NFL Power Rankings Week 16

NFL Power Rankings Week 16

1. New England Patriots – 11-3 SU, 9-5 ATS: Nobody hates to see this team in this spot more than I do, but thanks the Packers’ bust in Buffalo, here we are.  A 24-point third quarter gave New England their 11th AFC East title in the last 12 seasons. Last week: 2

2. Seattle Seahawks – 10-4 SU, 8-6 ATS: The only that’s gone wrong for the Seahawks over the last few weeks is that the Arizona Cardinals keep winning, setting up a possible Wild Card run. They’ll get a chance to hang a loss on the Cards this week. Last week: 3

3. Denver Broncos – 10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS: Another win and another lackluster game from Peyton Manning. Are they trying to fool us before the playoffs? Peyton, none of us are buying it.  Last week: 4

4. Arizona Cardinals – 11-3 SU, 10-4 ATS: The Cards  move up a spot this week, but they’ll need to get a lot more from quarterback Ryan Lindley, who opened last week as the No. 3 quarterback. Lindley was on San Diego’s practice squad a month ago after the Cardinals cut him back in August. Trust that the Seahawks know all of this. Last week: 5

5. Green Bay Packers – 10-4 SU, 7-6-1 ATS: This is what you get, Packers, after your worst performance of the season and one of the worst of Aaron Rodgers’ career. Rodgers set a new career high with 25 incompletions and a new career low in passer rating, 34.3. For your sake, I hope you got that out of your system. Last week: 1

6. Indianapolis Colts – 10-4 SU, 9-4-1 ATS: Two weeks in a row the Colts got a scare from a team they should have beaten by 20. This time it didn’t take a last-minute touchdown pass, but a 7-point win over the Texans at home, a team that has never won in Indianapolis isn’t something to celebrate. Even if you did just clinch your second-strait AFC South title. Last week: 6

7. Pittsburgh Steelers – 9-5 SU, 7-7 ATS: Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan had the best QB duel of the day Sunday, but it was Le’Veon Bell who put the nail in Atlanta’s playoff coffin. Hopefully. We really don’t want a losing team in the playoffs guys. Come on. Last week: 7

8. Dallas Cowboys – 10-4 SU, 8-6 ATS: The only bad news for the Cowboys after Sunday night’s 38-27 win over the Eagles was that Demarco Murray may miss a game after getting a pin in the ring finger on his left hand. The worse news is that they host the Colts this week in a game everyone will call a potential Super Bowl preview while not believing for a moment that either team will make the Super Bowl. Last week: 8

9. Baltimore Ravens – 9-5 SU, 7-6-1 ATS: With the Browns plugging in Johnny Manziel and the Texans probably starting Case Keenum at QB, Christmas has come early for Baltimore this year. Congratulations on your AFC North title, Ravens. Last week: 9

10. Detroit Lions – 10-4 SU, 7-7 ATS: If you had told me the Jim Caldwell-coached Lions would win double-digit games this year, I would have smacked you across the face. With an open hand. Hard. You would have cried. But he’s done it. Not only that, but the Lions are now in the driver’s seat in the NFC North. I have no clue what’s going on here. Last week: 11

11. Cincinnati Bengals – 9-4-1 SU, 7-6-1 ATS: The Bengals have only four shutouts in the last two decades and all four of them were against the Browns at Cleveland (1998, 2006, 2008, 2014).  You’re hosting Denver Monday night, so don’t expect this feeling, or ranking, to last. Last week: 13

12. Buffalo Bills – 8-6 SU, 8-6 ATS: The Bills held Aaron Rodgers to 185 yards and two picks with no touchdowns a week after holding Peyton Manning to 173 yards and two picks with no touchdowns. All this team needs is a quarterback and Michigan State’s Connor Cook is going to be sitting there when you pick, Buffalo. Last week: 16

13. Kansas City Chiefs – 8-6 SU, 9-5 ATS: With their annual curb stomp of the Raiders at Arrowhead out of the way, the Chiefs can now focus on controlling their own destiny. The math is simple for Kansas City, beat the Steelers and Chargers and they’re in. Lose either game and they’re likely watching the playoffs from home and Andy Reid shuts down every Golden Corral in a tri-state area. Last week: 18

14. Philadelphia Eagles – 9-5 SU, 8-6 ATS: Philadelphia has lost three of its last four and one more defeat will probably remove them from playoff contention. Luckily for the Eagles, they host the Redskins Sunday.  Last week: 10

15. San Diego Chargers – 8-5 SU, 6-7 ATS: Unlike the Chiefs, the Chargers need a little help for their playoff hopes to stay alive, but it’s all over if they lose to the 49ers Sunday. Last week: 12

16. Houston Texans – 7-7 SU, 8-5-1 ATS: Of all the good bad teams, the Texans might be the best. It really shows you how a big hole at quarterback can hurt you. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mallett out for the season, and third-stringer Tom Savage missing a week, the Texans are looking at Thad Lewis and former starter Case Keenum from the Rams’ practice squad. Take the points. Last week: 14

17. St. Louis Rams – 6-8 SU, 7-7 ATS: What could have been if Sam Bradford hadn’t gone down with a torn ACL in the preseason, Rams? What could have been… Last week: 15 

 

18. New Orleans Saints – 6-8 SU, 6-8 ATS: The Saints did themselves and all of us a favor slapping the Bears around 31-15 and doing their part to at least end the season .500. With games left against the Falcons and the Bucs, it’s completely doable. Don’t blow it. Last week 24

19. Carolina Panthers – 5-8-1 SU, 7-7 ATS: Derek Anderson was ran out of Cleveland five years ago and outplayed every quarterback on their roster this season. Anderson is 2-0 in 2014 and if Cam Newton isn’t ready this week, Anderson will get to line up against his old team Sunday. Last week: 22

20. Miami Dolphins – 7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS: The 41-13 beat-down from the Patriots ended all playoff hopes for Miami. Joe Philbin started the season on the hot seat and that loss didn’t help, but the Dolphins haven’t been a train wreck this season. There’s no reason to blow everything up yet. Last week: 17

21. Minnesota Vikings – 6-8 SU, 9-5 ATS: A tough fourth-quarter loss to a playoff team is nothing to hang your head about, Vikings. This wasn’t your year. Next season might be. Last week: 21

22. San Francisco 49ers – 7-7 SU, 6-8 ATS: And the San Francisco 49ers are officially eliminated from playoff contention for 2014. That’s my favorite sentence I’ve written this season. The Jim Harbaugh farewell tour hosts San Diego for a loss this week.  Last week: 20

23. New York Giants – 5-9 SU, 6-8 ATS: Lost in this losing season for New York is the solid season Eli Manning is having, bouncing back from a bad 2013. Manning is 63.2 percent passing for 3,590 yards, 23 TDs, 13 picks with a 90.0 quarterback rating. Last week: 25

24. Atlanta Falcons – 5-9 SU, 6-8 ATS: Another battle, another fantastic performance, but ultimately another loss for the Falcons. If only they’d been playing this way all year we wouldn’t be in danger of a 6-10 team hosting a playoff game. Last week: 23

25. Chicago Bears – 5-9 SU, 5-9 ATS: Seven years, $126.7 million. That’s Jay Cutler’s deal he signed in the offseason, with $54 million guaranteed. Just putting it out there. Last week: 26

26. Cleveland Browns – 7-6 SU, 7-4-2 ATS: Johnny Fiddlesticks’ debut performance was historically bad even for Cleveland. Manziel passed for just 80 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 27.3 QB rating. He said Monday that it was the worst game of his life. The Panthers hope you’re wrong. Last week: 19

27. New York Jets – 3-11 SU, 4-9-1 ATS: Way to mess up your draft, Jets. Keep this up and you’ll be stuck with Jameis Winston, and unless you need lessons in human sexuality shouted out at the lunch table or want a great deal on lint-covered crab legs, you’re going to regret it. Last week: 32

28. Washington Redskins – 3-11 SU, 4-10 ATS: There’s the Robert Griffin III we all thought we’d see at the beginning of the season; a guy just good enough to make you lose by a touchdown. RG3 is getting the start this week. Hooray? Last week: 29

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2-12 SU, 6-8 ATS:  The Bucs are the only NFC South team not still fighting for a playoff berth. But, at least, a new quarterback awaits in the upcoming draft. Last week: 31

30. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2-12 SU, 4-9-1 ATS: I know you see the Titans coming up on your schedule and are starting to think about how sweet that victory could feel, getting that sorry taste of losing out of your mouth. I want you just to focus on Amari Cooper and get all those dumb victory thoughts out of your head.  Last week: 30

31. Oakland Raiders – 2-12 SU, 7-7 ATS: Back to reality, Raiders. Thanks for that 49ers win though. It was nice.  Last week: 2

     

32. Tennessee Titans – 2-12 SU, 3-10-1 ATS: You lose to the Jets, Titans, this is what you get. Jake Locker went down with an injury so you can go ahead and eat that piece of candy from your NFL Advent Calender. Last week: 28