MY NFL Team Power Rankings
(Thru Week sixteen)
The 2010 Playoff picture is starting to come together, but there are still many pieces left out of place as we enter the final weekend of the regular season. Through 16 weeks several teams have managed to stay in the hunt, but last weekend ended the hopes of a couple of teams that were preseason favorites to make the playoffs. The Chargers week 16 meltdown in Cincinnati will keep them home this post season and the Niners’ loss to the Rams will have them looking in from the outside (and searching for a new head coach).
With four division titles still up for grabs, there are several matchups this weekend that have significant playoff implications. The Bears-Packers, Rams-Seahawks, and Saints-Buccaneers are just a few of the games that will not only impact the playoff picture, but will undoubtedly shake up this season’s final rankings. Even games like the Raiders-Chiefs will shape who will face who in the playoffs; if the Chiefs win they can earn a number three seed (wouldn’t play the Patriots until the AFC Championship).
With all 16 games scheduled for Sunday, it figures to not only be a busy day of football, but an interesting one as well.
Here are the team rankings heading into Sunday….
Top 10
1. New England Patriots (13-2): With Home field advantage locked up throughout the playoffs, it appears the road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxboro. Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots are a perfect 7-0 at home this season.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): The Steelers make the jump to number two being the only one AFC team having defeated the Falcons this season. The Steelers will take their 6-1 road record this season to Cleveland and try to wrap up the North and number two seed in the AFC.
3. Atlanta Falcons (12-3): The Falcons dropped their key matchup on Monday night with the Saints, but they can still win the South with a home win over the Panthers (2-13) this Sunday. Even with their loss to the Saints the Falcons have been near perfect at home (6-1), a win Sunday means the division and a number one seed throughout the playoffs.
4. Baltimore Ravens (11-4): The Ravens are still in the hunt for a division title, but they’ll need a little help with a Steelers’ loss. Baltimore is riding a three game winning streak and will be home this weekend where they play very well; the Ravens are 6-1 this season.
5. New Orleans Saints (11-4): The Saints did what they had to do Monday night with a big road win over Atlanta Monday night, but they need some help if they hope to win back-to-back NFC South titles. With a win and Falcon loss, the Saints would also have a chance at the number one seed.
6. Chicago Bears (11-4): The Bears have the division locked up and with a win or loss against the Packers on Sunday they have the number two seed already sewn up. A win on Sunday however, and they could still have a shot at the number one seed (if Atlanta losses). The Bears won their earlier meeting with Green Bay 20-17 back in week 3.
7. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5): The Eagles missed their chance last weekend at securing a top seed in the NFC. With little to play for this weekend, the team is expected to rest some key players like Michael Vick. The Eagles (4-3 at home in 2010) are home this weekend and will face their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys (3-4 on the road).
8. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5): The Chiefs have been a surprise story in 2010. They firmly took their seat at the top of the AFC West in week one with their Monday night win over the Chargers and have not vacated since. The Chiefs have the division, but need a win to lock down the number three seed. The Chiefs are 7-0 at home this season and will face the Raiders at Arrowhead this Sunday; the Raiders won the first meeting this season 23-20 back in week 9.
9. New York Jets (10-5): The Jets have clinched the playoffs and appear satisfied with that at the moment. They can’t catch the Patriots or change their seeding position, so it sounds like they may use this time to give some players much needed rest. Among those that could rest, quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected start, but will likely be limited (early exit) on Sunday.
10. Green Bay Packers (9-6): The Packers bounced back with a huge win last Sunday, but still need a win over the Bears to clinch a playoff berth. The Packers are home this Sunday where they have won 6 of 7 games, including their last four. In their last four games at home the Packers have scored an average of 38 points.
The Rest of the league
• Indianapolis Colts (9-6)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)
• New York Giants (9-6)
• San Diego Chargers (8-7)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
• St. Louis Rams (7-8)
• Oakland Raiders (7-8)
• Miami Dolphins (7-8)
• Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
• Washington Redskins (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (6-9)
• Seattle Seahawks (6-9)
• Arizona Cardinals (6-9)
• Detroit Lions (5-10)
• Cleveland Browns (5-10)
• Dallas Cowboys (5-10)
• San Francisco 49ers (5-10)
• Houston Texans (5-10)
• Buffalo Bills (4-11)
• Denver Broncos (4-11)
• Cincinnati Bengals (4-11)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)
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