NFL Power Rankings: Week 17
Week 16 of the regular season had some incredible matchups of premier NFL teams. And it certainly has shaken up our NFL power rankings. Follow all the NFL's trends throughout the season with us here at A to Z Sports. Each week, we will release an updated NFL power rankings based on the most recent […]
Week 16 of the regular season had some incredible matchups of premier NFL teams. And it certainly has shaken up our NFL power rankings.
Follow all the NFL's trends throughout the season with us here at A to Z Sports. Each week, we will release an updated NFL power rankings based on the most recent performances by each NFL team. If you missed Week 16's power rankings, click here.
NFL Power Rankings Week 17:
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-3) 📈 1
Week 16 gave us a matchup of the top two teams on our power rankings last week, between the Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. And the Ravens didn't just win, they dominated the 49ers on their way to a 33 to 19 win. The Ravens are the hottest team in football and are currently in position to be the top seed in the AFC. This would ensure that they wouldn't have to play a road playoff game until the Super Bowl. This one felt like a statement game for the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, as he now is the favorite to win the NFL's MVP award.
2. San Francisco 49ers (11-4) 📉 1
The 49ers league-leading six-game winning streak was stopped in its tracks by the Ravens in Week 16. And it seemed like the end of the line for Brock Purdy's MVP hopes after his worst performance of the season with four interceptions and zero touchdowns. The 49ers now have no room for error in their hopes to be the top seed in the NFC, as they are in a three-way tie with the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles at 11-4; another loss in the next two weeks could be detrimental to the NFC playoffs going through San Francisco.
3. Miami Dolphins (11-4) 📈 3
Graphic makers across the NFL landscape were devasted after the Dolphins finally picked up a win over a team with a winning record. And they did it against the Dallas Cowboys, who many believe to be a Super Bowl contender with a 22 to 20 win. A strong performance from both the Dolphins offense and defense to pick up their biggest win of the season. And it came at the perfect time, as they likely have the most challenging final two weeks of the regular season on deck.
- Week 17: @ Baltimore Ravens
- Week 18: Vs. Buffalo Bills
4. Buffalo Bills (9-6) 📉 1
It was a close call for the Bills in Week 16, as they were on upset alert all game long against a banged-up Los Angeles Chargers team. But when the dust settled, they pulled out the 24 to 22 win to extend their winning streak to three. They now hold on to the sixth seed in the AFC Playoff Picture at 9-6, with two divisional opponents left on their schedule in the New England Patriots and the Dolphins, a Week 16 loss could have been devasting. They fought through the adversity and now look primed for a playoff push.
5. Detroit Lions (11-4) 📈 2
How about those Lions? Not only did they improve to 11-4 on the year, but their win in Week 16 cliched them the NFC North championship for the first time ever. Dan Campbell's Lions are tied for the best record in the NFC with the 49ers and Eagles with two weeks remaining. This means they are very much in the race for the top seed in the NFC, which would guarantee that the NFC playoffs go through Detroit.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) 📈 2
7. Dallas Cowboys (10-5) 📉 3
8. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) 📉 3
It doesn't seem like a question anymore, the Chiefs are broken. They have now lost three of their last four, and four of their last six games and sit at 9-6. They still have a stronghold on the AFC West, as they only need one win down the stretch to clinch, but they officially have no shot at the top seed in the AFC. This likely means that Patrick Mahomes and the Cheifs will have to play a road playoff game if they have any chance at making the Super Bowl. And if they don't figure out this mess they are in, it could be an early exit for Mahomes and company, which will feel like a total failure of a season for a team of Kansas City's stature.
9. Cleveland Browns (10-5) 📈 2
10. Los Angeles Rams (8-7) 📉 1
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) 📈 5
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers made a statement in Week 16, dominating the Jaguars from the opening kickoff to the final whistle on their way to a 30 to 12 win. They now sit alone atop the NFC South at 8-7 with two weeks remaining on the year. Their Week 17 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, who are a game behind them, will be crucial for the Buccaneers hopes of hosting a playoff game.
12. Seattle Seahawks (8-7) 📈 1
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) 📉 3
14. Indianapolis Colts (8-7) 📉 2
15. Houston Texans (8-7) 📉 1
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) 📈 4
Just a week ago, the Steelers season looked at an all-time low after being blown out by the Colts 30 to 13. But what a difference a week can make as they turned around and blew out the Cincinnati Bengals 34 to 11. Their defense made Jake Browning finally look like a backup QB, picking him off three times on the day. And saw Mason Rudolph step up to the plate and help the Steelers offense look like the best we have seen all season long. Rudolph had a special day with WR George Pickens as the two connected four ts for 195 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers have already announced that Rudolph will operate as the starting QB this week ahead of their Week 17 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
17. Green Bay Packers (7-8) 📈 2
18. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) 📉 3
19. Denver Broncos (7-8) 📉 2
20. Atlanta Falcons (7-8) 📈 3
21. Chicago Bears (6-9) ↔️
22. New Orleans Saints (7-8) 📉 4
23. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) 📈 4
Many were curious about how the Raiders could top their stellar Week 15 win over the Chargers, where they scored 63 points. But they found a way to do it with a Week 16 win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead to move to 7-8 on the year. The Raiders look like a new football team under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who has completely turned around this locker room. He already looked to be a serious candidate to be named the permanent head coach going forward, but a win of this caliber has to boost his odds tremendously.
24. Minnesota Vikings (7-8) ↔️
25. Tennesee Titans (5-10) 📉 3
26. New York Jets (6-9) ↔️
27. New York Giants (5-10) 📈 1
28. New England Patriots (4-11) 📈 1
29. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10) 📈 2
30. Washington Commanders (4-11) 📉 5
The Commanders elected to bench QB Sam Howell for the 2nd straight week after completing only six of his 22 pass attempts for 56 yards and two interceptions. They then saw backup QB Jacoby Brissett complete 10 of his 13 pass attempts for 100 yards and a touchdown to lead a huge comeback to take the lead over the Jets 28-27, who led 27 to 7 at the half. Unfortunately, the comeback came up just short, as the Jets would win via a walk-off 54-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein.
31. Arizona Cardinals (3-12) 📉 1
32. Carolina Panthers (2-13) ↔️
7 Takeaways from the Lions NFC North title win
They didn't make it easy on you did they? The Detroit Lions made you wait nearly 30 years and then put you through the ringer for the very last two minutes of that near 30 years. It's finally happened Lions fans. Your Lions are the new NFC North champions with a 30-24 win over the […]
Updated 2024 NFL Draft order: Week 17
The updated 2024 NFL Draft order following the results of Week 16 of the NFL season.
