Official NFL Power Rankings for Week 17

     … And so we come to the final week of what has been a great year of NFL Football.  This page was started as a project with my 11 year old son, but has, over the course of the season, turned into something of a hobby, and a labor of love for me.  I have had the chance to talk football with some amazing fans from all over this great country of ours, and it has been a blast.  They were, of course, official in title only (and even that was in jest), and most of those of you understood and appreciated that.  There can be no official rankings in such a subjective area.

     Football gives us a chance to forget that there are a million terrible things going on in the world every day… at least for awhile.  It gives us a chance, especially in the era of the internet, to share the game we love with people from all walks of life.  I have had an absolute blast.  So to those who have shared it with me… thank you.

     So let’s get this done, once more.  Your ‘Official’ NFL Power Rankings for the last week of the regular season.

1. San Diego Chargers (12-3) (last wk #3)

The distance between first and second is thin.  The Chargers dismantling of what is now a good Titans team speaks volumes.  No one in the NFL is playing better.

2. Indianapolis Colts (14-1) (last wk #1)

You knew the Colts  would say that an Undefeated season wasn’t important, but who’d have thought they’d actually follow through?  They’re not at number 2 because they lost, either…. but because the Bolts are so dominant right now.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) (last wk #4)

One game in Dallas for all of the NFC East marbles.  Classic.

4. New Orleans Saints (13-2) (last wk #2)

Is this a team in trouble?  Have they just run out of steam?  We’ll know soon.

5. Green Bay Packers  (10-5) (last wk #4)

Bounced back from the Pittsburgh loss like a champion.

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-5) (last wk #9)

Bring on the Eagles… time to find out if Romo is ready for Prime Time.

7. Minnesota Vikings (11-4) (last wk #3)

This is now Favre’s team.  Pray, Vikings fans.

8. New England Patriots (10-5) (last wk #11)

Peaking at the right time; just as you’d expect them to.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) (last wk #8)

This team needs to find the focus lost in tragedy.

10. Arizona Cardinals (10-5) (last wk #12)

They don’t seem like a team ready for the playoffs, and the field is a lot tougher this time around.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) (last wk #15)

They may miss the playoffs, but they’re playing like the Steelers again.

12. Baltimore Ravens (8-7) (last wk #10)

Too bad for the Ravens the Steelers woke up.

13. Tennessee Titans (7-8) (last wk #9)

Yeah, the Chargers opened up a can on them.  But this is still a team that can go toe to toe with all but the very best teams right now.  There are 6 AFC teams delighted that the Titans won’t be around after this week.

14. Houston Texans (8-7) (last wk #16)

Kudos for climbing back into the picture.  Lot of if only’s for the Texans.

15. Denver Broncos (8-7) (last wk #13)

The Broncos are playing with heart.  Still not good rnough to do any damage in the playoffs, but good enough to get there.

16. Carolina Panthers (7-8) (last wk #21)

The Panthers got it together just a little bit too late.

17. Miami Dolphins (7-8) (last wk #14)

This is a team that should have won 10 or 11 games, and have only themselves to blame.  Way too much time shooting themselves in the foot.

18. Atlanta Falcons (8-7) (last wk #20)

An early injury death.

19. New York Jets (8-7) (last wk #22)

If they win against the Colts second tring, the Jets will make the playoffs.  Wow.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) (last wk #17)

Consumate overachievers.  To even be in the playoff discussion this late was amazing.

21. San Fransisco 49ers (7-8) (last wk #23)

Climbing back to respectability.

22. New York Giants (8-7) (last week #19)

The Giants just Suck.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-12) (last wk #27)

The Bucs are actually looking good!

24. Cleveland Browns (4-11) (last week #26)

How often do we get to see a convincing Browns victory?

25. Buffalo Bills (5-10) (last wk #25)

This year is exactly what T.O deserved.

26. Oakland Raiders  (5-10) (last week #21)

Just when they were starting to look like a mildly respectable team, they go and lose to Cleveland.

27. Chicago Bears (5-9) (last wk #26)

With JaMarcus out of the picture, Cutler is the worst QB in the league. (Even with the win over the Vikings)

28. Kansas City Chiefs (3-12) (last wk #28)

Rebuilding can be painful to watch.

29. Washington Redskins (4-11) (last wk #24)

A team that has thrown in the towel.

30. Seattle Seahawks (5-10) (last wk #30)

They aren’t even remotely competitive any more.

31. Detroit Lions (2-13) (last wk #31)

They suck, but at least they’re not joke fodder anymore.  Thank the Rams, guys.

32. St Louis Rams  (1-14) (last week #32)

Poop, poop, poop.

Also From Mnofdichotomy:

The Real Reason Urban Meyer is Leaving Florida; Not What You Thought 

Guaranteed Picks for NFL Week 17 

Brett Favre: Will The Gunslinger Go Out in Glory… or in Flames? 

Chad Ochocinco’s Tribute to Chris Henry… a Reminder of Our Humanity