NFL Playoffs 2011: Who Was the Regular Season's Best Team?
NFL Playoffs are upon us now, as the regular season concluded Sunday and the Wild Card round will kick off on Saturday.
With that in mind, there's still a little bit of business left in the regular season, and no, it doesn't include firing Eric Mangini. It's the last Power Rankings of the 2010 season and who is the best team heading into the playoffs. The Patriots, Falcons and Steelers are among those vying for the top spot, while the Panthers and Broncos were trying to stay out of the cellar.
Read on to find out who takes the top spot.
Teams 32-21
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32. Carolina. At least now they can put this season behind them and move on.
31. Denver. Tim Tebow looks like he can be an NFL quarterback, at least for now.
30. Buffalo. They'll be good again. Someday.
29. Cincinnati. Perhaps the most disappointing team in the NFL this season.
28. Arizona. Kurt Warner really was that important, huh?
27. San Francisco. Yet another search for a head coach and a quarterback.
26. Tennessee. Team Jeff or Team Vince? What will Bud Adams decide?
25. Cleveland. Is it really a surprise that Eric Mangini got canned?
24. Washington. That extension to Donovan McNabb was money well spent.
23. Houston. Would be the most disappointing team if not for the Bengals.
22. Dallas. At least they finished the season strong.
21. Minnesota. Played hard and probably earned Leslie Frazier the permanent head coaching gig.
20. Detroit Lions
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So in the last four weeks, the Lions ruined their chances for a top 10 draft pick, but in the grand scheme of things, Detroit can take much more from the end of the year. The four-game win streak was impressive, including wins against Green Bay and Tampa Bay, and that's not including the seven games the Lions lost by eight or less points. It looks like things are finally looking up for the Lions.
19. Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins looked like a team that could contend in the AFC East this season. But the Dolphins are also a tale (no pun intended) of what happens when a team can't win at home and tries to be something it's not. Too many times, the Dolphins were pass-happy with Chad Henne, and if they want to get back in the right direction, they will need to decide who is the future at quarterback.
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18. St. Louis Rams
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The last game of the season will leave a bitter taste in the Rams' mouth, but there's a lot to be proud about if you're a Rams fan. Sam Bradford progressed during the season and the defense is starting to mature into the type Steve Spagnuolo wants, the same one that won the Giants a Super Bowl a couple of years ago.
17. Seattle Seahawks
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The Seahawks are only ahead of the Rams because they beat St. Louis on Sunday, but to say the Seahawks have struggled this year is an understatement. All nine Seahawks losses have been by double digits, and Seattle has struggled both offensively and defensively.
That being said, they're still the NFC West Champions and there's something to be said for that.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jaguars officially lost the AFC South Sunday, losing to Houston (albeit without Maurice Jones-Drew and David Garrard) while the Colts won their last game. But one has to wonder if choking away the division will finally be the last straw for coach Jack Del Rio after yet another .500 season without a trip to the playoffs.
15. San Diego Chargers
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The Chargers had a disappointing season, missing the playoffs after losing the division they owned for years to the Kansas City Chiefs. Yet amazingly, Norv Turner still has a job.
The Chargers have been knocking on the door for years and have never been able to break through and win the AFC. Now with Kansas City and even the Raiders rising, you have to wonder if the window is starting to close on San Diego.
14. Oakland Raiders
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A .500 record in the annals of Raiders history is nothing to raise a banner over, but in terms of the recent history of the Raiders, it's a big accomplishment. The 8-8 record this season is the first non-losing season the Raiders have had since the Super Bowl season of 2002, and Tom Cable should get a lot of credit for that. So of course, it looks like the Raiders won't pick up his option and bring him back.
13. New York Giants
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The Maras are one of the first families of the NFL, and they want to win. Ergo, the way this season ended for the Giants, as many seasons have ended under Tom Coughlin (with a late-season collapse), must not have left a great taste in their mouths. Yet they have publicly stated that Coughlin will be back next season, and the last time they did that, the Giants won the Super Bowl the next season.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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So the Buccaneers and Giants joined that dubious and exclusive "10 win teams who missed the playoffs" club. This season will be more about rebuilding and the beginning of building something special in Tampa. Many wondered aloud last year if Raheem Morris was the right fit for the Seahawks. Double-digit wins prove that the pieces are there for a return to prominence and that Morris is definitely the guy.
11. New York Jets
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Maybe it's just me, but I have not been impressed at all by the Jets this season. Yes, they are a dangerous team in the AFC, but the offense is still too inconsistent and the defense has been exploited at times. Yet under Rex Ryan, this team does best when they are counted down and out, so perhaps the best is yet to come for the Jets.
10. Indianapolis Colts
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The Colts looked to be in deep trouble four weeks ago. Now here they are, another division title and the No. 3 seed in the AFC. But this team has dealt with a lot of injuries and are still dealing with them. If Indianapolis can develop a running attack and deal with the injuries, especially on the defense, they have a chance of making it to the AFC Title Game.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
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Todd Haley should be one of the finalists for Coach of the Year after turning the Chiefs into AFC West Champions behind one of the best running attacks in the league. That makes them very dangerous heading into the playoffs, but they also have a very tough matchup in the Wild Card round with Baltimore. Either way, it's been a great season in KC.
8. Green Bay Packers
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The Packers dealt with injuries throughout the year like the Colts. But the Packers are entering the playoffs with a lot of momentum and a scary roster that's getting healthy at the right time. Aaron Rodgers can put up numbers, even without a running game, and Clay Matthews can dictate a gameplan on defense. If the Packers get past the first round, it's not inconceivable to see them go to the Super Bowl.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles have gone from fringe playoff team to Super Bowl contender to possibly an underdog in the Wild Card round. When they're on, they can still get on a roll and be a very good team. But they have to have the Michael Vick of the first half of the season and they have to be healthy, and right now health is a big concern, especially for Vick. The porous defense could be a big problem as well.
6. New Orleans Saints
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The Saints are not the same team they were last year. They've struggled running the ball and have dealt with injuries on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. That being said, they still have Drew Brees, which is a big equalizer. They also have a very favorable matchup with Seattle in the Wild Card round.
5. Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens look like they can definitely make a run in the AFC. They will have to go through either New England or Pittsburgh if they can get past Kansas City this weekend, but Baltimore's shown it can beat either, especially on the road. Of course, when it comes to picking up that backside blitz on Joe Flacco...
4. Chicago Bears
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No one's really bought into the Bears all season, even when they secured the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the AFC. But the defense can be stout and Jay Cutler hasn't been, well, Jay Cutler. If Matt Forte can turn it around and the offensive line plays better, who knows, perhaps they could be doing the Super Bowl Shuffle.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers aren't getting a ton of press despite being the No. 2 seed in the AFC, yet could very well be in the midst of another Super Bowl run. They're balanced on offense, aggressive on defense and very well coached. Although to be fair, it's hard not to be underrated when you have Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu.
2. Atlanta Falcons
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The Falcons have had a phenomenal season, and have now set it up so that the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through the Georgia Dome. That being said, it'll be interesting to see how the Falcons handle the pressure of being the favorite in the playoffs and matching up when there's a lot more at stake.
1. New England Patriots
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Who else was it going to be?
Since being embarrassed in Cleveland, the Patriots have been on a tear, embarrassing teams as they go. All of a sudden, the Patriots look like a team on a mission. The offense is on fire with Tom Brady and the defense is young but making enough plays to secure wins. They've gone from ho-hum early in the season to the best team in the league at the perfect time.
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