NFL POWER RANKINGS:(week 16)
1.Chiefs 13-1: Now i know what you’re thinking,”who did they lose to?” It was the Las Vegas Raiders in week five, a defeat that was avenged a few weeks later, when the teams met up again in Vegas. Patrick MAhomes is having an MVP caliber season, while Travis Kelce (TE), and Tyreke Hill have established themselves as the best players at their respective positions.
2. Packers 11-3: Aaron Rodgers himself, has been putting on a show of his own, with his top WR Davante Adams neck, and neck with Hill for MVWR,, just as Rodgers is with Mahomes in the MVP race. Something to keep an eye on, as the best team in the NFC and AFC march on toward the Super Bowl.
3. Bills 11-3: Led by QB Josh Allen, WR Stephon Diggs, and a “Bend but don’t break defense”, the Bills captured the AFC East title for the first time in 25 years, and although they fell to teams like the Chiefs, Titan, and Cardinals, they’re currently the second seed in the AFC, ahead of Pittsburg, because they were the team who handed them their second straight defeat in week 14,26-15 in Buffalo.
4. Saints 11-4:Led by Drew Brees, and Alvin Kamarea(And his 6TD game, which i'll save for a separate piece), NOLA is 11-4, and on top of the AFC South, due in large part to their 2-0 record against Brady, and the Bucs.
5. Seahawks 10-4: Aside from their loss to the giants,this team hasn't been that bad. Russel Wilson, DK Metcalf(WR), Tyler Lockett(WR), and Chris Carson(RB), have been a lethal offensive attack, while safety Jamal Adams has been making his case for defensive player of the year.
6. Browns 10-4: For the first time since 2007, Cleveland has 10 wins,and are on the verge of clinching their first playoff appearance since that season, and may win their first ever division title this season, should the chips fall their way. Those “chips”,are them defeating the Jets, and Steelers, as well as Pittsburg falling to the Colts in week 16.
7. Steelers 11-3: They were 11-0, and then lost to the Football team, Bills, and Bengals in three straight weeks.
8. Titans 10-4: Derrick Henry has established himself as the best RB in football, and has kept the Titans in the AFC South race, against the Colts. The two remained tied, with the two tied in head to head, but Tennessee holds the division tiebreaker, due to the Colts week 1 loss to Jacksonville.
9. Colts 10-4:Phillip Rivers has led this team to playoff contention, as they currently sit 6th in the Afc, but only one game ahead of the first team outside of the playoff picture, in the 8th seeded Ravens. This teams biggest win of the year, was against the Packers in week eight, 37-34.
10. Rams 9-5: Jared Goff was looking like his old-self, and with the best defense in football, LA was gaining league-wide attention. Then they lost to the Jets this past week, and are now the laughingstock of the NFL, yikes.
11. Buccaneers 10-5: Led by Tom Brady, this team has come back from the league basement, and are headed to the playoffs, after a 47-7 week 16 thumping over the Lions earlier this Saturday. Next week will be about gaining the luxury to play the atrocious NFC East winner in the Wild Card Round.
12. Ravens 9-5: Baltimore is 9-5, but are on the outside looking up at the Dolphins due to “Conference games record.” However, they’re really only here because they defeated the Browns twice, capped by the “game of the year”, in week 14. (► 13:15)
13. Dolphins 10-5: Led by Tua, and Fitzmagic,this team is in the playoff hunt, and still are after a Jason Sanders FG in the waning seconds, lifted them to a huge 26-25 win over the Raiders, that puts their magic number at one to clinch a playoff berth.
14. Bears 7-7: Six straight losses followed the Bears 5-1 start, but back to back wins over the Texans, and Vikings, as well as a stunning Cardinals loss to the 49ers, have them controlling their own destiny. A win over the Jaguars, and just maybe a backup team of Packers in week 17, will put the Bears in the playoffs, baking that seventh seed.
15. Cardinals 8-7: They controlled their playoff destiny until they didn’t, having just lost to the 49ers. Up next for them, the Rams to close out the season.
16. Washington 6-8: They looked down, and out at 2-7, especially after losing twice to the Giants. However, the full return of QB Alex Smith, who had 17 surgeries on his leg, and didn’t make a start in nearly two full years, saw wins over the Bengals,Cowboys, Steelers, and 49ers vaulting them into first place in the NFC East race. Despite a loss to the Seahawks in week 14, a win over the Panthers on Sunday, coupled with a Giants loss to the Ravens will puncht the team without a name into the playoffs.
17.Patriots 6-8: For the first time in 22 years, the Patriots will be sitting on the couch with the rest of us, when the Playoffs begin on January 10th.
18. Raiders 7-8: This is a fun offense to watch led by, Derek Carr, WR Darren Waller, WR Henry Ruggs, but they’re also inconsistent, and the defense hasn’t been that great. All of that has accumulated, into another playoff miss.
19. Cowboys 5-9: Two straight wins, despite the loss of Dak Prescott, and the regression of Ezekiel Elliot, has vaulted the cowboys back into the playoff race.
20. 49ers 6-9:This team has regressed a whole lot since last season, when they made it to the postseason, but have played spoiler on the playoff picture with their latest win over the Cardinals.
21. Vikings 6-9: I’ll get to this team in my next piece.
22. Broncos 5-9: Drew Lock has been solid, defense has been awful.
23. Chargers 5-9:QB Justin Herbert is in the hunt for rookie of the year, and the Chargers have played a lot of close games, including forcing the Chiefs to overtime this season. The future is bright in LA, stay positive guys.
24. Giants 5-9: Don’t think i need to express my feelings about this team here as a Giants fan, because i made a separate piece on them.
25. Eagles 4-9-1: It’s Jalen Hurts time! A shocking win over the Saints in week 15, and a 27 point outing in a loss to the Cardinals, has given this team life in a tough NFC East. If they defeat the Cowboys,and Football team over the final two weeks of the year, as well as a Washington loss to Carolina, they’re in.
26. Bengals 3-10-1: Joe burrow, and Tee Higgins had great rookie chemistry, before Burrow went down with a season-ending ACL injury. However, led by Ryan Findley, this team shocked the playoff-bound Steelers, to set up some interesting playoff picture scenarios, over the final couple of weeks.
27. Texans 4-10: Deshaun Watson is amazing, that’s really it.
28. Lions 4-10: Marvin Jones JR, is having a nice season, so there’s that Lions fans.
29. Falcons 4-10: Like the Chargers, a lot of blown leads, but unlike them, this teams “championship window” is closing.
30. Panthers 4-10: Teddy Bridgewater, and “CMC”, when healthy are fun to watch. However, injuries have hurt this team mightily.
31. Jaguars 1-13: Two more losses guys, and generational QB Trevor Lawrence is yours.
32. Jets 1-13: Congrats on your first win guys, let’ see if you have another one in you against Cleveland,or will you lose and stay in contention for Lawrence. Meckhi Becton has been great, and so has Marcus Maye, but that’s it. Adam Gase hasn’t coached well, and it has hurt Sam Darnold a whole lot overall, as well as future hall of fame RB Frank Gore.
PLAYOFF PICTURE GAMES WEEK 16:
Bucs 47 Lions 7(TB headed to playoffs for first time since 2007)
49ers 20 Cardinals 12(Arizona loss, puts postseason in jeopardy)
Dolphins 26 Raiders 25(Fitzmagic, Sanders keep Dolphins in playoff hunt, Vegas eliminated)
Falcons-Chiefs(KC can clinch bye with win, or PIT loss)
Browns-Jets(CLE need win, BAL loss to clinch playoff spot)
Colts-Steers(IND looking to stay in South race, playoff hunt, while PIT looks to clinch North)
Bears-Jaguars (CHI can vault into 7th seed with win, Jags magic number at 2 to clinch #1 pick)
Giants-Ravens(Both teams need a win to stay in their respective playoff hunts)
Panthers-Washington (WSH win +NYG loss puts Football team in playoffs)
Eagles-Cowboys(Both team need a CAR win to stay alive, but should that happen, whoever wins this game will have a huge shot at the division crown come week 17)
Rams-Seahawks( Battle for the NFC West, loser gets 5 or 6 seed. LA would get 5th, Seattle would get 6th. Also, Rams trying to save face after loss to Jets.)
Titans-Packers(GB can clinch bye with win or NOLA loss, TEN magic number at 2 to clinch south, can clinch playoff berth with win or BAL loss)
Bills-Pats(AFC East champs can clinch two seed with a win, and a PIT loss)
NFC Playoff picture.
1. Packers 11-3
2. Saints 11-4
3. Seahawks 10-4
4. Washington 6-8
5. Bucs 10-5
6. Rams 9-5
7. Cardinals 8-7
IN THE HUNT:
Bears 7-7
Cowboys 5-9
Giants 5-9
Eagles 4-9-1
AFC playoff picture:
1. Chiefs 13-1
2. Bills 11-3
3. Steelers 11-3
4. Titans 10-4
5. Browns 10-4
6. Colts 10-4(CLE holds H2H tiebreaker)
7. Dolphins 10-5
IN THE HUNT:
Ravens 9-5
Top 5 upsets this year:
1. Jets over Rams (23-20 in week 15)
2. Bengals over Steelers (27-17 in week 15)
3. Giants over Seahawks (17-12 in week 13, w out Jones)
4. Eagles over Saints in Hurts debut(24-21 in week 14)
5. Smith, Washington stops Steelers perfect season bid(23-17 in week 13)
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