Week Seventeen Power Rankings

Can the playoffs just start already?

Out of Rankings: Pittsburgh Steelers & Denver Broncos

Honorable Mention(s): Houston Texans & Cincinnati Bengals

10. Los Angeles Chargers (Previous ranking: NR)

Some stopped loving the Chargers part way through the season because we remembered that they traded Keenan Allen and cut Mike Williams this offseson. Ladd McConkey is probably the most important, non-QB rookie to a playoff team, being the only consistently effective target for Justin Herbert, but even then, he’s a G.W.G. Even without the embarrassment of weapons some teams have, the Chargers were able to still win a shootout against the Broncos on Thursday. Their aptitude for low scoring, tight affairs may help them come January.

9. Washington Commanders (Previous ranking: NR)

Jayden Daniels’ midseason silence worried some and confirmed the biases of others, but his clear resurgence has rejuvenated the franchise heading into the postseason. Sure, the Eagles lost Jalen Hurts to a concussion early, but Kenny Pickett scored almost immediately to put Washington down 21-7. With as talented a roster as Philly has, they should have been able to sustain the lead, but Washington’s offensive onslaught changed everything with the rookie calling the shots. Are they actual Super Bowl contenders? Probably not but having a late-season win over one of the top two seeds may revive its importance in a few weeks’ time.

8. Los Angeles Rams (Previous ranking: 8)

The NFL’s fastest game went by with Matthew Stafford parked squarely next to Sean McVay on the sideline because of the Jets’ ball control, but the Rams made a handful of critical plays while Aaron Rodgers and co. failed in the same spots. The Rams are setting themselves up in the season’s waning moments to host a playoff game and a potentially favorable round two matchup. With perhaps the best coach and quarterback in the conference, the Rams are more than just scary.

(CBS Sports)

7. Green Bay Packers (Previous ranking: 6)

The Packers’ domination of the Saints felt odd on Monday night. It should have been a game that Scott Hanson made very few passing remarks about because it got lost in the noon shuffle, but the country watched the Saints get excommunicated. So, the Packers are good enough to squish the interim head coach and Spencer Rattler, but they have lost to all of the teams ahead of them in the NFC, worrying some about their true contender status. Jordan Love has been magnificent but if his turnover trouble returns soon, they might be in trouble.

6. Baltimore Ravens (Previous ranking: 7)

The Ravens’ win against the Steelers represented more than just a tough divisional matchup. Because of injuries, COVID, and other circumstances, Sunday was the first time Lamar faced Pittsburgh at home with fans in attendance and the atmosphere was palpable. Derrick Henry combining forces in Baltimore has made this team an actual dangerous force if Lamar’s previous playoff blunders don’t haunt him again.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (Previous ranking: 3)

Jalen Hurts’ injury may have spelled doom for the Eagles’ chances in this particular game, but the rookie absolutely worked the best defense in the NFL. Sure, Jayden Daniels has broken some rookie quarterback standards, but Vic Fangio’s squad fell apart down the stretch. As the season ends, the Eagles locked themselves into either of the top two seeds, so the concussion may not knock everything loose. The coaching decisions remain a mystery for some, but when Saquon tears through your defense for 70 yards, who cares?

4. Minnesota Vikings (Previous ranking: 5)

Kevin O’Connell is winning heart across America each and every week and may come away with the Coach of the Year for his troubles. Even though I am a massive fan of KOC, the real story is with KAM (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah). The general manager’s 25 newcomers to the roster are splattered across their elite defense and leading their offense. Sam Darnold may not be a Viking in 2025, but he will find a home as a week one starter. The Vikings have trailed the Lions closely in the NFC standings and may enter the playoffs with more metaphorical momentum than anyone on that side of the bracket. Let’s return to the Justin Jefferson tradition of pretending we forgot about the league’s undisputed best pass catcher until the end of the entry. He’s wildly entertaining to watch play. He legitimately makes me remember why I love the game of football.

3. Detroit Lions (Previous ranking: 4)

The Lions needed a “get right” game versus the Bears to remind themselves and onlookers of who the hell they were. Ben Johnson may have showcased his silliest and best work with the award-worthy, fake trip touchdown play. His audition in Chicago may impress the correct few. The defense strapped up against an offense talented enough to gash their worst wounds. Detroit doesn’t find ways to win; they find ways to dominate, but their truest mettle is yet to be tested in the postseason, but Ford Field may serve as the perfect backdrop to their revolutionary run.

2. Buffalo Bills (Previous ranking: 2)

The Bills dropping to a two-score deficit to the New England Patriots of all teams, but I don’t view that as that big a problem. New England may have sent their swan song against Buffalo if they didn’t have to get up for the same matchup in a fortnight. Josh Allen’s quiet performance didn’t shake his standing as the MVP favorite as he stood across the field from the younger version of himself in Drake Maye. Buffalo’s heads may already be in the playoffs, readying for their #7 seed opponent to be confirmed, but they have a few weeks of business to attend to with Kansas City within striking distance.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (Previous ranking: 1)

(Yahoo Sports)

The Chiefs’ offensive return to efficiency has not been broadcast as loudly as the opposite form the last few years. Mahomes’ stats since Brett Veach acquired DeAndre Hopkins are legitimate vintage heroics combined with the one-score theatrics we’ve come to love (and hate). The defense reflected their turnover performance from playing against Jameis Winston by intercepting CJ Stroud, who most would agree is a much better quarterback. Sure, other teams score more points with younger gurus calling plays making data dorks grin in pools of confirmation bias, but who would you take over the Chiefs indoors, outdoors, home, away, neutral, rainy, snowy, sideways, or upside down?

Biggest Mover(s): Philadelphia Eagles (down 2 spots)

New Appearance(s): Los Angeles Chargers & Washington Commanders