Week 16 1/2 NFL Power Report

Last week the playoff scenario was a complete mess but all of a sudden the AFC is basically left to two important games: Ravens vs. Raiders, and Jets vs. Bengals. If the Ravens and Jets win, as they should (Bengals will likely rest their main players), the 12 teams are decided.

I find this quite remarkable, considering I gave the Jets 5% chance of making the playoffs and left the Ravens at 35%. You can thank the Raiders for that from a few weeks ago in Denver.

That being said, the Raiders seem to pull out a good game every few weeks and despite starting Charlie Frye, you never know. I'm pretty proud that I included this game in my Most Important Games list a month ago.

Power Report
Included after the team name is a 5-star rating of how "powerful" they actually are right now.

The Head of the Class
1. Colts **** The fact that the coach had to put Peyton & Co. on the bench for them to lose may be the clinching factor in the MVP discussion. It was a terrible decision, by the way.
2. Chargers ***** Hottest team in the league, they put on a clinic in Tennessee last week. Rivers is running a well-oiled machine. I expect to see them in the Super Bowl. In their current 10-game winning streak, they have beat @ NY Giants, Eagles, @ Broncos, @ Cowboys, Bengals, and @ Titans, so there's no reason they should stop in the playoffs.
3. Eagles **** This jump might be premature with a big test this week in Dallas with a week off in the balance. There are so many big-play weapons on the offense. The defense isn't great, but a big DeSean Jackson play can make up the difference.
4. Saints ** They peaked a bit too soon. Besides the rout against the Patriots, they've lived off the big turnover and that's something you can't always count on late in the year. They lost at home to a 2-12 Bucs team that could have cost them the #1 seed.
5. Patriots **** Randy Moss backed up his talk with a monster game against the Jags. The defense has lots of problems but with Brady/Moss/Welker and a plethora of running backs on offense, they have a decent chance to try again in the Super Bowl.
6. Cowboys ***** Romo is playing the best ball of his career and in meaningful games despite enormous pressure. He still needs to prove he doesn't hold the title of NFL's Biggest Choker, but this looks like a new year. The Cowboys stayed remarkably healthy all season.
7. Vikings ** Another team that peaked way too early. Favre's comeback last week was miraculous but let's be honest, they were down 16-0 at halftime to a Bears team that threw in the towel two months ago. Adrian Peterson cost his team the game with a fumble in overtime, which is the reason you shouldn't rank his the league's best running back. They need Percy Harvin back and healthy.
8. Cardinals **** Nothing like a couple games against the Lions and Rams to tune-up for the playoffs. Another prolific offense but this team boasts a good defense, too, 3rd most sacks. They are also capable of a 5-turnover game.

Messy Middle
9. Bengals ** Pretty unremarkable since that big win in Pittsburgh in mid-November, and that will likely continue this week.
10. Packers *** Honestly, their only quality win was against the Cowboys. Aaron Rodgers has been great but the team leads the league in penalties. For your entertainment, a playoff opener against the Vikings is likely (that's right, Favre vs. Packers III).
11. Titans *** Chris Johnson will top 200 yards rushing in a record-setting weekend. The defense is really banged up, that was was painfully brought to life against the Chargers on Christmas day.
12. Steelers *** LaMarr Woodley needs to keep his mouth shut, the Steelers won't be in the playoffs because they lost to the Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns down the stretch.
13. Ravens ** Haven't done a thing since September so it's remarkable that this unremarkable team is poised for a playoff birth. They top the league in penalty yards, drop a lot of key passes, and Flacco makes some really dumb throws.
14. Texans **** Schaub to Andre Johnson is one of the game's best combinations, but the lack of a ground game is what will cost them a playoff spot and likely Coach Kubiak's job.
15. Panthers ***** Imagine where they could be if they had of benched Jake Delhomme after the near-disaster against Tampa Bay in mid-October; this could have been an 11-win team! Matt Moore looks like a winner, and he doesn't even have to do much with their twin backs helping out.
16. Broncos * They just needed one win and they would be a playoff lock but three losses in a row have doomed them. There is still a reasonable chance for them to get in, expecially with a trip to Kansas City. They just need the Raiders to do to the Ravens what they did to them.
17. Dolphins ** They just don't have enough left to get into the playoffs, but I like what I see with Chad Henne and Tony Sparano. Victims of a brutal schedule this season, thanks to last year's success.
18. Jets **** They will likely be one of the worst teams to ever make the playoffs. But actually, if it hadn't been for those 3 botched kicks against the Falcons they could have won their last 6 games (assuming they win Week 17).
19. Giants ** Eagerly waiting for the end of a dreadful year. A win in Minnesota would brighten their spirits, but the game also has blowout potential the other way.
20. Falcons ** Only win against a playoff contender was that awful Jets game. Victimized by key injuries, but tough teams find a way to win some of those.

Those Dozen Teams at the Bottom
21. Jaguars * After Maurice Jones-Drew this team is nothing but question marks.
22. 49ers *** The San Francisco Singletarys continue to show improvements. Frankly, I think it's also a lot of guys playing over their heads, but next season brings a lot of optimism.
23. Bears ** As bad as the second half was and include a missed overtime FG they still beat a good Vikings team. It's a little late for the Bears to be playing inspired football. They better get a new coach who can get into the head of Jay Cutler or next year will suck, too.
24. Browns **** Kind of hard to believe this team is favored in back-to-back games with a possibility of winning 4 in a row to end the year.
25. Raiders ** This team would have been in the playoffs had they not cut Jeff Garcia.
26. Bills * Favored to beat out the Colts bench team, but expect to be disappointed.
27. Bucs **** Lots of things to be excited about for the future.
28. Redskins * Outscored a combined 38-0 in the first half in the last two week's division rivalry games.
29. Seahawks * Lots of changes will be made.
30. Chiefs * Jamaal Charles is a bright spot, who has a longshot of reaching 1,000 yards.
31. Lions * Adding teeth to their logo improved their win total by 2 this season.
32. Rams * Will they pick another lineman to start the draft? Hasn't worked lately.