Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.

Suddenly things have tightened up in the race for #1. #5 Dallas knocked off the Eagles 40-34 and Buffalo rolled over the #30 Bears 35-13. Philadelphia is facing the #23 Saints and the #9 Giants and may have to play one or both games without Jalen Hurts, who still hasn’t practiced since injuring his shoulder week 15 against the Bears. The Eagles are still in need of at least one win to try to hold off #4 Minnesota (owners of that amazing +5 point differential!), #7 San Francisco (winners of eight in a row), and even Dallas (who wins the division if Philly loses out and the Cowboys win out) for the top seed in the NFC.

In the fight that really matters, #1 in the 64tacos Power Rankings, the Bills are the team chasing them down. Buffalo, still duking it out with the #3 Chiefs for the AFC’s top seed, has a pretty tough road ahead. It’s #6 Cincinnati (seven straight wins) next week and the Patriots (still hunting for a wild card) in the regular season finale. I think Kansas City might nip the Bills despite Buffalo’s edge in the head to head tie-breaker (24-20 in week six) because the #31 Broncos and the #25 Raiders should offer very little resistance. If the Bills stumble against the Bengals in Cincinnati this week (totally plausible), K.C. just needs to win out.

Whatever happens, I think somebody will knock off the Eagles in our power rankings. Whether it’s Buffalo, the Chiefs, the Vikings, or the Cowboys, I’ll take the field over Philly. The Eagles could still earn the #1 seed and lose out on the top of our board, but I think they definitely won’t get both done. They just seem a little vulnerable right now, and we have a TON of great teams (and the Vikings) lurking just behind. It’s shaping up to be an interesting stretch run, with the race for the top seed wide open in both conferences and only two of the six wild card slots filled as of yet. Let’s do this!

[table id=224 /]