|
Change
|
Team
|
W-L-T
(ATS)
|
Power Rating
|
Team Comments
|
| 1 |
1 |
 |
 |
14-1-0
(10-5-0)
|
-7.5 |
Green Bay
The Packers have the No. 1 seed in hand, which means it'll require an upset at Lambeau Field in order to prevent them from reaching the Super Bowl. |
| 2 |
2 |
|
 |
12-3-0
(11-4-0)
|
-6.0 |
New Orleans
A huge night all around for the Saints. They clinched the NFC South and Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's single-season yardage record. |
| 3 |
3 |
|
 |
12-3-0
(8-7-0)
|
-5.5 |
New England
It took a while for Tom Brady to wake up, but he did and the Pats overcame Miami. They are one win away from the No. 1 seed in the AFC. |
| 4 |
4 |
|
 |
12-3-0
(12-2-1)
|
-4.5 |
San Francisco
The 49ers allowed a rushing touchdown and a 100-yard rusher for the first time this season. Still, they won and positioned themselves for a bye. |
| 5 |
6 |
 1 |
 |
11-4-0
(7-8-0)
|
-4.1 |
Pittsburgh
It doesn't matter who plays quarterback for you when you're going up against the Rams. Any number of points is enough to beat those guys. |
| 6 |
5 |
 1 |
 |
11-4-0
(7-7-1)
|
-4.0 |
Baltimore
The Ravens went 8-0 at home for the first time in franchise history. One more victory and they will give themselves another home game in the playoffs. |
| 7 |
8 |
1 |
 |
10-5-0
(7-6-2)
|
-3.0 |
Detroit
The Lions are going to the playoffs. Yes, the Lions are going to the playoffs. But they really want to hang onto the 5 seed instead of the 6. |
| 8 |
10 |
2 |
 |
10-5-0
(9-5-1)
|
-2.0 |
Houston
Houston is starting to feel the effects of losing QB Matt Schaub, and it is not coming at the right time. Will the Texans go into the playoffs on a three-game slide? |
| 9 |
7 |
2 |
 |
9-6-0
(6-8-1)
|
-1.5 |
Atlanta
Atlanta clinched a playoff spot through the back door, but it was an otherwise disappointing week. Currently in the sixth spot; not a good place to be. |
| 10 |
13 |
3 |
 |
9-6-0
(8-5-2)
|
-1.0 |
Cincinnati
The Bengals can keep it simple by beating Baltimore. If they fail to score the upset, things could get crazy for the final AFC wild card. |
| 11 |
14 |
3 |
 |
8-7-0
(7-7-1)
|
-0.9 |
N.Y. Giants
Well, it all comes down to this. The G-Men bounced back nicely from a loss to Washington and have set up an all-or-nothing showdown vs. Dallas. |
| 12 |
11 |
1 |
 |
8-7-0
(5-9-1)
|
-0.5 |
Dallas
Dallas' game against Philly was inconsequential in the division race. The injury to Tony Romo's right hand is a big deal though. |
| 13 |
12 |
1 |
 |
8-7-0
(6-9-0)
|
0.0 |
N.Y. Jets
Rex Ryan has spent more time giving sound bytes to the media and feuding with opponents than winning games. Looks like he will be out of the news during the postseason. |
| 14 |
21 |
7 |
 |
8-7-0
(9-5-1)
|
0.0 |
Oakland
The Raiders stayed alive with an OT win at Kansas City. Now they must take care of business at home vs. SD and get a little bit of help to make it to the playoffs. |
| 15 |
9 |
6 |
 |
8-7-0
(7-8-0)
|
1.0 |
Denver
The Tebow-haters can hate all they want after a four-interception performance. Still, Denver has a win-and-in situation heading into Week 17. |
| 16 |
15 |
1 |
 |
7-8-0
(5-10-0)
|
1.0 |
San Diego
Another late-season surge by San Diego ended prematurely this time. Playoff hopes ended after getting manhandled in Detroit. |
| 17 |
16 |
1 |
 |
6-9-0
(8-7-0)
|
1.5 |
Kansas City
The Chiefs stayed alive longer than anyone thought they could, and it took the Raiders more than 60 minutes to finish them. |
| 18 |
17 |
1 |
 |
7-8-0
(7-8-0)
|
1.5 |
Philadelphia
Not surprisingly, it proved to be too little too late for the Eagles. They took care of business vs. Dallas, but NYG's win finished them. |
| 19 |
27 |
8 |
 |
6-9-0
(6-8-1)
|
2.5 |
Buffalo
Ryan Fitzpatrick's interception disease may be contagious, as Tim Tebow threw four of them against the Bills. Buffalo's seven-game losing streak is over. |
| 20 |
18 |
2 |
 |
7-8-0
(9-5-1)
|
2.5 |
Seattle
Marshawn Lynch found the endzone and went for 100 yards against San Francisco, but it wasn't enough to get past the Niners or stay alive in the playoff race. |
| 21 |
20 |
1 |
 |
5-10-0
(8-6-1)
|
3.0 |
Miami
So much for that 17-0 lead over the Patriots. Miami is long gone, but the team can end on a high note by putting the Jets out of their misery. |
| 22 |
24 |
2 |
 |
8-7-0
(7-8-0)
|
3.0 |
Tennessee
It would take a genius to figure out all the permutations and combinations involving the Titans and the playoffs, but bottom line is they must beat Houston. |
| 23 |
23 |
|
 |
6-9-0
(9-6-0)
|
4.0 |
Carolina
The Panthers have won four of five and it could easily be five in a row. They will have momentum going into a highly-anticipated 2012 season. |
| 24 |
22 |
2 |
 |
7-8-0
(7-8-0)
|
4.0 |
Chicago
The Bears' injury-induced free fall continued with a loss at Lambeau Field. It also means the two NFC wild card teams have been decided. |
| 25 |
19 |
6 |
 |
7-8-0
(8-7-0)
|
4.5 |
Arizona
John Skelton looked poised to push Cincy into overtime, but his receiver fell down on a sure touchdown. Tough way to officially get eliminated. |
| 26 |
25 |
1 |
 |
5-10-0
(7-8-0)
|
4.5 |
Washington
Leave it to the Redskins to do something like dominate the Giants in New York then lose to Minnesota at home. Week 17 vs. Philly is meaningless for both. |
| 27 |
26 |
1 |
 |
4-11-0
(6-7-2)
|
5.5 |
Cleveland
Another typical Cleveland result: score between 10 and 20 points, lose by a touchdown or less. Expect something similar this week vs. Pittsburgh. |
| 28 |
29 |
1 |
 |
4-11-0
(6-8-1)
|
7.0 |
Jacksonville
Yet another game in which Maurice Jones-Drew plays well but gets no offensive support. MJD deserves much more in 2012. |
| 29 |
30 |
1 |
 |
3-12-0
(6-7-2)
|
7.0 |
Minnesota
The season didn't end fast enough for the woeful Vikings. Their 2012 plans could be affected now by Adrian Peterson's knee injury. |
| 30 |
28 |
2 |
 |
4-11-0
(4-11-0)
|
7.0 |
Tampa Bay
The Bucs are 0-9 straight up and 1-8 against the spread in their last nine games. They are playing the worst football in the league. |
| 31 |
31 |
|
 |
2-13-0
(6-9-0)
|
7.5 |
Indianapolis
Break up the Colts! Two wins in a row means Indy does not have the No. 1 overall pick locked up heading into the final week. |
| 32 |
32 |
|
 |
2-13-0
(2-12-1)
|
8.0 |
St. Louis
The Rams have scored a mere 166 points this entire season (everyone else has more than 200) and they've been shut out in two of last four. |
Power Ratings compute offensive and defensive statistics into one number for each team, while accounting for factors like recent performances and strength of schedule. Power Ratings can be used as a baseline for relative spread index to compare current or future match-ups between two teams. The relative spread does not account for non-statistical factors like home-field advantage, recent injuries, game time decisions, rivalries, publicity, and weather.