NFL Power Rankings - Week 17
Thu, Dec 29, 2022
by
BondMoney.cappertek.com
Who’s in? Who’s out? Who’s hot? Who’s not? How is your team looking with two games left to play? Power rankings on deck…
#1. 49ers (11-4) — Third string QB or not, this team has “championship run” written all over it. (up from 2nd last week)
#2. Eagles (13-2) — The most complete team in the NFL also has one of the best backup QBs. Gardner Minshew played well enough to win last Sunday. (dn from 1st last week)
#3. Chiefs (12-3) — The AFC still belongs to Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. (same ranking as last week)
#4. Bills (12-3) — Pivotal Monday night game in Cincinnati on the horizon. (same ranking as last week)
#5. Bengals (11-4) — The only team hotter in the NFL are the 49ers. (same ranking as last week)
#6. Cowboys (11-4) — The Cowboys offense is gathering steam. (up from 7th last week)
#7. Vikings (12-3) — Another week, another one-score victory. Most in the NFL. (dn from 6th last week)
#8. Ravens (10-5) — Lamar Jackson should be back this week. Just in time for a deep playoff run. (same ranking as last week)
#9. Chargers (9-6) —After a slow and injury-plagued start, Justin Herbert & Co. are rounding into form at just the right time. (same ranking as last week)
#10. Jaguars (7-8) — Unbelievable. The Jags come from out of nowhere and snatch the AFC South from the Titans. (up from 12th last week)
#11. Giants (8-6-1) —They may have played one of their best games in last week’s loss to the Vikings. (up from 16th last week)
#12. Lions (7-8) — Still in the hunt, but they need a little help. (dn from 11th last week)
#13. Packers (7-8) —The stars seem to have aligned for this year’s Packers. Everything is falling their way. (up from 21st last week)
#14. Dolphins (8-7) — We may not see Tua again this year. All three of his concussions look relatively harmless in real time. Next up: Steady Teddy. (dn from 10th last week)
#15. Seahawks (8-7) — Badly in need of a win, this Sunday they face Mike White and the Jets in an elimination game. (dn from 14th last week)
#16. Commanders (7-7-1) — Carson Wentz gets the nod after back-to-back Washington losses. He wasn’t impressive in the early going but if he can generate some offense, the Commanders will be playing in mid-January. (dn from 15th last week)
#17. Titans (7-8) — After a strong mid-season, the Titans are in a tailspin. Is Mike Vrabel on the hotseat?teams. (dn from 13th last week)
#18. Jets (7-8) —Zach Wilson is clearly not the QB of the future. That’s back-to-back whiffs on second overall QBs. (dn from 17th last week)
#19. Steelers (7-8) — Steelers are battling for more than Mike Tomlin’s coaching resume. They remain in the playoff hunt. (up from 22nd last week)
#20. Panthers (6-9) —Carolina is the best team in the NFC South. But if they lose this Sunday in Tampa, it won’t matter. (up from 25th last week)
#21. Patriots (7-8) —The Miami Dolphins’ Tua is undefeated against Bill Belichick… but Tua isn’t playing this Sunday. Patriots’ playoff hopes still alive. (dn from 20th last week)
#22. Saints (6-9) — Even though they are still mathematically alive in the putrid NFC South, getting swept by the Bucs does not help the cause. (up from 24th last week)
#23. Buccaneers (7-8) —They control their own destiny, but Carolina can ruin their playoff aspirations this Sunday. (same ranking as last week)
#24. Raiders (6-9) —The trainwreck otherwise known as the 2022 Las Vegas Raiders is now on full display. Word is that Derek Carr will not be starting versus the Niners this Sunday. (dn from 19th last week)
#25. Rams (5-10) —The battle of Los Angeles takes place this weekend. But last year’s Super Bowl champs are already eliminated from playoff contention. (up from 28th last week)
#26. Browns (6-9) —Bad loss to the Saints last weekend derailed any hope for the 2022 Cleveland Browns playoff campaign. (dn from 18th last week)
#27. Falcons (5-10) —Will Desmond Ridder be the starting QB next year? These next two games are the official auditions. (dn from 26th last week)
#28. Texans (2-12-1) —Surging up the leader board! Despite their abysmal record, the Texans have been fighting all year. (up from 32nd last week)
#29. Bears (3-12) —They’ve been out of it for a while, but they can still play spoiler. (same ranking as last week)
#30. Cardinals (4-11) — Third string QB Trace McSorley fought legend Tom Brady all the way to the wire in an overtime field goal duel on Christmas Day. And soon to be retired JJ Watt played his ass off. (same ranking as last week)
#31. Colts (4-10-1) —The only reason they are not 32 is because of last week’s no-show game by the Broncos. But this team is badly in need of an overhaul from the front office on down. (same ranking as last week)
#32. Broncos (4-11) —When the backup QB is caught on camera laying into the offense line for not helping starting QB Russell Wilson up after sacks, you know you have issues. Nathaniel Hackett deserved to be fired this week. (dn from 27th last week)