NFL Power Rankings: Looking at the Tightest Division Races

What is better than a tight divisional race that comes down to the final two weeks of the NFL regular season? 

Not much. 

We've got a few divisions that, in all likelihood, will be decided in the season finale on New Year's Day. 

NFC East 

This is essentially a two-team race between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, but the Philadelphia Eagles aren't out of it yet. 

With two wins, a Jets win against the Giants and a Cowboys loss to the Giants in Week 17, the Eagles are your NFC East champs. 

Craziness. 

A lot of drama will take place in this division this week, as the Giants face the Jets and the Eagles make the trip to Dallas. 

Philadelphia certainly has the offensive firepower to stay with the Cowboys, they'll just have to stay away from costly turnovers to pull off the upset. 

The Giants-Jets showdown is extremely intriguing. Both clubs can look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders one week, then cellar dwellers the next. 

AFC North 

This division comes down to the 10-4 Baltimore Ravens and 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, both clubs that are coming off rather embarrassing Week 15 prime-time losses. 

Baltimore swept the season series with Pittsburgh, so they hold the first tie-breaker. 

They each get the Cleveland Browns once in the last two weeks, but the Ravens face the Bengals in Cincinnati in Week 17, while the Steelers' other contest is at home against the Rams. 

Think the guys from the Steel City have the advantage? 

I do. 

But don't be surprised if each team finishes the year 12-4 and the Ravens finally treat their fans and Joe Flacco to a home playoff game. 

AFC West 

Every team is alive in the AFC West, which is remarkable for this point in the season. The Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers need the most help, while the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos are in a much more comfortable position. 

If Denver wins out, they win the division. 

Oakland needs to win out and with a Broncos loss to the Chiefs in Week 17. 

San Diego takes a trip to Detroit this weekend, while the Broncos face the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, and the Chiefs square off against the Raiders in what should be a wild affair inside Arrowhead Stadium. 

Everything will be much more clear by Christmas Day in this division.

Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (13-1)	17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
2. New Orleans Saints (11-3)	18. Oakland Raiders (7-7)
3. New England Patriots (11-3)	19. Chicago Bears (7-7)
4. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)	20. Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)	21. Tennessee Titans (7-7)
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-4)	22. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
7. Houston Texans (10-4)	23. Miami Dolphins (5-9)
8. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)	24. Washington Redskins (5-9)
9. Detroit Lions (9-5)	25. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
10. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)	26. Buffalo Bills (5-9)
11. Denver Broncos (8-6)	27. Cleveland Browns (4-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)	28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)
13. New York Jets (8-6)	29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10)
14. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)	30. Minnesota Vikings (2-12)
15. San Diego Chargers (7-7)	31. St. Louis Rams (2-12)
16. New York Giants (7-7)	32. Indianapolis Colts (1-13)