NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Who Is The Worst Team?
For more NFL teams than not, this is the last week of football in 2010. For the playoff bound, there season is yet to be defined, but for the rest it is defined, labeled and the carving has begun on the tombstone.
From the best to the worst, we have a fairly clear idea where these teams fall into the power rankings. Read on to see the almost final resting spot for the majority of the NFL.
Thanks For Participating--Try Again Next Year: 32-21
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32. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers erased any worry going into Week 17. They have the first pick locked up. When you have half as many wins as the next closest team, you are a lock to be 32.
31. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals have had a couple of decent wins, but a lot of really bad ones. It's true that five wins slots them ahead of a few teams, but they are in the NFC West.
30. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers are in uncharted territory. They are the first team to be alive for a division title in Week 16 and be ranked the third worst team leading up to Week 17.
29. Buffalo Bills: The Bills climbed out of the cellar with a solid stretch of mid-season football. They are now working hard to erase any promise they showed.
28. Houston Texans: The Texans pass defense has gone from worst to epically worst. They just made Tim Tebow look like a legitimate NFL passer in his second start.
27. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals looked a lot better without the T.Ocho Show.
26. Denver Broncos: The Broncos have been steadily improving since Josh McDaniels was relieved of his duties. Of course, it would have been nearly impossible for them to get worse.
25. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys can take solace in the fact that they are just a missed extra point away from being two or three spots higher in the power rankings.
24. Seattle Seahawks: The teams of the NFC West are setting all kinds of power ranking records. The Seahawks have won two of their last nine games and they will win the division if they can beat the Rams at home next week.
23. Cleveland Browns: Eric Mangini was making Mike Holmgren nervous. Alas, big Mike can rest easy, the Browns are playing bad enough again that he can fire the "ManGenius."
22: Washington Redskins: The 'Skins netted a big victory against the playoff contending Jaguars. Maybe Shanahan wasn't as oblivious as we all thought--or maybe he was just lucky.
21: Minnesota Vikings: Brett Favre's age is contagious and all the Vikings caught it.
No. 20: Tennessee Titans
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Why They Are Here: The Titans have played some good games this year, but most of those were near the beginning of the season. This team has more talent then wins and more drama than either. They were blown out from the opening gun in Kansas City last week.
Future Outlook: The Titans could give themselves a nice parting gift by wrecking the Colts season. Of course, if they play like they did last week, they'll find themselves even further off the radar.
No. 19: Detroit Lions
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Why They Are Here: The Lions are the first team in this ranking that should feel good about their placement in the rankings. They have been solidly competitive all year, despite their QB health issues. They picked up an impressive win on the road in Miami last week.
Future Outlook: The Lions will look to go into the off-season on a winning streak as they will play a winnable game against the Vikings next week. Anyway you cut it, that is a successful season for the men in light blue.
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No. 18: St. Louis Rams
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Why They Are Here: The Rams are one win away from capturing a division title. Even if it is the NFC West, this is still a big step for this young franchise. The Rams continue to beat the teams they should beat.
Future Outlook: The Rams have had a good run. A trip to the playoffs would be an important learning block for their rookie QB, but as they have shown all season against their better competition, they are not ready to move up in the rankings.
No. 17: San Diego Chargers
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Why They Are Here: To keep their playoff hopes alive, all the Chargers had to do was beat the lowly Bengals. They got destroyed.
Future Outlook: The Chargers will end against the Broncos. For a team that is used to being in the playoffs, it is a meaningless game. They are looking at an off-season of change in Charger-land.
No. 16: Oakland Raiders
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Why They Are Here: The Raiders were eliminated from the playoffs right before they started their game for the Colts. They put up another solid effort, but in the end, this young team that is learning to win could not get out of its own way.
Future Outlook: The Raiders are a young team. They'll be looking to complete a division sweep next week in K.C. and go into the off-season on a high note and at .500. A solid outing for the Silver and Black.
No. 15. Miami Dolphins
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Why They Are Here: Is their a weirder team in the NFL. The Dolphins are 1-7 at home and 6-1 on the road. They are a difficult team to rank. They have played a tough schedule, but they are coming off a horrible loss to the Lions.
Future Outlook: The Dolphins may be looking at an off-season of change. They have enough young talent to be optimistic and enough to be disappointed in this season. Tony Sparano may be coaching for his Dolphins' career next week in New England.
No. 14: New York Giants
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Why They Are Here: Five Quarters of football ago, the Giants looked like one of the NFC's best teams. Since then they have looked like one of the worst.
Future Outlook: The Giants will try to keep the wheels from falling off of the bus, while hoping for a little help to extend their season, as they travel to take on the rival Redskins.
No. 13: Jacksonville Jaguars
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Why They Are Here: The Jaguars had everything to play for against the sinking Washington Redskins last week and they blew it. The Week 15 loss to the Colts and Maurice Jones-Drew's injury may have ended the Jags season.
Future Outlook: The Jags have a winnable game in Houston next week. Unfortunately for them, the Colts are playing the Titans. Playoffs or not, the Jaguars are a relatively young team and they should be excited about their future.
No. 12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Why They Are Here: Josh Freeman played nearly a perfect game last week as the Bucs dismantled the Seahawks. It was a game they needed to win and this young team did just that.
Future Outlook: The Bucs travel to New Orleans in a game they need to win to have a shot at the playoffs. This may be asking too much of this young team. No matter what happens next week, the Bucs are light-years ahead of where anyone thought they'd be.
No. 11: Green Bay Packers
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Why They Are Here: The Packers had what the experts would call a "Statement Victory" last week. When they get a lead they are tough to beat.
Future Outlook: The Packers will be hosting the division leading Bears in a must-win game on Sunday. The Packers started off with Super Bowl aspirations, but were slowed by injuries along the way. There is no team will look forward to playing the Packers if they manage to get into the playoffs.
No. 10 Kansas City Chiefs
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Why They Are Here: The Chiefs look unbeatable at home. Last week they put away a struggling Titans team seconds after the kickoff. They are playing solid football on both sides of the ball.
Future Outlook: There is not a team in the NFL that wants to play the Chiefs in Arrowhead. Still, they have been too inconsistent on the road to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The fact that they are in that conversation at all is a sign of the success this young team has had this season.
No. 9: New York Jets
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Why They Are Here: The Jets have lost three of their last four. Their offense cannot be counted on to win them any games. Still, they showed why they are dangerous the last two weeks, with two solid performances on the road against playoff teams.
Future Outlook: The Jets offensive struggles make a deep playoff run for this team unlikely. Still, they appear to be a team that perform best when their backs are to the wall.
No. 8: Indianapolis Colts
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Why They Are Here: All of a sudden, the Colts are beginning to look like the Colts again. The last two weeks their maligned run defense has bottled up to of the league's best rushing attacks. One win against the struggling Titans and they are in the playoffs.
Future Outlook: The Colts are currently playing their most complete football of the season. Peyton Manning is missing some of his favorite weapons, but he is proving that he can turn any NFL player into a weapon.
No. 7: Chicago Bears
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Why They Are Here: Defense and special teams can win you a lot of games. Just look at the Bears. They continue to grind out victories, despite a less than stellar offense.
Future Outlook: The Bears defense is going to keep them in any game not involving the Patriots. They are going to get at least one game at home in the playoffs and maybe a bye. Their offense is going to be their downfall, but that may not happen until the NFC Championship.
No. 6: Atlanta Falcons
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Why They Are Here: They have been outstanding all year, but they have not faced the toughest of schedules. They lost their first game at home in Week 16 to the New Orleans Saints and in the process they lost any mental edge they'd hold over them for a future meeting
Future Outlook: Barring a complete collapse against the Panthers in Week 17, the Falcons will have home field throughout the playoffs. This will be a huge boost to this young team that lacks some of the playoff experience of the teams they will likely face.
No. 5: Baltimore Ravens
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Why They Are Here: The Ravens are playing sound and complete football. Their one weakness has been their vulnerability to the deep pass, but with Ed Reed rounding back into form, the Ravens D is looking less and less vulnerable.
Future Outlook: The Ravens still have a shot to win their division and claim a first round bye. This would be huge for their not quite young team.
No. 4: Pittsburgh Steelers
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Why They Are Here: The Steelers are winning games the way the Steelers always win games. Teams essentially give up trying to run on their defense and Roethlisberger continues to make plays despite his injuries.
Future Outlook: With a win against Cleveland the Steelers will secure their division and a first-round bye. The bye would give Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger one more week to get healthy.
No. 3: New Orleans Saints
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Why They Are Here: The Saints have regained that "Super" look. In a big game against the Falcons the defense came up with big plays and the offense displayed the versatility that makes them almost impossible to defend.
Future Outlook: Despite their victory against the Falcons, they still need help from the Panthers to pass them for the division title. In other words, the Saints will have to battle through the playoffs as a wild card. That is something that will not be impossible for this battle tested team to handle.
No. 2: Philadelphia Eagles
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Why They Are Here: The Eagles are the most explosive team in the NFL. As they proved against the Giants, you can never count them out of a game. They are still waiting to play their Week 16 game, but there is no signs of them slowing down.
Future Outlook: The Eagles still have a shot at a first-round bye and they have two winnable games remaining. With a healthy Michael Vick, the Eagles have proven they can't beat anyone.
No. 1: New England Patriots
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Why They Are Here: The Patriots are rolling. Their offense is shredding teams and their young defense is improving by the week. There are no signs of them slowing down.
Future Outlook: The Pats have home field advantage clinched. At this point, if they don't win the Super Bowl, it would be an upset.
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