NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

#1 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-3) +2

Previous: #3, won vs #1 LA Rams, 38-37

Seahawks engineered a big comeback against the Rams & are now in the driver’s seat in the NFC.

Upcoming: at #14 Carolina

#2 LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4) -1

Previous: #1, lost at #3 Seattle, 38-37

I still think the Rams are the best team in the NFL, but they’ve made it really hard on themselves.

Upcoming: at #22 Atlanta

#3 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-4) +4

Previous: #7, won at #18 Indianapolis, 48-27

If the Niners win their last two games they will claim the #1 seed in the NFC.

Upcoming: vs #7 Chicago

#4 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (11-4) +7

Previous: #11, won at #2 Denver, 34-20

I believe Jacksonville may be the best team in the AFC.

Upcoming: at #18 Indianapolis

#5 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-3) -1

Previous: #4, won at #15 Baltimore, 28-24

Patriots have a great chance to claim the #1 seed in the AFC, I’m just not sure I trust them in the playoffs.

Upcoming: at #29 NY Jets

#6 DENVER BRONCOS (12-3) -4

Previous: #2, lost vs #11 Jacksonville, 34-20

Denver still has the top seed and they have the defense to win a championship, but I don’t trust Bo Nix and that offense.

Upcoming: vs #11 Jacksonville

#7 CHICAGO BEARS (11-4) +1

Previous: #8, won vs #10 Green Bay, 22-16

Bears pulled off an epic comeback and seized control of the NFC North & still have a shot at the #1 seed.

Upcoming: at #3 San Francisco

#8 HOUSTON TEXANS (10-5) -3

Previous: #5, won vs #32 Las Vegas, 23-21

Much like Denver, I trust the Houston defense but not CJ Stroud and the Texans offense.

Upcoming: at #11 LA Chargers

#9 BUFFALO BILLS (11-4) -3

Previous: #6, won at #31 Cleveland, 23-20

Many think the AFC is set up for Buffalo to finally make a Super Bowl, I am not one of those.

Upcoming: vs #10 Philadelphia

#10 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-5) -1

Previous: #9, won at #26 Washington, 29-18

Philly clinched the NFC East and can be no worse than the #3 seed.

Upcoming: at #9 Buffalo

#11 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-4) +1

Previous: #12, won at #20 Dallas, 34-17

Chargers have clinched a playoff berth despite a rash of injuries to their offensive line.

Upcoming: vs #8 Houston

#12 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-6) +2

Previous: #14, won at #13 Detroit, 29-24

Pittsburgh is playing their best football at the right time of the season.

Upcoming: at #30 Cleveland

#13 GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-5-1) -3

Previous: #10, lost at #8 Chicago, 22-16

Packers dropped a heartbreaker and have little chance to win the division, but they’re still in a strong position to make the playoffs.

Upcoming: vs #16 Baltimore

#14 CAROLINA PANTHERS (8-7) +2

Previous: #16, won vs #17 Tampa Bay, 23-20

Panthers are in the driver’s seat in the NFC South, for now.

Upcoming: vs #1 Seattle

#15 DETROIT LIONS (8-7) -2

Previous: #13, lost vs #14 Pittsburgh, 29-24

Detroit’s playoff hopes are on life support.

Upcoming: at #19 Minnesota

#16 BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-8) -1

Previous: #15, lost vs #4 New England, 28-24

Ravens playoff hopes barely have a pulse.

Upcoming: at #13 Green Bay

#17 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-8)

Previous: #17, lost at #16 Carolina, 23-20

Tampa’s collapse has been stunning, but they still have a decent shot to win the NFC South.

Upcoming: at #23 Miami

#18 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-7)

Previous: #18, lost vs #7 San Francisco, 48-27

Indy’s collapse isn’t all on the injury to Daniel Jones.

Upcoming: vs #4 Jacksonville

#19 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-8)

Previous: #19, won at #29 NY Giants, 16-13

Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #15 Detroit

#20 DALLAS COWBOYS (6-8-1)

Previous: #20, lost vs #12 LA Chargers, 34-17

Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: at #26 Washington

#21 CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-10) +4

Previous: #25, won vs #21 Miami, 45-21

Bengals are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #28 Arizona

#22 ATLANTA FALCONS (6-9) +1

Previous: #23, won at #27 Arizona, 26-19

Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #2 LA Rams

#23 MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-9) -2

Previous: #21, lost vs #25 Cincinnati, 45-21

Dolphins are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #17 Tampa Bay

#24 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-10)

Previous: #24, won vs #28 NY Jets, 29-6

Saints are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: at #27 Tennessee

#25 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-9) -3

Previous: #22, lost at #30 Tennessee, 26-9

Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #6 Denver

#26 WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-11)

Previous: #26, lost vs #9 Philadelphia, 29-18

Commanders are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #20 Dallas

#27 TENNESSEE TITANS (3-12) +3

Previous: #30, won vs #22 Kansas City, 26-9

Titans are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #24 New Orleans

#28 ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-12) -1

Previous: #27, lost vs #23 Atlanta, 26-19

Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: at #21 Cincinnati

#29 NEW YORK JETS (3-12) -1

Previous: #28, lost at #24 New Orleans, 29-6

Jets are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #5 New England

#30 CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12) +1

Previous: #31, lost vs #6 Buffalo, 23-20

Browns are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #12 Pittsburgh

#31 NEW YORK GIANTS (2-13) -2

Previous: #29, lost vs #19 Minnesota, 16-13

Giants are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: at #32 Las Vegas

#32 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-13)

Previous: #32, lost at #5 Houston, 23-21

Raiders are eliminated from playoff contention.

Upcoming: vs #31 NY Giants

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