2019 NFL power rankings, Week 17: Bengals are No. 32 but pick No. 1

Recap: It’s a team that has 11 wins and is right in the thick of the race for a first-round playoff bye. But Matt LaFleur’s club has been less-than-impressive in recent weeks, rolled in prime time at San Francisco (Week 12) while holding the Redskins and Bears the last two Sundays. Aaron Rodgers isn’t putting up huge numbers but that is not necessarily a bad thing as Green Bay has already totaled more running plays (349) than it did all of last season (333). Aaron Jones leads the team in rushing yards, is second on the club in catches and has 17 of the club’s 40 offensive TDs. Preston Smith and Z’Darius Smith have teamed for 21.5 sacks but this club is shaky vs. the run.

Next Week: The Packers entered Monday night with a perfect 4-0 record vs. their NFC North rivals. And six days after facing the Vikings in Minneapolis, LaFleur’s club makes its way to Detroit – where they have lost two straight years. But thanks to a 23-22 win in Week 6 at Green Bay, the Pack can sweep the series for the first time since ‘16

Playoff Hopes: LaFleur’s club is headed to the postseason and the Packers can wrap up the NFC North with a victory on Monday night. The club is a perfect 6-0 vs. their divisional foes this season, a far cry from a year ago when the club owned a 1-4-1 vs. their NFC North rivals and were swept by the eventual last-place Detroit Lions.

Recap: Last Sunday, the Vikings saw standout running back Dalvin Cook go down with a shoulder injury. And he would indeed not be available for the club’s Monday night showdown vs. the visiting Packers. Mike Zimmer’s club has proven to be a lot more dangerous on offense than a year ago but can they exploit Green Bay’s shaky rushing defense without their best performer out of the backfield. The defense has been somewhat of an enigma this season. End Danielle Hunter has been very hot as of late and last week against the Chargers, the Purple Gang came away with seven takeaways. But can they avoid being swept by the rival Packers for the first time since 2014?

Next Week: Six days after facing the Packers, the Purple Gang is home again and take on the Bears. Minnesota has dropped the last three meetings in this series, the latest setback a 16-6 in early October (Week 4) in the Windy City. A season ago, the Vikings dropped a home game in this longtime divisional rivalry for the first time since 2011.

Playoff Hopes: If the Vikings can hold serve on Monday at home, there’s still hope for a division title. The good news is that Zimmer’s team clinched a playoff spot after the Rams lost at San Francisco on Saturday night. This is an extremely dangerous team capable of big things. But that 4-4 record away from home does raise a red flag.

Next: Nos. 4 and 3