Welcome to the Week 17 NFL Power Rankings!
Welcome to Week 17! Our podcast hosts Brandon & Erick have ranked each team into their respective tiers. This is the final week of regular season NFL football, and it depresses us to write that.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Week 17 power rankings.
- Tier 1 – First Round Bye (1-2)
- Tier 2 – We are in! (3-8)
- Tier 3 – Flying Under the Radar (9-13)
- Tier 4 – Don’t Be Sad, We’re Going Home (14-25)
- Tier 5 – Dumpster Fires (26-32)
Click here for last weeks power rankings.
Current Playoff Match-ups
Full 2016 NFL Standings
1. New England Patriots (13-2) 1st Rd Bye
2. Oakland Raiders (12-3) 1st Rd Bye
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) vs. 6. Miami Dolphins (10-5)
4. Houston Texans (9-6) vs. 5. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
1. Dallas Cowboys (13-2) 1st Rd Bye
2. Atlanta Falcons (10-5) 1st Rd Bye
3. Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1) vs. 6. Detroit Lions (9-6)
4. Green Bay Packers (9-6) vs. 5. New York Giants (10-5)
Tier 1 – First Round Byes
1. New England Patriots 
Record: 13-2
Last Game: W, 41-3 vs. Jets
Last Week: 1
Brandon – Pretty amazing they’re able to do this without Gronk. One more win and the AFC goes through Foxborough.
Erick – Would you look at that, Tom Brady and the Pats still ballin!
2. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 13-2
Last Game: W, 42-21 vs. Lions
Last Week: 2
Brandon – To win the NFC, you need to win in Dallas; and Romo will finally see the field in Week 17!
Erick – Dez having a great game before the playoffs start, should scare the NFC.
Tier 2 – We are in the Playoffs!
3. Kansas City Chiefs 
Record: 11-4
Last Game: W, 33-10 vs. Broncos
Last Week: 4
Brandon – KC is the team that takes advantage of Carr’s injury the most. If they can avoid NE until the AFC Championship, it’s possible for a SB run.
Erick – This might be the year the Chiefs break through and get to the Super Bowl.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 10-5
Last Game: W, 31-27 vs. Ravens
Last Week: 6
B – When Le’Veon Bell plays, the Steelers are a real problem. Can Big Ben fix the road woes before the playoffs?
E – Bell, Brown, and Big Ben are not the problem, but can that secondary stop anyone?
5. Oakland Raiders 
Record: 12-3
Last Game: W, 33-25 vs. Colts
Last Week: 3
B- I feel for Derek Carr, and the Raider fans. However, Del Rio might pull some tricks out of his sleeve.
E- Great season for the Raider, too bad it might be ending sooner than they were hoping for.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 10-5
Last Game: W, 33-16 @ Panthers
Last Week: 8
B – Matt Ryan is my MVP of the season. Career highs in TD (34), Yards (will be after Week 17), Completion %, and a career-low 7 interceptions.
E – My team to win the NFC this year, if Julio is can play the rest of the way.
7. New York Giants
Record: 10-5
Last Game: L, 19-24 @ Eagles
Last Week: 6
B – No team can look as good or as bad as the New York Football Giants.
E – Couldn’t beat the Eagles, but I still think this is one of the toughest teams in the NFC this year.
8. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 9-5-1
Last Game: L, 34-31 vs. Cardinals
Last Week: 7
B – They are missing one thing: A powerful, bruising RB that can take the pressure off Russell Wilson. (Ringing Marshawn Lynch’s skittles phone)
E – The O-line can get exposed come playoff time.
Tier 3 – Flying Under the Radar
9. Green Bay Packers
Record: 9-6
Last Game: W, 38-25 vs. Vikings
Last Week: 13
Brandon – They aren’t really under the radar, especially being one game away from “Running the Table”
Erick – Rodgers for MVP if he gets it done against the Lions this week.
10. Miami Dolphins
Record: 10-5
Last Game: W, 34-31 @ Bills
Last Week: 11
B – Rookie HC Adam Gase is making his own candidacy for Coach for the Year. Playoffs after a 1-4 start.
E – Still haven’t beaten anyone good, but hey they clinched the playoffs.
11. Detroit Lions
Record: 9-6
Last Game: L, 21-42 @ Cowboys
Last Week: 13
B – This would be very bad for Detroit if the Lions blew this lead. Week 17 in Detroit is where we will all be watching.
E – The Lions are trying their best to miss the playoffs, but they still can get in.
12. Houston Texans
Record: 9-6
Last Game: W, 12-10 vs. Bengals
Last Week: 16
B – Tom Savage already has this team looking better, which wasn’t hard. Brock set the bar quite low.
E – Some lucky team in the AFC gets to play the Texans in the playoffs this year.
13. Washington Football Team
Record: 9-6-1
Last Game: W, 41-21 @ Bears
Last Week: 17
B – Washington still has a shot, but needs help. Kirk is playing for a payday, but most likely he gets franchised.
E – That tie might be the end of them.
Tier 4 – Don’t be Sad, We’re Going Home
14. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 8-7
Last Game: L, 27-31 @ Steelers
Last Week: 9
B- Ravens eliminated from playoff contention, and #89 says he’s “89% sure” he’s retiring. Time to get Flacco some weapons in the offseason.
E- Not going to make the playoffs, but they are better than some of the teams that are getting in.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 8-7
Last Game: L, 24-31 @ Saints
Last Week: 12
B – Doug Martin checking into rehab is a good thing for him, but not great for the RB future of the Bucs.
E – Jameis to Evans should be a great combo moving forward.
16. Denver Broncos
Record: 8-7
Last Game: L, 10-33 @ Chiefs
Last Week: 14
B – Goes to show you that you actually need a competent QB in order to advance in the NFL, or at least in the AFC West.
E – The defense was not able to overcome the offensive inefficiencies this year.
17. Tennessee Titans
Record: 8-7
Last Game: L, 17-38 @ Jaguars
Last Week: 15
B – I really like this team moving forward. Mariota should recover fine and a losing season will get them a better draft pick.
E – Bad Break for the Mariota, but the Titans should be exited for the future.
18. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 7-8
Last Game: L, 25-33 @ Raiders
Last Week: 18
B – I know Frank Gore didn’t come to Indy for this.
E – This team better get Luck some help ASAP.
19. Buffalo Bills 
Record: 7-8
Last Game: W, 33-13 vs. Browns
Last Week: 19
B – Head coach fired. Quarterback benched. The Bills are back!!
E – Firing the Ryan brothers, was the Bills best call this season.
20. New Orleans Saints
Record: 7-8
Last Game: W, 31-24 vs. Buccaneers
Last Week: 24
B – Seeing Brees in anything else then a Saints uniform would be weird.
E – Is this the end for the Brees, Payton era?
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-9
Last Game: W, 24-19 vs. Giants
Last Week: 23
B – Solid win against a playoff team, but it’s too little to late. Not may moral victories in Philly football lately.
E – Wentz is still raw, but can prove to be a piece to build around moving forward.
22. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 7-8
Last Game: L, 25-38 @ Vikings
Last Week: 20
B – Anyone who told you that they believed the Vikings would win the NFC with Sam Bradford is a liar and not to be trusted.
E – In the end the injuries were just too much to overcome for the Vikings.
23. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 6-8-1
Last Game: W, 34-31 @ Seahawks
Last Week: 25
B – This team is very confusing. Has the talent of a 12 win team, has the record of a 6 win team.
E – Add them to the list of teams needing a QB for next season.
24. Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-8
Last Game: W, 26-15 @ Washington
Last Week: 21
B – Cam is super talented, but this team goes nowhere without some weapons on the outside.
E – Really interested to see how this team looks moving forward.
25. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 5-9-1
Last Game: L, 10-12 @ Texans
Last Week: 22
B – Good job for the Bengals by shutting down AJ Green. He’s too valuable to risk a long term injury,
E: Andy Dalton didn’t even get a chance to get bounce in the first game of the playoffs this year.
Tier 5 – Dumpster Fires
Welcome to the bottom of the barrel. Being a fan of one of these teams is like being in a dumpster fire. Take our advice and trust us on this one.
We would like to welcome the San Diego Chargers to the Dumper Fire tier! We’ve been waiting for you. Since like Week 1.
26. San Diego Chargers
Record: 5-10
Last Game: L, 17-20 @ Browns
Last Week: 26
B – Losing to the winless Browns will get you in the Dumpster Fire tier…quickly.
E – Melvin Gordon, and Bosa are good pieces moving forward, but the Chargers have to find a home first.
27. Chicago Bears
Record: 3-12
Last Game: L, 21-41 vs. Washington
Last Week: 27
B – Matt Barkley was in the giving spirit on Saturday, giving the Washington football team 5 interceptions.
E – Barkley came back down to earth, and the Bears got worked by Washington.
28. New York Jets
Record: 4-11
Last Game: L, 3-41 @ Patriots
Last Week: 28
B – Scored their only three points with 6 minutes left, in the game.
E – It seems like the Jets and Browns, are looking for a QB every year.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 3-12
Last Game: W, 38-17 vs. Titans
Last Week: 30
B – The Jags break their losing streak, the Titans playoff hopes, and Mariota’s leg.
E – They straight got their hate on against the Titans, and it’s still “ free Allen Robinson “.
30. Los Angeles Rams
Record: 4-10
Last Game: L, 3-24 vs. Seahawks
Last Week: 29
B – This is a team that wants 2017 to start NOW. Losing at “home” to the 49ers is bad. Getting swept by the 49ers is worse.
E – The Rams should be ashamed of being the only team the 49ers have beaten this season.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 2-13
Last Game: W, 22-21 @ Rams
Last Week: 31
B – Only one game left in this miserable 49er season but this team does show heart. Kap (15 TD, 4 INT, 2,026 yards) playing decent in 10 games as a starter.
E – The Niners get the win, to prove they are at least better than the Browns.
32. Cleveland Browns
Record: 1-14
Last Game: W, 20-17 vs. Chargers
Last Week: 32
B – Wow. Good for you Browns!
E – Finally get the win, now they get to start a new losing streak.
RosenthalSports.com 