Bills and Lions in a close battle for first place

NFL power rankings entering Week 17 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Buffalo Bills (1): Yes, they struggled to beat last-place New England on Sunday, failed to score at least 30 points for the first time since Week 6 and were lucky that QB Josh Allen avoided a major injury to his throwing arm. But even at Highmark Stadium, the Bills remained perfect this season – warning enough for the rest of the AFC if Buffalo can make it through Western New York to Super Bowl 59. And remember, this is still the only team to beat Kansas City and Detroit.

2. Detroit Lions (3): As the first team in franchise history to win 13 games, they look to pave the NFC’s path to the Super Bowl straight to Ford Field. There’s still a lot of work to be done on that front, even for a team that is almost certainly the franchise’s best team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) – the Lions’ 493 points and 7-0 road record are club highs – this is also indicative of its eventful history during this period. Regardless, credit goes to Dan Campbell and Co. for continuing to play at a high level, no matter how many injuries and other obstacles they have to overcome. Detroit is the only team this season with a 1,000-yard rusher with 10 touchdowns (Jahmyr Gibbs). And a 1,000-yard receiver with 10 TDs (Amon-Ra St. Brown).

3. Kansas City Chiefs (6): According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, they have a 90 percent chance of securing home-field advantage, and — with all due respect to Buffalo — that seems conservative. While the two-time defending champions remain under the microscope despite a 14-1 record, let’s remember that these Chiefs have certainly shown the ability to find an extra gear (or two) early in the postseason. And it certainly won’t hurt to have another weapon, recently activated WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, now available to QB Patrick Mahomes and HC Andy Reid.

4. Green Bay Packers (4): QB Jordan Love and this team largely mimic the trajectory of 2023 – meaning a very strong second half of the season leading to a wild card berth… and maybe a lot of damage done in the playoffs? It will be interesting over the next two weeks to see how important the seeding is for HC Matt LaFleur and how much he wants to rest his best players.

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5. Minnesota Vikings (5): Kevin O’Connell has been in charge for three seasons and is already the only coach in the franchise’s 63-year history to win 13 regular-season games twice. Seems a performance worthy of one of those typical Vikes on-field celebrations…

6. Philadelphia Eagles (2): This decline is less due to losing a game on the road to a top-flight Commanders team and more due to the uncertainty currently clouding the availability of QB Jalen Hurts (concussion) – similar to what the Chiefs did a week ago, when Mahomes injured his ankle. Regardless, Philly is close to securing the No. 2 seed and, assuming Hurts returns soon, could very well compete for a second Super Bowl berth in three seasons.

7. Baltimore Ravens (8): QB Lamar Jackson’s immediate priority could be Queen Bey. Otherwise, he and his teammates appear to be getting into championship shape at the right time… 12 years after they won the last Super Bowl in New Orleans.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7): Given this offense’s poor performance without him over the past three weeks, is injured WR George Pickens actually this club’s MVP?

9. Los Angeles Rams (9): If you think West Coast teams are soft, then you clearly didn’t watch the shirtless Rams warm up in 23-degree New Jersey on Sunday before taking on the Jets. (Note: This team is currently on track to face the Packers in the wild card round…albeit in LA.)

10. Washington Commanders (12): Sunday’s win was exciting, dramatic and puts them on the verge of making the playoffs and their first regular season with at least 11 wins since 1991. But let’s not forget that it came despite five turnovers and against a Philadelphia team that forced was to bring in an injured backup quarterback.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11): They no longer control their path to another NFC South title, but they have things going in their favor that Atlanta doesn’t have – namely two home games against seemingly weak opponents (Panthers, Saints) and an experienced quarterback who thrives The NFL has already battle-tested playoff crucible.

12. Los Angeles Chargers (16): It took 48 years, but the Bolts have now converted the NFL’s last two successful fair catch kicks. It’s a shame that Bill Belichick, who enjoys an arcane football rule like everyone else, won’t be on the sidelines when the Chargers visit Foxborough on Saturday.

13. Houston Texans (13): Apparently they think it’s smart to be WR Diontae Johnson’s fourth employer in less than a year… although appointing him also represents a referendum on the state of their receiving corps behind WR1 Nico Collins.

14.Cincinnati Bengals (17): QB Joe Burrow and Co., who have won three times in a row, have pretty much everything in their favor – saving enough time to overcome their constant mistakes early in the season…

15. Denver Broncos (10): …However, if She If there is no loss in Cincinnati on Saturday – and Denver’s resume is full of wins against the lightweights – the pucker factor will increase significantly in Week 18 with no wild card spot secured yet.

16. Seattle Seahawks (14): DT Byron Murphy II made a big rookie mistake on Sunday, calling a crucial facemask penalty on Sam Darnold one snap before the Minnesota quarterback threw the game-winning touchdown. Did we mention Murphy? Is a newbie?

17. Atlanta Falcons (18): The move to QB Michael Penix Jr. is the obvious change for a team that has reclaimed the NFC South lead. But the more important thing may be a revitalized pass rush that has averaged four sacks per game over the last four weeks … after totaling 10 sacks in the first 11 games.

18. Dallas Cowboys (20): Is anyone doing more to keep HC Mike McCarthy’s job than All-Pro K Brandon Aubrey, whose 14 50-yard field goals are already an NFL single-season record?

19. Arizona Cardinals (15): Last Sunday they tried on fourth-and-2…from their own 18-yard line…in overtime…and converted. The Cards ultimately lost and were eliminated from the playoffs, but this snapshot is probably a good indication of what kind of club they will be in the years to come.

20. Indianapolis Colts (21): Sunday is what they were always supposed to be offensively, with QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor in the backfield – an offense that can unleash an unstoppable running game that can cover up almost any other mistake. Maybe that’s what she is will be in 2025.

21. Miami Dolphins (22): The last time WR Tyreek Hill played a full season and didn’t reach 1,000 receiving yards was 2016 – when he was a rookie and started a game.

22. San Francisco 49ers (19): Although he hardly looks like “Mr. Irrelevant,” QB Brock Purdy easily had his least impressive season in 2024. It will be fascinating to see how this impacts his upcoming window for negotiating a deserved contract extension.

23. Carolina Panthers (25): His progress has been modest, but QB Bryce Young posted his first game of the season with a passer rating above 100.0 on Sunday. His accuracy, decision making and ability to make plays outside the pocket are improving.

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24. New England Patriots (23): Rookie QB Drake Maye has thrown at least one interception in seven straight games, the longest active streak in the league and one not seen in this area since the pre-Brady years.

25. Chicago Bears (24): Meanwhile, No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has not delivered an INT in his last 326 passes, a rookie record. He is also the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to go nine games without a win without being subbed off.

26. New York Jets (28): Did Aaron Rodgers ever think he would throw his 500th regular-season TD pass in a meaningless late-season game at Buffalo? (Then again, maybe he won’t…)

27. Las Vegas Raiders (30): Amazingly, Sunday was the first game of the season in which they didn’t face a double-digit deficit.

28. New Orleans Saints (26): You can only lose so many core players before the bottom team is completely eliminated. The Saints became the first team all season to be shut out in Monday night’s implosion in Green Bay.

29. Cleveland Browns (27): Is the greatness of DE Myles Garrett — a recent addition to Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and the only player to record at least 12 sacks in five consecutive seasons — wasted here? Garrett isn’t complaining (yet), but it’s obvious he’s not willing to wait long for this team to improve… which certainly won’t happen until QB Deshaun Watson gets off the roster.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (29): No team has allowed more yards or generated fewer takeaways (8) than this one. If only DEs Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were such a deadly combination.

31. Tennessee Titans (31): (Mason) Rudolph gave Indianapolis three Christmas presents (INTs) on Sunday, promoting a new team tradition: The Titans lead the league with 32 turnovers after coughing up the ball 14 times in the last five games alone.

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Bills and Lions in a close battle for first place

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