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NFL power rankings: 2021 edition: Buccaneers dethrone the Chiefs

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signals during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signals during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on January 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on January 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Steelers. 12. team. 55. . 12-5. Previous:

An 11-0 start morphed into five losses in the final six games for Mike Tomlin’s club, including an embarrassing home setback to the Browns in the playoffs. Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger struggled down the stretch as an unbalanced attack put far too much pressure on the passing game and coordinator Randy Fichtner was not retained. Defensively, the Steelers once again harassed quarterbacks steadily and T.J. Watt led the NFL in sacks.

team. 36. . 12-5. Previous: . Seattle Seahawks. 11

Five games into the season and Russell Wilson looked like the best quarterback in the league and the Seahawks were leading the NFC West. And the team’s much-maligned defensive unit actually made strides as the season wore on. But it was the Seattle offense that wilted down the stretch and struggled in the playoff loss to the wild card Rams. After the season, the NFC West champs moved on from offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

. 11-6. Previous: . Tennessee Titans. 10. team. 35

Mike Varbel’s club picked up where it left off late in 2019 and rode the talents of running back Derrick Henry (the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2020) and revitalized quarterback Ryan Tannehill. On the other hand, the Tennessee defense struggled mightily – allowing the fifth-most total yards in the league while ranking 29th vs. the pass. Despite an 11-5 record and the team’s first division title since ’08, the Titans’ playoff run was short-lived.

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