NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Falcons, Patriots Tussle at The Top
There are a number of "movers" and "shakers" in the NFL right now. At last, separation is beginning to take place. In a season that's been unfavorable to the West Coast, there are very few "true" contenders.
As usual, there will be several good teams that miss out on the January festivities. Unfortunately, someone will have to win the NFC West while other, "better" teams will be left out. The St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks will duke it out on the last weekend of the season. To top it all off, the winner may not even finish at .500.
The NFC is deep with a handful of viable teams though the West is a major blemish. The Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons are all Super Bowl contenders. The defending champion New Orleans Saints also can be included into that mix. Up until two weeks ago, even the Green Bay Packers could be classified as the same. That's why they call this a "separation period." The New York Giants will be lucky to just recover from last week's devastating loss.
The AFC is also very good this season and boasts the league's best team in New England. Pittsburgh, Baltimore and the New York Jets also may surprise come playoff time and give the Pats a run for their money. Tom Brady and the Pats though remain the class of the AFC.
Here are power rankings of the 32 NFL teams.
32. Carolina Panthers 2-12
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The Carolina Panthers have been in a decline but now finally hit rock bottom. John Fox must go soon and they will need to blow this entire thing up and start from scratch. The talent may be there but the on-field execution isn't.
They will benefit greatly from a top pick in this year's draft. In their rebuilding process, they will need to start somewhere.
At least on a positive note, their TWO victories have come at the expense of NFC West teams. Also, Jimmy Clausen appears to be their future though it will come with growing pains.
Next Week: at Pittsburgh.
31. Arizona Cardinals 4-10
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The Cardinals are so bad that not even Larry Fitzgerald can save them. Fitz has again quietly had a solid season. Despite the multiple quarterbacks that have thrown his way, Fitz has been the one mainstay on this team.
On both sides of the ball, they are equally pathetic. Football just doesn't fly out in 'Zona. They've reached the playoffs just FOUR times in the past 30 years. WOW!
This team could've been better this season, but not much. The loss of Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin hurt immensely. The Cards were never able to recover from these departures and will need a lot of help moving forward.
Not being able to compete in this awful NFC West is downright unacceptable.
Mind you, this team was in the Super Bowl just two years ago.
Next Week: vs. Dallas.
30. Denver Broncos 3-11
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At the very least, the Broncos have Tim Tebow going for them. The sky's the limit for Tebow and his time is about to arrive. Expect them to rid of Kyle Orton in the off-season and start anew with Tebow and a new coach in 2011.
The talent is there but the wins have been far and few between. The re-emergence of Brandon Lloyd has been stunning and helped the younger corps of receivers. Lloyd's had 130 targets to date this season.
Other talent like Knowshon Moreno, Jabar Gaffney, Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams are still in place to help the Broncos succeed. In looking up and down their roster, they're not a bad team by any means.
But that pitiful 3-11 record is glaring in a competitive AFC West.
Next Week: vs. Houston
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29. Cincinnati Bengals 3-11
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The Bengals looked promising after a 2-1 start, but little did we know they were doomed. Then came a 10-game losing streak and the utter unraveling of the franchise. It starts at the top where Marvin Lewis did a sub-par job as coach.
How do you explain having this type of offensive firepower yet mustering only three wins? Maybe last year was a mega-fluke after all. Well, at least they were the "feel-good" story of the 2009 NFL season.
The world expected egos to collide with star/diva receivers Terrell "T.O." Owens and Chad Ochocinco. That never happened though but these two both enjoyed very good seasons.
Scoring points was never a problem though, it was rather keeping them off the board. The defense will likely allow over 400 points by season's end. This won't win football games no matter how many points you're able to post.
Next Week: vs. San Diego.
28. Detroit Lions 4-10
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To think that the Detroit Lions have actually been decent without their "franchise" QB, Matt Stafford, is respectable. Stafford played very well in limited action this season. The injury bug bit Stafford hard in his sophomore season. The future is very bright though for this Georgia product. At 22, he has the "football sense" to succeed in this league for a long time.
Calvin "Megatron" Johnson is among the elite receivers. Johnson and Stafford could be a major hook-up of the future in Detroit.
The Lions' many top draft picks finally are paying off. They should be a contender by 2014-'15, no joke. Maybe even earlier than that though.
They now have the chance to end the season on a high note and positively move forward for 2011. The Lions just ended their miserable 26-game road losing streak this past Sunday.
Next Week: at Miami.
27. Washington Redskins 5-9
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They're 5-9 and this isn't Donovan McNabb's team at all. To be frank though, even when they were respectable early on, it still wasn't McNabb's team.
McNabb felt "disrespected" by his benching this past week and rightfully so. The question arises though: what has he done to benefit the team? Rex Grossman certainly isn't the answer but neither is No. 5 apparently.
At least the 'Skins have been able to find some talent within their organization. Ryan Torain and Anthony Armstrong were rare finds that performed in Mike Shanahan's system.
The problem here was the players' mistrust in the system and their leaders. A lot of this starts with Albert Haynesworth and trickles down for the 'Skins. The $100 million man has been awful this season.
There are merely a few bright spots on this team. It would be in their best interest to draft highly on a QB this year and work from there.
For now, they may be able to play spoilers. Dan Snyder paid a helluva lot of dough to "spoil" though.
Next Week: at Jacksonville.
26. Buffalo Bills 4-10
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Ryan Fitzpatrick was a great, rare find for the Bills who aren't as bad off as people think. The 2011 starting job is his. That alone should have the Harvard grad brimming with confidence.
While it took them a while (nine games) to get their first win, they've since taken off by winning four of six. The Bills have played a handful of close games this season, three in OT (all losses). They're not nearly as bad as their record indicates. For what it's worth, they are probably the best 4-10 team in the league.
With a "big" move or two, they can actually become a threat. For the time being though, they will have to grow slowly.
While C.J. Spiller may have been a bust in his rookie year, expect bigger and better things from him. Spiller, along with several other offensive weapons, will continue to help Fitzpatrick along. Together, they give him some viable options to work with.
The defense has given up a plethora of points, but the personnel is in place for them to succeed. Paul Posluszny, Jairus Byrd and Leodis McKelvin head a talented corps that will improve.
Next Week: vs. New England.
25. Minnesota Vikings 5-9
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No offense, but things are pretty bad when you have to refer to Joe Webb to take the snaps. That doesn't even nearly describe the Vikings' 2010 season.
A year ago, they were one "big" play away from a Super Bowl appearance. This all changed though when they got a classic "Favre" throw instead.
By mid-2010, Brad Childress was fired and the Vikes were floundering. Zygi Wilf had to get rid of Chilly; not even a move for Randy Moss could light a spark under this team. Chilly was clueless and things needed to be shaken up immediately.
Perhaps more than any other sub-.500 team, the talent is there and in abundance. The problem is that they're all over the place at times. Not to mention that this whole "Brett Favre thing" set them back a whole lot.
Now they have to re-establish a true starting QB. Judging from what we saw last night, Webb isn't the answer. Tarvaris Jackson doesn't appear to be either.
Next Week: at Philadelphia.
24. Cleveland Browns 5-9
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Fortunately, the move for Peyton Hillis was pure genius as he's been excellent for the Browns. Mike Holmgren needs more time to build this team but they're headed in the right direction.
Ugly back-to-back losses to Cincinnati and Buffalo doomed their chances of finishing near or even above .500. Going forward, though, Cleveland should return to respectability.
Colt McCoy has the tools to become a solid leader for this young Cleveland team. They are just a few moves away from possibly hitting their stride. If the Hillis trade is any indication, Holmer knows what he's doing at least.
The win over the Patriots was the highlight of their season thus far. Eric Mangini may still get the boot though. Who knows, maybe Holmgren will become the head coach?
Next Week: vs. Baltimore.
23. San Francisco 49ers 5-9
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The Niners are still hanging in there, by a thread though. They made the right move in keeping Coach Mike Singletary's job intact. After a poor 0-5 start, they're since 5-4 and can finish strong. Better yet, they may even make the playoffs—that's a major stretch though at this point.
If they can actually decide which Smith will QB, they may be able to build.
Frank Gore's injury really hampered their running game. Brian Westbrook just isn't the runner that he used to be though he's had flashes of his past this year.
The future is very bright for this team, however. Vernon Davis has really evolved into a top-flight tight end for them.
Their defense has enough talent to make for a solid unit in the future. Not only is the personnel there but Mike Singletary is a sharp defensive mind to have. He was one of the top linebackers of his era.
Next Week: at St. Louis.
22. Seattle Seahawks 6-8
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As bad as Seattle's been, they control their own playoff destiny. If they win out, they clinch the NFC West, the division that no one, and I mean NO ONE wants to win.
It's puzzling how Seattle does it when you look at their statistics. They rank at the bottom of most team stats and have no individuals that have truly succeeded. They've taken advantage of a rather light schedule and now could host a playoff game.
Matt Hasselbeck is having a rough year in Seattle. Even so, the Seahawks have zero confidence in Charlie Whitehurst. This can only mean one thing. Regardless of what happens this season, they need to just annihilate this thing and start with the basics. This off-season will be a great test for Coach Pete Carroll.
The need to draft a new "franchise" QB is screaming at them right now. They simply can't go forward with Hasselbeck as the centerpiece.
Next Week: at Tampa Bay.
21. Houston Texans 5-9
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This team just can't seem to break their ceiling and get over the hump. Not with Gary Kubiak as their coach at least. A change is coming, it needs to, right?
The gem, late-round steal that was Arian Foster has worked for them. He's at the top of the NFL in rushing yards right now with 1,345 yards.
Matt Schuab's been solid for them statistically, but he can't win the big game for the Texans. This was apparent time and time again when the Texans needed wins in crucial games to preserve their season.
Andre Johnson is probably the best all-around receiver in the game. To put it bluntly, Johnson's consistently consistent.
They've lost seven of their last eight games and stumble into the final stretch of the season.
Next Week: at Denver.
20. Tennessee Titans 6-8
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Chris Johnson has again been exceptional for the Titans and helped keep them in the race. Johnson may be the best running back in the game today, if not then he's definitely the most exciting.
The quarterback situation has been a problem throughout much of the season. Neither Kerry Collins nor Vince Young was the answer for Jeff Fisher. Maybe the Titans will look different at this position in 2011.
A recent six-game losing slide doomed them as they were 5-2 before that.
Next Week: at Kansas City.
19. Dallas Cowboys 5-9
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Miserable doesn't nearly justify the type of season that it's been in "Big D." This was a team that was a surefire Super Bowl contender and would play the game in their own backyard. Then, they had to play the games and the wheels came off quickly.
This team's hopes died with Tony Romo's injury on October 25th against the New York Giants. Since then, Jon Kitna has been pretty good, but the 'Boys' season was done on that night.
Wade Phillips was fired following an UGLY 45-7 loss to Green Bay. This may have been a "blessing in disguise" for the 'Boys. Since that loss, Jason Garrett has taken over and they're 4-2.
Defense has been the major issue in "Big D." The Cowboy defense will likely allow close to 450 points this season. While the offensive firepower is still there and Garrett is an offensive mastermind, they can't stop anyone.
Next Week: at Arizona.
18. St. Louis Rams 6-8
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Sam Bradford has grown and matured rapidly for the Rams who are on the brink of the playoffs. Bradford's had a stellar season and has a very promising future in St. Louis.
If they win out and go 8-8, they are definitely in and will host a playoff game at Edward Jones Dome. They have to treat these next two games with divisional rivals San Fran and Seattle as playoff games.
Steven Jackson has been able to help the rookie QB by staying healthy and exceeding 1,000 yards. This team didn't have to run the ball as frequently as people expected, and Bradford as taken every snap.
The emergence of Danny Amendola is a great story as well. He's been with several teams in his young NFL career but now has stability with Bradford in St. Louis. Also, with a full season of work, Brandon Gibson has been a nice complement to Amendola.
Next Week: vs. San Francisco.
17. Miami Dolphins 7-7
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Their inability to string together solid performances and a winning streak has hurt them. For the foreseeable future, Chad Henne is the answer at QB; that's what it looks like at least.
Receivers Brandon Marshall and Devon Bess have both had terrific seasons and helped keep the 'Fins relevant.
Really though, it's been this young defense that has kept the Dolphins at or around .500 this year. They rank in the top ten in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Carlos Dansby has been a key addition for them as defensive leader. The surprise emergence of Cameron Wake was important too as this young linebacker now has 14 sacks.
The running game hasn't nearly taken off as it was expected. At best, both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have enjoyed mediocre years.
Next Week: vs. Detroit.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-6
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This self-proclaimed "best team in the NFC" is actually third in their division. In fact, they are farther behind New Orleans and Atlanta than records indicate.
LeGarrette Blount has had a very good season on the ground and overcame being undrafted out of college. The fact that Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is still walking, let alone playing football, is a miracle. His recovery from a torn Patellar tendon in his right knee is remarkable.
Josh Freeman's rise has forced "the other Josh" Johnson, to the sidelines. Freeman's enjoyed an exceptional season and recognized Mike Williams as his main target.
The defense is still a work in progress for now. Raheem Morris has to be happy with what he's seen from his team this year, though. Either way, it's a major turnaround from a season ago.
Next Week: vs. Seattle.
15. Oakland Raiders 7-7
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With Jason Campbell at the helm, the Raiders have taken a complete 180 this year. Their running game has really carried them though as Darren McFadden is proving he was worth a top pick in just his third season.
The defense has been nasty all season long, especially against the pass. Nnamdi Asomugha is still among the best cover corners in the game. Although he has zero interceptions this year, he's been instrumental to their pass defense.
They even have an outside shot of making the playoffs as the AFC West winners. A lot of things would have to happen though for the Raiders to make the playoffs.
Next Week: vs. Indianapolis.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-6
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MVP candidate Maurice Jones-Drew has led this team all season and kept them in the AFC South race. His big year can't overshadow what David Garrard has done for the Jags.
In most of their losses, they looked horrible, but in victories, they've really showed their potential. This team has enough talent to win this division and quite possibly could still. Last week's loss to Indianapolis could really hamper them though.
By finishing up with Washington and Houston, they have a great opportunity to finish 10-6 and steal the division.
Next Week: vs. Washington.
13. Green Bay Packers 8-6
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The big news that's swept through Green Bay is that Aaron Rodgers has been cleared to play. Sunday's huge game with the New York Giants will determine playoff spots. With the Giants likely out of the NFC East race, they still can clinch a Wild Card spot with a win.
Give Matt Flynn an "A" for effort in Sunday's loss to New England. With better time management, there's no telling where that last drive could've went.
For a team that was suspected to be one of the most talented in the league, this has been a disappointing season. They were expected to win the division and contend for a Super Bowl.
Ryan Grant's injury hurt and showed just how one-dimensional the offense could be, especially with Rodgers out too.
Clay Matthews has made a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year and will likely win it.
Next Week: vs. New York Giants.
12. Kansas City Chiefs 9-5
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The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the surprise teams of the NFL this season. Coach Todd Haley has to be a candidate for Coach of the Year.
Their terrific running duo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones has them atop the league lead in rushing yards per game. Both of these guys could exceed the 1,000 yard mark. Charles is already there with 1,303 yards.
Dwayne Bowe has turned into an explosive weapon for the Chiefs. His run during the middle of the season saw him catch a TD in seven consecutive games (13 total during that span.) Surprisingly though, he's been held to just three catches for 56 yards over the past three games.
They now control their own destiny and look to win out and take the AFC West. Their schedule of Tennessee and Oakland is favorable. Not to mention that both of these games are home where the Chiefs are a perfect 6-0.
Next Week: vs. Tennessee
11. Indianapolis Colts 8-6
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In what's been their most one-dimensional season of all, Peyton Manning has tried to do too much. Manning's attempted over 600 passes and has had to run the offense without sufficient help.
Manning's targeted Reggie Wayne nearly 160 times this year. Manning to Wayne is still one of the best QB-WR duos in all of football. Wayne should exceed 110 catches and 1,400 yards.
The run defense has again been a problem as they've been gashed for about 136 yards per game. They are not last in the league in that category though, they're 28th.
The injuries have hit Indy harder than any team. Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai's injuries have really limited the offense.
Next Week: at Oakland.
10. San Diego Chargers 8-6
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Phillip Rivers' mammoth offensive season still may not be enough for the Chargers to eke into the playoffs. They need some help and are currently one game behind the Chiefs. Even if they win out, they'd have to hope for the Chiefs to do something they haven't done all year: lose at home.
They too have a favorable slate of Cincinnati and Denver to end the season. On offense, they're No. 2 in passing and are No. 1 against the pass on defense. They're even second against the run on defense. That is an impressive balance for a team that may not even make the playoffs.
Mike Tolbert has been more than serviceable and helped Ryan Mathews along the way. A lot of things will need to happen for them to make the playoffs, but time is running out though.
Next Week: at Cincinnati.
9. New York Giants 9-5
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Matt Dodge punted the Giants' shot of winning the NFC East away to DeSean Jackson on Sunday. In what's being called the "Miracle at the NEW Meadowlands," the Giants are still stunned but will need to recover quickly.
The Giants offense has been solidly led by Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks. Bradshaw's been a surprise as he and Brandon Jacobs swapped roles this season. Nicks and Mario Manningham are one of the game's top receiving duos. They helped Manning out immensely this year.
Generally, they are near the top of all offensive and defensive categories.
Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell's unit played poorly enough in the 4th quarter to get him fired. Tom Coughlin isn't out of the woods here either though.
This is a very good football team that just needs to recover and finish strong. They can't let last week's shocking loss hamper their stretch run.
Next Week: at Green Bay.
8. New Orleans Saints 10-4
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Chris Ivory has been a suitable running back for this offense in place of both Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Ivory's been a key asset to this lethal offense and looks to continue to put up solid numbers through the playoffs.
Drew Brees has been excellent again and remains in the game's elite. Other than his interceptions, Brees' numbers are nearly as good as they were last year when his team won the Super Bowl.
The defending champs have had another very good season but haven't caught the Falcons yet. A Monday Night showdown with the Falcons will be huge for the Saints. They will need to go into the Georgia Dome and steal a win from the NFC South leaders.
Their six-game winning streak is impressive but must continue for them to win the division.
Next Week: at Atlanta.
7. Chicago Bears 10-4
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No one had the Bears winning the NFC North. Jay Cutler's leadership has the Bears streaking into the playoffs.
The defense and special teams have been the big story in Chicago though. Lovie Smith loves to build the team around these phases of the game and has a talented enough roster to do so.
Brian Urlacher is having probably his best season ever, and Devin Hester just broke the all-time record for kickoff/punt return touchdowns.
So far, it's certainly been a year to remember in Chicago. If the season ended today, they'd have a first-round bye. If they can hold onto their second place ranking, they will enjoy home-field and a week off in the first round.
Next Week: vs. New York Jets.
6. New York Jets 10-4
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The New York Jets looked to be down and out after a loss to New England a few weeks ago. Now, they appear ready to make their initial playoff run and cause havoc in the AFC.
They are the most hated team in the NFL and that's just how Rex Ryan wants it. When Mark Sanchez plays well, which isn't as often as they hope, this team can be dangerous. He has his moments but overall is still a winner.
Their defense has again carried them throughout much of the season. This team was built to be nasty on defense just as the Ryan family knows.
Next Week: at Chicago.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-4
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It's been a confusing season for the Steelers. On what seems like a weekly basis, they've been fined, most notably James Harrison.
Ben Roethlisberger missed the beginning of the season, but this still didn't limit the team as they went 3-1 without him. This was more than enough to keep them in the hunt and then some.
Now though, without Troy Polamalu, they could be in some major trouble. They're 5-7 without Polamalu in the lineup throughout his career.
Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace have really taken off this season. Both of them are having spectacular seasons and have been mainstays in the offense.
Next Week: vs. Carolina.
4. Baltimore Ravens 10-4
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The Ravens have staked their claim as an elite team once again. Their defense has slipped off but they've certainly made up for it with a pretty good offense.
Their defense is still as nasty as ever and the leadership of Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata remains. Terrell Suggs has also been a force on offense for them this season.
Anquan Boldin coming to Baltimore has helped Joe Flacco out a ton. Not to mention that Ray Rice has evolved into an elite runner.
With Polamalu's injury, they may take advantage and steal the AFC North.
Next Week: at Cleveland.
3. Philadelphia Eagles 10-4
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The Philadelphia Eagles are again the talk of the football world. Their miraculous win over the G-Men on Sunday was special.
Michael Vick has led this team to the promised land, well not yet, but he's almost there. With the NFC East in their grasp, the Eagles are still hoping for a first-round bye.
DeSean Jackson is the game's apex play-maker and has a plethora of "big-play" ability in his arsenal. Paired with Vick, they've formed the deadliest duo in the league this season. Vick to Jackson could become a staple in this offense for years to come if the Eagles lock them both up with new contracts.
The defense is still suspect at best. They can't hold anyone so they get into shootouts on a weekly basis.
Next Week: vs. Minnesota.
2. Atlanta Falcons 12-2
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Atlanta may be the most balanced team in the league and is so fundamentally sound. They've won eight straight and are the Class of the NFC heading into the playoffs. That is, of course, unless they fall apart in the closing weeks.
Matt Ryan is a proven winner and is the perfect young leader for this team. To complement him are Michael "Burner" Turner who has had a huge bounce-back year and Roddy White. White has evolved into one of the game's best receivers.
The defense has been solid and forced a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They've been able to use John Abraham to rush passers and free up the secondary to make plays. The Falcon defense has forced 27 turnovers this season (19 INT's)
Next Week: vs. New Orleans.
1. New England Patriots 12-2
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As good as Atlanta's been, New England is the best team in the game. Their defense is still growing, but the offense is in stride and looks lethal heading into the playoffs.
Tom Brady will win the NFL MVP Award by a landslide. Even without Randy Moss, the Patriots have grown offensively. Wes Welker's comeback has been very impressive as he's the leading receiver again.
Bill Belichick is a mastermind as coach. His game-planning is just perfect and is executed on a weekly basis.
Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis have surprisingly been key to this offense. Green-Ellis may eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the Pats. The 5'8" Woodhead is just so fun to watch in this offense.
Next Week: at Buffalo.
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