Week Sixteen NFL Power Rankings

So, two weeks to go and only one unbeaten remains.

After the Cowboys went into New Orleans and beat them 24-17, the 1972 Miami Dolphins took a brief sigh of relief.  Their record is still in very serious jeopardy, because it really doesn't seem like the Colts are a very beatable team, but we shall see.

And with these new developments, here are this week's edition of JVZ's Power Rankings.

1. Indianapolis Colts (14-0, LW: 2): Back to the top, after getting the best of the Jags in an intense Thursday Night Showdown.  It doesn't get any easier for soon-to-be-four-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Colts as they host the desparate Jets this week.

2. New Orleans Saints (13-1, LW: 1): They picked a fine time to get their first loss.  Now they can rebound before the playoffs begin.  They have Tampa and Carolina on the schedule, so they should be fine heading into the postseason.  Homefield advantage will help.

3. San Diego Chargers (11-3, LW: 4): The Chargers just keep on winning December games.  Can anyone stop this team?  They all but clinched a Bye week in the playoffs, and QB Philip Rivers should be a candidate for MVP.  The defense has played better.

4. Minnesota Vikings (11-3, LW: 3): Is this the beginning of the end for Brett Favre and the Vikes?  The Nay-sayers are back out now, and Favre will have a lot to prove when the playoffs begin.  They will still be a tough out in the postseason.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, LW: 6): That's now five in a row for the Eagles, but it doesn't get any easier.  It looks like the NFC East will be on the line when the Eagles travel to Dallas in week 17.  McNabb-to-Jackson is a very dangerous tandem.

6. New England Patriots (9-5, LW: 8): The Pats didn't look very impressive in Buffalo, but they got the win.  Their road struggles will really hurt them in the playoffs, but they will be a tough out simply because they still have Tom Brady.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5, LW: 5): That will be tough to handle for the Pack.  While they still control their own playoff hopes, they will have to rebound on defense after allowing Big Ben to throw for over 500 yards.

8. Dallas Cowboys (9-5, LW: 10): After beating the Saints, the Cowboys have calmed the December talks for at least one week.  They will have to avoid a letdown in Washington, or they could be watching the playoffs once again.  Tony Romo has been very good lately.

9. Arizona Cardinals (9-5, LW: 9): The Cards have been very up-and-down all season, and the trend continued in their game against the Lions.  They will have to better in the playoffs, or they won't be in for very long.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-5, LW: 7): They have dropped two in a row, and now the Ravens and Steelers are within striking distance for the Division crown.  The good news: They get a home game against the Chiefs this week, and all they need to clinch is to win.

11. New York Giants (8-6, LW: 12): The G-Men got a much needed victory over the Skins Monday Night, but they are still a game out of a Wild Card.  They go back home this week for a showdown with the newly-decent Panthers. 

12. Baltimore Ravens (8-6, LW: 13): The Ravens are sitting firm in a Wild Card spot with a huge game this week against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.  It is time for Joe Flacco to take control of this offense and get them back in the playoffs.

13. Tennessee Titans (7-7, LW: 16): Can you believe this team may make the playoffs after starting 0-6.  Chris Johnson has to be a candidate for MVP, because this team isn`t very good without him.

14. Denver Broncos (8-6, LW: 11): All of the sudden the Broncos are in big trouble.  That was a must-win against Oakland.  Now they go to Philly and absolutely need to win, or they will complete another epic late-season collapse.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7, LW: 18): Uh oh.  That's what every team in the AFC should be saying.  Despite losing five in a row, the Steelers can still make the playoffs.  And they are a very dangerous team in the playoffs.  They can run, and mplay solid defense.  Watch out.

16. Miami Dolphins (7-7, LW: 14): You have to give the Phins credit for fighting back against the Titans, but that OT loss may have ended their playoff chances.  They will need to beat Houston in Miami this week to have a shot.  Chad Henne played more like a rookie for much of the Tennessee game.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7, LW: 15): The Jags playoffs hopes rode on that game against the Colts.  They aren't officially out of it yet, but it will be tough.  They travel to New England this weekend, and will need to have their best game of the year.

18. Atlanta Falcons (7-7, LW: 20): Despite not being able to make the playoffs, the Falcons can still achieve their first ever back-to-back winning season.  Had Matt Ryan been healthy all year, they would be a Wild Card team.

19. Houston Texans (7-7, LW: 23): That should have been a lot easier against the Rams.  They still have a shot at the playoffs, but will need to win in Miami this weekend.  They need to get some sort of production from the RB position.

20. Carolina Panthers (6-8, LW: 21): Despite the huge upset over the Vikings, the Panthers have nothing else to play for this year.  At least Matt Moore looks like a legitimate quarterback.  They could make some noise next year if he improves.

21. New York Jets (7-7, LW: 17): Their slim playoff hopes took a big shot in that loss to the Falcons.  Now they face a Indianapolis team looking for perfection.  They have a solid defense, and can run the ball well, but the QB position has hurt them all year.

22. San Francisco 49ers (6-8, LW: 19): After the statement win against Arizona, the Niners get bombed by the Eagles.  Oh well, they are playing for next year now.  The question is: who will be the QB handing the ball to Frank Gore and passing to Michael Crabtree?

23. Oakland Raiders (5-9, LW: 28): They are the weirdest team in the league.  One week, they lose to Kansas City.  The next, they beat teams like Denver, Cincy and Philly.  Weird.  Now they turn to Charlie Frye, or JaMarcus Russell...depending on their mood.  They may even turn to former Bills stud QB J.P. Losman.

24. Buffalo Bills (5-9, LW: 25): Speaking of the Bills, they could sure use Losman now.  Their top two QBs are banged up, and they may be forced to turn to former Louisville Cardinal Brian Brohm.  Maybe he can throw it to their stellar WRs....

25. Seattle Seahawks (5-9, LW: 24): TAMPA BAY?  REALLY?  Disgusting.  This team is in shambles, and needs to make some serious changes in the offseason.  At least they have some young talent to work with...Justin Forsett pretty much sums it up.

26. Chicago Bears (5-9, LW: 22): Its a shame they invested their whole future in a QB that can't do anything right.  Oh well, I suppose they won't need any draft picks to grab Terrell Owens off free agents.  But, how on earth do they patch up that defense?

27. Washington Redskins (4-10, LW: 26): For a team that was auditioning in front of a new General Manager, they sure didn't show up.  Jason Campbell played awful, and the defense (which had been solid) got smoked.  Let the Mike Shanahan era begin.

28. Cleveland Browns (3-11, LW: 29): Back-to-back wins has this team primed for the future.  However, another injury setback to QB Brady Quinn will not help his development.  Jerome Harrison is a star-in-the-waiting, but how long can they keep Joshua Cribbs around?

29. Kansas City Chiefs (3-11, LW: 28): The Chiefs couldn't even beat the Browns.  It seems this is another team that made a very wrong choice about their franchise QB.  At least they will have a stud RB to build this offense around.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12, LW: 31): It's a good sign that this team showed up for at least two games this year.  That was a huge win over Seattle, but one they should have avoided for draft purposes.  They need to find a weapon on offense.

31. Detroit Lions (2-12, LW: 30): That would have been a huge moral victory over the Cardinals.  However, this is Lions we are talking about...the words Lions and victory don't even belong in the same Power Rankings.  They need a tonne of work.

32. St Louis Rams (1-13, LW: 32): Phew...that was close Rams fans.  You almost gave up your shot at Ndamukong Suh.  They also will have to find a QB, but this draft is expected to be deep at that position, so it can be addressed later in the draft.