NFL Power Rankings Week 17 playoff scenarios Patriots, Saints, 49ers, who is No 2?

Are the 49ers legitimate to ranked second in the NFL Power Rankings Week 17? As the regular season is about to end next week, the Green Bay Packers still the No 1 team in the NFL. Five touchdown performance for Aaron Rodgers will always be savored by the Packers but to get the No 1 seed in the NFC will satisfy them.

In the NFC, five teams are already settled; Packers, Niners, Saints, Lions, and Falcons. Dallas Cowboys and New Giants will settle for the division on Sunday and the winner will get No 4 in the seeding. The Niners and the Saints are still vying for the second slot which the team will get a bye. It is important for both teams to win the games before a tie break will determine the second seed. Of course the Falcons and Lions got the two wildcard berth.

It is quite a little complicated in the AFC as the New England Patriots still the top team and if they win the last game they will get the top seed. Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will fight for the second seed while the other will get a wildcard. Houston Texans captured a playoff slot already by winning their division, this means they will play at home in the first round. The Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders are fighting for the division title while the Cincinnati Bengals have the advantage in the battle for a wildcard berth.

The possibility of the New York Jets to be in the playoffs is small. They have to beat the Miami Dolphins and hope that everything will fall for them, including the loss of the Bengals to the Ravens. It is still possible but their destiny is out of their control. Are the Jets going in?

Here is the the NFL Power Rankings Week 17 as the playoff scenario is already explained.

1. Green Bay Packers (14-1) – Great for the Packers that they bounced back after a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week. No matter what happens next week, they will get the first seed. Time for them to rest Aaron Rodgers? Probably not if they want him to tie Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown record in a season. Rodgers currently is at 45, he needs five to tie and six to break. It is unwise for the Packers to let him play the whole game just to get the record.

2. New Orleans Saints (12-3) – After overwhelming the Falcons, 45-16, in the Monday Night Football and Drew Brees breaking Dan Marino’s 1984 record, it is just fitting for the Saints to be second in the NFL Power Rankings. Brees completed 307 yards in a rivalry game the allowed his name to be in the NFL record book.

3. San Francisco 49ers (12-3) – Defense is the name of the game for the Niners. Coach Jim Harbaugh has turned this team upside down from a mediocre team to one of the most defensive oriented teams in the NFL. Niners showed the defense by beating the Seahawks in a tight game. Still their eyes are set on No 2 seed in the NFC.

4. New England Patriots (12-3) – A little concern for the Patriots is the passing defense. Will it improve in the playoffs? Getting a bye will absolutely help their cause as they will rest to prepare for their opponent. With Tom Brady having another MVP year, the Patriots will have to win it this time to get into the Super Bowl through their defense.

5. Baltimore Ravens (11-4) – Coming up is a big game against the Bengals. A win will get them a bye, how important this will be? It will be the first time in many years that they enter the playoffs with a bye. The Ravens have the Super Bowl like defense but the offense have a lot of problems. How can they win if the offense cannot connect?

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) – The Steelers are just lurking behind. A victory over the Browns and a loss of the Ravens will get them a bye. With Ben Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the Steelers are still a legitimate contender in the the AFC. Yes, the defense knows how to win games by shutting down Rams offense Sunday.

7. Detroit Lions (10-5) – This is a team with offensive firepower. Don’t count out the Lions in the playoffs for they know how to win games on the road. Lions bounced back from many games that they can upset any of the teams in the AFC. Beating the Chargers last Sunday will make their opponents to find out how they can stop the offense of Detroit.

8. Houston Texans (10-5) – It’s scary for the Texans as they were beaten by the Indianapolis Colts 19-16. How in the world will they be playing in the playoffs if they were beaten at home by the worst team in the AFC? TJ Yates may not be the quarterback of the Texans but they have to play him as the only option for now. Unless he is injured, then Jake Delhomme is ready for action.

9. Atlanta Falcons (9-6) – Still a legitimate contender that can upset any team in the first round, the Falcons can make the difference if they have to play it to the max. It was just a game that they were overshadowed by the Saints.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) – The Bengals destiny is on their hands. They have to beat the leader in their division the Baltimore Ravens to enter the playoffs. Either a win over the Ravens or a loss of the Jets to the Dolphins will get them in the wild card game.

11. New York Giants (8-7) – Picking the Giants to rank better than the Cowboys means that they will win the game on Sunday. As they defeated the Jets, 29-14, the Giants are in a search for that swagger to be in the playoffs. Expect the Giants to win that game with Eli Manning getting them into a victory.

12. Denver Broncos (8-7) – The Broncos magic with Tim Tebow as the quarterback is gone after they suffered two consecutive losses to the Patriots and last Sunday the Buffalo Bills. Certainly, they have to beat Kansas City next week.

13. Oakland Raiders (8-7) – The Raiders are still alive to win the division. With Carson Palmer as the quarterback, it is still possible for the team to make an illustrious playoffs slot.

14. New York Jets (8-7) – Shut up Rex Ryan. It seemed that the players are tired of you talking too much and bragging to much about them. It is better for you to be silent until you win a Super Bowl.

15. Tennessee Titans (8-7) – The Titans are not out yet, a loss of the Bengals and Jets will make them in the playoffs? Tennessee Titans have a better chance of entering into the playoffs than that of the Jets. Matt Hasselbeck can be in the playoffs again if everything falls in.

16. Dallas Cowboys (8-7) – Just a win away but a hurting Tony Romo and against the Giants will not suffice them to victory. Still the Cowboys can be a significant team in the future but it seems the Romo has been an overrated quarterback.

17. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8) – The team can still be 8-8 after this season. Not this time for the stars filled team but probably next year. Michael Vick will try it again the next season as the Eagles “dream team” didn’t materialized early from the beginning. Will the Eagles fire Andy Reid? We don’t know.

18. San Diego Chargers (7-8) – Norv Turner will be out for sure next year. The team has the players to be a contender but it was a failure again, not even winning the weak division that they are in. Philip Rivers worst season so far and he will make up next year to be a better player.

19. Seattle Seahawks (7-8) – The Seahawks may have more wins this season but they will not be in the playoffs. Coach Pete Caroll may not be fitting to be the coach as he couldn’t lead the team into a victory against the Niners Sunday.

20. Arizona Cardinals (7-8) – John Skelton may be the quarterback next season. Cardinals are looking for the magic that Kurt Warner brought to them. It is a fact that they needed a better quarterback.

21. Buffalo Bills (6-9) – The Bills started it right but finished it wrong. When they needed the game, they were outplayed. A tough division with the Jets and Patriots will always be hindrance for the Bills.

22. Chicago Bears (7-8) – Without Jay Cutler as the quarterback for Mike Martz offense, the Bears will be a lame team. It was proven last Sunday when they couldn’t bring up the offense against the Packers.

23. Carolina Panthers (6-9) – Panthers have the future with Cam Newton as the quarterback. It will be interesting to see him flourish next season as he has learned much on the speed of the NFL.
24. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) – Ups and downs. Matt Cassel couldn’t deliver this time that led to the firing of the coach. Romeo Crennel’s defensive mind that defeated the Packers will give him the job but a loss to the Raiders in overtime was hurtful.

25. Washington Redskins (5-10) – Not a great decision by Mike Shanahan to bench Rex Grossman early in the season and brought him back for the rescue. Shanahan must respect his quarterbacks next season to have a better chemistry.
26. Miami Dolphins (5-10) – Yet another season for the Dolphins without getting into the playoffs. Wait for the Jets next week to destroy the Dolphins. It is time to shake this team from top to bottom.
27 Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) – Jack del Rio was fired as the Jaguars couldn’t make the necessary wins to contend with the Texans and Titans. Notwithstanding the fact that the Colts were out of the battle in the division.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers(4-11) – Great start for the Bucs that they even beat the Saints in the early stage of the season.
29. Cleveland Browns (4-11) – Browns couldn’t find the wins in a tightly contested conference.
30. Minnesota Vikings(3-12) – From the early start it was a futile move to get the old Donovan McNabb. Next time around try to build a team with a young quarterback.
31. Saint Louis Rams (2-13) – Not the season the team wants as Josh McDaniels offense is ineffective.
32. Indianapolis Colts (2-13) – A Manningless season is a miserable season. If they get the first pick next season, will they select a quarterback?

NFL Power Rankings Week 17 December 27, 2011.