| Rank | Team | Power Index | W-L | This Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (-) | Seahawks | 1.1807 (LW × 1.0378) | 16-3 | Won by 35 @ Broncos |
| 2 (-) | 49ers | 1.1352 (LW × 1.0114) | 14-5 | Bye |
| 3 (↑1) | Cardinals | 1.0648 (LW × 1.0057) | 10-6 | Bye |
| 4 (↑1) | Saints | 1.0341 (LW × 1.0114) | 12-6 | Bye |
| 5 (↑1) | Panthers | 1.0215 (LW × 1.0046) | 12-5 | Bye |
| 6 (↓3) | Broncos | 1.0183 (LW × 0.9528) | 15-4 | Lost by 35 vs Seahawks |
| 7 (-) | Patriots | 0.9973 (LW × 0.9866) | 13-5 | Bye |
| 8 (-) | Chargers | 0.9904 (LW × 0.9804) | 10-8 | Bye |
| 9 (-) | Bengals | 0.9724 (LW × 0.9926) | 11-6 | Bye |
| 10 (-) | Rams | 0.9697 (LW × 1.0088) | 7-9 | Bye |
| 11 (-) | Eagles | 0.9407 (LW × 1.0008) | 10-7 | Bye |
| 12 (-) | Steelers | 0.9254 (LW × 0.9953) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 13 (-) | Colts | 0.9066 (LW × 0.9904) | 11-6 | Bye |
| 14 (↑1) | Dolphins | 0.8932 (LW × 0.9949) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 15 (↑1) | Giants | 0.8850 (LW × 1.0001) | 7-9 | Bye |
| 16 (↓2) | Chiefs | 0.8835 (LW × 0.9821) | 11-6 | Bye |
| 17 (-) | Buccaneers | 0.8771 (LW × 1.0067) | 4-12 | Bye |
| 18 (-) | Ravens | 0.8638 (LW × 0.9958) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 19 (↑1) | Vikings | 0.8532 (LW × 1.0023) | 5-10-1 | Bye |
| 20 (↓1) | Titans | 0.8497 (LW × 0.9928) | 7-8 | Bye |
| 21 (↑1) | Falcons | 0.8454 (LW × 1.0067) | 4-12 | Bye |
| 22 (↓1) | Bills | 0.8441 (LW × 0.9965) | 6-10 | Bye |
| 23 (-) | Cowboys | 0.8352 (LW × 0.9988) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 24 (-) | Bears | 0.8305 (LW × 1.0004) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 25 (-) | Lions | 0.8271 (LW × 0.9998) | 7-9 | Bye |
| 26 (-) | Jets | 0.8233 (LW × 0.9964) | 8-8 | Bye |
| 27 (-) | Packers | 0.8163 (LW × 1.0016) | 8-8-1 | Bye |
| 28 (-) | Jaguars | 0.7883 (LW × 0.9934) | 4-12 | Bye |
| 29 (↑1) | Browns | 0.7429 (LW × 0.9943) | 4-12 | Bye |
| 30 (↓1) | Raiders | 0.7400 (LW × 0.9870) | 4-12 | Bye |
| 31 (-) | Texans | 0.7381 (LW × 0.9885) | 2-14 | Bye |
| 32 (-) | Redskins | 0.7373 (LW × 0.9965) | 3-13 | Bye |
Comments:
First Super Bowl Since Buccaneers-Raiders (XXXVII after the 2002 season) that wasn't within one score going into the 4th quarter.
I really wasn't impressed with any of the AFC teams this year, but I thought that the Broncos were the best of the lot. Along with the fact that the Seahawks didn't seem to dominate the Saints or 49ers in those playoff games, I thought that gave the Broncos a real chance.
Instead, the Seahawks played their best road game in a long while, and it looked like the Broncos were the ones that struggled away from their home stadium.
I suppose the Broncos' loss will also trigger more talk abut Peyton Manning's lack of legacy or something. It's preposterous. Manning has been one of the most dominating quarterbacks over the last 15 years. If he's lacking in legacy because of playoff losses, what do you say about guys like Brett Favre (1-1 in the Super Bowl) and Dan Marino (0-1 in the Super Bowl)?
In spite of the playoff losses, I don't see any basis to put into question Manning's legacy as one of the best quarterbacks ever.
