NFL Power Rankings - Week 17: A holiday gift for fans of every team
NFL Power Rankings takes stock of all 32 teams throughout the season.
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1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Previous rank: 2
π More Rashid Shaheed. Our new No. 1 couldn't have asked for much more after a big win over the Rams. Still, it's pretty clear how the Seahawks' offense can reach another level: good things happen when the ball is in Shaheed's hands.
2. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
Previous rank: 1
π A special teams rebound. The Rams quietly fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn during the mini bye week following their Thursday night loss in Seattle. As unconventional as the move may be for a contender this late in the season, it's understandable. After missing a field goal and giving up a 58-yard punt return touchdown, L.A. now has a league-worst minus-49.29 EPA on special teams, per TruMedia.
3. New England Patriots (12-3)
Previous rank: 6
π A healthy Will Campbell. Although Drake Maye continues to play at an MVP level no matter what's going on in front of him, he'll likely need more help from the offensive line if New England wants to go on a run. Campbell returning from a knee injury in the next few weeks would be a major boost for the playoffs.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
Previous rank: 10
π Respect. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who exercised caution before truly buying into this Jaguars team. But enough of that. A convincing win over the top-seeded Broncos confirms that Jacksonville is a real contender in the AFC. Adding Jakobi Meyers at the deadline was a stroke of genius by this new staff, and head coach Liam Coen has Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his career.
5. Houston Texans (10-5)
Previous rank: 4
π A timely breakout. Nico Collins is one of the best receivers in football, while Dalton Schultz continues to be a reliable target at tight end. However, the Texans getting a bit of a scare from the lowly Raiders last weekend served as a reminder of the offense's lingering limitations. If Jayden Higgins or Jaylin Noel emerges ahead of the playoffs, it could change that equation.
6. Denver Broncos (12-3)
Previous rank: 3
π The good version of Bo Nix. The second-year quarterback has delivered some really encouraging moments this season, including a complete performance last week against the Packers and five fourth-quarter comebacks. But consistency has evaded Nix for the most part. The Broncos are a Super Bowl team when their signal-caller is at his best. Anything less, and this might not be their year.
7. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
Previous rank: 5
π Ed Oliver's return. The Bills' defense ranks 31st this campaign with minus-0.11 EPA/rush, marking Buffalo's worst output in that metric since at least 2000. Oliver returning to the interior defensive line for the first time since Week 8 could help mitigate this fatal flaw in the postseason.
8. Chicago Bears (11-4)
Previous rank: 7
π Good news on Rome Odunze. The Bears are understandably riding high after a thrilling comeback win Saturday night, but putting away a Packers team without Jordan Love probably shouldn't have been as difficult as it was. Chicago needs Odunze healthy if this passing game is going to make good on the flashes it's shown this season.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
Previous rank: 11
π A savior on the offensive line. The Chargers can't expect MVP-caliber heroics from Justin Herbert every week. With the 27-year-old signal-caller having been hit a league-worst 121 times, Los Angeles needs someone to step up and fill the void created by the absences of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
10. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Previous rank: 13
π Average defensive play. The 49ers are in the hunt for the No. 1 seed, but this is still the highest they've ranked since Week 6. That's because an awful defense is threatening to drag down the latest elite Kyle Shanahan offense. San Francisco ranks 30th in success rate after giving up 27 points to Philip Rivers and the Colts in Monday night's win.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
Previous rank: 12
π Jalen Carter at 100%. The Eagles' star defensive tackle appears set to return after missing time to undergo a procedure on both shoulders. Carter's presence could very well swing the landscape of the NFC playoffs, as Philly Philly posts 0.12 EPA/play with him on the field, compared to 0.02 without him. That difference marks the line between the NFL's top-ranked defense and the No. 12 group.
12. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
Previous rank: 8
π A Week 17 clinch. The Packers aren't in the mix for a playoff bye, but a win against the Ravens at home on Saturday would allow them to treat the regular-season finale as a de facto bye week. With Jordan Love in concussion protocol, Josh Jacobs battling a knee injury, and several other key players banged up, Green Bay could use the extra time to get everyone healthy.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
Previous rank: 14
π A sustained run game. The Steelers' newfound run game was a key factor in last weekend's massive road win over the Lions. Pittsburgh's 0.40 EPA/rush marked the club's best single-game output by that metric since 2006. Finding a way to build off the breakthrough performance would make this team friskier than expected in January.
14. Detroit Lions (8-7)
Previous rank: 9
π Better injury luck. Every club deals with injuries, and that's far from the only challenge working against the Lions this year. Ultimately, losing both coordinators in the offseason proved incredibly costly. However, Detroit likely wouldn't be left clinging to hopes for a miracle in the last two weeks if injuries hadn't decimated the secondary for a second straight year.
15. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
Previous rank: 18
π A pattern continued. The Panthers would undoubtedly like to be more consistent, and taking down the Seahawks this week to clinch the NFC South would be a welcome development on that front. Fortunately, Carolina only needs one more win to secure the division. Even if this week is another letdown, the Jekyll-and-Hyde trend we've seen since mid-October suggests they'll bounce back in the Week 18 rematch with the Bucs.
16. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
Previous rank: 15
π A Browns win. The Ravens can still send the AFC North to a winner-take-all finale by beating the Packers and the Steelers losing. Unfortunately for Baltimore, Pittsburgh faces the three-win Browns. Any given Sunday, right?
17. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
Previous rank: 16
π A full season of Philip Rivers. Consider this one a gift for the NFL as a whole. The 44-year-old probably doesn't have interest in anything beyond his emergency spot duty, but Monday night's game against the 49ers proved that Rivers can still play at this level. And it's fair to assume he'd be even more dialled in when he's not coming off the couch on short notice. At the very least, it's a fun possibility to think about with Indy facing some major uncertainty at quarterback.
18. Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
Previous rank: 17
π Change at defensive coordinator. Jerry Jones doesn't seem inclined to pay coaches who no longer work for him, which makes it uncertain if he'll admit a mistake with Matt Eberflus after just one year. Does he really have a choice, though? This move feels like a must if the Cowboys want to avoid letting a star-studded offense go to waste again next season.
19. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
Previous rank: 22
π Whatever Joe Burrow wants. Recent cryptic comments from the star quarterback sent the football world into a frenzy. Is Burrow unhappy in Cincinnati? Could he follow in the footsteps of Carson Palmer and eventually force his way out? Not that there was much doubt, but this year has proven that Burrow is the entire Bengals franchise. This team must do whatever it takes to make him happy. If that happens to involve a coaching change, maybe it's for the best anyway.
20. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
Previous rank: 19
π QB insurance. Minnesota should be in the market for a veteran quarterback next offseason. While J.J. McCarthy will still have every opportunity to establish himself as the long-term starter, his rough start, combined with numerous injuries, gives the Vikings no choice. They'll need a pivot plan in case next year doesn't go well either.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
Previous rank: 21
π Early-season Baker Mayfield. The Bucs' quarterback was an MVP favorite through the season's first six weeks, leading Tampa Bay to a 5-1 start with a series of last-gasp comebacks. During that span, Mayfield sat tied for third among all quarterbacks in EPA/dropback. However, he ranks tied for 31st across the 10 weeks since then, a critical factor in the Bucs' collapse.
22. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
Previous rank: 24
π A fresh start. Winning two straight probably eased the pressure on Raheem Morris to some degree, but it hardly compensates for Atlanta's dreadful run of seven losses in eight games. The Falcons' continued irrelevance in a terrible NFC South race demonstrates the organization's need for new leadership throughout.
23. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
Previous rank: 20
π New ideas. We spent a lot of time this season talking about how dangerous the Chiefs could become with an improved receiving corps. Personnel remains an issue, but this year showed that it isn't the only problem. Andy Reid's offense may have gone stale. With Patrick Mahomes set to spend the offseason recovering from a major injury, it's even more important that Kansas City's scheme can give him some semblance of help again next campaign.
24. Miami Dolphins (6-9)
Previous rank: 23
π A path to a QB. The Dolphins' decision to bench Tua Tagovailoa strongly suggests the organization plans to part ways with him this offseason. The move makes sense, considering the downward trajectory of his play, but Miami won't be selecting anywhere near the top of a draft short on quarterbacks. Free agency might also not be an option, as releasing Tagovailoa would leave the club with over $99 million in dead money. That sounds a lot like QB purgatory.
25. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
Previous rank: 25
π GM restraint. The Saints already received a dream gift when Derek Carr chose to pass up $30 million in guaranteed money and retire last spring. After years of stubbornly resisting a rebuild and continuously pushing money to the future in an effort to win now, Mickey Loomis has to capitalize on this opportunity to reset the cap. Staying patient and focusing on building through the draft will pay off in the long run.
26. Washington Commanders (4-11)
Previous rank: 26
π A mirror for the front office. The extended absences of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin undoubtedly contributed to Washington's disappointing season, but the Commanders seemed destined for regression regardless. Entering the year as the oldest NFL team since at least 2012, then holding onto all veteran players through the trade deadline, speaks to clear issues with team building. This staff needs to learn from its mistakes if Washington hopes to build a sustained contender around a star quarterback who fell into the franchise's lap.
27. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Previous rank: 28
π Draft order chaos. The Browns will be paying close attention to this week's game between the Raiders and Giants, since the winner will tumble down the draft board and put Cleveland (assuming a loss) in possession of the No. 2 pick. The path to the top spot becomes particularly interesting if only the Raiders remain ahead of the Browns next week, as Las Vegas closes out the season against a Chiefs team that's already packed it in for the year.
28. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
Previous rank: 27
π QBs going pro. As things stand, there are just too many QB-needy squads at the top of the draft for the Cardinals to feel good about having a clear path to secure Kyler Murray's replacement. If Dante Moore and Ty Simpson declare, joining expected top pick Fernando Mendoza, it would at least give some much-needed depth to the quarterback class.
29. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
Previous rank: 32
π A Bears-like offseason. The Titans have their signal-caller. Now it's time to go all-out in an effort to build around him. That should involve paying up for a top coaching candidate, maximizing their league-leading $105 million in cap space, and leveraging draft capital and the trade market to turn over the roster as much as possible. The clock is already ticking on the cheap years of Cam Ward's rookie contract.
30. New York Jets (3-12)
Previous rank: 30
π A meaningful finale. Let's assume that a Week 17 loss to the Patriots sends the Jets into the last game of the regular season at 3-13. Whether the Bills opt to play their starters could be the difference between New York drafting in the top three or falling as low as No. 8. Buffalo beating the Eagles this week would ensure that the AFC East is still up for grabs in Week 18.
31. New York Giants (2-13)
Previous rank: 29
π Protection. The Giants have good reason to believe that Dart can be their quarterback of the future, but his development could become an adventure if he's always taking a beating. The front office has to improve the roster around him, the new coaching staff should implement strategies to minimize the hits he takes, and, perhaps most importantly, Dart needs to find a way to protect himself.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
Previous rank: 31
π The No. 1 overall pick. Las Vegas losing its last two games would finally put the club in a position to draft a quarterback. That may not seem like a tall task, but don't be so sure. The Giants, who visit this week, are giving the Raiders a run for their money as the worst team in football. And considering the way the Chiefs look without Patrick Mahomes, Las Vegas might enter its close-out game as a favorite.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.