NFL Power Rankings: A Look at the Top Teams in Each Conference

Chris Trapasso

Dec 26, 2011

Are the New Orleans Saints or the San Francisco 49ers the second-best team in the NFC?

Will the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers capture the No. 2 spot in the AFC?

The NFL playoff picture is nearly set, but with only one week remaining in the regular season, who are the best teams in each conference?

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NFC

1. Green Bay Packers (14-1)

Duh. Aaron Rodgers and his crew bounced back from their Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in a major way by spanking the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football, 35-21.

The Packers intercepted two more passes, and Rodgers threw a career-high five touchdown passes, bringing his season total to an astronomical 45 on the year.

They're the most explosive team in the NFL.

2. New Orleans Saints (11-3)

San Francisco fans may have a decent gripe here, but in order to beat the Packers, they can't kick field goals. They've picked up quality wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks in the last two weeks, but the Saints offense can stay with Green Bay's.

It's all about Drew Brees. The guy's season is rivaling Rodgers' epic campaign. He has 16 touchdowns with no interceptions over his last five games and plays in the Superdome tonight, a place where he's thrown 20 touchdowns with only three picks in 2011.

So incredibly dynamic.

A sneaky good running game, too.

AFC

1. New England Patriots

Let's face it—the Patriots are the AFC's best team because of Tom Brady.

New England's defense is awful and is showing no signs of improvement. The loss of resurgent pass-rusher Andre Carter certainly won't help, either.

However, Brady is in such control of his offense—and he's got Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski, who are both recurring matchup nightmares for opposing defenses—that they can win in shootouts if they need to.

2. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have finally started to feature Ray Rice, which has taken a lot of pressure off Joe Flacco. The defense isn't as amazingly intimidating as it used to be, but it is still a top unit with loads of playoff experience.

Win next week, and they're at least the No. 2 seed in the AFC, which would give Flacco the first postseason bye of his NFL career.

The Ravens are the AFC's most balanced team, and they certainly have the makeup for a Super Bowl run.

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New Orleans Saints*

3. New England Patriots

4. San Francisco 49ers

5. Baltimore Ravens

6. Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Atlanta Falcons*

8. Detroit Lions

9. New York Giants