NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Jets, Steelers, Packers Top Final 2010 Edition
The NFL regular season is over and the AFC Championship game, featuring the Jets and Steelers, has been thrust into the spotlight as the playoffs come to a close, with the NFC Championship between the Bears and Packers also about to happen.
NFL Power Rankings were popular during the regular season, but have faded a bit as the Super Bowl gets closer and closer.
Here are the final NFL Power Rankings, starting at No. 32, the worst team in the league.
32. Carolina Panthers
1 of 32
The hire of Ron Rivera has them headed in the right direction, but missing out on Andrew Luck hurts.
They had two fewer wins than anyone in the NFL.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
2 of 32
Cincinnati has a team in need of rebuilding, but it's stuck with a bad veteran quarterback that it doesn't want to give up on.
That's not a good situation to be in.
30. Denver Broncos
3 of 32
If Tim Tebow is the answer (I'm not convinced), then at least they have the biggest piece of the puzzle solved. But they don't have much else.
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29. Arizona Cardinals
4 of 32
The good news for the Cardinals? They were just two games out of the playoffs.
28. Washington Redskins
5 of 32
Rex Grossman isn't getting back to the Super Bowl in this lifetime.
27. Buffalo Bills
6 of 32
The Bills played hard all year and were competitive, but they don't have a franchise quarterback.
26. Tennessee Titans
7 of 32
Another team without a quarterback after they drove Vince Young out of town. It's probably a smart move in the long run, but they aren't exactly in good shape now.
25. Miami Dolphins
8 of 32
Why are the Dolphins so low at 7-9? Well, they're nowhere near catching the Jets or Patriots, and they don't have an answer at quarterback, either.
24. San Francisco 49ers
9 of 32
At 6-10, they were just a game off the division lead. Don't you think that Jim Harbaugh and a new quarterback could give them that extra nudge?
23. Cleveland Browns
10 of 32
I'm still not convinced by this team, especially Colt McCoy, but they do seem destined for mediocrity next year, rather than the basement.
22. Seattle Seahawks
11 of 32
I don't care if they won a playoff game, Seattle will go back to the basement next year, especially if they have to rely on the brittle Matt Hasselbeck.
21. St. Louis Rams
12 of 32
The Rams are on the rise, but they still aren't that good.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
13 of 32
Their hot start was the fluke, not their embarrassing finish.
19. Oakland Raiders
14 of 32
Another team, another hole at quarterback...
18. Minnesota Vikings
15 of 32
They have a playoff team... if they had a quarterback.
17. Houston Texans
16 of 32
Their offense? Top-10 worthy.
Their defense? Bottom-two worthy.
16. Detroit Lions
17 of 32
The Lions are headed in the right direction, but it's tough to count on Matt Stafford given his injury history.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18 of 32
Their 10-6 record was solid, but they didn't beat anyone good.
14. Dallas Cowboys
19 of 32
Getting Tony Romo back immediately puts them back in the playoff picture.
13. San Diego Chargers
20 of 32
Why can't they just start seasons like they finish them...
12. Indianapolis Colts
21 of 32
Peyton Manning isn't falling apart, but the team behind him is.
11. Kansas City Chiefs
22 of 32
They've got an improving quarterback, the best running back in the NFL and an improving defense.
But they need more weapons in the passing game.
10. New York Giants
23 of 32
The Giants have a team worthy of Super Bowl contention, but they dropped off down the stretch.
9. New Orleans Saints
24 of 32
Losing to a 7-9 team in the playoffs? Really?
8. Baltimore Ravens
25 of 32
They just ran into a better team in Pittsburgh, but it was a solid season overall.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
26 of 32
As long as the Eagles keep Vick healthy, they'll be fine.
6. Atlanta Falcons
27 of 32
Losing 48-21 isn't the best way to end a 13-3 season...
5. Chicago Bears
28 of 32
No disrespect to Chicago, but they aren't as good as New England.
4. New England Patriots
29 of 32
The Patriots can't win the Super Bowl, but they still had one of the best regular seasons in recent memory.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
30 of 32
Not that the Steelers can't beat the Jets, but they've had the far less impressive road to the AFC Championship.
2. Green Bay Packers
31 of 32
Aaron Rodgers is absolutely on fire right now.
1. New York Jets
32 of 32
Manning, Brady... now Roethlisberger? That's six Super Bowl rings.
But can they beat them all? On the road?
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.
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