Usually, I toss up the Power Rankings Wednesday or Thursday as a precursor to our weekend of NFL action ahead. With Thanksgiving in the way, I decided to hold off until Friday, giving us three more games to count toward our rankings heading into the weekend.
Or, I just wanted to take Thanksgiving off. You decide!
Here’s how our Post Thanksgiving Power Rankings play out.
1. Philadelphia Eagles – (9-1) The Eagles are plowing through the NFC on their way to home field advantage in the playoffs. With contenders facing off against each other Sunday and Philly hosting the Bears, the way is about to get clearer. Last week: 1
2. New England Patriots – (8-2) For the last seven weeks or so the Patriots have played solid defense. They haven’t given up more than 16 points in six games and held teams to single digits twice. They’re still ranked last in the league in defense. That’s how bad they were for the first month. Last week: No. 2
3. Pittsburgh Steelers – (8-2) If the playoffs started today, the Steelers would hold the top seed in the AFC. They’ll need to keep rolling against the Packers to keep it. So, they probably will. Last week: No. 3
4. Minnesota Vikings – (9-2) Alright Case Keenum! Alright. I’ve picked against you for the last time. Jesus, man. Give it a rest. Last week: No. 5
5. New Orleans Saints – (8-2) There’s a handful of games with real playoff ramifications Sunday, but the Saints vs Rams looms large as not only the most important, but the most entertaining. Last week: No. 6
6. Los Angeles Rams – (7-3) Sean McVay vs Sean Payton. This is Sean-per Bowl 1, right? Right? That not catching on? Last week: No. 4
7. Kansas City Chiefs – (6-4) It’s been quite the fall for a team that looked like the best in the universe when the season began. Last week: No. 7
8. Carolina Panthers – (7-3) The Panthers are sneaky team right now. They’re a game out of first place in their own division and have the top Wild Card spot locked down, yet no one is talking about them. Last week: No. 10
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – (7-3) Before Sean McVay runs away with the NFL Coach of the Year award, maybe we should toss Jags head coach Doug Marrone a few votes. Last week: No. 12
10. Detroit Lions – (6-5) The Lions rise up three spots in spite of losing on Thanksgiving for two reasons. 1. There’s no shame in a one-score loss to Minnesota and 2. Who the hell would I rank above them? Last week: No. 13
11. Atlanta Falcons – (6-4) All it took was a couple of wins in a row to fool everyone into thinking the Falcons are contenders again. Last week: No. 19
12. Seattle Seahawks – (6-4) No Richard Sherman and no Kam Chancellor might equal no postseason if the Seahawks don’t run off a couple of wins here. The 49ers are on the schedule Sunday to help. Last week: No. 9
13. Tennessee Titans – (6-4) Just be happy you got those freakish four wins in a row, Mike Mularkey. With the schedule ahead (Colts, Texans, Cardinals and 49ers) you could do it again. Last week: No. 11
14. Dallas Cowboys – (5-6) Three losses in a row where the offense scored nine points or less in each of them. Ezekiel Elliott’s good, but the Cowboys’ struggles can’t just be about him. Last week: No. 8
15. Washington Redskins – (5-6) After a tough stretch of contenders, the Redskins got a Thanksgiving miracle with the Giants on the schedule. Last week: No. 14
16. Oakland Raiders – (4-6) Every week the Raiders had a chance to save their season. Last week they decided to go ahead and put it out of its misery. Last week: No. 15
17. Buffalo Bills – (5-5) Nathan Peterman threw five interceptions in his first NFL start. For some reason, Tyrod Taylor doesn’t look so bad, now. Last week: No. 16
18. Baltimore Ravens – (5-5) Somehow, in spite of their own best efforts, the Ravens currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. Last week: No. 21
19. Miami Dolphins – (4-6) If the Patriots showing up on the schedule wasn’t exciting enough, we’ll get to see Matt Moore under center again with Jay Cutler out with a concussion. Joy. Last week: No. 17
20. Green Bay Packers – (5-5) Brett Hundley fell apart last week against the Ravens and now he has to play the Steelers at Heinz. Maybe starting next season just isn’t in the cards for you, pal. Last week: No. 18
21. Los Angeles Chargers – (5-6) The Chargers rolled into Dallas on a short week and dominated the Cowboys, looking every bit like a team about to wilt down the stretch for a 7-9 finish. Last week: No. 23
22. Arizona Cardinals – (4-6) Blaine Gabbert makes his first start against Jacksonville this weekend. He’ll get to do something he never did for the team that drafted him in the first round in 2011, guarantee a Jags victory. Last week: No. 20
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (4-6) Two wins in a row for Ryan Fitzpatrick? Is that a quarterback controversy brewing in Tampa Bay? No? OK, then. Last week: No. 25
24. Cincinnati Bengals – (4-6) The Bengals have now reached that point where all they can do is screw up postseason seeding for everyone else. Last week: No. 27
25. Houston Texans – (4-6) Not a bad showing over the Cardinals, Tom Savage. Can you do it two weeks in a row? Last week: No. 22
26. Denver Broncos – (3-7) Mike McCoy, who was hired because of his reputation prolific passing offense, was fired to improve the passing offense. That happened. Last week: No. 24
27. New York Jets – (4-6) Meanwhile, in spite of all news to the contrary, the Jets continue to field a team to play out this NFL schedule. Last week: No. 26
28. Indianapolis Colts – (3-7) Will Jacoby Brissett pass the concussion protocol before Sunday? If not, Scott Tolzien better warm up his fumblin’ hands. Last week: No. 28
29. Chicago Bears – (3-7) So here come the Eagles, Bears. This is the part of the season on Madden where you’d just sim to the draft. Last week: No. 29
30. New York Giants – (2-9) And just like that we have our third official losing team of the season. Congrats, Ben McAdoo. Last week: No. 31
31. San Francisco 49ers – (1-9) The last time the 49ers faced off against the Seahawks, the game came down to the wire. With C.J. Beathard still at quarterback and Jimmy Garoppolo holding a Surface tablet, I don’t expect that to happen again. Last week: No. 30
32. Cleveland Browns – (0-10) How bad do you want 0-16, Browns? Right now you’re looking like a solid bet. Last week: No. 32
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