NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

1. (2) Tennessee Titans (13-2)

The Titans reclaim their rightful spot atop the Power Rankings after a dominant fourth quarter against the Steelers.

2. (4) New York Giants (12-3)

Brandon Jacobs got the Giants to 11-3, but Derrick Ward got them home field advantage.

3. (3) Carolina Panthers (11-4)

With an 8-0 home record, that might've been a conference championship kick John Kasay missed at the end of regulation, but the Panthers should get another shot at Giants Stadium on Jan. 18.

4. (5) Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

One concern for the Colts heading into the playoffs is that they haven't played a good team since their Nov. 23 victory at San Diego, and they probably won't see a top-rate effort from the already-clinched-everything Titans this weekend.  But with Peyton Manning at the helm, that shouldn't really matter come Jan. 3.

5. (1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)

It's been the Steelers' achilles heel all year: a porous offensive line and a quarterback who refuses to get rid of the football.

6. (7) Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

If a road win in the final game at Texas Stadium doesn't prove Joey Flacco and these Ravens are real contenders then I don't know what will.

7. (8) Atlanta Falcons (10-5)

Ditto for Matt Ryan and the Falcons after their win at Minnesota.

8. (6) Dallas Cowboys (9-6)

Like in the Pittsburgh game, the Dallas 'D' was strong until the fourth quarter.  They're going to need a 60-minute effort in Philly this week if they want to make the playoffs.

9. (15) Miami Dolphins (10-5)

The knock on Florida teams has been that they're not able to win in cold weather in December and January.  The Fins disproved that in KC this past weekend and I believe they will do it again at the Meadowlands.

10. (13) New England Patriots (10-5)

Bill Belichick must've thought his team's computer rankings would've gone up by piling it on against the Cardinals Sunday.  It'll really be shame when the 11-5 Pats miss the playoffs.

11. (9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)

This Bucs 'D' is really looking suspect as they stumble towards a possible playoff berth.

12. (10) New York Jets (9-6)

Do the Jets know the NFL plays a 16 game schedule these days?

13. (12) Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

The bad news?  You just blew a chance to clinch the division at home.  The good news?  You'll have another shot this weekend against a Giants team that has nothing to play for.

14. (17) Chicago Bears (9-6)

The 20:1 bet I made before the season started on the Bears to win the Super Bowl is still alive!

15. (19) Washington Redskins (8-7)

Way to step up when it was already too late.

16. (11) Philadelphia Eagles (8-6-1)

You control your own destiny to make the playoffs, you're playing a reeling Redskins team, and you put up THREE points???

17. (14) Arizona Cardinals (8-7)

The Falcons should score 55 on the Cards in the Wild Card round.

18. (20) New Orleans Saints (8-7)

I don't think Carolina will allow Drew Brees to get the 402 yards passing he needs to pass Dan Marino's single-season mark of 5,084 yards set back in 1984, but at least the Saints still have something to play for.

19. (23) San Diego Chargers (7-8)

The 14:1 bet I made on the Chargers to win the Super Bowl after they started 3-5 is looking mighty juicy right now.  I'm just upset I didn't wait until they were 4-8.

20. (22) Buffalo Bills (7-8)

Well, it seems like the Bills' offense has returned just in time to finish last in the AFC East.

21. (16) Denver Broncos (8-7)

My prediction for this weekend's AFC West title game: San Diego 69, Denver 0.

22. (21) San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

Four out of five to end the season if they can get past the Redskins this week.

23. (18) Houston Texans (7-8)

See, that hype is already getting to them.

24. (27) Seattle Seahawks (4-11)

The Hawks picked up their first out of division win in Coach Holmgren's home finale.

25. (28) Oakland Raiders (4-11)

Have a chance to play spoiler at Tampa Bay this weekend.  Prediction: Bucs 42, Raiders 0.

26. (24) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

The disappointment tour ends in Baltimore this week.

27. (25) Green Bay Packers (5-10)

What an awful season for the Packers and it wasn't even Aaron Rodgers fault.

28. (29) Cincinnati Bengals (3-11-1)

The Bengals are now 2-0 since Nov. 30 in games in which they score a touchdown.  See, getting into the end zone helps.

29. (26) Cleveland Browns (4-11)

The Browns got shutout while Romeo Crennel caught some shuteye.

30. (30) Kansas City Chiefs (2-13)

Yet another blown halftime lead.

31. (31) St. Louis Rams (2-13)

Yet another blown fourth quarter lead.

32. (32) Detroit Lions (0-15)

It was all set up for the Lions in Week 16.  They were playing at home against a team that had just been eliminated from the playoffs and had virtually nothing to play for.  And Detroit still lost by five touchdowns.  This is the worst team of all time.

Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.

Jordan can be reached at [e-mail]