Well, we made it. The postseason is upon us and the majority of the NFL must now wallow in the stench of their own failures. While the 12 playoff teams can celebrate a job well done, 20 other clubs must look at themselves in the mirror and fight back their gorge in disgust. They earned it.
So as we watch the coronation of a new champion, let’s a take a final look at the last regular season power rankings.
1. Carolina Panthers – (15-1) The Panthers sealed the deal with a Captain Kirk karate chop to the neck of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Carolina wasn’t your favorite team to make the Super Bowl before last weekend, they are now. Last week: No. 1
2. Denver Broncos – (12-4) Peyton Manning came off the bench to write another entry into his Hall of Fame quarterbacking story. It’ll be even nicer if he can raise a Lombardi Trophy at the end of it. Last week: 3
3. Cincinnati Bengals – (12-4) A.J. McCarron has been a fine substitute quarterback, but if the Bengals want to really be in the Super Bowl mix Andy Dalton has to play Sunday. Last week: No. 5
4. Arizona Cardinals – (13-3) If that spanking the Seahawks delivered to the Cardinals in Arizona didn’t change your postseason prognostications, you probably missed the game. They lost 36-6 for God’s sake. Last week: No. 2
5. New England Patriots – (12-4) The Patriots lost their final game, costing them home field advantage in the playoffs and nearly costing Tom Brady his foot. He’s got a week to get it back. Last week: No. 4
6. Kansas City Chiefs – (11-5) The Chiefs continue doing something no team has ever done. They opened the season 0-5 and haven’t lost since. Now they get the best playoff draw possible in the Texans. Last week: No. 7
7. Minnesota Vikings – (11-5) The Vikings got the job done against the Packers Sunday, but unlike the Chiefs get the worst possible draw, the Seattle Seahawks. Last week: No. 8
8. Seattle Seahawks – (10-6) Speaking of the Seahawks, not many teams enter the playoffs hotter. Seattle lost just one game in its last seven including a Shawshank Redemption shower scene reenactment in Arizona last Sunday. Last week: No. 11
9. Pittsburgh Steelers – (10-6) The Steelers got a great gift from Buffalo and now they need to use it to spoil Cincinnati’s postseason plans. Last week: No. 12
10. Green Bay Packers – (10-6) The Packers have limped into the playoffs with a tough final half of the season. Why don’t I believe this is the end of their story? Last week: No. 6
11. Washington Redskins – (9-7) You’ll read so many columns and predictions discussing how the Redskins will have multiple, if not all, the advantages over the Packers in their wild card game. Don’t you believe it. Last week: No. 13
12. Houston Texans – (9-7) The Texans sealed the deal and made the playoffs. If they aren’t the kind of team that’s just “happy to be here,” they better learn to be. Their playoff experience will not last long. Last week: No. 10
13. New York Jets – (10-6) Of all the teams not in the playoffs, the Jets are obviously in the best shape. They need one player; a quarterback. They either have the guy already on their roster (Bryce Petty) or he’s in this draft (maybe Dak Prescott), but they can’t afford to fool around. Their lack of a franchise guy is the reason they’re watching the playoffs at home right now. Last week: No. 9
14. Indianapolis Colts – (8-8) The Colts did the right thing keeping Chuck Pagano as their head coach, even though they showed some assistants the door. Andrew Luck will be back full strength next season and all this team needs is a few pieces to get right back in the playoff hunt. Last week: No. 17
15. Buffalo Bills – (8-8) The Bills are kind of in the same boat with the Jets and they better realize it. Yes, Tyrod Taylor won some games this season, but if Rex Ryan thinks he’s the long-term answer at quarterback he’ll be unemployed again soon. Conner Cook or Dak Prescott should be there when the Bills pick. They better not whiff again. Last week: No. 18
16. Oakland Raiders – (7-9) The Raiders have the core group of players to build a dynasty. Now is the time to just add a few pieces, especially along the defensive front and the secondary. Last week: No. 20
17. Atlanta Falcons – (8-8) The choking Falcons made one more appearance in the season finale and that’s probably the best thing that could have happened to them. They get to pick No. 17, add some more defense and come into 2016 competing for a playoff spot. Last week: No. 19
18. New York Giants – (6-10) Tom Coughlin is out and the Giants are looking for answers at the head coaching position. Whoever takes over this team has won the lottery because with better coaching they’d be 14-2 right now. John Mara saw it the same way and that’s why Coughlin was sent packing. Last week: No. 19
19. New Orleans Saints – (7-9) As of today Sean Payton is still the Saints head coach. As of tomorrow, who knows? I know one thing. If they do deal Payton, they’ll blow this whole thing up. Last week: No. 20
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (6-10) Jameis Winston got a great gift as he wrapped up his rookie season. He got to see one of the best in the business, Cam Newton, take his team to the promised land. Copy that Jameis and you’ll be everything the Bucs want and more. Last week: No. 22
21. Philadelphia Eagles – (7-9) Pat Shurmer coached his 33rd game as an NFL head coach Sunday, beating the Giants. The victory was just his 10th as a head coach. Not exactly been a storybook has it, Pat? Last week: No. 23
22. St. Louis Rams – (7-9) Let’s get one thing clear. Jeff Fisher is not an 8-8 coach. That’s an unfair accusation to put at Fisher’s feet. I mean, Fisher hasn’t finished 8-8 since 2009. He’s a 7-9 coach if he’s anything. Last week: No. 14
23. Jacksonville Jaguars – (5-11) The Jags are on the upswing and should feel good about their five wins this year and the pieces they have in place for next season. It won’t be a playoff run in 2016, but the Jaguars are on the upswing. It’s just too bad they’ll be doing it in Jacksonville. Last week: No. 24
24. Miami Dolphins – (6-10) Dan Campbell got the biggest win of his coaching career, beating the Patriots Sunday. It won’t be enough to keep the head coaching job in Miami, but it will certainly keep Campbell employed in the NFL for a long while. Last week: No. 25
25. Baltimore Ravens – (5-11) The nightmare ends for the Ravens this season. With a reloaded team through the draft and a healthy Joe Flacco and Terrell Suggs, the nightmare begins for everyone else next season. Last week: No. 26
26. Detroit Lions – (7-9) Jim Caldwell is still the Lions coach. I Googled it. No, I can’t believe it either. Last week: No. 27
27. Chicago Bears – (6-10) The Bears bounced back in a competitive division and this pretty much maxed out what they were capable of doing. Next year they’ll probably have to figure out how to get it done with offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Last week: No. 21
28. San Francisco 49ers – (5-11) Jim Tomsula is gone and the rest of the NFC West weeps. Colin Kaepernick will be joining him soon. Last week: No. 29
29. Dallas Cowboys – (4-12) The Cowboys draft reload begins in April. They need a few pieces, but if Jerry Jones has proven anything it’s that he’s not afraid to spend the money to fix the problem. Last week: No. 28
30. Cleveland Browns – (3-13) Johnny Manziel was reportedly busted at a Las Vegas club wearing a wig and fake glasses as a disguise. The poor bastard made sure his career would end with a whimper, didn’t he? Last week: No. 30
31. San Diego Chargers – (4-12) For some reason teams that want to move to Los Angeles don’t want to change coaches. That’s good news for Mike McCoy and bad news for those fans in Los Angeles that want to see competitive NFL football. Last week: No. 31
32. Tennessee Titans – (3-13) Joey Bosa got kicked out of his bowl game for targeting. That just means he’ll be better rested to go after the rookie of the year trophy for the Titans next year. Last week: No. 32
