Week 16 power rankings

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1. Saints (12-2; last week No. 2): With two home games to end the season and the No. 1 seed in reach, the Saints probably can put the suitcases away until it’s time to go to Atlanta.

2. Chargers (11-3; No. 4): There’s a new new sheriff in town.

3. Chiefs (11-3; No. 1): Nope, come January no one will be mentioning that the Chiefs haven’t won a home playoff game since Joe Montana was the quarterback.

4. Bears (10-4; No. 6): With the Rams slumping, the No. 2 seed remains a possibility.

5. Rams (11-3; No. 3): Maybe the right answer to Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz is “Nick Foles.”

6. Texans (10-4; No. 8): The franchise’s first-ever bye is inching closer and closer.

7. Steelers (8-5-1; No. 13): This year, there’s a chance the seemingly inevitable postseason rematch with the Patriots comes in the wild-card round.

8. Patriots (9-5; No. 5): Write them off, and then they rebound. Will they be able to do it this time?

9. Ravens (8-6; No. 10): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

10. Colts (8-6; No. 12): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

11. Titans (8-6; No. 11): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

12. Cowboys (8-6; No. 7): The problem with “must” win games is that it’s hard to get motivated when the team finally finds itself in one that isn’t.

13. Seahawks (8-6; No. 9): Sunday’s loss to the 49ers makes Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs even bigger.

14. Vikings (7-6-1; No. 15): The planets don’t line up often for the Vikings, but when they do it’s memorable.

15. Eagles (7-7; No. 16): Break out the dog masks and grease the light poles, Philly.

16. Browns (6-7-1; No. 18): However the rest of the seasons turn out, Browns fans should be thrilled for what’s to come.

17. Broncos (6-8; No. 17): They’re now one loss away from consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1971-72.

18. Washington (7-7; No. 23): The future starter for the AAF’s San Diego Fleet beat a team that should be in the AAF.

19. Dolphins (7-7; No. 14): Whatever changes may come in Miami, it’s likely time for a new quarterback.

20. Panthers (6-8; No. 20): The Panthers are going to have to make some short-term and long-term decisions about Cam Newton.

21. Packers (5-8-1; No. 19): Right after the Packers made Aaron Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history, he stopped playing like it.

22. Giants (5-9; No. 21): The Giants will continue to be stuck in a bizarre state of limbo until they get their next quarterback.

23. Bills (5-9; No. 26): Josh Allen would be a candidate for offensive rookie of the year, if anyone were paying attention.

24. Lions (5-9; No. 22): Former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia can help the team that beat the Pats in the Super Bowl get back to the playoffs by beating the Vikings.

25. Bengals (6-8; No. 27): It’s still better than losing in the wild-card round.

26. 49ers (4-10; No. 28): Will they re-take the division in 2019?

27. Buccaneers (5-9; No. 24): Will they re-take the division, ever?

28. Falcons (5-9; No. 31): At least they won’t get tantalizingly close to playing in the Super Bowl they’ll be hosting.

29. Jets (4-10; No. 25): Sam Darnold looks the part, which is all the Jets can really hope for.

30. Raiders (3-11; No. 29): They’ll be leaving Oakland with a whimper not a bang.

31. Jaguars (4-10; No. 30): It may be easier to list who won’t be fired than who will be fired once this debacle of a season ends.

32. Cardinals (3-11; No. 32): Seeing how hard Larry Fitzgerald plays despite being on such a bad team is one of his most impressive career accomplishments.

88 responses to “Week 16 power rankings

  1. How did Florio put the great packers at 21??? HOW????? Aaron Rodgers’ WR’s can’t catch a ball he overthrows by 15 yards…that’s not the great Aaron’s fault. They don’t catch a ball Rodgers throws behind them when they aren’t turned to look. NOT HIS FAULT!!!! The INT in the bears game nearly had Rodgers in tears it looked like. Next time he plays in a dome I bet he claims the wind took the ball on a bad incompletion

  2. The NFC front runners are slipping of late. Whether it ultimately helps their seeding or not, the Bears can make a statement Sunday by traveling out to the Niners and notching a decisive win.

  3. “11. Titans (8-6; No. 11): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for seat there.”

    LOL Wut

  4. The Sunday night lights don’t look good for KC. So far they have lost every big game they have played this season.

  5. Josh Allen as offensive rookie of the year is a stretch. He’s not been a total disaster (ala Josh Rosen) but Saquon Barkley is the most obvious choice here. Also, this is starting to feel like a season where everyone is actually mediocre deep down. No team is an all time great one.

  6. “This year, there’s a chance the seemingly inevitable postseason rematch with the Patriots comes in the wild-card round.”

    Both will likely win their divisions so that’s not a really likely scenario. Especially considering if the Steelers don’t win their division, they are likely not in the playoffs and there is little chance the Pats don’t win their division.
    Sometimes these little post rankings quips are completely asinine and by sometimes I mean more often than not.

  7. 15. Eagles (7-7; No. 16): Break out the dog masks and grease the light poles, Philly.

    ———————————

    Throw more beer cans Buffalo! Start headbutting Pittsburgh! Keep throwing fans off the bleaches L.A.! etc.

  8. Replying to the first comment .. he’s been rude and disrespectful first but admittedly said he would hide and run from one of these guys if they seen him… this author is a weasel

  9. There are two weeks left to the season. Shouldn’t the current 12 teams in the playoffs be ranked in the top 12? And why the heck does he love Baltimore so much?

  10. We’ll see if a running QB can beat the number 2 team on the list. I have my doubts. Look for Harbaugh to call on Flacco if the Ravens fall behind. I just hope he doesn’t wait too long. LJ may be a good QB some day, but he just isn’t ready to beat a team like the Chargers.

  11. Saints are 7-1 on the road and they don’t have to travel again until February when they win their 2nd Super Bowl in the Falcons stadium. WHO DAT!!

  12. Nothing fires up the PFT crowd like a weekly GB Packers ranking…. who cares, lol?! They aren’t making the playoffs. Nothing else matters. The rankings are fantasy. Classic.

  13. “The Sunday night lights don’t look good for KC. So far they have lost every big game they have played this season.’

    That’s the Andy Reid coached team signature

  14. Remember last year when we said “take Rodgers off the Packers and they’re equivalent to the Browns.” Can’t say that anymore. The Browns are the better team period.

  15. 19. Dolphins (7-7; No. 14): Whatever changes may come in Miami, it’s likely time for a new quarterback.

    How can this be?

    My fellow Dolphin fans keep telling me over and over Tannehill is great statistically this season even though he’s 0-4 on the road with no 2nd half touchdowns and has failed miserably when needed most?

  16. nozwetrust says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:31 pm
    We’ll see if a running QB can beat the number 2 team on the list. I have my doubts. Look for Harbaugh to call on Flacco if the Ravens fall behind. I just hope he doesn’t wait too long. LJ may be a good QB some day, but he just isn’t ready to beat a team like the Chargers.
    ——————————————————
    He did take the chiefs to overtime in KC. Granted they came up short but he’s not that far off

  17. I can’t argue with this list. I’d probably put the Colts above the Patriots (I understand the record but Colts are balling) and that Ravens team…(and as a Browns fan I do not like them) is as well.

  18. conormacleod says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm
    There are two weeks left to the season. Shouldn’t the current 12 teams in the playoffs be ranked in the top 12? And why the heck does he love Baltimore so much?
    ______________

    Umm……no, otherwise they’d be called standings.
    Power Rankings have been around for years, are you Barneys always this dense?

  19. ocdn says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:28 pm
    Lions at 24. And Martha Ford laughs all the way to the bank…..

    —————-

    The optimism of Week 6 for us Lions fans looks oh so long ago!

  20. unclebluck says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:33 pm
    Matt Patricia….Matt Millen…same first name….2 different jobs….same results…

    ——————-

    I almost hate to say it, but you forgot another Matt.

    Stafford.

  21. Did you just suggest that a rookie QB throwing 52.2% should be talked about for Offensive Rookie of the Year???

  22. 16. Browns (6-7-1; No. 18): However the rest of the seasons turn out, Browns fans should be thrilled for what’s to come.

    This must have figuratively ripped your soul apart to write.

  23. RussianBreadMaker says:
    December 18, 2018 at 11:53 am

    That Washington write-up is so disrespectful towards Josh Johnson. I hope you two meet face to face someday.

    ================

    That’s a silly comment. Johnson is literally signed with an AAF team, so it’s a simple statement of fact on what the season has come to for Washington, not a comment on his performance for this team.

    Now, the phrase that follows *is* a direct slap against Jacksonville, and it’s warranted.

  24. steelcurtainn says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:26 pm
    Look forward to the afc playoffs. No ones a lock. Division winners- Chargers, Steelers, Titans, NE….wildcard KC, Colts/Balt
    ________________
    Ha!
    Titans aren’t even making the playoffs, let alone beating Houston for the division.

  25. “bazookajoeflacco says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:08 pm
    nozwetrust says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:31 pm
    We’ll see if a running QB can beat the number 2 team on the list. I have my doubts. Look for Harbaugh to call on Flacco if the Ravens fall behind. I just hope he doesn’t wait too long. LJ may be a good QB some day, but he just isn’t ready to beat a team like the Chargers.
    ——————————————————
    He did take the chiefs to overtime in KC. Granted they came up short but he’s not that far off”

    “He” put up 24 points against that bad KC defense, which is the lowest total of any team KC has played this year with a realistic shot at the post season. If you want to give someone credit for taking them to OT, you might want to look at the other side of the ball. Just sayin’

  26. Packers had a bad year, Rodgers was off. As fans, we’re looking forward to seeing an active offseason. Its actually pretty amusing to watch all the trolling of Rodgers going on now, both from the usual sources as well as the mainstream folks. They may be right, but I think the odds are that they’re not and that he’ll be back playing at an MVP level next year with renewed spirit. Good luck to those who still have a dog in the fight. The Pack will be back on top next year and we’ll be filling up your stadiums to support them. Go Pack Go.

  27. 21. Packers (5-8-1; No. 19): Right after the Packers made Aaron Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history, he stopped playing like it.
    ###

    Even the beat writers in Wisconsin agree…

    Tom Silverstein wrote: “The degree to which Rodgers’ invincibility has shrunk this season has to make any coaching candidate cringe when thinking about taking this job.”

    So much for the Packers with Rodgers being a desirable destination for a HC candidate.

  28. To all the people still calling Washington the redskins, how bout you call every Blackman you meet a blackskin. If you have no problem saying redskin, you shouldn’t have no problem calling black men blackskins or Chinese yellowskins. Bunch of clueless racists.

  29. It’s good to have competitive playoffs, but less good when the main reason for competitiveness is that no team is reliable or trustworthy.

    Rams go 8-0, lose to the Saints, beat the Chiefs, then suddenly turn rotten the last couple weeks. Saints go from beating the Rams to stumbling over the Cowboys. Cowboys go from beating the Saints to getting shut out by the Colts. Chiefs look unstoppable but lose all their biggest games. Eagles, Titans, Steelers, Pats, Vikings all look like completely different teams from one week to the next. The most consistent performers, like the Bears and Ravens, have big offensive flaws/limitations.

    With so much unpredictability, games almost seem arbitrary now – you can’t really count on teams showing up. Fandom these days is not so much rooting for reliable strengths as much as just hoping for the best. “Go team! Hope you don’t mysteriously fail to meet minimum standards for no apparent reason!”

  30. johngaltwho says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:49 pm
    Packers had a bad year, Rodgers was off. As fans, we’re looking forward to seeing an active offseason. Its actually pretty amusing to watch all the trolling of Rodgers going on now, both from the usual sources as well as the mainstream folks. They may be right, but I think the odds are that they’re not and that he’ll be back playing at an MVP level next year with renewed spirit. Good luck to those who still have a dog in the fight. The Pack will be back on top next year and we’ll be filling up your stadiums to support them. Go Pack Go

    Lmao ok buddy. No money for other players. The 1st Rd pick from the saints could very well be 32nd overall

  31. unclebluck says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:33 pm
    Matt Patricia….Matt Millen…same first name….2 different jobs….same results…

    ——————-

    I almost hate to say it, but you forgot another Matt.

    Stafford.
    ______________________________

    BOOM! goes the truth bomb!! LOL

  32. gtodriver says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:50 pm
    21. Packers (5-8-1; No. 19): Right after the Packers made Aaron Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history, he stopped playing like it.
    ###

    Even the beat writers in Wisconsin agree…

    Tom Silverstein wrote: “The degree to which Rodgers’ invincibility has shrunk this season has to make any coaching candidate cringe when thinking about taking this job.”

    So much for the Packers with Rodgers being a desirable destination for a HC candidate.
    _______________

    Yes, some local beat writer says print some this, so it must be true.
    So explain something to me, Genius, how did the Vikings ever hire a coach?
    I mean, they had absolutely no talent and played in a tent.
    Oh Yes, that’s right, they hired a very mediocre coach who couldn’t even get his 1st postseason win until year four and may even take longer to notch his 2nd.
    And even that one took a Missed Tackle Miracle to happen.
    Whom ever Green Bay sees fit to lead this team in the future, will be fully qualified and I’m quite sure Packer fans won’t be waiting four long years to experience a single playoff win.

  33. TruthfulDolphinsFanNotWearingBlinders says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:07 pm
    19. Dolphins (7-7; No. 14): Whatever changes may come in Miami, it’s likely time for a new quarterback.

    How can this be?

    My fellow Dolphin fans keep telling me over and over Tannehill is great statistically this season even though he’s 0-4 on the road with no 2nd half touchdowns and has failed miserably when needed most?
    —————————————————————
    Who are you going to replace him with? I don’t see any QB that would be an upgrade and not be a ton more money.
    You still have the same crappy O-line and coaches that don’t know what plays to call to counter a blitz.
    If you put Brady behind that line, he’d get killed and end up a middle of the pack QB.
    Your Shtick is getting old already.

  34. johngaltwho says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:49 pm
    Packers had a bad year. The Pack will be back
    ——————————-
    And there it is !!!!!!
    That famous slogan dusted off from 1972 to 1995……
    These are memories that stellar was bragging about !!

  35. Ever notice on these rankings that dozens of Viking “fans” will chime in on the Packers ranking but not a single one of them ever mentions their own team?

  36. Alan Light says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:11 pm
    Packers would lose to 22-32 on this list….
    ——
    Except the bills of course. We’d never lose to them by three scores.

    BTW you’ve made the same comment for 16 straight weeks. Haven’t you gotten the attention you crave by now?

  37. “citizenstrange says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:14 pm
    Big Ben and his 2 picks with 17 points of offense isn’t going to win any playoff games.”

    Neither will Brady and his 10 points, 1 pick and 3-5 road record.

  38. redandgoldhitman52 says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:54 pm
    To all the people still calling Washington the redskins, how bout you call every Blackman you meet a blackskin. If you have no problem saying redskin, you shouldn’t have no problem calling black men blackskins or Chinese yellowskins. Bunch of clueless racists.
    ____________________________________________________

    You know only snowflakes actually believe this. The Redskins is a proud name and they’re comfortable with it because it is a sign of respect. Only the flakes try to paint a different picture.

  39. ispeakthetruth4 says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm
    Replying to the first comment .. he’s been rude and disrespectful first but admittedly said he would hide and run from one of these guys if they seen him… this author is a weasel

    ——————————
    To be fair, I would run and hide from an NFL player too. Wouldn’t you? Also, weasels are fast and difficult to catch, so I would not mind being one if an NFL player is after me.

  40. I’m not going to complain that a team is too high or too low. However, I wish you would put more effort into the one-liners. Pretty boring when you and copy and paste the same take 3 times in a row.
    9. Ravens (8-6; No. 10): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

    10. Colts (8-6; No. 12): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

    11. Titans (8-6; No. 11): A team that could run the table is still scratching and clawing for a seat there.

    26. 49ers (4-10; No. 28): Will they re-take the division in 2019?

    27. Buccaneers (5-9; No. 24): Will they re-take the division, ever?

  41. conormacleod says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm
    There are two weeks left to the season. Shouldn’t the current 12 teams in the playoffs be ranked in the top 12? And why the heck does he love Baltimore so much?
    =========================================================================================
    Not necessarily. The Vikings are ranked 6 in the rankings as far as NFC teams go. 8 of the teams in the Top 14 are in the AFC. It’s plausible that there are better teams than others in either league that may not make the playoffs.

  42. Josh Allen, ROY? Really?
    Quenton Nelson should be ROY.
    Heck, if you’re going to give it to a Bill, Robert Foster’s more deserving.

  43. With two more games to play it looks to me that any team still alive for the playoffs could win the playoffs. Very bunched group of teams. I just hope that the officials do not decide the winners. This seems to happen far too often.

  44. Where’s Hammer? He didn’t believe that the SeaFrauds would fizzle out on the road. Welp… Hey, Hammer – what says you now? Come through next week and let’s talk about the Chiefs finally winning a big one under the lights (courtesy of lil russ)

  45. We all know that Miami needs a new QB, so tell me where can they find him? Bill

    Two words. Eli Manning

  46. frank booth says:
    December 18, 2018 at 2:51 pm
    conormacleod says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm
    There are two weeks left to the season. Shouldn’t the current 12 teams in the playoffs be ranked in the top 12? And why the heck does he love Baltimore so much?
    =========================================================================================
    Not necessarily. The Vikings are ranked 6 in the rankings as far as NFC teams go. 8 of the teams in the Top 14 are in the AFC. It’s plausible that there are better teams than others in either league that may not make the playoffs.
    //////////
    Hard to be in the Power Rankings if you aren’t going to the playoffs. That would be the “we are at home rankings”. But I get your point.

  47. pkrlvr says:
    December 18, 2018 at 2:26 pm
    Ever notice on these rankings that dozens of Viking “fans” will chime in on the Packers ranking but not a single one of them ever mentions their own team?
    /////////////////////
    Isn’t that what you just did???

  48. SwaggyD says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    Did you just suggest that a rookie QB throwing 52.2% should be talked about for Offensive Rookie of the Year???

    >>>Not to mention Allen has 150% MORE INTs than he does TDs and ONLY a 65.5% QB rating, those numbers aren’t winning a thing!

    And wait until next year when these D’s have a whole years worth of tape to study, Allen better make some huge improvements in the off-season, the D’s that he’ll be playing against will! As good as Barkley has done I’d have to give it to Mayfield for not only the way he’s played but the way he’s improved that whole Browns team when not many thought he could/would!

    Some people think just because Allen is 6’5″ and can throw the ball >70yds he’s going to be a great QB even though he can’t hit the broad side of a barn at over 40yds, besides that he wasn’t even the best QB in his Mountain West division. Size + arm strength doesn’t = a great QB, if that’s all it took the NFL would be overflowing with great QBs, but it’s not!

    BTW Mayfield can drop it in a bucket at 50-60yds(without the receiver even breaking stride) as he’s demonstrated quite a few times.

  49. Smh… the chiefs owned the chargers through 2 football games and minus 5 min at the end and big assist from the refs all of a sudden everyone thinks the chargers are something special. Rivers threw 2 interceptions and could of thrown 2 more. So if you want to crown them crown them they are who we know they are and we let them off the hook….

  50. johngaltwho says:

    Packers had a bad year, Rodgers was off. As fans, we’re looking forward to seeing an active offseason. Its actually pretty amusing to watch all the trolling of Rodgers going on now, both from the usual sources as well as the mainstream folks. They may be right, but I think the odds are that they’re not and that he’ll be back playing at an MVP level next year with renewed spirit.
    ###

    That what all the Packer fans said last year. Rodgers would be back playing at MVP level in 2018.

    How did that work out?

  51. pkrlvr says:

    Except the bills of course.
    ###

    The Bills have won 5 games. That’s the same number of games the Packers have won…

    BTW – the Packers lost to the Cards – who have only won 3 games.

    Just sayin’….

  52. The phrase “on any given Sunday” is not a cliche.

    Just sayin’……….and I feel like slitting my own throat for saying “just sayin’”……it’s that stupid.

  53. kcrobert10 says:
    December 18, 2018 at 5:55 pm
    Smh… the chiefs owned the chargers through 2 football games and minus 5 min at the end and big assist from the refs all of a sudden everyone thinks the chargers are something special. Rivers threw 2 interceptions and could of thrown 2 more. So if you want to crown them crown them they are who we know they are and we let them off the hook….
    ==============
    refs were beating the hell out of the Chargers for the first 3 quarters of the game, including a bs interception where your guy landed ass on the line out of bounds!
    but whatever dude. Chiefs have a great team and we were thrilled to compete and ultimately beat you guys. hopefully for your sake mahomes isnt another one hit wonder like so many other qbs have been. kap (racist), rgIII, dak (playing ok but not like his first year), etc.

  54. rideforjesus says:
    December 18, 2018 at 12:27 pm
    Huge mistake putting NE at #8……..

    Bank on it…..
    +++
    Why? It is, and always has been, a subjective and mythical ranking. Or, do you think the NFL uses this site for playoff rankings and draft selections?

  55. redandgoldhitman52 says:
    December 18, 2018 at 1:54 pm
    To all the people still calling Washington the redskins, how bout you call every Blackman you meet a blackskin. If you have no problem saying redskin, you shouldn’t have no problem calling black men blackskins or Chinese yellowskins. Bunch of clueless racists.
    +++
    Is that not the name of the team? Here’s one for you. Change the S.F. name. Because a lot of ’49ers’ killed native Americans, or drove them out, to free up land to prospect for gold.

    Once you get that done, then you can move on to other team names.

  56. Chiefs played 2 games in 4 days. They lost the second one to a division foe by 1 point on the last play of the game. They’ve lost 3 games by a total of 7 points. Dismiss them if you will. Bad defense and all, this Chiefs team is for real.

  57. blogatron2000 says:
    December 18, 2018 at 8:04 pm
    Chiefs played 2 games in 4 days. They lost the second one to a division foe by 1 point on the last play of the game. They’ve lost 3 games by a total of 7 points. Dismiss them if you will. Bad defense and all, this Chiefs team is for real.
    =======
    Chiefs are a legit team. tons of talent and a threat in the playoffs.
    that said, they are starting to figure out mahomes and the team as a whole is coming back to earth. they are not the same threat they were 3 weeks ago.

  58. A girl from Beijing told me, “if Chinese people want to go shopping, they go to Europe. They go to America to see what it’s like to be treated as a human being”

    This is America’s greatest currency in the world, that we respect the individual and we protect their rights. We are hospitable and we are courteous and we are ladies and gentlemen.

    So, no, it isn’t a great look that the NFL team in our great nation’s capitol has a name that references skin color. It doesn’t matter if you personally think that it isn’t disrespectful, or derogatory, or just plain rude. It looks that way, and undermines our moral authority in the world. Just like when China claims that someone is trampling their human rights, and the rest of the world chuckles.

    America has a long history of prejudice and discrimination. We’ve always righted the wrongs though, or we are still working on them. And the people on the wrong side of history never come off looking good.

  59. Chargers were handed a minimum of 15 points by the officials against the Steelers in a game that the Steelers were far and away the better team. I don’t see that accounted for here either.

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