NFL Power Rankings – Week 16, John Crowe

NFL Power Rankings – Week 16, John Crowe

Christmas has come and gone. So, now it’s on to the New Year. 2021, in oh so many ways, is ushering in not only a new year but also signaling for so many what they hope to be a new direction in our everyday lives. 

Everyday dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has been life-altering and with months ahead before most of the United States is vaccinated, there’s still plenty of struggles left to deal with for many of us. The same came be said of the NFL teams still left fighting for the right to play in the upcoming postseason.

*Note – Rankings done before Saturday’s games.

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Former Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells used to always say, just get into the tournament and anything can happen. He was also famous for this one – “You are what your record says you are.”

So, with two weeks left in the regular season, there’s still plenty of movement to be done seeding wise and for which teams will snag the final spots in each conference. While we have teams like the Chiefs, the Bills and the Packers surging towards the top spots, all fighting for the only bye with the number one seed in both the AFC and NFC, we also have teams like the Steelers and Rams who continue to lack consistency heading towards January.

I mean, how else do you explain teams like Pittsburgh and Los Angeles losing to the Jets and Bengals on back-to-back days in week 15? Both have been locks in our top 10 lately, but now, they’re nowhere to be seen.

Best of Rest: Miami Dolphins (9-5, Last week: ranked Best of Rest), Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3, Last week: ranked 5th)

The Dolphins have destiny in their own hands. Beat the Raiders and Bills the next two weeks on the road and they’ll clinch a wild-card playoff spot in the AFC. That task will be easier to pull off if they get wide receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring) and tight end Mike Gesicki (shoulder) back this week from injuries. Let’s be honest, last week wasn’t much of a challenge against the Patriots, who couldn’t get into the end zone, thanks in part to the league’s stingiest scoring defense.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Just three weeks ago, the Steelers were going for an undefeated season and the #1 seed in the AFC. Now, after losses to Washington, Buffalo and lowly Cincinnati, Pittsburgh looks old and tired on offense. It won’t get any easier this Sunday when they host the 10-4 Colts.

10. Baltimore Ravens (9-5, Last week: not ranked)

Ever since Lamar Jackson returned from his “leave” in the locker room in Cleveland, the Ravens offense seems back in sync, buoyed by the number one ranked run game in the league (172 yards per game). It also helps that they played the Jaguars last week and the have the Giants this week before closing the season with the Bengals. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they may be a better team than Miami, but they will still need them to lose a game in the final two weeks in order to make the playoffs.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5, Last week: ranked 9th)

So, which Tampa Bay team are we to believe is the real deal? The one that went down 24-7 to the Falcons midway through the third quarter or the one that came roaring back to win 31-24? Why the Bucs don’t just give the keys to the offense to Tom Brady and let him run with it is beyond me. This week, the Bucs get the Lions who are without their head coach and both coordinators due to COVID-19 tracing.

8. Tennessee Titans (10-4, Last week: not ranked)

The road to the AFC South Title will have to run through Lambeau Field for the Titans. Beat Aaron Rodgers and the #1 seeded Packers and only the Houston Texans will stand between them and a home game in round one. Derrick Henry leads the league with 1679 yards on the ground, almost 200 more than Dalvin Cook’s 1484 yards. 

7. Indianapolis Colts (10-4, Last week: ranked 8th)

It’s tough to see how just how good the Colts are this season when they keep trying to backtrack. For the second time in a month, Indianapolis was on the heels of losing to the Texans only to have Houston fumble away a go-ahead score in the final seconds. A trip to Pittsburgh this Sunday against the struggling Steelers, a team they could face in round one of the AFC Playoffs, should give us a better barometer.

6. Seattle Seahawks (10-4, Last week: ranked 7th)

Really good victory last Sunday on the road against a really good Washington defense. This week, the Seahawks can clinch the NFC West with a home win against the Rams, who inexplicably lost to the previously winless Jets at home. The good news is that Seattle’s running game is now fully healthy again with the three headed trio of Chris Carson, Carlos Hyde and Rashard Penny all available. The downside, wide receiver Josh Gordon, just reinstated, is now back unavailable after his latest setback with substance abuse.

5. Cleveland Browns (10-4, Last week: ranked 9th)

If 2020 is the year of the unbelievable circumstance, the Browns may be its mascot. If nothing else, Cleveland usually beats the teams they should, having losses to Baltimore (twice) and Pittsburgh outside of a wild weather loss to the Raiders. The Browns get the Jets this week which should bolster their hopes to clinch a playoff spot.

4. New Orleans Saints (11-4*, Last week: ranked 4th / * - won already in week 16)

Merry Christmas Alvin Kamara! Six touchdowns and a career-best 155-yard day leads New Orleans to a convincing 52-33 victory over the Vikings. The Saints surely weren’t excited about a home loss to the Chiefs, but after Friday’s win, Drew Brees is back looking good and healthy after missing over a month due to his 11 fractured ribs. He’s also the first quarterback to throw for over 80,000 yards in NFL history. The Saints will need some help though now if they want that #1 seed in the NFC, currently owned by Green Bay.

3. Green Bay Packers (11-3, Last week: ranked 3rd)

Boy did the Packers seem disinterested in the second half of last Saturday night’s win over the Panthers. No energy and lack of focus almost cost them a Carolina comeback. If Green Bay’s going to go far into the playoffs, consistency is going to have to be their new friend and that starts with a very tough Tennessee team in primetime Sunday night.

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3, Last week: ranked 2nd)

Surging with a bullet is the Buffalo Bills. Clinching the AFC East Division Title for the first time since 1995 leaves them now as the second seed in the AFC. This week, they can notch a sweep of the Patriots on Monday night. Right now, the Bills look like a legitimate contender to take on the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in late January. The Bills, behind Josh Allen’s 4,054 passing yards, trail only Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in overall passing yards per game (311-278 yards/per game).

1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1, Last week: ranked 1st) 

Eight times the Chiefs have hit the road this year. Eight times, they’ve won marking the first time in the team’s NFL history it’s done that. Sure, Kansas City looks bored at times, but each time, they make sure they get the victory. Atlanta this week and the Chargers in week 17, both at home, shouldn’t deter the league’s number one ranked overall offense from the top seed and the only bye in the AFC.

Best of Rest: Dolphins
10. Buccaneers
9. Browns
8. Colts
7. Seahawks
6. Rams
5. Steelers
4. Saints
3. Packers
2. Bills
1. Chiefs