Found December 15, 2008 on InGameNow:
Here is InGameNow's NFL Power Rankings Week 16   NFL Power Rankings Week 16:  Playoff Bound Teams   1.  Pittsburgh Steelers  The Pittsburgh Steelers had a huge win against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers have on of the best D's in the NFL.  As long as Big Ben keeps playing well, the Steelers are the team to beat in the AFC.  Right now, nobody can be trusted in the NFC.  If the Steelers are the best in the AFC, that makes them the best in the NFL.  AFC>NFC    2.  Indianapolis Colts  Peyton Manning has led the Indianapolis Colts to 7 straight wins.  Now that Manning is healthy, expect the Indianapolis Colts to compete for another Super Bowl.   3.  Carolina Panthers  The Carolina Panthers are the most under rated team in the NFL.  Playing in the very deep NFC South, the Panthers are currently 11-3.  This week, Carolina crushed the Denver Broncos 30-10.  With an 11-3 record, and 3 straight wins, the Panthers are the hottest team in the NFC.   4.  Tennessee Titans  The one negative thing about the Tennessee Titans is they can not win the big game.  There is no question they blew a chance to beat a solid team when they let the Houston Texan's Andre Johnson have 207 receiving yards against them.  The Titans could win 14 games this season and drop their first playoff game.    5.  New York Jets   Brett Favre is back to his winning ways, leading the New York Jets to a 31-27 win against the Buffalo Bills.  There is no question that the New York Jets are better than the Giants.    6.  New York Giants  The New York Giants are as cold as a New York winter.  After getting smoked by the Dallas Cowboys, it looks like the Giants are not a Super Bowl team.  Thanks Plax.   7.  New England Patriots  Before this weeks game, Matt Cassel lost his father.  Cassel tossed 4 td's for the New England Patriots, crushing the Oakland Raiders 49-26.  The Patriots have proven that even without Tom Brady, they still know how to win.   NFL Power Rankings Week 16:  Playoff Hopefuls   8.  Dallas Cowboys  The Dallas Cowboys have the ability to be the best team in the NFL.  Thanks to TO, Jerry Jones, and Pacman, the Cowboys are also the most volatile.    9.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Jeff Garcia has more wins than Donovan McNabb.  Think the Philadelphia Eagles fans have noticed this?  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have outscored their opponents 313-251.  Not bad, considering they are in the best division in football.   10.  Atlanta Falcons  Matt Ryan has helped the Atlanta Falcons fans forget who Michael Vick is.  There are very few rookies in the history of the NFL who have done more.  Expect the Falcons to be a 10-12 win team next season.    11.  Baltimore Ravens  The Baltimore Ravens have quietly scored 325 points this season.  Ray Lewis still controlls one of the best Defenses in football.  Fear the Ravens come playoff time.   12.  Minnesota Vikings   The Minnesota Vikings are by far the best team in the NFL (when QB is not factored in).  Adrian Peterson is the best back in the NFL.  If AP was on the New England Patriots, they would again be 16-0.   NFL Power Rankings Week 16:  Livin on a Prayer   13.  Miami Dolphins  The Miami Dolphins are the most improved team in the NFL.  The Dolphins have the most entertaining offense in the league.  Miami's Defense has given up less points than the New England Patriots.   14.  Chicago Bears  Kyle Orton has proven to be an above average QB.  In Chicago, this is huge.  The Bears have had a run of horrible QB's.  If they win out, the Chicago Bears will be 10-6, and should be headed to the playoffs.    15.  Arizona Cardinals  Kurt Warner has lead the Arizona Cardinals to a playoff berth.  The Cardinals have a top offense in the league.  If they play in a warm weather playoff game (or on turf) Arizona will be a formidable playoff team.    16.  Philadelphia Eagles  Donovan McNabb and Andy Reed have run out of time in Philadelphia.  It is time for the Eagles to go in a different direction.   17.  Houston Texans  Andre Johnson is coming off a 207 yard game against the Tennessee Titans, who happen to have one of the best D's in the NFL.  Johnson already has 103 receptions for the Houston Texans.   18.  Denver Broncos  The Denver Broncos will most likely make the playoffs.  They are 8-6, playing in one of footballs worst divisions.  Come playoff time, do not expect much out of the Broncos.   NFL Power Rankings Week 16:  What might have been   19.  New Orleans Saints  The Chicago Bears nearly blew a 21-7 halftime lead against the New Orleans Saints.  Everyone says the Saints might have the best offense in football.  If that is true, then the Saints Defense must be the worst in the NFL.    20.  Washington Redskins  The Washington Redskins lost this week to the Cincinnati Bengals, proving that the Redskins are the least clutch team in the NFL.    21.  Buffalo Bills  After Starting the season off very hot, the Buffalo Bills have totally cooled off.  Loosing to the New York Jets brings the Bills losing streak to three games.    22.  Green Bay Packers  Think Green Bay Packers fans miss Brett Favre?  The Packers have no chance of catching either the Chicago Bears or the Minnesota Vikings.   23.  San Francisco 49ers The NFC West is horrible.  The San Francisco 49ers are 5-9, yet safely second in the division.    24.  San Diego Chargers  The San Diego Chargers have outscored opponents 346-302, yet are 6-8.  Ouch   25.  Jacksonville Jaguars  Maurice Jones-Drew is the only exciting part of the Jacksonville Jaguars.    NFL Power Rankings Week 16:  Teams that should Throw the last two games for next years Draft   26.  Cleveland Browns  The Cleveland Browns are the most talented 4-9 team in the history of the NFL.    27.  Oakland Raiders  As long as Al Davis controlls the team, the Oakland Raiders will never make the playoffs.   28.  Seattle Seahawks  You know things are bad in Seattle when the Seahawks only beat the St. Louis Rams by 3.   29.  Cincinnati Bengals  The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the most underachieving teams in the NFL.    30.  Kansas City Chiefs  For having one of the most advantageous home fields, the Kansas City Chiefs are disappointing.  The Chiefs have one win at home this year.    31.  St. Louis Rams  The St. Louis Rams have given up more than 2 points for every point they score.    32.  Detroit Lions  The Detroit Lions are 2 games away from 0-16.  
27 Comments:
  • Something tells me the Bears will go 10-6 and NOT make the post season
  • Good list, Wish the broncos were higher. Also wish the broncos could play well. Suday's game stabbed my soul.
  • Colts and Steelers are playing their best at right time of year. Titans and Giants not so much.
  • Colts look scary
  • The Colts have clawed their way to #2! They are the team to watch out for in the AFC
  • What can I say? After yesterday, you may have ranked the Broncos too high
  • I think the Eagles are a bit higher after a blowout win against the cards.. a win against the giants and browns..
  • Cards & NFC West are a joke. Browns are a joke. Giants are falling. 16 is about right.
  • This list is crap... Jets at #5? You've got to be kidding me! They got outplayed by the Bills and can possibly lose the division after spending a gazilion dollars in the offseasons...... to a team that went 1-15 last year!
    Steelers are the team to beat right now...rock solid.... but the rest of your list... pfft!
  • Must have definetly been a steeler fan halucinating here notice:number one they got the steelers but at that went on to say if big Ben keeps playing well stop look and listen big Ben isnt by any stretch of the imagination playing well the Pittsburgh defense is keeping them in the game for weeks now so I totally disagree with the rankings.By the way how many times did us Eagles sack Big Ben?Im just saying.
  • this is a terrible list, the nfc dominates the afc any day
  • Why, cause the eagles are in the NFC???? NFC stinks. NFC North and NFC west are horrible. NFC east is inconsistant. NFC south is good. AFC is best
  • The Giants at #6 is a joke, granted they should have fallen after 2 straight losses. But these were division games against opponents that still have a chance to make the playoffs, not easy games to win. No Brandon Jocobs in the Dallas game did not help either. And the Jets ranked ahead of them, wow, that is a major laugher.
  • is it me, or shouldn't the Texans be ranked ahead of the Eagles???
  • Good point, the Texans should be relevant very soon, maybe next year. It's about time there is another team in Texas that people talk about.
  • 24. San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers have outscored opponents 346-302, yet are 6-8. Ouch =( :( ;(
  • don't worry ameyer84 i predict the chargers to beat the bucs this week
  • NFL ref Ed H. might have something to do with that
  • The Eagles should be #45... worst coach ever.
  • Don't know what you were watching, but the Ice cold Giants simply out sucked the non impressive Cowboys! To say they got smoked is like saying the Cowboys are a better team after running Bill Parcells outta town for that jackass wearing #81! Tired of idiots having the right to post articles here!
  • NO WAY THE JETS ARE 5, AND THE PANTHERS 3 IF'S THAT'S THE CASE TAMPA AND ATLANTA SHOULD BE HIGHER THEY BOTH HAVE BEATEN THE PANTHERS AND IN THE SAME DIVISION! THE PANTHERS HAVE PLAYED A WEAK SCHEDULE SHOULDNT THAT COUNT FOR SOMETHING?
  • HAS ANYONE NOTICE HOW THE AFC GOT TO BE SO GOOD? NFC COACHE'S! TAKE A LOOK, COLTS DUNGY,SHANAHAN 49ERS,MANGINI GIANTS VIA BELICHEK, PATROITS BELICHEK, TITANS FISCHER, ALL THE SO CALLED GREAT AFC TEAMS GOT THIER COACHES FROM NFC TEAMS WHILE THEY WERE ASSISTANT COACHES, LOOK UP THIER BACKGROUND.
  • jusus, this guy is horrible
  • This list doesn't even make catergorical sense. Are not the Cardinals "Playoff Bound?" This guy is drinking the AFC kool-aid.
  • They are playoff bound gmastamort , but lets face it, they have no defense. And teams do not win championships without defense. But for the long suffering Cards fans to make the playoffs, even in a crappy division is a major step forward.
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