NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Giants Looking Vulnerable, Panthers Looking Up

Please note that these power rankings include the result of the Thursday Night football game, so Indianapolis and Jacksonville have played one more game than the other 30 teams.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)

The Steelers are winning in tough games, and that is just the way they like it. But they are going to have to win against vs. Tennessee this week, or the top AFC seed will be out of reach.

2. New York Giants (11-3)

A No. 2 spot in the power rankings is looking very vulnerable to a strong Carolina team this Sunday night. Back-to-back losses can't have the Giants feeling too good about themselves, either.

3. Carolina Panthers (11-3)

Playing about as well as anyone in the league right now, and the 30-10 pummeling of the respectable Broncos, which included 27 unanswered points, really showed the rest of the league how good they are.

4. Tennessee Titans (12-2)

They still have the best record, but a difficult game against the Steelers this week could make them give up their top AFC playoffs seed. The loss to Houston was tough.

5. Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

Finding a way to win....exactly. I'm a little worried about them, because they should've handled Jacksonville without any problems, but the scare might be good for them.

6. Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

Another hot team eyeing premier playoff positions, the Cowboys are playing perfect right now, at least if you don't include their huge 4th quarter slip-up vs. Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago.

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Big missed opportunity last week, but still a good 9-5 team. Just compare this week's ranking to their rankings before Week 16 of last season!

8. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)

Ditto for them! From 31st to 8th in 16 games?! That's good!

Great OT win against the divisional rival and fellow playoff contender Bucs. Now they have the tiebreaker edge.

But now they have another important game @ Minnesota, with the wild-card on the line.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1)

Most would disagree with this No. 9 ranking, but I think they're playing about as well as anyone right now, and are just unlucky that the playoffs are unlikely.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)

The Atlanta game was disappointing, but they need to bounce back against a motivated San Diego team this week, because now they're going to have to fight for the playoffs.

11. New England Patriots (9-5)

11th is good enough to get them the highest ranking in the AFC East, but No. 12. New York Jets and No. 14 Miami are right on their tails. It shall be interesting to see how this division works out.

12. New York Jets (9-5)

The close victory vs. Buffalo brought out some legit scepticism, but it did do what the Jets wanted it to do: help them continue to keep pace with the rest of their division.

13. Minnesota Vikings (9-5)

I'm still a little shaky on this team. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling they aren't very sturdy in the NFC Playoff race. A loss this week and a win on MNF vs. GB by the Bears puts both teams tied for the NFC North lead at 9-6, which isn't a premier wild card position for the team who doesn't win the division. But the Vikings can prove to me that they are in a major game vs. Atlanta this week.

14. Miami Dolphins (9-5)

I'm not feeling too good about them, either. The worst of the 9-5 teams without any doubt, at least to me. They've really had trouble pulling out wins in easy games vs. St. Louis (with two wins) and San Francisco (with five wins) the last two weeks, too.

But they do get another easy matchup @ Kansas City this week.

15. Arizona Cardinals (8-6)

The need to re-energize themselves, and soon. The division was wrapped up long ago, but as the playoffs near, they're starting to falter.

Now they have a game against a very motivated New England team, too. 8-8 division winner, anyone?

16. Chicago Bears (8-6)

Not yet eliminated from the division title, but a must win vs. Green Bay to keep pace is coming up.

17. New Orleans Saints (7-7)

Much better than their 7-7 record appears, but the defense needs to get going.

18. Houston Texans (7-7)

Playing nearly as well as several top-10 teams right now, and they're 7-3 after a dreadful 0-4 start.

19. Denver Broncos (8-6)

They need to win, and fast. San Diego is looking up right now, and they're playing absolutely terrible. Even with the 8-6 record, I'm currently putting them at 19th. The defense in particular needs to step up.

20. San Diego Chargers (6-8)

Oh man, they were all but dead and now they are more alive than most. All they have to do is win this week in tough game @ Tampa Bay, hope Denver loses to vs. Buffalo, and then beat them next week in an unintentional "division championship" game. Of course, it isn't going to be that easy for all of that to happen.

21. Buffalo Bills (6-8)

22. San Francisco 49ers (5-9)

23. Green Bay Packers (5-9)

24. Washington Redskins (7-7)

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

26. Seattle Seahawks (3-11)

27. Cleveland Browns (4-10)

28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1)

29. Kansas City Chiefs (3-11)

30. Oakland Raiders (3-11)

31. St. Louis Rams (2-12)

14,598,723. Detroit Lions (0-Infinity)

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