NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

Welcome to the Week 17 edition of the Cubicle GM NFL Power Rankings.  Every Tuesday since September, you have been treated to composite NFL Power Rankings from members of our team, as well as a bit of brief insight and analysis about each of the 32 teams.

This week, in honor of the final week of the NFL regular season, you can expect something a bit different.  For Week 17 we’ve taken a look back at each team’s journey throughout the 2009 season, pointing out their highs, lows and overall season rank, which represents where each team falls in the rankings after taking the average of their 16 weekly regular season rankings.

In addition, for all of you who follow a potential playoff team or one that has already clinched, within each team’s rank we have all the scenarios for what it will take for your team to miraculously make the postseason or clinch that first round bye.

As always, the Week 17 rankings are determined by taking the average of each of the contributors here at The Cube.  This week, we have rankings from five members of the Cubicle GM team, including me, Gideon, Mickey, Walker and Smokey.  So remember, if you disagree with some portion of our rankings, be sure to check the individual rankings to find the culprit.

This past Sunday, the previously undefeated Colts decided to rest their starters in the second half and fell to the Jets, while the formerly 13-0 Saints fell for the second straight week, but this time did it by giving up 14 fourth quarter points to the lowly Buccaneers.  Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers took care of business in Tennessee for their 10^th straight victory.  As a result, the Colts stayed on top, but the Chargers jumped the Saints for the No. 2 spot in the ranks.

For the first time in five weeks, the Top 10 did not lose any teams, though there was a bit of movement among those teams. The  Eagles and Patriots both benefited from Minnesota’s loss to Chicago, moving up to No. 4 and No. 5 respectively, while the Vikings fell three spots to No. 7 on the heels of their second straight loss. In addition, the Cardinals and Packers swapped spots at No. 9 and No. 10 in anticipation of their Week 17 and possible playoff matchup.

The bottom six of Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Seattle changed again this week, as Cleveland made a huge jump to No. 24 after their third straight victory, this one over the Raiders.  Oakland dropped to No. 27 after that loss, but did not finish far behind Washington, who looked helpless again this week. And as it has been 12 of the 16 weeks this year, St. Louis stayed put at the very bottom.

You might think that by the Week 17 rankings that teams would have found their place and remained settled, but that was definitely not the case.  There were 24 teams changing spots in the ranks, and a whopping 10 teams moving three or more spots up and down the ranks.

There were three teams tied for the biggest positive movement this week, as both Houston and the Jets jumped four spots after getting wins that kept them in playoff contention, while the aforementioned Cleveland Browns jumped four spots after their third straight win to separate themselves from the bottom.  The biggest downward mover was the Jacksonville Jaguars, who dropped five spots after getting crushed by New England and all but eliminating themselves from playoff contention.

After seeing 10 disagreements of seven spots last week, we were more in sync for Week 17, as there were just three disagreements of 7 or more spots in the rankings, with one reaching double digits.

 Baltimore Ravens (10) – Gideon 5, Walker 15

New York Jets (8) – Jacob 12, Smokey 20

Carolina Panthers (7) – Smokey 15, Walker 22

On the divisional side, the AFC South remains at the top with an average score of 12.15, followed by the NFC East with an average score of 13.20.  The NFC West has been the bottom division for 14 consecutive weeks, checking in with a 22.85 average score.

As a reminder, you can check out all the backup data here.  Without further ado, onto the rankings.  As always, last week’s ranks are in parentheses.

 

1. Indianapolis Colts (1)

High Ranking: 1 (Weeks 16-17)

Low Ranking: 10 (Week 2)

Season Rank: 2 (Average Rank: 2.94)

The Colts have clinched the AFC South and home field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs.

2. San Diego Chargers (3)

High Ranking: 2 (Week 17)

Low Ranking: 16 (Weeks 7-8)

Season Rank: 6 (Average Rank: 8.35)

The Chargers have clinched the AFC West and the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

3. New Orleans Saints (2)

High Ranking: 1 (Weeks 3-15)

Low Ranking: 3 (Weeks 2, 17)

Season Rank: 1 (Average Rank: 2.12)

The Saints have clinched the NFC South and home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (5)

High Ranking: 2 (Week 2)

Low Ranking: 11 (Week 7)

Season Rank: 5 (Average Rank: 7.82)

The Eagles have clinched a playoff berth.  The Eagles can clinch the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win.

5. New England Patriots (7)

High Ranking: 3 (Weeks 10-12)

Low Ranking: 11 (Week 3)

Season Rank: 4 (Average Rank: 5.24)

The Patriots have clinched the AFC East.  The Patriots can clinch the No. 3 seed in the AFC with a win OR a Cincinnati loss.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (6)

High Ranking: 5 (Weeks 11,14-15)

Low Ranking: 25 (Week 2)

Season Rank: 10 (Average Rank: 10.88)

The Bengals have clinched the AFC North.  The Bengals can clinch the No. 3 seed in the AFC with a win AND a New England loss.

7. Minnesota Vikings (4)

High Ranking: 3 (Weeks 7,9,13)

Low Ranking: 7 (Week 17)

Season Rank: 3 (Average Rank: 4.88)

The Vikings have clinched the NFC North.  The Vikings can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first round bye with a win AND a Philadelphia loss.

8. Dallas Cowboys (8)

High Ranking: 7 (Week 12)

Low Ranking: 17 (Weeks 5-7)

Season Rank: 13 (Average Rank: 11.82)

The Cowboys have clinched a playoff spot.  The Cowboys can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first round bye with a win AND losses by Minnesota AND Arizona. The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East and No. 3 seed in the NFC with a win AND an Arizona loss.  The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East and No. 4 seed in the NFC with a win.

9. Green Bay Packers (10)

High Ranking: 7 (Week 15)

Low Ranking: 18 (Week 10)

Season Rank: 12 (Average Rank: 11.65)

The Packers have clinched a wild card spot.  The Packers can clinch the No. 5 seed in the NFC with a win OR a Dallas loss.

10. Arizona Cardinals (9)

High Ranking: 9 (Week 16)

Low Ranking: 22 (Week 2)

Season Rank: 15 (Average Rank: 14.76)

The Cardinals have clinched the NFC West.  The Cardinals can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first round bye with a win AND losses by Philadelphia AND Minnesota.  The Cardinals can clinch the No. 3 seed in the NFC with a win AND a Minnesota loss OR a win and a Philadelphia loss.

11. Baltimore Ravens (11)

High Ranking: 2 (Weeks 3-4)

Low Ranking: 12 (Weeks 10,14-15)

Season Rank: 7 (Average Rank: 8.41)

The Ravens can only clinch a playoff spot with a win.

12. Denver Broncos (12)

High Ranking: 3 (Week 8 )

Low Ranking: 20 (Week 3)

Season Rank: 11 (Average Rank: 11.29)

The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND a loss by the Jets AND the Ravens OR a loss by the Jets/Ravens AND the Steelers OR a loss by the Jets/Ravens AND the Patriots.  The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a loss AND losses by Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Houston AND either NYJ/Bal.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (16)

High Ranking: 1 (Week 2)

Low Ranking: 18 (Week 15)

Season Rank: 8 (Average Rank: 8.41)

The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND a loss by the Jets OR Ravens AND Texans OR a loss by the Jets AND Ravens AND Broncos.

14. Houston Texans (18)

High Ranking: 13 (Weeks 10-11)

Low Ranking: 21 (Weeks 2,6)

Season Rank: 17 (Average Rank: 17.53)

The Texans can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND losses by two of the following: Jets, Ravens, Broncos.

15. New York Jets (19)

High Ranking: 4 (Week 4)

Low Ranking: 20 (Weeks 11-13)

Season Rank: 16 (Average Rank: 15.24)

The Jets can clinch a playoff spot with a win.

16. Tennessee Titans (13)

High Ranking: 13 (Weeks 2,13,15-16)

Low Ranking: 29 (Weeks 7-8)

Season Rank: 19 (Average Rank: 18.82)

The Titans have been eliminated from playoff contention.

17. New York Giants (14)

High Ranking: 2 (Weeks 5-6)

Low Ranking: 17 (Week 17)

Season Rank: 9 (Average Rank: 9.12)

The Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.

18. Miami Dolphins (17)

High Ranking: 15 (Week 15)

Low Ranking: 24 (Weeks 2,4)

Season Rank: 18 (Average Rank: 18.71)

The Dolphins can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND losses by Jacksonville, Baltimore, the Jets AND Houston.

19. Atlanta Falcons (20)

High Ranking: 8 (Weeks 3,7)

Low Ranking: 20 (Week 16)

Season Rank: 14 (Average Rank: 13.35)

The Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (15)

High Ranking: 14 (Week 14)

Low Ranking: 26 (Week 3)

Season Rank: 22 (Average Rank: 20.12)

The Jaguars can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND losses by four or more of the following teams: Broncos, Steelers, Texans, Jets, Ravens.

21. Carolina Panthers (21)

High Ranking: 18 (Week 11)

Low Ranking: 26 (Week 2)

Season Rank: 23 (Average Rank: 21.47)

The Panthers have been eliminated from playoff contention.

22. San Francisco 49ers (22)

High Ranking: 13 (Week 5)

Low Ranking: 22 (Weeks 11-12,16-17)

Season Rank: 21 (Average Rank: 19.29)

The 49ers have been eliminated from playoff contention.

23. Chicago Bears (25)

High Ranking: 13 (Week 6)

Low Ranking: 25 (Weeks 13,16)

Season Rank: 20 (Average Rank: 18.88)

The Bears have been eliminated from playoff contention.

24. Cleveland Browns (28)

High Ranking: 24 (Week 17)

Low Ranking: 32 (Weeks 11-13)

Season Rank: 30 (Average Rank: 28.94)

The Browns have been eliminated from playoff contention.

25. Buffalo Bills (24)

High Ranking: 17 (Week 2)

Low Ranking: 27 (Week 6)

Season Rank: 24 (Average Rank: 23.06)

The Bills have been eliminated from playoff contention.

26. Washington Redskins (23)

High Ranking: 23 (Weeks 2,16)

Low Ranking: 30 (Weeks 7-8)

Season Rank: 26 (Average Rank: 25.59)

The Redskins have been eliminated from playoff contention.

27. Oakland Raiders (26)

High Ranking: 26 (Weeks 4,16)

Low Ranking: 31 (Week 6)

Season Rank: 28 (Average Rank: 28.24)

The Raiders have been eliminated from playoff contention.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31)

High Ranking: 27 (Week 2)

Low Ranking: 32 (Week 9)

Season Rank: 31 (Average Rank: 29.24)

The Buccaneers have been eliminated from playoff contention.

29. Seattle Seahawks (27)

High Ranking: 14 (Week 2)

Low Ranking: 29 (Week 17)

Season Rank: 25 (Average Rank: 23.24)

The Seahawks have been eliminated from playoff contention.

30. Detroit Lions (29)

High Ranking: 25 (Weeks 7-8)

Low Ranking: 31 (Weeks 2-3)

Season Rank: 27 (Average Rank: 28.00)

The Lions have been eliminated from playoff contention.

31. Kansas City Chiefs (30)

High Ranking: 26 (Week 9)

Low Ranking: 31 (Week 17)

Season Rank: 29 (Average Rank: 28.88)

The Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention.

32. St. Louis Rams (32)

High Ranking: 31 (Weeks 9,11-13)

Low Ranking: 32 (Weeks 2-8,10,14-17)

Season Rank: 32 (Average Rank: 31.71)

The Rams have been eliminated from playoff contention.