NFL power rankings, Week 17: Steelers rise, Browns fall
The NFL power rankings saw a big shift this week in the AFC North, with the Cleveland Browns suffering a brutal defeat and the Pittsburgh Steelers rising up.
Jacksonville Jaguars. 32. team. 52. . 1-14. Previous:
Trevor Lawrence!
team. 30. . 2-13. Previous: . New York Jets. 31
They won again!
30. team. 10. . 4-11. Previous: . Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson should force his way out of Houston if the Texans don’t knock their head coach search out of the park.
4-10-1. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals. 29. team. 56.
Give Cincinnati credit, it’s not giving up despite being without hope and Joe Burrow.
. 4-10-1. Previous: . Philadelphia Eagles. 28. team. 54
The defense was non-existent in Dallas, and now so are the Eagles’ playoff hopes.
. 4-11. Previous: . Atlanta Falcons. 27. team. 44
The Falcons actually moved up for their effort in Kansas City. Hold onto a few interceptions, and they pull a massive upset.
45. . 5-10. Previous: . Denver Broncos. 26. team
Does John Elway keep believing in Drew Lock? Huge question this offseason.
4-10. Previous: . Carolina Panthers. 25. team. 87.
The Panthers aren’t good, but they’ve played hard all year. Nice win on the road in Washington.
. 5-10. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 24. team. 50
Pitiful team, pitiful effort.
New York Giants. 23. team. 31. . 5-10. Previous:
Remember the Giants’ four-game winning streak? That’s a nice memory.
60. . 6-9. Previous: . Minnesota Vikings. 22. team
The defense is rancid, and so are the Vikings.
team. 42. . 6-9. Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 21
Give the 49ers credit. They’ve been beaten up and out of the race, and yet they play as hard as any team in football.
team. 123. . 6-9. Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 20
Dallas is somehow fighting to host a playoff game. The NFC East is something else.
19. team. 58. . 6-9. Previous: . Washington Commanders
Dwayne Haskins is a mess, on and off the field. Washington still controls its own destiny, but needs to beat the Eagles in Week 17.
. 7-8. Previous: . Las Vegas Raiders. 18. team. 28
What a sideshow. The Raiders were once 6-3 and beating the Chiefs with under a minute remaining. Now? Yikes.
17. team. 47. . 6-9. Previous: . New England Patriots
Just no ability to score a point.
team. 13. . 6-9. Previous: . Los Angeles Chargers. 16
The Chargers get a nice bump this week. Considering they finish the season playing Kansas City’s backups, it could be a four-game win streak to finish the year.
team. 32. . 8-7. Previous: . Arizona Cardinals. 15
Arizona is 3-5 in its last eight games, and one of those wins was on a Hail Mary. The other two came against the NFC East.
57. . 8-7. Previous: . Chicago Bears. 14. team
The Bears are somehow a win away from the playoffs.
9-6. Previous: . Los Angeles Rams. 13. team. 51.
The Rams better hope Jared Goff can play, because despite his limitations, they’re sunk without him.
. 10-5. Previous: . Tennessee Titans. 12. team. 35
The defense is a full-blown tire fire. It’s tough to see the Titans beating a top-tier offensive team in January.
53. . 10-5. Previous: . Cleveland Browns. 11. team
All the Browns had to do was beat the Jets. Now, they’re well-positioned to brutally torture their fans once more.
10. team. 59. . 10-5. Previous: . Miami Dolphins
Miami needed Ryan Fitzpatrick and a miracle in the final seconds, but the Dolphins continue to win. Now, one more in Buffalo and it’s time for the postseason.
46. . 10-5. Previous: . Indianapolis Colts. 9. team
The Colts had to drop. You can’t blow a 17-point lead when the opponent is offensively challenged. Brutal loss and it could knock them out of the playoffs.
Previous: . Pittsburgh Steelers. 8. team. 55. . 12-3
Down 24-7, it appeared we were headed for a full-scale meltdown. Then, the Steelers turned the tide and perhaps saved their Super Bowl dreams.
7. team. 26. . 10-5. Previous: . Baltimore Ravens
Don’t look now, but the Ravens have won four straight and they suddenly control their own destiny.
10-5. Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 6. team. 48.
The Buccaneers are a tough team to figure, but when Tom Brady has time, they’re a major problem.
. 11-4. Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 5. team. 36
Seattle has to be feeling very, very good about its defense.
team. 15. . 11-4. Previous: . New Orleans Saints. 4
Drew Brees struggled again facing Minnesota, but 52 points makes a lot of things feel better.
49. . 12-3. Previous: . Green Bay Packers. 3. team
The NFC has a ton of teams which are close in talent level, but the Packers must be considered the favorite.
16. . 12-3. Previous: . Buffalo Bills. 2. team
Buffalo is playing the best football in the NFL, bar none.
124. . 14-1. Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 1. team
The Chiefs keep winning, but it’s starting to become worrisome that nothing feels easy for such a talented team.