimore Ravens (9-6)

Here's another team that couldn't rise to the occasion Sunday. Baltimore had a great chance of climbing the ladder in the AFC North, but it fell to the Houston Texans 25-13 instead. This team couldn't get out of its own way on offense, throwing 50 times and rushing just 16 en route to 211 total yards. Now, the Ravens risk falling out of playoff contention.

13. Houston Texans (8-7)

Houston is barely clinging to life, remaining in the playoff picture with a win over the Ravens. The team didn't do much offensively, but its defense picked off Joe Flacco three times, routinely putting kicker Randy Bullock in position to for six field goals on the day. With newly signed Case Keenum at the helm, it was a big win for the team's morale.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)

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Philadelphia was already on the outside looking in, but it needed to defeat Washington to keep its playoff hopes alive. Well, after Mark Sanchez finished proving he still belongs as a backup quarterback, the Eagles lost, and following a Dallas Cowboys win on Sunday, they are now officially eliminated from postseason contention.

11. Arizona Cardinals (11-4)

As expected, Arizona couldn't muster any kind of offense against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Quarterback Ryan Lindley was a bad as advertised, and you know this team's in bad shape when it can't wait to get Drew Stanton back under center. Here's a look at the game's final stats, via Seattle's official Twitter account:

The Cardinals are no longer atop the NFC West and may not even win a playoff game after starting the season with so much promise.

10. San Diego Chargers (9-6)

The Chargers crack the top 10 this week due to their resilience. Philip Rivers made some mistakes, but he guided his team to a big win despite visibly struggling through a back injury. At 9-6, the Chargers have a great shot to get into the playoffs with a Week 17 victory over the Chiefs.

9. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

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Yes, the absence of T.Y. Hilton hurt, but the Colts were simply miserable Sunday against the Cowboys. Indianapolis continues to turn the ball over excessively, which is what will cause this team to exit the postseason very early if it persists. 

8. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1)

The Bengals have a tall order ahead on Monday night. This team is known for its struggles in prime time and must face Peyton Manning, who is 8-0 against Cincinnati in his career. If the Bengals can pull out a win, they clinch a playoff berth. However, either way, they'll be taking on the Steelers for the right to the AFC North crown in Week 17.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

The Steelers were efficient against a good Chiefs defense on Sunday, but Pittsburgh's defensive unit was even more impressive. The team sacked Alex Smith six times, held Jamaal Charles to 3.2 yards per carry and didn't allow a single touchdown. That stellar performance locked the Steelers into a playoff spot.

6. Detroit Lions (11-4)

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It wasn't smooth sailing for Detroit against the Bears on Sunday, but the team prevailed despite an off day for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The team continues to play well-rounded football, as its defense held Chicago to 234 total yards and its running game averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

5. Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

The Cowboys apparently didn't need a healthy DeMarco Murray to trounce the Colts in Week 16. Tony Romo was simply spectacular, completing 18 of his 20 passing attempts for 218 yards, four touchdowns and a passer rating of 151.7. The punchline of Romo struggling in December is officially dead in the water. Here's a look at Romo's narrative going forward, via SportsCenter:

4. Denver Broncos (11-3)

Peyton Manning is officially listed as questionable heading into his Monday night matchup against Cincinnati. Denver needs a win to earn a first-round bye and keep hopes alive for a shot a home-field advantage. Manning and Co. won't have it easy against a Bengals secondary that has been extremely stingy of late.

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

Aaron Rodgers began to resemble his old self once again in Week 16, throwing for 318 yards and a touchdown during a 20-3 victory over Tampa Bay. The win sets the Packers up for a vastly important Week 17 clash with the Lions that will decide the winner of the NFC North and potentially grant a first-round bye in the playoffs.

2. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

The Seahawks showed why they are the NFC's team to beat Sunday night in a 35-6 drubbing of the Cardinals. Russell Wilson was simply on fire, and Arizona had no answer for Marshawn Lynch, as Seattle racked up 596 yards of offense against a good Cardinals defense. Defensively, Seattle was lights-out, holding Arizona to 216 total yards of offense.

1. New England Patriots (12-3)

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As long as the Patriots continue to win, they'll remain No. 1 in the power rankings. This team has proved time and time again throughout the season that it can win in a multitude of ways. On Sunday, it overcame some mistakes, clamped down in the red zone and sealed a win with a timely interception.

At 12-3, the Patriots hold the league's best record, and they are one win away from clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Considering this team is 7-0 at home so far this season, that's a scary proposition for the rest of the AFC.