NFL Power Rankings - Week 17: Browns tumble, Bears ascend as playoffs loom
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 1
The AFC will run through Arrowhead Stadium, a daunting challenge for the rest of the conference. It feels like the Chiefs have sleepwalked through most of the season, knowing they can shift into a gear that few, if any, opponents can match. Kansas City could become the first back-to-back champions since the Patriots in 2003-04.
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)Previous Rank: 2
If any club is going to beat the Chiefs, the Bills are the best positioned, mostly due to Josh Allen's extraordinary Year 3 leap to become an All-Pro-caliber player. His red-hot connection with Stefon Diggs should give Buffalo legitimate hope of prevailing in a shootout with Patrick Mahomes.
3. Green Bay Packers (12-3)Previous Rank: 3
Aaron Rodgers might've wrapped up his third MVP Award while dismantling the Titans on Sunday night, capping off the 37-year-old quarterback's renaissance year. Green Bay just needs to take care of Chicago in Week 17 to lock up the NFC's all-important first-round bye.
4. New Orleans Saints (11-4)Previous Rank: 4
The Saints can still secure the NFC's No. 1 seed, but they're hoping for a three-way tie with the Packers and Seahawks, which is unlikely. Regardless, there's a strong case to be made that New Orleans is the NFC's most complete team, and the Saints could make a deep run if Alvin Kamara can continue his scintillating form.
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 6
After an electrifying start to the season when it appeared unstoppable, the Seahawks' offense has been inconsistent during the second half of the campaign. Luckily, the club's defense has finally found its legs of late. If Russell Wilson and Co. can catch fire once again, no NFC playoff team will want to face Seattle.
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)Previous Rank: 9
The Ravens are arguably the NFL's hottest team entering the final week of the season, averaging 37 points over their four-game winning streak. They also own the league's best point differential at +130.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)Previous Rank: 10
Just when it appeared the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger were down for the count, they rebounded for a 17-point comeback win over the Colts. Pittsburgh's issues, especially on offense, remain despite the win. But the AFC North club built some much-needed confidence ahead of the playoffs.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5)Previous Rank: 12
There's nothing like beating up on the hapless Lions to get a team warmed up for the postseason. Tampa Bay still needs to match the Rams' result in Week 17 to retain the NFC's No. 5 seed, but resting veterans like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Mike Evans could be the better approach for Bruce Arians' team.
9. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)Previous Rank: 7
After collapsing against the Steelers, the Colts could become only the third 11-win team to miss the playoffs (the 2008 Patriots and the 1985 Broncos are the others). Presuming Indy beats Jacksonville, and it will then need to hope one of the Titans, Browns, Ravens, and Dolphins stumble at the final hurdle to avoid joining that unfortunate group.
10. Tennessee Titans (10-5)
Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 5
A snow game against the Packers' mediocre run defense should've been a great opportunity for the Titans to cement their place in the NFL's top tier. Instead, a blowout loss halted Tennessee's momentum, and worse, the AFC South title and even a playoff spot are no longer assured.
11. Miami Dolphins (10-5)Previous Rank: 13
Continuing to roll with Tua Tagovailoa is in Miami's best short- and long-term interests. Yes, the rookie quarterback has been inconsistent, but much of the blame should go to offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. Ryan Fitzpatrick is best used as a break-in-case-of-emergency option if things go south in the postseason.
12. Cleveland Browns (10-5)Previous Rank: 8
Oh, Browns. What did you do to the football gods to deserve this fate? Undermanned Cleveland lost to the lowly Jets, missing out on earning its first playoff berth since 2007. Still, the team can beat the Mason Rudolph-led Steelers in Week 17 to avoid disaster.
13. Chicago Bears (8-7)Previous Rank: 16
The Bears have flown under the radar during the final stretch of the season, quietly putting together a three-game winning streak to put themselves in a position to snatch an unlikely playoff spot. But even if they make the postseason, Chicago shouldn't jump straight into a further commitment to either Mitchell Trubisky or Matt Nagy.
14. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)Previous Rank: 11
The Rams' season has fallen apart faster than anyone could've imagined. Not only have they lost two straight games - including one to the Jets - but Jared Goff is out for a crucial Week 17 matchup against Arizona. Los Angeles' fate now rests in the hands of former AAF standout John Wolford.
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-7)
Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 14
The 49ers are better than their record suggests, but the Cardinals losing a Week 16 matchup against San Francisco is Kliff Kingsbury's biggest failure yet. Now Arizona's season could come down to a battle of the backup QBs between the Cardinals and Rams, as Kyler Murray is in danger of joining Goff on the sidelines due to a lower-leg injury.
16. Washington Football Team (6-9)Previous Rank: 15
What a wild season for Washington, featuring a name change, Ron Rivera's cancer battle, and quarterback Alex Smith regaining the starting job after nearly losing his leg. And now with Smith nursing a calf injury, Dwayne Haskins has been cut days before a win-and-you're-in game against the Eagles.
17. Dallas Cowboys (6-9)Previous Rank: 25
The Cowboys have risen from the dead after three straight wins. While Washington has been the more consistent team this campaign, Dallas sneaking into the postseason with its array of weapons would be a far scarier outcome for the rest of the NFC.
18. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)Previous Rank: 21
Kyle Shanahan again emphasized that Jimmy Garaopolo is San Francisco's starting quarterback next season. But the 49ers should still be a prime candidate to trade up for a passer in the draft. It's beyond time to pair the offensive wizard head coach with a signal-caller who can match his talent.
19. Minnesota Vikings (6-9)Previous Rank: 18
Kirk Cousins is locked in as the Vikings' starting quarterback for at least another year, and the team doesn't hold much cap space to use while seeking to upgrade a regressing roster. Mike Zimmer could be in danger of being fired, but it's hard to say that will improve the club, at least in the short term. Minnesota may give this regime one more shot before blowing it up if more failure comes in 2021.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)
Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 17
The Raiders still haven't logged a playoff appearance nearly three seasons after making a significant investment in Jon Gruden. The head coach has steadily improved the offense, and Derek Carr's play in particular, but the team's inexplicable defensive failings are still undoing that progress.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (6-9)Previous Rank: 23
If the Chargers are smart, Anthony Lynn won't be employed for much longer. The team has won in spite of its head coach. With Justin Herbert emerging as a potential star, a solid amount of cap space, and a cluster of elite players, L.A. would have one of the most enticing vacancies.
22. New York Giants (5-10)Previous Rank: 19
The Giants can make the playoffs if they beat the Cowboys and the Eagles take down Washington. But based on its recent level of play, New York would only be costing itself a decent draft position for the chance to be embarrassed in the wild-card round.
23. New England Patriots (6-9)Previous Rank: 20
The Patriots will finish with their first losing record since 2000 after the Bills completed a season sweep of New England in embarrassing fashion Monday. How Bill Belichick devises a plan to retake the AFC East will be arguably the most intriguing plotline of the 2021 offseason.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1)Previous Rank: 22
Doug Pederson is "fully confident" he'll be back in Philadelphia next season, but we're not so sure. The Eagles choked away a chance to go into Week 17 with a playoff spot on the line against Washington, and that reflects the most poorly on the head coach.
25. Denver Broncos (5-10)
Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 24
Denver currently owns the 10th overall pick in the draft and could leap further up with a loss to Vegas in Week 17. Perhaps Drew Lock can offer more, but his play so far shouldn't stop the Broncos from seriously considering taking a quarterback with their first-round pick.
26. Carolina Panthers (5-10)Previous Rank: 27
Teddy Bridgewater has performed well at times, and Carolina's offense was never going to carry the team without Christian McCaffrey. But the Panthers should look at their talented receivers and realize a move in the draft for a playmaking quarterback is a must.
27. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1)Previous Rank: 28
The Bengals hurt their draft position with back-to-back wins, but for a young team still trying to establish a culture, the momentum going into next year should be far more valuable. Also, Tee Higgins is a future star.
28. Atlanta Falcons (4-11)Previous Rank: 30
Positives for the Falcons? Uh, they played the Chiefs pretty close. That's something. And they've posted a -1 point differential, suggesting the club is more like a six- or seven-win team than a four-win squad. That's about all we've got.
29. Houston Texans (4-11)Previous Rank: 29
J.J. Watt rightfully ripped the Texans after their 11th defeat of the season in Week 16. Bill O'Brien was the architect of the team's problems, but Houston has too often looked uninterested despite the former head coach's exit.
30. Detroit Lions (5-10)
Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 26
Please stop putting the Lions on prime time or in any one-game slots. We beg you, Roger.
31. New York Jets (2-13)Previous Rank: 31
The Jets now face a far more challenging offseason than they expected a few weeks ago. What should they do with the No. 2 pick? A quarterback like Zach Wilson or Justin Fields is still enticing, but New York could look at its talent-poor roster and opt to trade down to build a more competitive team and give Sam Darnold one last chance.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14)Previous Rank: 32
Welcome to Jacksonville, Mr. Lawrence.
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