2013 Week Seventeen NFL Power Rankings

32. Washington Redskins (3-12)

• London Fletcher likely played his last game at Fed-Ex field on Sunday. The storied linebacker announced that he is 99% sure he is retiring at the close of the 2013 season. Let’s be clear about something: London Fletcher is not a Hall of Famer. The Hall of Fame is reserved for the greatest to ever play their position; that does not include Fletcher. If you feel the need to cite his tackle statistics and how they stack up with someone like Ray Lewis, please reconsider your argument. Tackles are well known as the most inflated and farce amongst NFL player stats. 
  

31. Houston Texans (2-13)

• The Texans put up a nice fight against the Broncos, but ultimately fell to the far superior team. The last stand of Matt Schaub was as dull and lifeless as one would expect. Let’s hope no team brings him in as anything more than a clipboard holder this offseason. 
  

30. Oakland Raiders (4-11)

• The “Dennis Allen will be fired” rumors have been flying recently. It makes no sense why he should be jettisoned from Oakland after only two years. The Raiders were pretty competitive early in the season, and even fielded a top ten defense for several weeks. Take a look at the players on their depth chart. That was some miraculous work by Allen. 
  

29. Cleveland Browns (4-11)

• It’s hard to tell whether Cleveland’s limping to the finish line is a good or bad thing. The lack of momentum late in the season is concerning. On the other hand, it puts them in great position to get the quarterback they are dying to find. Its hard to shake the feeling that if they traded up for a top quarterback in round one, and went running back in round two or so, they would be sitting pretty. 
  

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)

• The cute little success run is over for this team, and they are right back to normal. This is a poorly coached, unprepared team most weeks. With Mike Glennon regressing, the Buccaneers executives have no tangible reason to stick with Greg Schiano any longer. 
  

27. Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1)

• The rosy feeling around the Vikings and Matt Cassel sure faded fast. The talent on this roster always seems to get overrated by the masses. Beyond Cordarrelle Patterson, Xavier Rhodes, Adrian Peterson, Harrison Smith, and a few offensive linemen, what does this team have to get excited about going forward?
  

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)

• The Jaguars are yet another team regressing to the mean. Jedd Fisch does not get nearly enough credit, but he is a big reason this team went on a nice run. He has come up with some very creative packages that helped an offense lacking in talent and reliable blocking move the ball. Let’s hope Jacksonville can keep him on their staff for several years. 
  

25. Buffalo Bills (6-9)

• The Bills have recorded an eye popping 56 sacks this season. With another game left to play, that is unreal. Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcel Dareus are obviously big contributors, but one player who gets overlooked is Jerry Hughes. Sent over in a throw away trade from the Colts, Hughes has rediscovered the pass-rushing prowess that made him highly regarded in college. 
  

24. New York Giants (6-9)

• A Giants game ended in a pick six, but surprisingly it was the opposing quarterback who threw it. Do not let that win fool you. The Giants have some massive holes on this roster, and are only getting older. It might be awhile before they are competitive again. 
  

23. New York Jets (7-8)

• Please let Rex Ryan keep his job. The last thing this team needs is a big rebooting. The Jets at least have some intriguing pieces for this staff to tool with if they come back next season. Not many other coaches would have gotten the performance Rex willed his players to last week. He is the ultimate player’s coach. 
  

22. Atlanta Falcons (4-11)

• The Falcons offensive line was mildly impressive on Monday night. Given that it is one of their two weakest units, that is a major compliment. Perhaps some of the young talent there can be harnessed, and the attention can turn elsewhere in the offseason. 
  

21. Tennessee Titans (6-9)

• It was good to see the Titans power-running game perform so well in the second half; that really needs to be the staple of the team. Chris Jonson is likely gone, but the heavy investments in the offensive line will remain. Their success is paramount to this team’s chances going forward. 
  

20. Miami Dolphins (8-7)

• Thad Lewis really is the Dolphins killer. This team dropped both of their games to the Bills, and he was behind center for them. That virtually ensures they are not worthy of a spot in the playoffs. 
  

19. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)

• Tony Romo may or may not be out for the season; there are a ton of conflicting reports going around. However, with a herniated disc in his back, it seems unlikely we will see him next week. At least the public will be spared of thousands of stories about how Romo failed the team when Dallas’ horrendous defense gives up sixty points to the Eagles. 
  

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)

• There remains one doomsday scenario where the Steelers earn a playoff spot. The AFC playoff picture brings about many confusing feelings. Should you be encouraged that this team fought back from an 0-4 start? Or does that just create a false positive about a roster that still looks in need of a rebuilding?
  

17. Detroit Lions (7-8)

• The Lions have fallen fast and hard. This team desperately needs an aggressive guy who can reunite this team, and harness the talent on the defense. Who does that sound like? One Rex Ryan. If he is fired in New York, the Lions management should be waiting at his front door step with an offer to be their next head coach.
  

16. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

• That was the most impressive Colts win in months. This group does have an impressive list of teams it has slayed, to go along with an equally eye-popping showing of losses. It is very hard to predict what this team will do in the post season. 
  

15. San Diego Chargers (8-7)

• The Chargers are really the only team anyone should want to see as the AFC sixth seed. With a great quarterback, and several other impressive young players, they are actually capable of going on a run. The thought of the Dolphins getting in over the Chargers is rather sickening. 
  

14. Green Bay Packers (7-7-1)

• The fact that the Packers are still kicking around just lends credence to the thought it is destiny for this team to get into the playoffs. Of course, we all know what needs to happen for them to matter again. Head coach Mike McCarthy sounded pretty irritated at the thought of that not happening for another week. 
  

13. Baltimore Ravens (8-7)

• Joe Flacco’s knee injury clearly limited him in that loss. If Flacco is rendered that ineffective for the rest of the way, the Ravens have no shot. Their defense is good, but not great enough to carry them. The running game and offensive line will fall well short of being able to mask that poor of quarterback play. 
  

12. St. Louis Rams (7-8)

• The Rams are tragic. They are far better than any AFC wildcard team, and maybe a few of the division winners. The Rams have plenty of pieces in place to be successful in 2014 with a little supplementing. The front office and Jeff Fisher just needs to decide if quarterback is a part of the supplementing. 
  

11. Chicago Bears (8-7)

• Jay Cutler seems to be taking a lot of blame for what happened on Sunday night. Though, it is pretty hard to play well when your defense grants you a massive hole like that to climb out of. That being said, it is hard to defend Cutler any longer. Marc Trestman seems to be the coach that can get the most out of Jay Cutler, but it feels like he might not be the quarterback to get the most out of Trestman’s offense. 
  

10. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)

• The Bengals are a great team at home, but an average team on the road. With that being the case, it is of the utmost importance they fight for the highest seed they can obtain. Andy Dalton has led four consecutive 40 plus point efforts in Paul Brown Stadium. Being able to host at least one playoff game gives this team their best hope to avoid another early January exit. 
  

9. Arizona Cardinals (10-5)

• It really is a crying shame the Cardinals will likely not be in the playoffs. Todd Bowles has really done a marvelous job with a defense that was already oozing with talent upon his arrival. His name needs to appear on a few more head coaching wish lists. 
  

8. New Orleans Saints (10-5)

• Given that these ranking put a big emphasis on performance at a neutral site, this spot feels appropriate for the Saints. The team can blow anyone’s doors off at home, but the evidence is clear; they are a mediocre to poor team on the road. That stems all the way from the top. Sean Payton and Drew Brees both have turned in some pretty rough outings this year, mostly away from the comforts of the Superdome 
  

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)

• The Eagles are shaping up as a formidable opponent for some of the heavy hitters in January. With a borderline great front seven, and an overwhelming offense, what is preventing them from rattling off at least one playoff win? Of course, we have no idea how Chip Kelly and Nick Foles will perform in an NFL postseason. Everything they have shown thus far seems to indicate they will be just fine.  
  

6. New England Patriots (11-4)

• Bill Belichick really is incredible. As he always does, he prepared a beautiful game plan to defeat the Ravens. Knowing that Joe Flacco was going to be hobbled, and unable to escape the pocket, Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia sent all their pressure right up the middle. Flacco’s poor interior line stood no chance. Seriously, the Patriots pass rushers hardly ever went outside on their rushes. It will be a joy to behold on the All-22 film. 
  

5. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)

• The Chiefs certainly put forth an awful showing on Sunday. After Jamal Charles’ first touchdown, they did not do a single thing well. That game feels like far too much of an anomaly to get carried away by it. The Chiefs still have a great chance to upset an opponent like the Bengals, Patriots, or even the same Colts they just fell to.
  

4. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

• The 49ers defense is such a well-coached unit. There may be team’s fielding better overall defenses, but none fly to the ball or tackle as soundly as the 49ers. That fact is why they are so often able to limit big plays. Of course, their offense needs to play that soundly too, as it did in the second half on Monday night, for their to be any hope of a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. 
  

3. Carolina Panthers (11-4)

• The Panthers and the 49ers are very even teams, but the Panthers are just a tick better. Their defenses are both stellar units, so this ranking comes down to the offenses. The 49ers have far better weapons in place around their quarterback. However, it is much easier to trust Cam Newton to win a game then it is Colin Kaepernick right now. That would have probably been seen as heresy prior to this season. Cam still has his flaws, but results like last week’s show he has learned to kick his game up in the clutch moments. 
  

2. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)

• The Seahawks certainly lack some of their unbeatable mystique after falling on their home turf. Marshawn Lynch’s rushing statistics over the last two months are surprisingly bad. The offensive line’s poor run blocking has contributed, but it might be time for the Seahawks to consider lightening his load. One has to wonder if they plan to unleash Christine Michael in the playoffs. They have a load of talent sitting on the bench with him. 
  

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)

• Congrats to Peyton Manning on breaking the passing touchdown record. The matter of fact way most observers spoke about that record falling shows two things. It speaks to just how incredible the Broncos offense has been; because many felt that and other records falling was inevitable. It also shows just how the game is continuing to show favor towards passing offenses. It took only a few years to break Tom Brady’s mark, and you have to wonder if Manning’s will even stand that long. 

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