Power Rankings, Week 16

Nearing the end of the line, the Power Rankings are settling toward next week's final look. With the bottom half of things as good as cemented in and the standard shuffling still happening with the middle of the pack, we see just one change at the top as the Saints slip and let the Panthers finally climb into the Top 5.

A last chance remains for teams to jockey, but the 2013 Power Rankings are close to a finished product as we prime for the playoffs.

Here’s how our analysts see the league after 16 weeks, and the cumulative rank (below) that comes of their ballots.

With the votes tallied, here's how the list looks after Week 16: (last week's rank and change in rank in parentheses)

THE TOP 10

1. Seattle Seahawks (1, 0)
It finally happened – the Seahawks dropped one at home, and at this late stage it gives reason to think the playoff road through Seattle may not be the impossible task it was seen to be. Still holding the top spot with a split vote over Denver. Refocused: Arizona at Seattle

2. Denver Broncos (2, 0)
An expected win came with the bonus of a touchdown record celebration as the Broncos tie up loose ends and prep for the playoffs. Home field throughout can be secured this week. Refocused: Denver at Houston

3. San Francisco 49ers (3, 0)
Secured a spot but looking for more as the division title is suddenly not such a crazy idea. Either way, a team hitting stride at the right time and not one many will want to face. Refocused: Atlanta at San Francisco (MNF)

4. New England Patriots (5, 1)
Followed their close loss in Miami with a convincing win over Baltimore in a back-to-back against wild card hopefuls. With a few roads leading to a first-round bye, New England moves up a spot here and could have a week off to open the postseason. Refocused: New England at Baltimore

5. Carolina Panthers (6, 1)
Taking out the Saints in the second half of their home-and-home put the Panthers in position for the South title and finally got them into our Top 5. A win this week in Atlanta can complete the task and get them a playoff bye. Refocused: New Orleans at Carolina

6. New Orleans Saints (4, -2)
Losing three of four and suddenly in danger of missing the playoffs altogether, the Saints’ hold on the South has slipped and they fall a couple spots here as well. Arizona is eyeing their place heading into the season’s final week. Refocused: New Orleans at Carolina

7. Kansas City Chiefs (7, 0)
The Chiefs’ tale of two seasons continues as their post-bye record falls to 2-4 after a home loss to the Colts. Traveling to San Diego to face a determined Charger team is not going to be an easy path to a pre-playoff positive outcome. Refocused: Indianapolis at Kansas City

8. Cincinnati Bengals (8, 0)
Walking past the Vikings at home, Cincinnati clinched the North and gets a chance to both make a run at a bye and knock out the division rival Ravens in the regular season’s last effort. Refocused: Minnesota at Cincinnati

9. Arizona Cardinals (9, 0)
Might end up being the best team to not make the postseason as the NFC wild card spots could come down to tiebreakers that would exclude a worthy contender. Refocused: Arizona at Seattle

10. Philadelphia Eagles (12, 2)
A Sunday Night dismantling of the Bears set them on track to a title shot – beat the Cowboys and take the East. The Eagles continue their climb, looking to finish the year a part of the Top 10. Refocused: Chicago at Philadelphia (SNF)

THE PACK

11. Chicago Bears (10, -1)
The recent Chicago scoring binge came to an abrupt halt with a 54-11 primetime loss to the Eagles. Week 17 holds hope, though, as they get a winner-take-all game with Green Bay for the North crown. Refocused: Chicago at Philadelphia (SNF)

12. Baltimore Ravens (11, -1)
A thumping at the hands of the Patriots set them back, but a Week 17 win against the division foe Bengals could get them back into the last wild card spot (with some help, of course). Refocused: New England at Baltimore

13. Indianapolis Colts (14, 1)
Just when it looked like the Colts would have trouble with any tough defense, they find a way to handle the Chiefs and get some positivity to take into the last week of the season. The division long decided, a bye is still possible with help. Refocused: Indianapolis at Kansas City

14. Miami Dolphins (13, -1)
Matching losses with the Ravens, the Dolphins stayed in position for a shot at the wild card, though they’ve let the Chargers in on the fun. They’ll need to beat the Jets and get help to secure it. Refocused: Miami at Buffalo

15. San Diego Chargers (16, 1)
A late four-of-five push has the Chargers in the mix for the last AFC Wild Card spot and their rematch with the Chiefs is where their hopes begin. They’ll need a win paired with losses for Baltimore and Miami. Refocused: Oakland at San Diego

16. Green Bay Packers (17, 1)
Rodgers’ return in a Packers-Bears matchup for the NFC North title? That’s how a Week 17 game is supposed to line up. Doing just enough to get into this spot, Green Bay has one last shot. Refocused: Pittsburgh at Green Bay

17. Detroit Lions (15, -2)
The Lions’ feel-good first half disintegrated with five losses in their last six games and now, with playoff hopes gone, a ‘salvage some pride’ game against the Vikings is all they have left to look forward to. Refocused: NY Giants at Detroit

18. Dallas Cowboys (18, 0)
Proving just good enough to get by Washington, the Cowboys find themselves without their QB heading into a ‘win and get in’ finale against Philly. Refocused: Dallas at Washington

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (19, 0)
A seemingly lost season has stayed alive to the last game as Pittsburgh has done just enough to make it matter. They’ll need the three teams ahead of them to lose, but playing for something in Week 17 is something of a win already given their 2-6 start. Refocused: Pittsburgh at Green Bay

20. St. Louis Rams (20, 0)
Recent success has the Rams feeling good and what better way to close out the year than with a shot at finishing off the NFC West’s 2nd-turn sweep of the Seahawks. Refocused: Tampa Bay at St. Louis

21. Tennessee Titans (21, 0)
After losing out to three playoff (or potential playoff) teams in December, the Titans found a contest to their liking, holding on for a win over fellow AFC South also-rans, the Jaguars. Refocused: Tennessee at Jacksonville

22. New York Giants (22, 0)
An overtime win over Detroit kept the dream of a winning second half alive and the trick can be turned if the Giants finish strong in Washington. Refocused: NY Giants at Detroit

THE BOTTOM 10 

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23, 0)
The four out of five run is done, but the Bucs have one last shot at impacting the season as they head to New Orleans looking to pick off a limping Saints team that could end up home for the playoffs if things don’t break right for them. Refocused: Tampa Bay at St. Louis

24. Minnesota Vikings (24, 0)
Looking like nothing other than a Bottom-10 team, Minnesota put up little resistance against the Bengals and slipped to 4-10-1, but is still just out of consideration for a Top-5 draft pick. Refocused: Minnesota at Cincinnati

25. New York Jets (25, 0)
Their second win in three games has the Jets getting back toward their up-and-down ways of the season’s first half. Wrapping up with a win in Miami would send them off on a high note. Refocused: Cleveland at NY Jets

26. Buffalo Bills (26, 0)
A 19-0 win over Miami threw a wrench into the Dolphins’ plans and Buffalo hopes to do the same for another division mate this week as they travel to take on the Patriots and their home-field hopes. Refocused: Miami at Buffalo

27. Cleveland Browns (27, 0)
An early 3-2 record crumbled with the nine losses (and one win) that followed. A trip to Pittsburgh is the last stop for 2013 Browns as the season thankfully winds down. Refocused: Cleveland at NY Jets

28. Atlanta Falcons (28, 0)
A national audience saw them push the 49ers in a game that wasn’t the pivotal match it was once expected to be, but was entertaining nonetheless. One more chance to spoil plans as they get Carolina at home to finish up. Refocused: Atlanta at San Francisco (MNF)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (29, 0)
Falling in another close one, the Jaguars have to lose just one more to get firm hold of the No. 3 pick in the draft. The Colts stand between them and their prize. Refocused: Tennessee at Jacksonville

30. Oakland Raiders (30, 0)
In danger of matching their 2012 display (a 1-8 follow to a 3-4 start), the Raiders welcome the Broncos before turning to the offseason hunt for answers. Refocused: Oakland at San Diego

31. Washington Redskins (31, 0)
Flirted with a division win only to see the Cowboys find a way. At this point, things are working out well for the Rams (who own Washington's top pick) as the Redskins stay in front of the pack pushing for the draft’s second slot. Refocused: Dallas at Washington

32. Houston Texans (32, 0)
Business as usual as the Texans pushed their streak to 13 games and moved one game closer to the top pick. Refocused: Denver at Houston

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