RADIO
As we head into the last week of the NFL season, we know exactly what teams are playing for at this point. Injuries, inefficiencies, and mega-popstar distractions have impacted NFL teams in different ways through the league's first 17 weeks. On the other hand, there have been some major positive surprises and stellar play from unexpected sources.
Teams like the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Texans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars have all moved drastically since our Preseason Power Rankings from early August. It's just further proof that the landscape of the NFL can change on a dime after any given Sunday.
So what do the NFL power rankings look like 17 weeks into the regular season? Here is our ranking of all 32 NFL teams.
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Super Bowl Contenders
1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
Now that Lamar Jackson has the MVP locked up, what's the next thing we are going to argue about?
Top 3 and he's all 3 😂#NextGenStats powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/8lFkcm53Xc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 2, 2024
2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
According to Doug Clawson, the 49ers are the first team since the 2004 Colts to have a quarterback with 4,000 yards passing and four players with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards.
3. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
Cowboys celebrating a big win because a dude forgot to report to the refs pic.twitter.com/5Lpy22ICxi
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 31, 2023
Limping Into the Postseason
4. Miami Dolphins (11-5)
If Hard Knocks does not sit down to ask Mike McDaniel why his defensive starters were in the game with three minutes left and down 30 points, I'm canceling my MAX subscription. Losing Bradley Chubb is a MASSIVE blow to this team.
5. Detroit Lions (11-5)
Can we all just agree that our collective "controlled fury" should be directed at the #$&@%! refs?!
Lions head coach Dan Campbell moving on from controversial Saturday loss: "I’m good. I woke up yesterday -- I’m ready man. I’ve got controlled fury, and I’m ready to go. I’m absolutely ready to go."https://t.co/VM9UNBwiWu
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 2, 2024
6. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
This team was 10-1 six weeks ago. I find myself asking questions like "Did their entire defense get some form of football amnesia?"
Cardinals had a 68% dropback success rate today (99th percentile outcome). They ranked 29th in this metric coming into today. Seems bad for whoever is calling the Eagles defense🤷♂️ https://t.co/nz0wprd1m7 pic.twitter.com/S4Wp5Tv8gq
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) December 31, 2023
Don't Doubt Us in the Playoffs
7. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Cleveland is almost certainly playing the AFC South winner in their first playoff game. They played each AFC South contender already this season (then won all three) and scored an average of 35.3 points against them.
8. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
On November 13th, this team was 5-5 with losses to the Jets, Patriots, and Broncos. Now they play Miami in the game of the week for the AFC East title and the chance to host a playoff game. So the Bills range out of outcomes for this weekend are AFC East winner and the #2 seed all the way to miss the playoffs altogether.
9. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
If offense and defense were the only aspects of football, this Rams' squad would be one of the most formidable in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, special teams often plays a huge role in these games.
The LA Rams now have the 6th-lowest special teams DVOA ever. The Rams are at -9.8%. No. 31 Patriots are -3.4%. Rams are almost 3x as bad as any other ST unit this year. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/P7KjAl697K
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) January 1, 2024
10. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Mystery solved.
In Patrick Mahomes’ first 5 seasons he has had 5 games where the Chiefs scored under 20 points.
This season alone he has had 7 games where the Chiefs have scored under 20 points.
Hmmm…that’s so weird, I wonder why that is 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zhLNVV5Z29
— Frank J. Dyevoich, Esq.⚖️🏈 (@Fantasy_Giant) December 28, 2023
We Need Help From Someone
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
The Steelers might need the most help in the AFC to get into the playoffs (they have to win and the Jags or Bills must lose), but there is no doubt that Mason Rudolph has list a spark in this offense that has put them on the postseason doorstep. They have back-to-back games with 30 points. The last time they scored at least 30 in a game before those two? November 20th, 2022.
12. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
It won't be Anthony Richardson vs. C.J. Stroud on Saturday night, which would have been the dream script by the NFL, but the Gardner Minshew Cinderella story is a nice backup. The Colts beat the Texans 31-20 back in Week 2, but two of their touchdowns came from Anthony Richardson scrambles.
13. Houston Texans (9-7)
Back-to-back picks in the 2023 draft have taken this franchise from laughing stock to the brink of the postseason. Yes, they relinquish their draft pick in the first round to Arizona this year, but they get Cleveland's pick from the trade that keeps on giving for the Texans.
What a day for the Rookies 🔥 pic.twitter.com/r5OKhpMuXo
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 31, 2023
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
Can we all agree that either the Colts or Texans would be better places to host a first-round playoff game than Jacksonville? Let's have the Jags sit this one out and instead invite Houston, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh.
15. Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Are Green Bay fans now secretly happy that Aaron Rodgers left? What's that? They're outwardly ecstatic that he left? Makes sense.
Jordan Love has been dominant down the stretch 👀 pic.twitter.com/bK3syXNt8W
— PFF (@PFF) January 2, 2024
16. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
The Saints are in absolute must-win mode and might not have their biggest weapon for Week 18.
Right high ankle mechanism.
It’s really unfortunate that Kendre Miller couldn’t be active for this game. Might get his shot next week if this (likely) costs AK playing time.
pic.twitter.com/9FviDt8ehT— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 31, 2023
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
Down 20-0 to New Orleans in the first half last week was not something I had on my bingo card last week, and now they are in desperation mode and have to beat Carolina to stay in the playoffs.
18. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
Did you know Geno Smith has a clause in his contract that will pay him an additional $2 million if the Seahawks win, Green Bay loses, and Seattle can secure a playoff spot? With the frisky Bears on tap for the Packers, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Well, We Blew It
19. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Jake Browning is a free agent in 2024. If I had to guess who he is starting for next year, my money is on the Las Vegas Raiders.
20. Denver Broncos (8-8)
The touchdown probability for the 54-yard score to Lil'Jordan Humphrey was 0.2% according to Next Gen Stats, in case you were wondering if it was a lucky one.
Stidham definitely looking like the spark Sean Payton was looking for… pic.twitter.com/CChUOyY5RT
— PMT (@PlayoffModeTone) December 31, 2023
21. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
Underreported fact from Week 17: On each of Davante Adams' 21 targets, there was a letter or number on the football. Those spelled out P-L-E-A-S-E-D-O-N-T-L-E-A-V-E-I-N-2-0-2-4
22. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
The Vikings' path to making the playoffs (they have 3% odds) is more confusing than the decision to start Jaren Hall in Week 17.
Vikings aren't out, but they need a lot to go right in Week 18 to make the playoffs:
- Beat the Lions
- Bears beat Packers
- Cardinals beat SeahawksAnd then one or both of:
- Falcons beat Saints
- Panthers beat Buccaneers— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 1, 2024
23. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
The Falcons can still make the playoffs if they beat New Orleans and Tampa Bay loses to Carolina. But really, they blew it when they hired Arthur Smith, so they get stuck here at 23rd in the Power Rankings.
The 2024 Dark Horse
24. Chicago Bears (7-9)
The Bears are 5-2 in their last seven games, hold the first overall pick in the draft, and also will pick 10th if the current spots hold. If they add Marvin Harrison Jr. and some offensive line help to protect Justin Fields, this is a playoff team in 2024.
We're Happy Only Two Teams Have Less Than 4 Wins
25. New York Jets (6-10)
Twenty-six players have at least 1,150 air yards this season. Only one of them has fewer than four touchdowns. His name is Garrett Wilson.
26. New York Giants (5-11)
Thirty-eight wide receivers have more than 1,000 air yards this season. None of them are New York Giants. Darius Slayton barely sneaks in over 900 with his 901 air yards.
27. Tennessee Titans (5-11)
What used to be the smash spot of all smash spots for Derrick Henry...
“Derrick Henry plays the Texans D twice in the fantasy playoffs!”
2 games:
28 carries, 51 yards
5 targets, 4 catches, 1 yard
0 TDs— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) December 31, 2023
28. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
Let's check in on the Chargers' first-round rookie Quentin Johnston.
Quentin Johnston's 0.90 yards per route run is the lowest among 1st-round wide receivers in their rookie seasons in the last 3 years per @FTNData pic.twitter.com/hlm4Kg6qW9
— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) December 28, 2023
29. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Without a desperate need for a quarterback, the Cardinals are fine with winning their fourth game and dropping back to the fourth pick in the draft. But they do need a wide receiver so now have to see what Chicago plans to do with Marvin Harrison Jr.
Drake Maye and Caleb Williams' Next Teams
30. New England Patriots (4-12)
In The Good Place, Jason Mendoza is a huge fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Blake Bortles and he believes that "all we need is a defense, and an offense, and some rule changes." Jason, may I introduce you to the New England Patriots with Drake Maye in 2024?
31. Washington Commanders (4-12)
Terry McLaurin is number two in the NFL in routes run this season but is 77th in catchable target rate. Someone please get this man a new quarterback.
Our Owner Throws Drinks Now
32. Carolina Panthers (2-14)
In addition to paying Bryce Young $10 million to throw 11 touchdowns, Panthers' owner David Tepper must now pay $300,000 for throwing one drink at a fan. What a sad sack of a franchise.
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