Surprises at Year's End

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2015 Week 17

We'll take a look back this week, at how far some teams have come (and how far some have fallen). And, since it's just about the New Year, we'll stick with those updated, modern logos from the alternative logo series of the past few weeks. (You can check out alternative logos for all 32 teams at each of the following links to past rankings: Modern, Star Wars, British, Food, Corporate, & Disney/Pixar.)

The rankings after Super Bowl 49 included 6 teams that remain in the Top 10 as we head closer to Super Bowl 50: the Patriots, Seahawks, Packers, Broncos, Steelers, and Panthers. The other 4? A now-hilarious combination of the Cowboys, Colts, Lions, and Ravens.

Here's the really embarrassing part: In the preseason, I predicted the Colts would defeat the Ravens for the AFC Championship, the Packers would beat the Eagles to become NFC Champs, and the Colts would win it all in Super Bowl 50. Yeah, nope, none of that is going to happen.

I will say, however, that it's been a blast to consider each team's season-history, how they played the previous Sunday, and how they might perform in future games to create each week's rankings. Thank y'all for taking the time to read them (literally hundreds of blog-views from these football posts). And yes, as I have since Week 1, I still think the Cardinals are better than the Panthers. Ok, here's Week 17 rankings!!!

On the bubble: 

16. Raiders, 15. Falcons, 14. Bills

13. Redskins, 12. Texans, 11. Vikings

The Top 10:

10. Green Bay Packers (10-5)

After SB49: 3rd

Week 1: 3rd

Last Week: 7th

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 3, 2, Preseason)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

After SB49: 8th

Week 1: 9th

Last Week: 5th

Best Ranking: 4th (Week 7)

8. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
After SB49: 11th
Week 1: Unranked (17th or worse)
Last Week: 6th
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 10, 9)

7. New York Jets (10-5)

After SB49: Unranked (17th or worse)

Week 1: Unranked (17th or worse)

Last Week: 10th

Best Ranking: 7th (Week 17)

6. Denver Broncos (11-4)
After SB49: 5th
Week 1: 4th
Last Week: 9th
Best Ranking: 3rd (Week 9)

5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)

After SB49: Unranked (17th or worse)

Week 1: 13th

Last Week: 8th

Best Ranking: 5th (Week 17)

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
After SB49: 2nd
Week 1: 1st
Last Week: 4th
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 1, Post-Draft)

3. New England Patriots (12-3)

After SB49: 1st

Week 1: 5th

Last Week: 3rd

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, Free Agency)

2. Carolina Panthers (14-1)
After SB49: 10th
Week 1: Unranked (17th or worse)
Last Week: 2nd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 17, 16, 15, 14)

1. Arizona Cardinals (13-2)

After SB49: 13th

Week 1: 8th

Last Week: 1st

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 17, 16, 15, 14, 13)

Previous Weeks: 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7,6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Preseason, Post-Draft, Free Agency