TVA Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of the pylon and footballs before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

What a crazy week of football! We saw many upsets and some very improbable finishes. It provided a lot of water cooler talk and, of course, fuel for bloggers and trolls all over the internet. Here are this week’s NFL power rankings!

Seattle Seahawks (12-2): After shutting out the Giants this week, the Seahawks are still showing that they’re the best team in the NFL. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the Giants are turning the ball over like crazy.

Dec 12, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) reacts during the second half against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Chargers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos (11-3): Denver suffered another crushing loss this week. This time, it was at the hands of the Chargers. The once invincible looking Broncos are starting to look like a team that could be upset in the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs (11-3): I’m sorry for doubting them. They are a team that could beat anyone. This team is so efficient offensively and defensively that they don’t make enough mistakes for teams to take advantage of them.

San Francisco 49ers (10-4): The 49ers are a team that will beat down their opposition on both offense and defense. Imposing lines on both offense and defense are the key to winning the line of scrimmage and football games.

Dec 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) following a win over the Carolina Panthers in a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Panthers 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints (10-4): The Saints dropped their 4th game of the year against the Rams. Their offensive line is struggling and they are not looking good on the road. Could be rough facing the Panthers next.

New England Patriots (10-4): Losing Gronkowski hurts. That was shown by how the offense struggled against the Dolphins. But they still have some small and wily guys that are looking to increase their production and help out Brady.

Carolina Panthers (10-4): Yep, they beat the Jets. Everyone should have expected that. But now they are right on the heels of the New Orleans Saints for that NFC South crown and a playoff birth. It works out well, since the two teams play on Sunday.

Dec 8, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) warms up prior to the game against Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts (9-5): The Colts were another team that played an inferior opponent last week. The Texans didn’t really stand a chance against the Colts, who are hoping not to be the #6 seed in the AFC and have to play the Chiefs in the opening round.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-5): The Bengals shot themselves in the foot on Sunday Night Football. The Steelers picked the apart after the Bengals just made countless mental errors. Now they play the Vikings who are as unpredictable as they come.

Arizona Cardinals (9-5): I’m still not buying into the Cardinals being legitimate threats to win the Superbowl this year, but they are good enough to win quite a few games. The defense looked worse without Mathieu and the offense is too inconsistent.

Dec 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) walks off the field after defeating the Cleveland Browns 38-31 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears (8-6): Cutler is back! While I’m not sure that’s as big of a deal as a lot of analysts are making it out to be, the defensive line is stepping up after dealing with injuries this year.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-6): The Eagles abandoned the run and couldn’t stop Cassel and Jennings. Luckily for them, nobody else in the NFC East seems to want to take the division crown from them.

Miami Dolphins (8-6): After a big win over the division rival Patriots, the Dolphins look to be taking the right steps moving forward with their young team. At least nobody is talking about that “scandal” anymore, right?

Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates after kicking a 61 yard field goal during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Baltimore Ravens defeated the Detroit Lions 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens (8-6): The Ravens won on Monday Night Football off the leg of their kicker, not their Super Bowl MVP quarterback. Luckily, Baltimore’s defense kept the Lions in check when Megatron wasn’t dropping passes.

San Diego Chargers (7-7): They are heating up at the right time. Rivers is starting to look like the QB that he used to be and not the one that lost me my fantasy football league two seasons ago. But I still don’t take them seriously enough to think they’re contenders.

Detroit Lions (7-7): They just keep shooting themselves in the foot. They could have taken control of the division with a win, but now they are on the outside looking in. Might be a bad time with the Bears and the Packers both ahead of them in the standings.

Dec 15, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn (10) smiles as he leaves the field after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT

Green Bay Packers (7-6-1): To be fair, this was the Packers WITHOUT Aaron Rodgers that beat the Dallas Cowboys in miraculous fashion. Still when Rodgers returns (maybe even this week), the Packers should move up these power rankings.

Dallas Cowboys (7-7): Last week, I questioned Romo. He proved me right. Still, the Eagles couldn’t hold onto the top spot in the NFC East, so things aren’t over for Jerry Jones’ squad. But things won’t be easy, that’s for sure.

St. Louis Rams (6-8): The Rams upset the Saints on Sunday. They took advantage of a weak offensive line and the St. Louis defense is just too good to pass up on. Sadly, the Rams QB situation isn’t as good as their defense is.

Dec 15, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8): They just got done demolishing the Bengals on prime time television. Like I said last week, this team is too talented to have such a bad record. Too bad they’re getting better too late in the season to make a difference.

New York Jets (6-8): They’re finally eliminated from playoff contention. This is one of those teams who have won more games than they should have. Looks like they might be drafting ANOTHER QB this year.

Tennessee Titans (5-9): Tennessee is another team that could be looking for a QB in the offseason. Locker struggles staying healthy and this team struggles to find wins.

Dec 15, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) acknowledges the fans as he walks off the field after their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. The Buffalo Bills beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills (5-9): If they hadn’t beat the Jaguars, they wouldn’t be this high on my list. They have a lot of young guys that just haven’t seen it click yet. Do you think Buffalo fans would really mind if they became the first Canadian NFL team?

Minnesota Vikings (4-9-1): Minnesota upset the Eagles on Sunday. They couldn’t have done it without a big game from Cassel, Jennings, and Asiata. This is just a glimpse of the potential that this team has.

Cleveland Browns (4-10): Their run defense is good enough, but their QB play isn’t. Jason Campbell is a guy that I think is a great NFL backup, but he shouldn’t really be a starter.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10):

Yes, they’re better than the Giants these days. And that’s saying a lot. I used to think that the Jaguars were the worst team in the league, but they really aren’t. Seriously.

Dec 15, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Ace Sanders (18) celebrates with wide receiver Denard Robinson (16) and wide receiver Mike Brown (12) after a touchdown during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants (5-9): Wow. That’s all I can say about the Giants. They are really playing down to their opponents and making some terrible decisions. Especially QB Eli Manning, who is making some of the most puzzling passes I’ve ever seen.

Oakland Raiders (4-10): It was almost as though Jamaal Charles had a cloak of invisibility on, because the Raiders defense couldn’t see or tackle him all game long. I feel bad for Raiders fans, because there’s no real hope on the horizon for them.

Dec 15, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) runs past San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10): They had no chance against the 49ers. They were just outplayed and outgunned. But it was nice to see that the Buccs never gave up and have a lot of young guys that can come together in the future.

Atlanta Falcons (4-10): Luckily, the Falcons played the Redskins on Sunday. The Redskins had to turn the ball over SEVEN TIMES for Atlanta to pull off a one point victory. The can take pride in the fact that they’ll get Julio back next year.

Washington Redskins (3-11): Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Redskins looked like a dynasty in the making after last year, but their defense is enough to make this team look like a joke. Too bad the team doesn’t even get their first round draft pick this year.

Houston Texans (2-12): Looks like the Texans will have the first pick in the draft. Hard to believe how far this team has fallen in one offseason. They seem to have too much talent to be a two-win team.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News