2021 NFL power rankings, Week 17: NFC playoff field almost complete
A few teams exacted revenge when it came to earlier losses this year. And there were some standout performances that changed the NFL Power Rankings.
Entering Week 16, the newly-crowned NFC North champion Green Bay Packers were the only team in the league to clinch a playoff berth. By Sunday evening, the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs had all captured the top spot in their respective divisions.
The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are also headed to the postseason, the latter for the first time since 2015. And there’s been a change at the very top of the NFL Power Rankings.
52. . 2-13. Previous: . Jacksonville Jaguars. 32. team
The team was still looking for its first road win since 2019 when they headed north to battle the Jets. It was a clash between the first two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Trevor Lawrence threw for 280 yards. There were no scores or interceptions but he fumbled twice and lost one of those drops.
The Jacksonville defense was pounded for a distressing 273 rushing yards. And the Jaguars’ special teams gave up a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
31. team. 31. . 4-11. Previous: . New York Giants
Joe Judge would utilize a third different starting quarterback in this rematch with the Eagles. Jake Fromm hit on only six of his 17 throws for 25 yards, was sacked twice and picked off once.
Enter Mike Glennon, who led the Giants to their lone touchdown of the game but was intercepted as well. And his miscue was returned for a touchdown. New York ran 73 offensive plays and gained a mere 192 total yards, a miserable 2.6 yards per play.
Carolina Panthers. 30. team. 87. . 5-10. Previous:
The Panthers had dropped four straight and prepared to face the Buccaneers twice in three weeks. And Matt Rhule and his staff still haven’t found a way to stop the bleeding. He utilized two quarterbacks in Cam Newton and Sam Darnold but he club never reached the end zone and was limited to 273 total yards.
Newton and Darnold were sacked a combined seven times while the Carolina pass rush failed to pressure Bucs’ quarterback Tom Brady.
50. . 2-12-1. Previous: . Detroit Lions. 29. team
Dan Campbell’s club had won two of its last three games and headed to Atlanta. The Lions would be without starting quarterback Jared Goff and Tim Boyle made his second start of the year.
Detroit’s defense did a nice job and limited the Falcons to 254 total yards. But the Lions were limited to three field goals and scored only one touchdown. The team came up with a takeaway late in the fourth quarter but couldn’t put the ball in the end zone.