NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Falcons Drop & Saints Rise In NFC Playoff Ratings

The final week of the NFL season is on the horizon and the playoffs await six of the NFC's 16 teams come January 3rd, 2011.

Some teams like the Bears, Eagles, Saints and Falcons have already clinched postseason berths while other teams like the Packers, Rams, Seahawks, Giants and Buccaneers still have work to be done.

Join B/R as we rank these playoff hopefuls through Week 16's action.

No. 9) Seattle Seahawks (6-9)

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks directs his team against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Pete Carroll's Seahawks have lost three straight games overall and seven of their past nine. Somehow though, Seattle is still alive in the NFC West and can win the division with a win over the Rams at home on Sunday.

Seattle has a minus-107 point differential heading into Week 17 and with a win would likely become the worst team in NFL history to make the playoffs based on point differential.

No. 8) St. Louis Rams (7-8)

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ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 26: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams passes against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome on December 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the 49ers 25-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Much like Seattle, St. Louis' late season run has been anything but convincing. The Rams have lost four of their past seven games and lead the NFC West with a losing record of 7-8.

St. Louis also has a negative point differential this season but has played well at home, going 6-2 this season in the Edward Jones Dome.

No. 7) New York Giants (9-6)

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The New York Giants have had a nightmare the past two weeks, more specifically the past four and half quarters of football.

First the G-Men blew a 21 point lead in the fourth quarter to the Eagles and lost by a touchdown in regulation. Then they went on the road to play the Packers in a game they needed to clinch a playoff berth. New York turned the ball over six times and lost by 28 points.

The Giants are reeling right now and a win Sunday over the Redskins still doesn't guarantee them anything.

No. 6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

The Bucs are just 2-3 in their past five games and are fighting for a Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay will visit the Saints on Sunday in hopes of getting a win, as well as a pair of Giants and Packers losses.

If all three of those happened then the NFC South would see three of its teams in the postseason. Crazier things have happened but Tampa Bay missed a golden opportunity when they lost in overtime at home to Detroit in Week 15.

No. 5) Green Bay Packers (9-6)

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rolls out of the pocket against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers was lights out this past Sunday after missing Week 15's game because of a concussion suffered a week earlier.

Rodgers had his first 400 yard passing game and also tossed four touchdown passes in the Packers' rout of the struggling Giants.

A win at home over division rival Chicago on Sunday will see the Packers through to the postseason as the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, meaning Green Bay would be on the road all the way to the Super Bowl.

No. 4) Chicago Bears (11-4)

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears talks with a teammate on the bench during a game against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan

The Bears aren't that much better than the Packers this season. Their record would tell you otherwise but many have forgotten the Packers' 18 penalty performance at Soldier Field in Week 3 when a James Jones fumble led to a Chicago field goal as time expired.

Sunday's game at Lambeau will tell all and likely prove the division's best team even though Chicago has clinched the NFC North.

Still the Bears have the offensive weapons and defense to win it all in 2010. Hester, Cutler, Olsen and Knox combine with names like Urlacher and Peppers to form a solid championship roster.

No. 3) Atlanta Falcons (12-3)

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith waits on the field during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Atlanta lost a huge game Monday night against rival New Orleans. The Saints proved that the Falcons still haven't taken the next step necessary to be World Champions.

New Orleans made plenty of mistakes and still won the game by three points thanks to a clutch late game drive capped off by a Drew Brees touchdown pass.

Though the Falcons will likely win the division and secure homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the Saints proved they can be beaten in the Georgia Dome and that they aren't all they are hyped up to be.

No. 2) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Eagles are 10-4 this season and the NFC East champions with two games left on their schedule. Now they are chasing the Bears for a first round bye and Atlanta for homefield throughout the playoffs.

Philly throttled the Falcons earlier this season so they get the edge there. Also, Michael Vick's brilliance this year has made up my mind for me.

Philadelphia's improbable comeback at the Meadowlands in Week 15 and Vick's record breaking performance on Monday night in Washington stand out.

No. 1) New Orleans Saints (11-4)

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham in the second half during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Phot

The Saints made a huge statement on Monday night when they went into the Georgia Dome and handed Atlanta its first home loss of the season and its first loss in nine games.

New Orleans' championship pedigree is clearly still present as Drew Brees came back with a superb drive after throwing back to back interceptions in the fourth quarter.

The defense was phenomenal, holding the Falcons offense to just seven points for the entire game. New Orleans also stifled Michael Turner and the Atlanta ground attack. Turner also fumbled for the first time this season when a Saints player punched it out on the goal line proving to be a key play in the game.

New Orleans also held the so called "Matty Ice" to just 15 completions on Monday night. The Saints win places them back on top of the NFC and the favorites to represent the conference at Super Bowl XLV.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.