Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.
Let’s take a quick tour around the league with some random thoughts to celebrate Week 16! We’ll start at the top. Philly is still the clear number one, but Buffalo is closer to the Eagles than they are the Chiefs. With Jalen Hurts’ status in doubt with a sprained shoulder, can Buffalo catch up in the rankings? Kansas City, relegated to the A-tier after (barely) taking care of the lowly Texans, somehow has the same number of points and record as the Vikes, who escaped from a 33 point halftime deficit to the #24 Colts to reach the least impressive 11-3 record I’ve ever witnessed. I think there are miles between K.C. and Minnesota, but the standings say otherwise.
The Cowboys lost in overtime to the suddenly dangerous Jags (BORTLES!) and are looking just a little wobbly recently after sneaking past Houston last week. I suspect the Chiefs will separate themselves from Dallas and Minnesota by the end of the year. In the AFC South, the division leaders are the Titans, who have have dropped four in a row and are all the way down at #17. Jacksonville is lurking one spot back in the rankings and only a game behind in the division. The season ends with the Titans travelling to Florida’s finest city, a potential division title decider.
#22 Tampa is in a similar position, just one game ahead of Carolina and on a two game losing streak. It’s looking more and more like a losing record will take the NFC South. My radical proposal is that the best fourteen records regardless of conference make the playoffs. My reasonable proposal is that the best seven teams in each conference make it in regardless of division affiliation. My no-brainer proposal is that we keep the current system of division winners plus three wildcards, but seed teams based purely on record. Just waiting to hear back from Roger Goodell.
And finally, the Lions are…um…good? For reals? I think maybe…yes? Yes. They are sitting just outside the top ten after jumping three more spots this week. The eye test confirms what the rankings indicate. And a relatively easy last three games are ahead (#26 Panthers, #31 Bears, and #18 Packers). If they win all three, they have a real shot at the playoffs, which is crazy for a team who started 1-6. Detroit has survived the toughest schedule in the league by opponent winning percentage. The offense has been good to great every week (except for the Patriots game) and the defense has miraculously recovered by allowing only 19.1 PPG in their last seven. I’ll stop because I don’t want to jinx it, but this has been a remarkable season.
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