The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll: Week 16
It's the best part of your week -- the return of The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll! With with only two games left in the regular season and the playoff picture still up in the air, who can explain what's going on to the huddled masses yearning for comprehension? Only The World's Most Prestigious Power Poll. Read and be enlightened...
AP Photo - Patrick Semansky
01. Denver Broncos [11-3]: Have not lost since the first week of October and with the Browns & Chiefs left on the schedule, should waltz into the playoffs with 13 wins and a first round bye. [+1]
02. San Francisco 49ers [10-3-1]: Proved they are contenders by slaying the dragon in the dragon's lair. [+2]
03. New England Patriots [11-3]: NFL's best on offense, but defense is up and down & that's why they're vulnerable in the playoffs. [-2]
04. Houston Texans [12-2]: Pass defense is suspect, but that won't be a problem against the Vikings this Sunday. [NC]
05. Atlanta Falcons [12-2]: Chose a good time to prove they've got guts. [NC]
06. Green Bay Packers [10-4]: Have won 8 of last 9 and own the North again. [+2]
07. Seattle Seahawks [9-5]: Destroyed the patsies with panache, but can they handle the Niners coming to town? [+1]
08. Washington Redskins [8-6]: More to these guys than RG3. [+1]
09. New York Giants [8-6]: Let the division get away from them, but can save their season by coming out of Baltimore with a win. [-3]
10. Dallas Cowboys [8-6]: Winners of 4 of their last 5, but now must face a Saints team capable of winning in Dallas. [+3]
AP Photo/Mike Groll
11. Cincinnati Bengals [8-6]: Finish season with diminished Steelers & reeling Ravens. If ever there was a chance to seize the AFC North, this is it. Are they finally tough enough to do it? [+4]
12. Baltimore Ravens [9-5]: Will have to save their season against the Giants and Bengals. [-2]
13. Chicago Bears [8-6]: Lost 5 of last 6 but finish with games againt pitiful Cardinals and Lions. [-2]
14. Pittsburgh Steelers [7-7]: Can they halt their slide to mediocrity with a win at home against the Bengals? [-2]
15. New Orleans Saints [6-8]: Maddeningly inconsistent, but still dangerous enough to beat almost anyone. [+2]
16. Indianapolis Colts [9-5]: Couldn't handle a good Texans team, but they get another patsy, the Chiefs, next. [-2]
17. Minnesota Vikings [8-6]: Can Adrian Peterson literally run this team to the playoffs? He'll have to. [+4]
18. St. Louis Rams [6-7-1]: Giants in the NFC West. Pipsqueaks everywhere else. [NC]
19. Miami Dolphins [6-8]: Seeing real potential in rookie QB Ryan Tannehill. [+3]
20. Carolina Panthers [5-9]: Showing signs of improvement, but too late to matter this year. [+3]
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [6-8]: Free fall reached a new low with 41-0 loss to the Saints. [-5]
22. Cleveland Browns [5-9]: Could have had a better QB & RB in the 4th & 6th rounds and spent those 1st rounders on something better. [-3]
23. San Diego Chargers [5-9]: Hardly anyone showed up to see the Chargers clinch first losing record since 2003. [-3]
24. Tennessee Titans [5-9]: Need to schedule the Jets more often. [+4]
25. New York Jets [6-8]: Keep the coach, ditch the QB. [NC]
26. Buffalo Bills [5-9]: Ditch the coach & the QB. [NC]
27. Philadelphia Eagles [4-10]: Can salvage something by playing spoiler to the Skins & Giants. [NC]
28. Arizona Cardinals [5-9]: Gotta love playin' those Lions! [+4]
29. Detroit Lions [4-10]: Can't blame this mess on Matt Millen anymore. [-5]
30. Oakland Raiders [4-10]: Offensive MVP is the kicker. Again. [NC]
31. Jacksonville Jaguars [2-12]: Didn't turn the ball over and still lost by 3 TD to the Dolphins. [-2]
32. Kansas City Chiefs [2-12]: Wondering if you're a terrible football team? Getting shut out by the Raiders is a pretty good clue. [-1]
