NFL Super Bowl Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Seahawks	1.0996 (LW × 0.9842)	14-5	Lost by 4 vs Patriots
2 (-)	Patriots	1.0942 (LW × 1.0133)	15-4	Won by 4 @ Seahawks
3 (-)	Packers	1.0207 (LW × 0.9985)	13-5	Bye
4 (↑1)	Bills	0.9860 (LW × 1.0013)	9-7	Bye
5 (↓1)	Cowboys	0.9837 (LW × 0.9977)	13-5	Bye
6 (-)	Colts	0.9690 (LW × 1.0009)	13-6	Bye
7 (-)	Broncos	0.9674 (LW × 0.9993)	12-5	Bye
8 (-)	Ravens	0.9649 (LW × 1.0008)	11-7	Bye
9 (-)	Steelers	0.9592 (LW × 0.9992)	11-6	Bye
10 (-)	Chiefs	0.9541 (LW × 0.9968)	9-7	Bye
11 (-)	Eagles	0.9343 (LW × 0.9957)	10-6	Bye
12 (-)	Lions	0.9156 (LW × 0.9999)	11-6	Bye
13 (-)	Texans	0.9042 (LW × 0.9992)	9-7	Bye
14 (-)	Bengals	0.8989 (LW × 0.9993)	10-6-1	Bye
15 (-)	Cardinals	0.8931 (LW × 0.9937)	11-6	Bye
16 (-)	Dolphins	0.8870 (LW × 1.0018)	8-8	Bye
17 (-)	Rams	0.8711 (LW × 0.9945)	6-10	Bye
18 (↑1)	Chargers	0.8701 (LW × 0.9993)	9-7	Bye
19 (↓1)	Panthers	0.8683 (LW × 0.9957)	8-9-1	Bye
20 (-)	Vikings	0.8590 (LW × 0.9994)	7-9	Bye
21 (-)	Jets	0.8501 (LW × 1.0021)	4-12	Bye
22 (-)	Falcons	0.8438 (LW × 0.9976)	6-10	Bye
23 (-)	49ers	0.8384 (LW × 0.9938)	8-8	Bye
24 (-)	Giants	0.8319 (LW × 0.9959)	6-10	Bye
25 (-)	Saints	0.8161 (LW × 0.9980)	7-9	Bye
26 (-)	Browns	0.8113 (LW × 0.9990)	7-9	Bye
27 (-)	Raiders	0.8067 (LW × 0.9967)	3-13	Bye
28 (-)	Bears	0.7755 (LW × 0.9998)	5-11	Bye
29 (-)	Jaguars	0.7599 (LW × 0.9992)	3-13	Bye
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7473 (LW × 0.9984)	2-14	Bye
31 (-)	Washington	0.7381 (LW × 0.9968)	4-12	Bye
32 (-)	Titans	0.6819 (LW × 0.9990)	2-14	Bye

Comments:

• Patriots gain in power, but not quite enough to overtake the Seahawks for first place. I'm sure they'll get over it.

• This was only the third Super Bowl to be tied at halftime (along with SB XXIII 49ers vs. Bengals and SB XXXIX Eagles vs. Patriots).

• The 2014 Patriots also join the 2007 Giants and the 2008 Steelers as the only teams to win the Super Bowl after trailing in the 4th quarter.

• The Seahawks lose in possibly the most painful way possible, blowing a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter, and then throwing a game sealing interception on 2nd and goal at the 1 with seconds left to play.

• A lot of people have already said this, but especially with a timeout left, handing off to Lynch is a pretty obvious play call there. Or if you're gonna pass, throw a fade off play action or something. Throwing over the middle like that seems like the worst possible decision there.

• As a football fan, I think this was maybe the most satifying Super Bowl since the Saints beat the Colts in SB XLI (of course I will recuse myself from judging SB XLV).

NFL Championship Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Seahawks	1.1173 (LW × 1.0115)	14-4	Won by 6 vs Packers
2 (-)	Patriots	1.0799 (LW × 1.0134)	14-4	Won by 38 vs Colts
3 (-)	Packers	1.0223 (LW × 1.0121)	13-5	Lost by 6 @ Seahawks
4 (↑1)	Cowboys	0.9860 (LW × 0.9987)	13-5	Bye
5 (↑1)	Bills	0.9847 (LW × 1.0035)	9-7	Bye
6 (↓2)	Colts	0.9682 (LW × 0.9782)	13-6	Lost by 38 @ Patriots
7 (-)	Broncos	0.9681 (LW × 0.9989)	12-5	Bye
8 (-)	Ravens	0.9641 (LW × 0.9988)	11-7	Bye
9 (-)	Steelers	0.9600 (LW × 0.9971)	11-6	Bye
10 (-)	Chiefs	0.9571 (LW × 1.0020)	9-7	Bye
11 (-)	Eagles	0.9384 (LW × 1.0005)	10-6	Bye
12 (-)	Lions	0.9156 (LW × 1.0039)	11-6	Bye
13 (-)	Texans	0.9049 (LW × 0.9933)	9-7	Bye
14 (-)	Bengals	0.8996 (LW × 0.9947)	10-6-1	Bye
15 (-)	Cardinals	0.8988 (LW × 1.0035)	11-6	Bye
16 (-)	Dolphins	0.8854 (LW × 1.0026)	8-8	Bye
17 (-)	Rams	0.8759 (LW × 1.0020)	6-10	Bye
18 (-)	Panthers	0.8721 (LW × 1.0022)	8-9-1	Bye
19 (-)	Chargers	0.8707 (LW × 1.0021)	9-7	Bye
20 (-)	Vikings	0.8596 (LW × 1.0031)	7-9	Bye
21 (-)	Jets	0.8483 (LW × 1.0026)	4-12	Bye
22 (-)	Falcons	0.8458 (LW × 1.0015)	6-10	Bye
23 (-)	49ers	0.8436 (LW × 1.0027)	8-8	Bye
24 (-)	Giants	0.8353 (LW × 0.9980)	6-10	Bye
25 (-)	Saints	0.8177 (LW × 1.0006)	7-9	Bye
26 (-)	Browns	0.8121 (LW × 0.9961)	7-9	Bye
27 (-)	Raiders	0.8093 (LW × 1.0017)	3-13	Bye
28 (-)	Bears	0.7756 (LW × 1.0033)	5-11	Bye
29 (-)	Jaguars	0.7605 (LW × 0.9941)	3-13	Bye
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7485 (LW × 1.0012)	2-14	Bye
31 (-)	Washington	0.7405 (LW × 0.9977)	4-12	Bye
32 (-)	Titans	0.6826 (LW × 0.9946)	2-14	Bye

Comments:

• As I indicated in the game picks I wasn't expecting the Packers to win this. But perhaps except for a full-on blow out, I'm not sure they could've lost in a more disappointing manner.

• The top 3 remain pretty much the same, the Colts drop out of the top 5 after getting blown out in their game. At least moderately surprisingly, there's no shuffling around in the lower ranks. Usually there's at least a couple teams close enough to switch ranks based on secondary effects.

• Tom Brady will (presumably) start a record sixth Super Bowl (breaking the tie he was in with John Elway, who has five).

• The Seahawks become the first team since the 2003-2004 Patriots to qualify for the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons.

• A number of teams have back-to-pack wins in the Super Bowl, there are also three that have lost on their return trip: the Cowboys in 1978, the Raiders in 1983, and the Packers in 1997. I'll have more to say in the Super Bowl game picks post, but I think the Seahawks have a chance be the fourth team in that win-loss group.

NFL Divisional Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Seahawks	1.1046 (LW × 1.0268)	13-4	Won by 14 vs Panthers
2 (-)	Patriots	1.0656 (LW × 0.9942)	13-4	Won by 4 vs Ravens
3 (↑1)	Packers	1.0101 (LW × 1.0167)	13-4	Won by 5 vs Cowboys
4 (↑5)	Colts	0.9898 (LW × 1.0476)	13-5	Won by 11 @ Broncos
5 (↑1)	Cowboys	0.9873 (LW × 1.0295)	13-5	Lost by 5 @ Packers
6 (↓1)	Bills	0.9813 (LW × 0.9981)	9-7	Bye
7 (↓4)	Broncos	0.9692 (LW × 0.9685)	12-5	Lost by 11 vs Colts
8 (↑2)	Ravens	0.9652 (LW × 1.0242)	11-7	Lost by 4 @ Patriots
9 (↓1)	Steelers	0.9628 (LW × 1.0133)	11-6	Bye
10 (↓3)	Chiefs	0.9552 (LW × 0.9994)	9-7	Bye
11 (-)	Eagles	0.9379 (LW × 1.0200)	10-6	Bye
12 (-)	Lions	0.9121 (LW × 1.0098)	11-6	Bye
13 (↑1)	Texans	0.9111 (LW × 1.0204)	9-7	Bye
14 (↓1)	Bengals	0.9043 (LW × 1.0126)	10-6-1	Bye
15 (-)	Cardinals	0.8956 (LW × 1.0129)	11-6	Bye
16 (-)	Dolphins	0.8831 (LW × 1.0000)	8-8	Bye
17 (↑1)	Rams	0.8741 (LW × 1.0059)	6-10	Bye
18 (↑2)	Panthers	0.8702 (LW × 1.0252)	8-9-1	Lost by 14 @ Seahawks
19 (↓2)	Chargers	0.8689 (LW × 0.9962)	9-7	Bye
20 (↓1)	Vikings	0.8569 (LW × 1.0090)	7-9	Bye
21 (-)	Jets	0.8462 (LW × 1.0006)	4-12	Bye
22 (↑1)	Falcons	0.8446 (LW × 1.0149)	6-10	Bye
23 (↓1)	49ers	0.8413 (LW × 1.0090)	8-8	Bye
24 (-)	Giants	0.8369 (LW × 1.0188)	6-10	Bye
25 (↑1)	Saints	0.8172 (LW × 1.0143)	7-9	Bye
26 (↑1)	Browns	0.8153 (LW × 1.0162)	7-9	Bye
27 (↓2)	Raiders	0.8079 (LW × 0.9961)	3-13	Bye
28 (-)	Bears	0.7731 (LW × 1.0104)	5-11	Bye
29 (-)	Jaguars	0.7650 (LW × 1.0197)	3-13	Bye
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7476 (LW × 1.0134)	2-14	Bye
31 (-)	Washington	0.7422 (LW × 1.0183)	4-12	Bye
32 (-)	Titans	0.6863 (LW × 1.0186)	2-14	Bye

Comments:

• Congratulations to the Seahawks, who become the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since the Patriots did it in 2005.

• If the Broncos had also won, it would've been the first time since 2004 that all four home teams had won in the Divisional round, and the first time since 1997 that both Super Bowl teams won a playoff game the following season. As it is, these will have to wait for another season.

• So a couple of things about that overturned catch at the end of the Cowboys-Packers game:

  1. I'm not a big fan of the going-to-the-ground rule, but

  2. By the going-to-the-ground rule, that was not a catch. If you watch the replay, Bryant bobbles the ball when he hits the ground (before rolling over into the endzone). It's a near-textbook example of a non-catch according to this rule.

• Nice to see the final four teams in the top four of the rankings. I think I'd probably rank them in that order, too.

NFL Wildcard Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Seahawks	1.0757 (LW × 0.9876)	12-4	Bye
2 (-)	Patriots	1.0718 (LW × 1.0014)	12-4	Bye
3 (-)	Broncos	1.0007 (LW × 0.9926)	12-4	Bye
4 (-)	Packers	0.9935 (LW × 1.0047)	12-4	Bye
5 (-)	Bills	0.9831 (LW × 0.9988)	9-7	Bye
6 (↑2)	Cowboys	0.9590 (LW × 1.0119)	13-4	Won by 4 vs Lions
7 (-)	Chiefs	0.9558 (LW × 0.9868)	9-7	Bye
8 (↓2)	Steelers	0.9502 (LW × 0.9705)	11-6	Lost by 13 vs Ravens
9 (↑1)	Colts	0.9448 (LW × 1.0249)	12-5	Won by 16 vs Bengals
10 (↑3)	Ravens	0.9424 (LW × 1.0359)	11-6	Won by 13 @ Steelers
11 (-)	Eagles	0.9195 (LW × 1.0043)	10-6	Bye
12 (↑2)	Lions	0.9032 (LW × 0.9989)	11-6	Lost by 4 @ Cowboys
13 (↓1)	Bengals	0.8931 (LW × 0.9801)	10-6-1	Lost by 16 @ Colts
14 (↑1)	Texans	0.8929 (LW × 1.0077)	9-7	Bye
15 (↓6)	Cardinals	0.8843 (LW × 0.9566)	11-6	Lost by 11 @ Panthers
16 (↑1)	Dolphins	0.8831 (LW × 1.0034)	8-8	Bye
17 (↑1)	Chargers	0.8723 (LW × 0.9973)	9-7	Bye
18 (↓2)	Rams	0.8690 (LW × 0.9872)	6-10	Bye
19 (↑1)	Vikings	0.8492 (LW × 1.0062)	7-9	Bye
20 (↑5)	Panthers	0.8489 (LW × 1.0406)	8-8-1	Won by 11 vs Cardinals
21 (↓2)	Jets	0.8456 (LW × 0.9977)	4-12	Bye
22 (↓1)	49ers	0.8338 (LW × 0.9904)	8-8	Bye
23 (↓1)	Falcons	0.8322 (LW × 1.0042)	6-10	Bye
24 (↓1)	Giants	0.8215 (LW × 1.0024)	6-10	Bye
25 (↓1)	Raiders	0.8110 (LW × 0.9913)	3-13	Bye
26 (-)	Saints	0.8057 (LW × 1.0064)	7-9	Bye
27 (-)	Browns	0.8023 (LW × 1.0078)	7-9	Bye
28 (-)	Bears	0.7651 (LW × 1.0048)	5-11	Bye
29 (-)	Jaguars	0.7503 (LW × 1.0086)	3-13	Bye
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7377 (LW × 1.0059)	2-14	Bye
31 (-)	Washington	0.7289 (LW × 1.0029)	4-12	Bye
32 (-)	Titans	0.6738 (LW × 1.0059)	2-14	Bye

Comments:

• And both the Bengals' and Lions' winless streak in the playoffs will extend another year. The Lions at least showed some signs of life in their game.

• Some shuffling around in the rankings, but the top 5 remain the same. And while the streak has been interrupted, the APR tradition of the lowest ranked playoff team winning a game in the playoffs continues as the Panthers advance.

• I'm not sure there's anybody in the league the Cardinals could beat with Ryan Lindley as their quarterback. Still, I suppose those 11 wins count for something. If Carson Palmer comes back okay, and stays healthy for the whole season, they should have a chance to do something next year.

• Meanwhile, one of the Cardinals' first orders of business should be to cut Ryan Lindley. I think he's at the "what you see is what you get" point in his career, which mean he's not obviously better than some random guy pulled out of the stands.

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (↑1)	Seahawks	1.0892 (LW × 1.0214)	12-4	Won by 14 vs Rams
2 (↓1)	Patriots	1.0703 (LW × 0.9572)	12-4	Lost by 8 vs Bills
3 (-)	Broncos	1.0081 (LW × 0.9978)	12-4	Won by 33 vs Raiders
4 (-)	Packers	0.9889 (LW × 1.0090)	12-4	Won by 10 vs Lions
5 (↑4)	Bills	0.9843 (LW × 1.0490)	9-7	Won by 8 @ Patriots
6 (-)	Steelers	0.9790 (LW × 1.0178)	11-5	Won by 10 vs Bengals
7 (↓2)	Chiefs	0.9686 (LW × 1.0044)	9-7	Won by 12 vs Chargers
8 (-)	Cowboys	0.9476 (LW × 1.0086)	12-4	Won by 27 @ Washington
9 (↓2)	Cardinals	0.9244 (LW × 0.9718)	11-5	Lost by 3 @ 49ers
10 (↑1)	Colts	0.9218 (LW × 0.9904)	11-5	Won by 17 @ Titans
11 (↑4)	Eagles	0.9155 (LW × 1.0129)	10-6	Won by 8 @ Giants
12 (↑2)	Bengals	0.9112 (LW × 0.9996)	10-5-1	Lost by 10 @ Steelers
13 (-)	Ravens	0.9097 (LW × 0.9925)	10-6	Won by 10 vs Browns
14 (↓4)	Lions	0.9042 (LW × 0.9712)	11-5	Lost by 10 @ Packers
15 (↑1)	Texans	0.8860 (LW × 0.9903)	9-7	Won by 6 vs Jaguars
16 (↑1)	Rams	0.8802 (LW × 0.9852)	6-10	Lost by 14 @ Seahawks
17 (↓5)	Dolphins	0.8801 (LW × 0.9531)	8-8	Lost by 13 vs Jets
18 (-)	Chargers	0.8746 (LW × 0.9825)	9-7	Lost by 12 @ Chiefs
19 (↑5)	Jets	0.8475 (LW × 1.0428)	4-12	Won by 13 @ Dolphins
20 (-)	Vikings	0.8440 (LW × 1.0015)	7-9	Won by 4 vs Bears
21 (-)	49ers	0.8419 (LW × 1.0065)	8-8	Won by 3 vs Cardinals
22 (↓3)	Falcons	0.8287 (LW × 0.9648)	6-10	Lost by 31 vs Panthers
23 (↓1)	Giants	0.8195 (LW × 0.9848)	6-10	Lost by 8 vs Eagles
24 (↓1)	Raiders	0.8182 (LW × 0.9995)	3-13	Lost by 33 @ Broncos
25 (↑2)	Panthers	0.8157 (LW × 1.0466)	7-8-1	Won by 31 @ Falcons
26 (↓1)	Saints	0.8005 (LW × 0.9993)	7-9	Won by 3 @ Buccaneers
27 (↓1)	Browns	0.7961 (LW × 0.9940)	7-9	Lost by 10 @ Ravens
28 (-)	Bears	0.7615 (LW × 0.9876)	5-11	Lost by 4 @ Vikings
29 (↑2)	Jaguars	0.7439 (LW × 1.0092)	3-13	Lost by 6 @ Texans
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7334 (LW × 0.9869)	2-14	Lost by 3 vs Saints
31 (↓2)	Washington	0.7268 (LW × 0.9720)	4-12	Lost by 27 vs Cowboys
32 (-)	Titans	0.6698 (LW × 0.9896)	2-14	Lost by 17 vs Colts

Comments:

• The top seeds for both conferences occupy the top four spots in the rankings.

• Bills are the highest ranked team out of the playoffs, thanks in part to a 4-spot bump on beating the nothing-to-play-for Patriots.

• On the one hand, I feel like #6 is to high for a Steelers team with ugly losses to the Bucs, Jets, and Saints. On the other hand, pretty much everyone below them has at least a couple ugly losses on their record, so I can't really make the case that they should be ranked lower either.

  Maybe the real observation is that after the top four teams, there's a pretty steep drop off in quality.

• Unsurprisingly, the 7-8-1 Panthers are the lowest-ranked playoff team. Of the rest, the Lions are lowest ranked at #14, perhaps thanks some close wins over the Bucs and Vikings, followed with a road loss to the Packers.

• Could the Panthers actually get on a run in the playoffs? After a streak of games where they were 1-8-1 from mid September to late November, they've run off a series of 4 wins. Not exaclty against the class of the league, but still better than anyone else in the NFC South can claim.

• The Seahawks clinch the #1 seed in the NFC for the second season in a row, the first time it's done back-to-back since the Eagles did it three times, 2002-2004. They certainly seem to be in a good position to be the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the following season since the Patriots did it in 2005.

NFL Week 16 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Patriots	1.1182 (LW × 0.9758)	12-3	Won by 1 @ Jets
2 (↑1)	Seahawks	1.0664 (LW × 1.0366)	11-4	Won by 29 @ Cardinals
3 (↓1)	Broncos	1.0103 (LW × 0.9447)	11-4	Lost by 9 @ Bengals
4 (↑2)	Packers	0.9800 (LW × 1.0051)	11-4	Won by 17 @ Buccaneers
5 (↓1)	Chiefs	0.9643 (LW × 0.9603)	8-7	Lost by 8 @ Steelers
6 (↑7)	Steelers	0.9620 (LW × 1.0389)	10-5	Won by 8 vs Chiefs
7 (↓2)	Cardinals	0.9512 (LW × 0.9590)	11-4	Lost by 29 vs Seahawks
8 (↑7)	Cowboys	0.9396 (LW × 1.0354)	11-4	Won by 35 vs Colts
9 (↓2)	Bills	0.9383 (LW × 0.9752)	8-7	Lost by 2 @ Raiders
10 (-)	Lions	0.9311 (LW × 0.9872)	11-4	Won by 6 @ Bears
11 (↓3)	Colts	0.9307 (LW × 0.9813)	10-5	Lost by 35 @ Cowboys
12 (↓3)	Dolphins	0.9234 (LW × 0.9782)	8-7	Won by 2 vs Vikings
13 (↓1)	Ravens	0.9166 (LW × 0.9821)	9-6	Lost by 12 @ Texans
14 (↑3)	Bengals	0.9116 (LW × 1.0443)	10-4-1	Won by 9 vs Broncos
15 (↓1)	Eagles	0.9038 (LW × 0.9827)	9-6	Lost by 3 @ Washington
16 (↑2)	Texans	0.8947 (LW × 1.0344)	8-7	Won by 12 vs Ravens
17 (↓6)	Rams	0.8934 (LW × 0.9539)	6-9	Lost by 9 vs Giants
18 (↓2)	Chargers	0.8902 (LW × 0.9819)	9-6	Won by 3 @ 49ers
19 (↑3)	Falcons	0.8590 (LW × 1.0538)	6-9	Won by 16 @ Saints
20 (↑1)	Vikings	0.8428 (LW × 1.0143)	6-9	Lost by 2 @ Dolphins
21 (↓2)	49ers	0.8365 (LW × 0.9766)	7-8	Lost by 3 vs Chargers
22 (↑4)	Giants	0.8322 (LW × 1.0550)	6-9	Won by 9 @ Rams
23 (-)	Raiders	0.8185 (LW × 1.0073)	3-12	Won by 2 vs Bills
24 (-)	Jets	0.8127 (LW × 1.0152)	3-12	Lost by 1 vs Patriots
25 (↓5)	Saints	0.8011 (LW × 0.9587)	6-9	Lost by 16 vs Falcons
26 (↓1)	Browns	0.8009 (LW × 1.0026)	7-8	Lost by 4 @ Panthers
27 (↑1)	Panthers	0.7794 (LW × 1.0105)	6-8-1	Won by 4 vs Browns
28 (↓1)	Bears	0.7710 (LW × 0.9946)	5-10	Lost by 6 vs Lions
29 (↑1)	Washington	0.7477 (LW × 1.0258)	4-11	Won by 3 vs Eagles
30 (↓1)	Buccaneers	0.7431 (LW × 0.9974)	2-13	Lost by 17 vs Packers
31 (-)	Jaguars	0.7371 (LW × 1.0256)	3-12	Won by 8 vs Titans
32 (-)	Titans	0.6769 (LW × 1.0061)	2-13	Lost by 8 @ Jaguars

Comments:

• This season, the Eagles are 1-6 when they don't score at least 30 points. Which doesn't say a lot for their defense.

• How good is the Packers defense? They had that ugly second half breakdown against the Falcons a couple weeks ago, but they also held the Buccaneers (yeah, I know, they're 2-13) to season lows on points scored, first downs, and yards from scrimmage. They also sacked Josh McCown 7 times, most all year.

• Remember how I said in the game picks that the Colts were bad on the road against good teams? Yeah, that. The Colts had 1 rushing yard on Sunday. One.

• That was a really ugly game for Peyton Manning Monday night. He hasn't had a 4 interception outing since 2010.

• The Saints have lost 5 home games for the first time since 2007, Payton and Brees's second season with the team.

• With the Bills' elimination from the playoffs this week, their streak of longest active playoff appearance drought will continue for at least another year. The Music City Miracle game remains the Bills' last playoff appearance.

NFL Week 15 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Patriots	1.1459 (LW × 1.0187)	11-3	Won by 28 vs Dolphins
2 (-)	Broncos	1.0694 (LW × 1.0108)	11-3	Won by 12 @ Chargers
3 (-)	Seahawks	1.0287 (LW × 1.0118)	10-4	Won by 10 vs 49ers
4 (↑1)	Chiefs	1.0042 (LW × 1.0057)	8-6	Won by 18 vs Raiders
5 (↑1)	Cardinals	0.9918 (LW × 1.0128)	11-3	Won by 6 @ Rams
6 (↓2)	Packers	0.9750 (LW × 0.9746)	10-4	Lost by 8 @ Bills
7 (↑4)	Bills	0.9622 (LW × 1.0280)	8-6	Won by 8 vs Packers
8 (↑4)	Colts	0.9485 (LW × 1.0136)	10-4	Won by 7 vs Texans
9 (↓2)	Dolphins	0.9439 (LW × 0.9874)	7-7	Lost by 28 @ Patriots
10 (↓1)	Lions	0.9432 (LW × 0.9924)	10-4	Won by 2 vs Vikings
11 (↑2)	Rams	0.9366 (LW × 1.0027)	6-8	Lost by 6 vs Cardinals
12 (↓2)	Ravens	0.9333 (LW × 0.9955)	9-5	Won by 8 vs Jaguars
13 (↑2)	Steelers	0.9260 (LW × 1.0350)	9-5	Won by 7 @ Falcons
14 (↓6)	Eagles	0.9198 (LW × 0.9675)	9-5	Lost by 11 vs Cowboys
15 (↑1)	Cowboys	0.9075 (LW × 1.0206)	10-4	Won by 11 @ Eagles
16 (↓2)	Chargers	0.9066 (LW × 0.9833)	8-6	Lost by 12 vs Broncos
17 (↑2)	Bengals	0.8730 (LW × 1.0421)	9-4-1	Won by 30 @ Browns
18 (↓1)	Texans	0.8649 (LW × 0.9993)	7-7	Lost by 7 @ Colts
19 (↓1)	49ers	0.8565 (LW × 0.9950)	7-7	Lost by 10 @ Seahawks
20 (↑5)	Saints	0.8356 (LW × 1.0329)	6-8	Won by 16 @ Bears
21 (↓1)	Vikings	0.8309 (LW × 1.0077)	6-8	Lost by 2 @ Lions
22 (-)	Falcons	0.8151 (LW × 0.9893)	5-9	Lost by 7 vs Steelers
23 (-)	Raiders	0.8126 (LW × 0.9974)	2-12	Lost by 18 @ Chiefs
24 (↑2)	Jets	0.8006 (LW × 1.0156)	3-11	Won by 5 @ Titans
25 (↓4)	Browns	0.7988 (LW × 0.9691)	7-7	Lost by 30 vs Bengals
26 (↑1)	Giants	0.7888 (LW × 1.0077)	5-9	Won by 11 vs Washington
27 (↓3)	Bears	0.7752 (LW × 0.9554)	5-9	Lost by 16 vs Saints
28 (-)	Panthers	0.7713 (LW × 1.0024)	5-8-1	Won by 2 vs Buccaneers
29 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7451 (LW × 0.9951)	2-12	Lost by 2 @ Panthers
30 (-)	Washington	0.7289 (LW × 0.9911)	3-11	Lost by 11 @ Giants
31 (-)	Jaguars	0.7187 (LW × 1.0217)	2-12	Lost by 8 @ Ravens
32 (-)	Titans	0.6728 (LW × 0.9976)	2-12	Lost by 5 vs Jets

Comments:

• The top teams seem to be pretty reasonable right now. Chiefs are maybe a little high, but I don't think I'd drop them very far, either.

• Looking at the bottom 10, the Browns are the only team without at least 8½ losses, but the way they've been playing lately (1-4 in their last 5) they don't really seem that out of place.

• The Eagles are 1-3 this season when they turn the ball over 4 times. Which is remarkable since 1) they actually won one of those games, and 2) they've had four 4-turnover games this season. The Raiders have three 4-turnover games, and they're the only other team in the league with more than two.

  The Eagles still have a chance to win the NFC East (and a better chance with Cowboys' RB DeMarco Murray hurt). But with the kind of turnovers they've been having on offense, they're certainly not set up to make a deep run if they do make it in.

• Congratulations to the Cardinals, who have clinched a playoff spot, and thus avoid becoming the first team (at least since the 1970 merger) to go 9-1 and miss the playoffs (depends on how you measure who came closest, a number of teams made it to 7-1 and missed the playoffs, and the '93 Dolphins made it to 9-2 before losing out and missing the playoffs).

• Presumably the Texans will rally around Ryan Fitzpatrick Ryan Mallet Ryan Fitzpatrick Tom Savage er... Case Keenum? They're really giving the Cardinals a run for the money as franchise with the most pathetic quarterback situation.

NFL Week 14 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Patriots	1.1249 (LW × 1.0097)	10-3	Won by 9 @ Chargers
2 (-)	Broncos	1.0580 (LW × 1.0025)	10-3	Won by 7 vs Bills
3 (↑3)	Seahawks	1.0168 (LW × 1.0445)	9-4	Won by 10 @ Eagles
4 (↓1)	Packers	1.0004 (LW × 0.9739)	10-3	Won by 6 vs Falcons
5 (-)	Chiefs	0.9985 (LW × 0.9951)	7-6	Lost by 3 @ Cardinals
6 (↑2)	Cardinals	0.9793 (LW × 1.0242)	10-3	Won by 3 vs Chiefs
7 (↓3)	Dolphins	0.9560 (LW × 0.9498)	7-6	Lost by 15 vs Ravens
8 (↓1)	Eagles	0.9507 (LW × 0.9806)	9-4	Lost by 10 vs Seahawks
9 (-)	Lions	0.9505 (LW × 0.9953)	9-4	Won by 17 vs Buccaneers
10 (↑3)	Ravens	0.9375 (LW × 1.0340)	8-5	Won by 15 @ Dolphins
11 (↓1)	Bills	0.9360 (LW × 0.9916)	7-6	Lost by 7 @ Broncos
12 (↓1)	Colts	0.9358 (LW × 0.9963)	9-4	Won by 1 @ Browns
13 (↑1)	Rams	0.9341 (LW × 1.0351)	6-7	Won by 24 @ Washington
14 (↓2)	Chargers	0.9220 (LW × 0.9924)	8-5	Lost by 9 vs Patriots
15 (↑3)	Steelers	0.8947 (LW × 1.0343)	8-5	Won by 21 @ Bengals
16 (-)	Cowboys	0.8892 (LW × 1.0085)	9-4	Won by 13 @ Bears
17 (↑2)	Texans	0.8655 (LW × 1.0053)	7-6	Won by 14 @ Jaguars
18 (↓3)	49ers	0.8608 (LW × 0.9703)	7-6	Lost by 11 @ Raiders
19 (↓2)	Bengals	0.8377 (LW × 0.9544)	8-4-1	Lost by 21 vs Steelers
20 (↑2)	Vikings	0.8246 (LW × 0.9944)	6-7	Won by 6 vs Jets
21 (↑2)	Browns	0.8243 (LW × 0.9945)	7-6	Lost by 1 vs Colts
22 (↑2)	Falcons	0.8240 (LW × 1.0335)	5-8	Lost by 6 @ Packers
23 (↑3)	Raiders	0.8148 (LW × 1.0416)	2-11	Won by 11 vs 49ers
24 (↓3)	Bears	0.8114 (LW × 0.9693)	5-8	Lost by 13 vs Cowboys
25 (↓5)	Saints	0.8090 (LW × 0.9436)	5-8	Lost by 31 vs Panthers
26 (↓1)	Jets	0.7883 (LW × 1.0017)	2-11	Lost by 6 @ Vikings
27 (-)	Giants	0.7828 (LW × 1.0139)	4-9	Won by 29 @ Titans
28 (↑2)	Panthers	0.7694 (LW × 1.0360)	4-8-1	Won by 31 @ Saints
29 (↓1)	Buccaneers	0.7488 (LW × 0.9890)	2-11	Lost by 17 @ Lions
30 (↓1)	Washington	0.7354 (LW × 0.9744)	3-10	Lost by 24 vs Rams
31 (-)	Jaguars	0.7034 (LW × 0.9721)	2-11	Lost by 14 vs Texans
32 (-)	Titans	0.6744 (LW × 0.9634)	2-11	Lost by 29 vs Giants

Comments:

• Wow, that was a pretty ugly game by the Packers tonight. They haven't given up 37 points and won since 2011 (which does not bring up happy memories for Packer fans).

  That was the most passing yards the Packers' defense has given up all season, and the only game they've given up 4 touchdown passes. Maybe it was a fluke game, but it feels to me like the Packers' chances to get to the Super Bowl this year just took a major blow.

• The Cardinals get a crucial home win, and with the 49ers playing the way they have, another win week 17 seems like a real possibility.

• The Seahawks get a crucial win of their own, which means the Seahawks @ Cardinals game week 16 will probably decide the NFC West. And with head-to-head tiebreakers over the Packers and now the Eagles, the Seahawks have a real shot at the top seed too.

• The Patriots are down to three division games, with week 16 at the Jets the only one on the road. Barring a major face plant, the Pats should be able to win out with relative ease, which will get them the #1 seed in the AFC.

• Looking at APR's top 10 teams, the Chiefs and Dolphins are the only ones that seem out of place.

• And #16 may kinda low for the 9-win Cowboys, but looking at their record, that week 6 win over the Seahawks is maybe the only win over a quality team they have this season. They lost to the 49ers, Cardinals, and Eagles, so I'm not sure how much wins over the likes of the Giants, Jaguars and Titans should really matter.

• As an update on the monitor situation, the old one seems to be hanging in there, and the new one is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, so it looks like FSPI will go on as scheduled this week.

NFL Week 13 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Patriots	1.1141 (LW × 1.0077)	9-3	Lost by 5 @ Packers
2 (-)	Broncos	1.0553 (LW × 1.0184)	9-3	Won by 13 @ Chiefs
3 (↑3)	Packers	1.0272 (LW × 1.0396)	9-3	Won by 5 vs Patriots
4 (↑1)	Dolphins	1.0066 (LW × 1.0137)	7-5	Won by 3 @ Jets
5 (↓2)	Chiefs	1.0034 (LW × 0.9790)	7-5	Lost by 13 vs Broncos
6 (↑1)	Seahawks	0.9734 (LW × 1.0151)	8-4	Won by 16 @ 49ers
7 (↑1)	Eagles	0.9695 (LW × 1.0220)	9-3	Won by 23 @ Cowboys
8 (↓4)	Cardinals	0.9562 (LW × 0.9584)	9-3	Lost by 11 @ Falcons
9 (↑4)	Lions	0.9550 (LW × 1.0328)	8-4	Won by 17 vs Bears
10 (↑5)	Bills	0.9439 (LW × 1.0302)	7-5	Won by 16 vs Browns
11 (↓2)	Colts	0.9393 (LW × 0.9964)	8-4	Won by 22 vs Washington
12 (↑2)	Chargers	0.9290 (LW × 1.0102)	8-4	Won by 1 @ Ravens
13 (↓2)	Ravens	0.9067 (LW × 0.9790)	7-5	Lost by 1 vs Chargers
14 (↑2)	Rams	0.9024 (LW × 1.0198)	5-7	Won by 52 vs Raiders
15 (↓3)	49ers	0.8871 (LW × 0.9591)	7-5	Lost by 16 vs Seahawks
16 (↓6)	Cowboys	0.8818 (LW × 0.9431)	8-4	Lost by 23 vs Eagles
17 (↑1)	Bengals	0.8777 (LW × 0.9945)	8-3-1	Won by 1 @ Buccaneers
18 (↓1)	Steelers	0.8651 (LW × 0.9787)	7-5	Lost by 3 vs Saints
19 (-)	Texans	0.8610 (LW × 0.9924)	6-6	Won by 24 vs Titans
20 (↑1)	Saints	0.8573 (LW × 1.0188)	5-7	Won by 3 @ Steelers
21 (↑1)	Bears	0.8371 (LW × 0.9964)	5-7	Lost by 17 @ Lions
22 (↑2)	Vikings	0.8292 (LW × 1.0357)	5-7	Won by 18 vs Panthers
23 (↓3)	Browns	0.8289 (LW × 0.9786)	7-5	Lost by 16 @ Bills
24 (↑4)	Falcons	0.7973 (LW × 1.0431)	5-7	Won by 11 vs Cardinals
25 (↑2)	Jets	0.7869 (LW × 1.0246)	2-10	Lost by 3 vs Dolphins
26 (↓1)	Raiders	0.7823 (LW × 0.9826)	1-11	Lost by 52 @ Rams
27 (↓4)	Giants	0.7721 (LW × 0.9640)	3-9	Lost by 1 @ Jaguars
28 (↑2)	Buccaneers	0.7571 (LW × 1.0061)	2-10	Lost by 1 vs Bengals
29 (↓3)	Washington	0.7547 (LW × 0.9765)	3-9	Lost by 22 @ Colts
30 (↓1)	Panthers	0.7427 (LW × 0.9831)	3-8-1	Lost by 18 @ Vikings
31 (↑1)	Jaguars	0.7236 (LW × 1.0106)	2-10	Won by 1 vs Giants
32 (↓1)	Titans	0.7000 (LW × 0.9744)	2-10	Lost by 24 @ Texans

Comments:

• A lot of power rankings will, no doubt, put the Packers in the top slot this week. But I think APR is right to keep the Pats at #1. They still have that very impressive streak of wins over the Broncos, Colts, and Lions. The fact that they went into a very hostile Lambeau field, and took the Packers to the wire is still pretty solid.

• Thanks to a couple upset wins by the Falcons and Saints, we know the eventual NFC South winner will have at least 5 wins. The Saints seem to have a pretty easy remaining schedule, with three division games and a visit to the struggling Bears. So in spite of the doom-sayers, it's possible they could make it to 8 or even 9 wins.

• I'm actually kinda surprised APR gave the Dolphins a one-spot bump on their 3 point win over the now 2-10 Jets. I suppose that's at least partly due to wins by nearly every team they've already played this week, making their record look retroactively more impressive.

• That was a really costly loss for the Cardinals this week. Even if they win their remaining home games (and facing the Chiefs and Seahawks, there's no guarantees), they've still got a couple of tough road games at the Rams and 49ers. With the Seahawks perhaps shaking off their early season troubles, the Cardinals might actually find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes playoff time.

• And speaking of ugly losses, this was the first time the Rams have scored 50 or more points since the Greatest Show on Turf era, and the first time the Raiders have given up 50 or more points since ah, well, last year. (It is the worst loss for the Raiders since the early days of the AFL, though.)

• The Browns, despite their winning record, have dropped down into the bottom 10 of the rankings. But given the quality of their last three games (drubbing by the Texans and Bills, separated by a squeaker win over the Falcons) I'd be hard pressed to make a case for a much higher spot.

NFL Week 12 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Patriots	1.1055 (LW × 1.0317)	9-2	Won by 25 vs Lions
2 (↑1)	Broncos	1.0362 (LW × 1.0026)	8-3	Won by 3 vs Dolphins
3 (↓1)	Chiefs	1.0249 (LW × 0.9809)	7-4	Lost by 4 @ Raiders
4 (-)	Cardinals	0.9977 (LW × 0.9665)	9-2	Lost by 16 @ Seahawks
5 (↑1)	Dolphins	0.9930 (LW × 1.0171)	6-5	Lost by 3 @ Broncos
6 (↓1)	Packers	0.9881 (LW × 1.0049)	8-3	Won by 3 @ Vikings
7 (↑5)	Seahawks	0.9590 (LW × 1.0407)	7-4	Won by 16 vs Cardinals
8 (↓1)	Eagles	0.9486 (LW × 0.9927)	8-3	Won by 19 vs Titans
9 (↑2)	Colts	0.9427 (LW × 1.0077)	7-4	Won by 20 vs Jaguars
10 (↓1)	Cowboys	0.9349 (LW × 0.9969)	8-3	Won by 3 @ Giants
11 (↑4)	Ravens	0.9262 (LW × 1.0295)	7-4	Won by 7 @ Saints
12 (↓4)	49ers	0.9250 (LW × 0.9806)	7-4	Won by 4 vs Washington
13 (↓3)	Lions	0.9246 (LW × 0.9862)	7-4	Lost by 25 @ Patriots
14 (↓1)	Chargers	0.9196 (LW × 1.0065)	7-4	Won by 3 vs Rams
15 (↓1)	Bills	0.9162 (LW × 1.0093)	6-5	Won by 35 vs Jets
16 (↑1)	Rams	0.8849 (LW × 1.0064)	4-7	Lost by 3 @ Chargers
17 (↑1)	Steelers	0.8838 (LW × 1.0058)	7-4	Bye
18 (↑2)	Bengals	0.8825 (LW × 1.0347)	7-3-1	Won by 9 @ Texans
19 (↓3)	Texans	0.8675 (LW × 0.9728)	5-6	Lost by 9 vs Bengals
20 (↑2)	Browns	0.8470 (LW × 1.0173)	7-4	Won by 2 @ Falcons
21 (↓2)	Saints	0.8414 (LW × 0.9851)	4-7	Lost by 7 vs Ravens
22 (↓1)	Bears	0.8401 (LW × 1.0080)	5-6	Won by 8 vs Buccaneers
23 (-)	Giants	0.8009 (LW × 0.9917)	3-8	Lost by 3 vs Cowboys
24 (-)	Vikings	0.8006 (LW × 1.0051)	4-7	Lost by 3 vs Packers
25 (↑3)	Raiders	0.7962 (LW × 1.0526)	1-10	Won by 4 vs Chiefs
26 (↑1)	Washington	0.7729 (LW × 1.0140)	3-8	Lost by 4 @ 49ers
27 (↓2)	Jets	0.7680 (LW × 0.9915)	2-9	Lost by 35 @ Bills
28 (↓2)	Falcons	0.7644 (LW × 0.9980)	4-7	Lost by 2 vs Browns
29 (-)	Panthers	0.7555 (LW × 1.0086)	3-7-1	Bye
30 (-)	Buccaneers	0.7525 (LW × 1.0059)	2-9	Lost by 8 @ Bears
31 (-)	Titans	0.7184 (LW × 0.9987)	2-9	Lost by 19 @ Eagles
32 (-)	Jaguars	0.7160 (LW × 1.0158)	1-10	Lost by 20 @ Colts

Comments:

• The Patriots are kinda starting to look scary good. This is the same season they struggled to beat the Raiders and Jets, and got clobbered by the Chiefs. But since then, they've had convincing wins against a string of playoff contending teams. If they can go into Lambeau and get another win next week, this really could be the year Brady gets a fourth ring.

• Let's play "coach the Minnesota Vikings". Here's the scenario: you just scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to pull within 3 points. You've got 3:28 and one time out left (plus the two minute warning), so if the Packers have the ball, they probably only need a first down or two to salt away the win.

  Unless you've got one of the best defenses in the league (and maybe even if you do), you have to onside kick here, right? Add in a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty on the 2 point conversion so that you're kicking from the 50 yard line, and an OSK is pretty much a no-brainer.

  Instead, the Vikings kicked deep, the Packers got a couple first downs, and it was kneel-down time. (Also, for the record, the Vikings have a middle-of-the-league defense, and are a little worse against the run than the pass).

• Somebody needs to tell the Chiefs that no touchdowns to a wide receiver is really not a good thing.

• The Cardinals are 3-64 (4.5%) since 2000 when scoring less than 14 points. Surprisingly, that's not the worst record for that era. The Chargers (1-36, 2.7%), Saints (1-35, 2.8%), and Vikings (2-46, 4.2%) are all worse.

  The Patriots (8-20, 28.6%) and Steelers (11-33, 25.0%) have the best record in such games during that era.

• So the answer is yes, the Saints really are gonna lose three in a row at home. something they haven't done since Drew Brees came to town.

• Wow, that was an ugly game in Detroit. It looked like the Jets were the ones that lost practice time, and had to play a nominal home game hundreds of miles away from their home stadium on short notice.

NFL Week 11 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (↑3)	Patriots	1.0716 (LW × 1.0389)	8-2	Won by 22 @ Colts
2 (↑1)	Chiefs	1.0449 (LW × 1.0129)	7-3	Won by 4 vs Seahawks
3 (↓2)	Broncos	1.0334 (LW × 0.9415)	7-3	Lost by 15 @ Rams
4 (↓2)	Cardinals	1.0324 (LW × 0.9959)	9-1	Won by 8 vs Lions
5 (↑4)	Packers	0.9832 (LW × 1.0415)	7-3	Won by 33 vs Eagles
6 (↑1)	Dolphins	0.9763 (LW × 1.0259)	6-4	Won by 13 vs Bills
7 (↓2)	Eagles	0.9556 (LW × 0.9591)	7-3	Lost by 33 @ Packers
8 (↑3)	49ers	0.9433 (LW × 1.0039)	6-4	Won by 6 @ Giants
9 (↓1)	Cowboys	0.9378 (LW × 0.9886)	7-3	Bye
10 (-)	Lions	0.9375 (LW × 0.9973)	7-3	Lost by 8 @ Cardinals
11 (↓5)	Colts	0.9355 (LW × 0.9578)	6-4	Lost by 22 vs Patriots
12 (↑1)	Seahawks	0.9215 (LW × 0.9937)	6-4	Lost by 4 @ Chiefs
13 (↓1)	Chargers	0.9137 (LW × 0.9828)	6-4	Won by 7 vs Raiders
14 (-)	Bills	0.9078 (LW × 0.9939)	5-5	Lost by 13 @ Dolphins
15 (-)	Ravens	0.8996 (LW × 0.9982)	6-4	Bye
16 (↑2)	Texans	0.8918 (LW × 1.0125)	5-5	Won by 16 @ Browns
17 (↑4)	Rams	0.8793 (LW × 1.0675)	4-6	Won by 15 vs Broncos
18 (↓1)	Steelers	0.8787 (LW × 0.9925)	7-4	Won by 3 @ Titans
19 (↓3)	Saints	0.8541 (LW × 0.9593)	4-6	Lost by 17 vs Bengals
20 (-)	Bengals	0.8529 (LW × 1.0245)	6-3-1	Won by 17 @ Saints
21 (↑3)	Bears	0.8334 (LW × 1.0283)	4-6	Won by 8 vs Vikings
22 (↓3)	Browns	0.8326 (LW × 0.9579)	6-4	Lost by 16 vs Texans
23 (↓1)	Giants	0.8075 (LW × 0.9809)	3-7	Lost by 6 vs 49ers
24 (↑1)	Vikings	0.7965 (LW × 0.9882)	4-6	Lost by 8 @ Bears
25 (↑1)	Jets	0.7746 (LW × 1.0009)	2-8	Bye
26 (↑3)	Falcons	0.7659 (LW × 1.0263)	4-6	Won by 2 @ Panthers
27 (↓4)	Washington	0.7622 (LW × 0.9328)	3-7	Lost by 20 vs Buccaneers
28 (-)	Raiders	0.7563 (LW × 1.0003)	0-10	Lost by 7 @ Chargers
29 (↓2)	Panthers	0.7490 (LW × 0.9764)	3-7-1	Lost by 2 vs Falcons
30 (↑2)	Buccaneers	0.7480 (LW × 1.0512)	2-8	Won by 20 @ Washington
31 (↓1)	Titans	0.7193 (LW × 0.9781)	2-8	Lost by 3 vs Steelers
32 (↓1)	Jaguars	0.7049 (LW × 0.9842)	1-9	Bye

Comments:

• Another ugly loss for the Broncos, and this one finally knocks them off the top of the rankings. I'm not sold on the Patriots as the best team in the league, but 8 wins and a very solid road victory over the Colts make for a pretty nice resume right now.

• The Cardinals knock off the Lions to take a 2 game lead over the other division leaders in the NFC. But they way both these teams played, I'm not sure either can win a playoff game on the road. And while the Cards have the inside track on the #1 seed for the moment, they've got a tough remaining schedule, including all three divisional road games. They haven't clinched anything yet.

• After looking like dopes in their home stadium against the Browns, the Bengals go into the Superdome, and get a 3-score victory in one of the toughest places to get a road win in the league.

• The 49ers continue to claw their way back from the brink of elimination. But it can't be good that with a +3 turnover margin, they only beat the Giants by 6 points.

• And with the Seahawks losing, whatever chances they and the 49ers have to get to the playoffs may hinge on their home-and-away series (either that or hoping the Cardinals collapse playing out their own home stretch).

• The playoff picture in the AFC is just a mess. The Patriots probably have the AFC East locked up once again. But all the other divisions are still in contention, with just one win separating first and last place in the AFC North, and five teams at 6-4 (and the Bengals at 6-3-1) vying for that #6 wildcard seed.

• The Raiders have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, and the situations for the Jets, Titans and Jaguars are probably hopeless. Every other AFC team has at least a shot at getting in.

NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Power Index	W-L	This Week
1 (-)	Broncos	1.0976 (LW × 1.0150)	7-2	Won by 24 @ Raiders
2 (↑1)	Cardinals	1.0366 (LW × 1.0120)	8-1	Won by 17 vs Rams
3 (↑2)	Chiefs	1.0316 (LW × 1.0324)	6-3	Won by 4 @ Bills
4 (↓2)	Patriots	1.0314 (LW × 1.0029)	7-2	Bye
5 (↑1)	Eagles	0.9963 (LW × 0.9979)	7-2	Won by 24 vs Panthers
6 (↓2)	Colts	0.9767 (LW × 0.9719)	6-3	Bye
7 (-)	Dolphins	0.9516 (LW × 1.0014)	5-4	Lost by 4 @ Lions
8 (-)	Cowboys	0.9487 (LW × 1.0108)	7-3	Won by 14 @ Jaguars
9 (↑5)	Packers	0.9440 (LW × 1.0306)	6-3	Won by 41 vs Bears
10 (↑1)	Lions	0.9401 (LW × 1.0204)	7-2	Won by 4 vs Dolphins
11 (↑2)	49ers	0.9396 (LW × 1.0255)	5-4	Won by 3 @ Saints
12 (-)	Chargers	0.9297 (LW × 1.0137)	5-4	Bye
13 (↑3)	Seahawks	0.9273 (LW × 1.0222)	6-3	Won by 21 vs Giants
14 (↑1)	Bills	0.9133 (LW × 1.0019)	5-4	Lost by 4 vs Chiefs
15 (↓5)	Ravens	0.9013 (LW × 0.9748)	6-4	Won by 14 vs Titans
16 (↑2)	Saints	0.8904 (LW × 0.9960)	4-5	Lost by 3 vs 49ers
17 (↓8)	Steelers	0.8854 (LW × 0.9530)	6-4	Lost by 7 @ Jets
18 (↑1)	Texans	0.8808 (LW × 0.9866)	4-5	Bye
19 (↑1)	Browns	0.8691 (LW × 1.0176)	6-3	Won by 21 @ Bengals
20 (↓3)	Bengals	0.8326 (LW × 0.9251)	5-3-1	Lost by 21 vs Browns
21 (↑3)	Rams	0.8237 (LW × 1.0134)	3-6	Lost by 17 @ Cardinals
22 (↓1)	Giants	0.8232 (LW × 0.9776)	3-6	Lost by 21 @ Seahawks
23 (-)	Washington	0.8171 (LW × 0.9957)	3-6	Bye
24 (↓2)	Bears	0.8104 (LW × 0.9847)	3-6	Lost by 41 @ Packers
25 (-)	Vikings	0.8060 (LW × 1.0033)	4-5	Bye
26 (↑6)	Jets	0.7739 (LW × 1.0541)	2-8	Won by 7 vs Steelers
27 (↓1)	Panthers	0.7671 (LW × 0.9753)	3-6-1	Lost by 24 @ Eagles
28 (-)	Raiders	0.7561 (LW × 1.0117)	0-9	Lost by 24 vs Broncos
29 (-)	Falcons	0.7463 (LW × 1.0073)	3-6	Won by 10 @ Buccaneers
30 (↓3)	Titans	0.7354 (LW × 0.9675)	2-7	Lost by 14 @ Ravens
31 (↓1)	Jaguars	0.7162 (LW × 0.9712)	1-9	Lost by 14 vs Cowboys
32 (↓1)	Buccaneers	0.7116 (LW × 0.9658)	1-8	Lost by 10 vs Falcons

Comments:

• Remember back after week 6, when I said the Dolphins have a problem knowing how to win? Yeah, still thinking that. I think it's just APR's love of teams that lose close to highly ranked oppnents that's keeping them in the top 10 right now..

• Or back in week 8, when I wondered, is there any figuring the Bengals? Still wondering that, too.

• Remember when the Giants had posted three convincing wins, and looked like they might have a chance to run away with the NFC East? Even now they're not totally out of it, but with games against the 49ers, Cowboys and Eagles still to play, they might have trouble making it past 7 wins this year.

• The Cardinals have lost Carson Palmer for the season, which means that it's up to Drew Stanton to take them as far as he can. I suppose the good news is, it's not that huge of a drop off from Palmer to Stanton, the strengths of that team are really elsewhere.

• I don't think I've ever seen a teams playoff hopes dashed as hard or as fast as the Bears have in their last two games. The Bears haven't historically haven't been quick to fire their head coaches, but Trestman is really the first one they've hired in the social media era, and there have been calls for him to be fired, even before the end of the season.

• The Browns have a decent shot at just their third winning season since their 1999 reboot, and their second playoff appearance in that span. Note that APR has them ranked quite low, at #19. But if you look at their schedule, they've got close wins over teams like the Titans, Raiders, and Buccaneers, and an 18 point loss to the currently 1-9 Jaguars. It's certainly not the most impressive resume in the league right now.