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NFL Power Rankings: Giants, Titans Head Into the Playoffs on Top

Posted Dec 24, 2008 9:00AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: NFL Power Rankings

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A week from now, 20 NFL teams' seasons will be over, and 12 NFL teams will be getting ready to decide for themselves which one is the best. But for now, we've got one more week of sorting it in our NFL Power Rankings.

  • 1. Giants (12-3) | Previous Week: 2
    The defending champs have been at the top of the NFL for most of the season, and that's where they'll be heading into the playoff after clinching home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
  • 2. Titans (13-2) | Prev.: 4
    The Titans have had a better record than the Giants for most of the season, and all those Tennessee fans who think their team is being disrespected might be right. I just see Tennessee as a little less likely to win two games in the AFC playoffs than the Giants are to win two games in the NFC playoffs.
  • 3. Steelers (11-4) | Prev.: 1
    I thought they'd put up a better effort against the Titans, but I still think if they get a rematch in the AFC Championship, that's a game the Steelers have a good chance of winning.

  • 4. Panthers (11-4) | Prev.: 3
    That was a great performance by DeAngelo Williams at the Meadowlands. I like the Panthers' chances of getting a rematch in the NFC Championship.
  • 5. Colts (11-4) | Prev.: 5
    It's such a difficult task to win three straight road games in the playoffs, but then again, two of the last three Super Bowl winners have done it. It wouldn't shock me to see the Colts make it three out of four.
  • 6. Falcons (10-5) | Prev.: 10
    I would've said you were crazy if you had told me before the season that the Falcons would turn it around this quickly.
  • 7. Ravens (10-5) | Prev.: 6
    It would shock me to see the Ravens win three road playoff games. I think they're an excellent team, and they'll beat Jacksonville to get to the playoffs, but the Joe Flacco-led offense is still a year away.
  • 8. Cowboys (9-6) | Prev.: 8
    After all the injuries, all the squabbles, all the drama, it really is this simple for the Cowboys: Win and they're in the playoffs.
  • 9. Eagles (8-6-1) | Prev.: 7
    I'm just sick of thinking about this team, that will look great one week and then choke the next. Who knows what they'll do in Week 17?
  • 10. Buccaneers (9-6) | Prev.: 9
    A very uninspiring performance on Sunday against the Chargers.
  • 11. Patriots (10-5) | Prev.: 12
    The Patriots still need help to get to the playoffs, but I think they're the best team in the AFC East. If they make it, the playoffs are more interesting.
  • 12. Vikings (9-6) | Prev.: 13
    Adrian Peterson can never be called an MVP candidate until he learns to hold onto the ball.
  • 13. Dolphins (10-5) | Prev.: 15
    I think the Falcons and head coach Mike Smith are getting so much attention that some people are overlooking what a great job Tony Sparano has done in Miami. They've gone from 1-15 to, perhaps, one week away from the playoffs.
  • 14. Jets (9-6) | Prev.: 11
    Brett Favre played what may have been his worst game in a Jets uniform at a very bad time.
  • 15. Cardinals (8-7) | Prev.: 14
    This is simply not a very good football team, in a division with three even worse teams. Fans of the wild card team that travels to Arizona should rejoice.
  • 16. Bears (9-6) | Prev.: 16
    All of a sudden, that playoff berth that seemed so far-fetched looks close. The key is that the Bears need the Giants to play as hard in Week 17 against the Vikings as they played last year in Week 17 against the Patriots..
  • 17. Chargers (7-8) | Prev.: 22
    After a season of mediocrity, they've earned a chance to prove they belong in the playoffs after all. ...
  • 18. Broncos (8-7) | Prev.: 18
    ... And unfortunately for the Broncos, Ed Hcohuli won't be the referee this time.
  • 19. Saints (8-7) | Prev.: 19
    Blowing out the Lions doesn't count for much in my book. It will be interesting, in a meaningless Week 17 game, to see how often the Saints pass, in an effort to get Drew Brees the NFL record for passing yards in a season.
  • 20. Redskins (8-7) | Prev.: 20
    They played well enough in beating the Eagles to make it official: Jim Zorn is not the worst coach in America.
  • 21. Bills (7-8) | Prev.: 21
    The Bills played well in beating the Broncos, but Bill Belichick isn't going to let the Patriots look past Buffalo on Sunday.
  • 22. 49ers (6-9) | Prev.: 25
    If Mike Singletary had been the head coach and Shaun Hill had been the starting quarterback since September, the 49ers might very well have beaten out the Cardinals in the NFC West.
  • 23. Jaguars (5-10) | Prev.: 23
    The Jaguars have actually played pretty well against good teams this year -- the were competitive against the Colts, Titans and Steelers. That makes Sunday's game against the Ravens at least worth keeping an eye on.
  • 24. Texans (7-8) | Prev.: 17
    Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans did a good job of summing up the disappointment of losing to the Raiders: "We were looking forward to having the first winning season in our history. When you play the way we played last week, with a big win over a big team, you have to find a way to play with the same effort, and we didn't do it."
  • 25. Packers (5-10) | Prev.: 22
    There's just one goal left for the Packers: Don't humiliate yourselves by losing to the Lions.
  • 26. Seahawks (4-11) | Prev.: 27
    Give Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren credit for having his team playing hard enough to beat the Jets in his last game in Seattle. Of course, that game was more about the Jets playing badly than the Seahawks playing well.
  • 27. Bengals (3-11-1) | Prev.: 28
    Running back Cedric Benson had 38 carries for 171 yards, prompting Bears fans everywhere to ask, "Where was this guy the last three years?"
  • 28. Raiders (4-11) | Prev.: 29
    JaMarcus Russell picked apart the Texans' secondary on Sunday. If I were an Oakland fan, I'd be feeling cautiously optimistic. Now the Raiders just need to find Russell a coach with an offense that takes advantage of his skills.
  • 29. Browns (4-11) | Prev.: 26
    It's amazing to think this team had a winning record last year. They just looked beyond awful in the loss to the Bengals.
  • 30. Chiefs (2-13) | Prev.: 30
    Kansas City has now had two straight games in which it stayed close, down to the last minute, against a team that is probably going to the playoffs. Herm Edwards' team stinks, but at least he can say they haven't quit on him.
  • 31. Rams (2-13) | Prev.: 31
    They actually showed that they have a little bit of fight left in them against the 49ers, although if you're taking pride in a loss at home to the 49ers because it was close, well, that tells you what kind of season you've had.
  • 32. Lions (0-15) | Prev.: 32
    One loss from history.

Tags: NFL+Power+Rankings, NflPowerRankings

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