All Good Things

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 17

Nipping at #10's heels:

Chiefs (#16), Bills (#15), Texans (#14)

Cardinals (#13), Eagles (#12), Ravens (#11)

10. San Diego Chargers (9-6)

Last Week: 14th
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 7)
Playing with an ailing back and chest, QB Phillip Rivers overcame three interceptions by throwing for 356 yards and four touchdowns. Trailing 28-7 at halftime, the Chargers forced overtime by scoring two touchdowns in the final 5:15, highlighted by Philip Rivers' 11-yard scoring pass to Malcom Floyd with 29 seconds left. Kicker Nick Novak hit a 40-yard field goal in overtime for the victory. Next, the Chargers hit the road for the team’s final regular-season game against AFC West rival Kansas City. The Chargers need the win to reach the postseason for a second straight year. - Eric D. Williams

9. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

Last Week: 6th

Best Ranking: 3rd (Week 8)

For the Colts, Sunday was about proving they belonged with the big boys. So much for that. By the end of the game, the only thing the Colts proved was they belong in the AFC South, where they can continue to beat up on the weak teams in their division. The Colts didn't score until there was 5:24 left, when backup QB Matt Hasselbeck threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Zurlon Tipton. The 35-point deficit tied for the worst loss in the Andrew Luck-Chuck Pagano era, demonstrating that the Colts simply aren't in the same class as other legitimate playoff teams. Indianapolis is 0-4 against Denver, Pittsburgh, New England and Dallas - all teams headed to the playoffs. - Mike Wells

8. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1)
Last Week: 12th
Best Ranking: 3rd (Week 5, 4)
First and foremost, this puts the Bengals in the playoffs. This is the first time in franchise history they've been to the postseason four straight seasons. At worst, they would be No. 5 or No. 6 seed and play on the road in the wild card. At best, they could be the AFC's No. 2 seed and get a first-round bye. They'll need a win next week at Pittsburgh and a Broncos loss or tie in order for that to happen. With this nationally-televised win, the Bengals began silencing the narrative that they don't show up in prime time. They are now 3-6 at night since Andy Dalton became their starting quarterback in 2011. - Coley Harvey

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

Last Week: 10th

Best Ranking: 7th (Week 17)

The Steelers' playoff drought -- and missing the postseason two consecutive seasons is a drought for an organization that has six Lombardi trophies -- is over. Pittsburgh clinched no worse than a wild-card berth in the playoffs after a gritty if unspectacular showing against the Chiefs gave them their 10th win of the season. The Steelers will play for the AFC North title next Sunday against visiting Cincinnati regardless of what the Bengals do Monday night against the Denver Broncos. Pittsburgh's first three-game winning streak in the middle of the season has put them in position to secure home-field advantage in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs. - Scott Brown

6. Detroit Lions (11-4)

Last Week: 5th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 11, 10)
The Lions are in the playoffs, but right now they don’t look like a team that might have a long stay. Detroit again struggled on offense and special teams, but they won their 11th game of the season -- tying the second-best total in franchise history. There has to be concern with the way Detroit is winning games right now. Against teams in the bottom half of the league such as Minnesota and Chicago, the Lions can get away with not playing well and winning. They won’t be able to do that from now on -- a matchup with Green Bay looms next Sunday, one which will determine the division champion, followed by playoff opponents. - Michael Rothstein

5. Denver Broncos (11-4)

Last Week: 4th

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 9, 8, 7, 3)

The Broncos have spent much of the season with their Super-Bowl-or-bust mentality out front. But once again they showed that might be a pipe dream if they can't smooth out their exceedingly rough edges on the road. The Broncos' stingy run defense was creased repeatedly, and the Broncos consistently snuffed out their own rallies on special teams by allowing the Bengals to secure quality field position, which they turned into key points. Toss in a few dropped passes and four interceptions by Peyton Manning and now not only are the Broncos out of the running for homefield advantage in the AFC, they're going to have to fight just to earn a first-round bye. - Jeff Legwold

4. Dallas Cowboys (11-4)

Last Week: 7th
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 8)
Not a soul who saw this coming; not even inside the Cowboys' locker room. With a 35-point win, the Cowboys not only clinched their first playoff berth and NFC East championship for the first time since 2009, but they also served notice to the conference. It is a major accomplishment for a team that had low expectations entering the season and had lost de facto NFC East title games in each of the past three seasons. Jason Garrett's mantra all year has been to fight. The Cowboys finished the fight Sunday. They'll now hope for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks to both lose in Week 17, giving the 'Boys an unexpected first round bye. - Todd Archer

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

Last Week: 2nd

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 15, 14)

Both the Packers and the Detroit Lions have clinched playoff spots, but a victory over the Lions Sunday would give the Packers at least the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round playoff bye. It will be the Packers' sixth straight playoff appearance. If they win the division, it would be their fourth straight title. To do so, they'll need better play from the offense. After playing perhaps the worst game of his career in last week's loss at Buffalo, QB Aaron Rodgers, limited by illness and an issue with his lower left leg, rarely moved out of the pocket Sunday and was limited mostly to short, quick throws. Rodgers didn't throw a touchdown pass until late in the fourth quarter. - Rob Demovsky

2. New England Patriots (12-3)

Last Week: 1st
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 16, 13, 12, 11, 10)
Missing leading receiver Julian Edelman, power running back LeGarrette Blount, and slot cornerback Kyle Arrington, the Patriots had to grind this one out. It wasn't their best game, and the Jets deserve credit for that. As has been the case all season, complimentary football won the game, with special teams delivering big plays to provide opportunities for the offense and defense. The Patriots improve to 12-3 on the season, clinch a first-round playoff bye, and, following the Denver Broncos loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, they will now have home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. - Mike Reiss

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

Last Week: 3rd

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 17, 6, 5, 4, 2, 1, Post-Draft)

The Seahawks clinched a playoff spot Sunday as they also set a franchise record with 596 total yards of offense. QB Russell Wilson has been on absolute fire recently, setting a number of career records Sunday, and the defense has given up only 33 points in the past five games. Seattle now has won at least 11 games in three consecutive seasons. In night games, the Seahawks are 13-1 since Pete Carroll became the head coach, including nine consecutive prime-time victories and four this season.  Next, Seattle is at home against the St. Louis Rams with the division title and home-field advantage at stake. - Terry Blount