NFL Power Rankings 2014: Predicting Post-Week 17 Standings

One of these days, the NFL will make sense.

Sixteen weeks into the season, that's not yet the case. Clarity will likely never come, and that includes once the postseason rolls around.

At the final hour, the Cincinnati Bengals clouded the AFC by exposing the Denver Broncos on Monday night. With five NFC playoff teams evenly locked at 11-5, the closely contested conference is just as weird.

How does the league shake up entering the final week? To the power rankings!

Away	Home	Prediction
Cleveland Browns	Baltimore Ravens	Ravens
Dallas Cowboys	Washington Redskins	Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts	Tennessee Titans	Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars	Houston Texans	Texans
San Diego Chargers	Kansas City Chiefs	Chiefs
New York Jets	Miami Dolphins	Dolphins
Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings
Buffalo Bills	New England Patriots	Bills
Philadelphia Eagles	New York Giants	Eagles
New Orleans Saints	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Saints
Carolina Panthers	Atlanta Falcons	Falcons
Detroit Lions	Green Bay Packers	Packers
Oakland Raiders	Denver Broncos	Broncos
Arizona Cardinals	San Francisco 49ers	49ers
St. Louis Rams	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers

32. Tennessee Titans (2-13)

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Losers of Thursday night's Horrible Bowl against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tennessee Titans remain in the Marcus Mariota sweepstakes after suffering their ninth straight loss. You know your run defense is bad when Jacksonville can torch it for 177 yards.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-13)

Everyone in Tampa Bay will watch with great anticipation as the Buccaneers fight for the No. 1 pick this Sunday. The NFL's second-worst offense could sure use Mariota under center.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

For what it's worth, the Jaguars have endured a brutal schedule during another basement-dwelling season. They played only five games against losing teams, going 3-2 in those contests.

29. Oakland Raiders (3-12)

Those pesky Oakland Raiders ruined another playoff path, this time eliminating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. How did these guys both start 0-10 and drop a 52-0 massacre to the St. Louis Rams?

28. New York Jets (3-12)

After playing the New England Patriots to the wire during a 17-16 loss, safety Calvin Pryor told CSNNE.com's Phil Perry that the New York Jets are much better than their record suggests.

"If you look at our season, besides two or three games, we've been in every game," Pryor said. "You can cut it and slice it how you want to. I think we're—what are we, 3-12?—I think we're the best 3-12 team in the history of football. No doubt about it."

In his defense, they've suffered two losses by a combined three points to the team sporting the NFL's best record. They have also, however, suffered five double-digit defeats.

27. Washington Redskins (4-11)

In its first victory since Week 8, Washington compiled 305 total yards to the Philadelphia Eagles' 495. This team isn't that bad, as long as it's playing the Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys.

26. Chicago Bears (5-10)

Well, this is awkward. One week after the Chicago Bears foolishly benched Jay Cutler, a Jimmy Clausen concussion will revert the team to the status quo.

If not for Clausen's 4.6 yards per passing attempt in relief, the Bears could have upset the Detroit Lions instead of losing by six.

25. New Orleans Saints (6-9)

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Remember when the New Orleans Saints were supposedly unstoppable at home but terrible on the road? Over the past eight weeks, they're 0-5 inside the Superdome and 3-0 away from it.

An expected title contender entering the season, New Orleans couldn't even win the eight games necessary to claim the NFC South.

24. Carolina Panthers (6-8-1)

After going eight weeks without a win, the Carolina Panthers have earned three straight triumphs to set up a win-and-in Week 17 scenario. Over those three weeks, they have allowed a mere 177.7 passing yards per contest.

23. St. Louis Rams (6-9)

Wait, where did the good Rams go? They allowed a massive 7.7 yards per play to the New York Giants, putting those shutouts over Washington and Oakland firmly in the rearview mirror.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Minnesota Vikings have their future quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater has authored a completion percentage of at least 70 in each of the past four games. As noted by ESPN.com's Ben Goessling, he's not just padding those stats on short checkdowns:

He now has more yards per attempt (7.19) than Tom Brady (7.12) during a successful rookie season.

21. New York Giants (6-9)

Your weekly Odell Beckham Jr. update: He's still really good. The rookie has now amassed 1,014 receiving yards over the past eight games. What if he had started Week 1?

20. Cleveland Browns (7-8)

That faded fast. Once harboring playoff hopes at 7-4, the Cleveland Browns have lost four straight games. During that downward spiral, they have relinquished 163 rushing yards per game.

19. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

The Atlanta Falcons stink, but beating the NFC South's other dregs has kept them in the playoff picture. ESPN Stats & Info detailed their improbable path to a meaningful Week 17 matchup with Carolina.

With their offense rolling, the Falcons are the more dangerous of the two underwhelming options.

18. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)

After weeks of the offense betraying the defense, the tables turned last Saturday night. Although the San Francisco 49ers woke up with 355 rushing yards, their No. 5 passing defense surrendered 356 passing yards and four touchdowns to Philip Rivers.

17. Buffalo Bills (8-7)

Stopping the Green Bay Packers is one thing, but the Raiders? That proved too much for the Bills, who ran for 13 yards on as many carries against one of the league's most futile rushing defenses.

16. Miami Dolphins (8-7)

The Miami Dolphins have waited a long time for a prolific quarterback. He's not at the top just yet, but Ryan Tannehill achieved something in Week 16 that hadn't been done since a certain legend ran Miami's offense, per ESPN Stats & Info:

With 214 passing yards against the Jets in Week 17, Tannehill would join Dan Marino as the only other Dolphins quarterback to record 4,000 passing yards in a single season.

15. Houston Texans (8-7)

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

With one week left to bolster his MVP case, J.J. Watt trails Justin Houston by half a sack (18 to 17.5) for the NFL lead. Grantland's Bill Barnwell thinks Watt will make a strong case for himself this weekend:

"

Watt gets a second crack at the Jaguars this week in a game the Texans need to win to have any hope of making the playoffs. Jacksonville has allowed 66 sacks this year, 11 more than any other team in football. Watt sacked Blake Bortles three times the last time these teams faced off. Does anybody doubt he’s going to get to 20 and lead the league in just about every possible category a defensive lineman can?

 

"

14. Kansas City Chiefs (8-7)

Need a reason to believe momentum is a figment of sportscasters' imaginations? Since defeating the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 16, the Kansas City Chiefs are 1-4, with their lone win coming against the Raiders.

13. Baltimore Ravens (9-6)

Gifted a paved postseason path, the Baltimore Ravens instead unraveled against Case Keenum and the Houston Texans. With 3.9 yards per attempt and three interceptions, Joe Flacco threw up a clunker to once again dampen Baltimore's chances.

12. San Diego Chargers (9-6)

Using their late-season magic once again, the Chargers salvaged a late victory to control the AFC's No. 6 seed. Will they have one more trick up their sleeves when they travel to a tough road environment?

Rivers discussed the challenge ahead, per the team's Twitter page:

Unlike their last two away wins, they should avoid a double-digit deficit during the fourth quarter.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)

ESPN.com detailed everything that went wrong for Philadelphia against Washington: "Thirteen accepted penalties Saturday, most by Philly since 2010. Two missed field goals in a three-point loss. Season-high four drops. Just a brutal game from the Eagles when it mattered most."

With nine or 10 wins, the Eagles will watch a seven-win club host a first-round clash.

10. Arizona Cardinals (11-4)

Hey, Arizona Cardinals, have you met regression to the mean? Regression, Arizona. Arizona, regression. You'll have plenty of time to get further acquainted during the playoffs.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1)

John Grieshop/Getty Images

The Broncos entered Week 16 touting the No. 2 rushing defense. The Bengals gutted them for 207 yards on the ground. Now that's how you pull off an upset.

8. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

During their past three losses against the Cowboys, the Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Indianapolis Colts have surrendered 135 combined points. Against clubs with winning records, they wield a minus-38 point differential.

Although they beat up on the schedule's cupcakes, the Colts have struggled to hang with the big boys all year.

7. Detroit Lions (11-4)

Nothing beats getting Chicago, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Chicago again on the late-season docket. Even if the Lions falter at Green Bay this Sunday, that fortuitous schedule punched them a postseason ticket.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

Nobody wants to face the Steelers this postseason. Although alarmingly complacent against poor teams, they've repeatedly answered the call against winning squads, going 5-1 against them.

With their explosive offense dominating, the Steelers are the top threat to break up a Denver-New England AFC Championship Game rematch.

5. Denver Broncos (11-4)

Let the Peyton Manning panic commence. Over the past four weeks, the no-doubt Hall of Famer has averaged 224 passing yards per game with five touchdowns and six interceptions. 

This doesn't mark the end, just like Tom Brady's career didn't conclude in September. Still, Denver's offense looks far too mortal entering the playoffs.

4. Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

Amid health concerns, Tony Romo is playing the greatest football of his career. Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar tracks his sizzling performance over the past six games:

With a higher career completion percentage, quarterback rating and yards per attempt than Brady, Romo is an upper-echelon passer. Does anyone have a rational reason for treating him otherwise?

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

If the Packers can beat the Lions at home, where they're currently 7-0, they'll secure a first-round bye and a second-round matchup inside Lambeau Field. Green Bay will prove an extremely difficult out.

2. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

Terrified of the Seattle Seahawks? You probably should be.

They've allowed just 33 points over their five-game winning streak, vaulting to first in rushing offense and total defense. The NFC runs through them if they defeat the Rams on Sunday, making a Super Bowl repeat feasible.

1. New England Patriots (12-3)

On the bright side, the Patriots won't have to deal with a Rex Ryan-led defense this postseason. They were given a scare in New Jersey, but the Pats locked up the No. 1 seed while still leading the NFL in point differential (plus-163).

They hold a loose grip on the top spot, but it's theirs to lose.