NFL End of the Year Power Rankings

I know I haven’t posted one of these in a while but I figured I’ll do one for the end of the season.  These are the best teams in the league right now, taking into account injuries and momentum (but not a lack of a head coach in some situations).  Most of my opinions are based on which teams I think would win on a neutral field right now, meaning 1 would beat 2, 2 would beat 3, and 31 would beat 32.

1. Panthers (12-4) – A strong defense with an offense that can adjust to different situations really well.  Nobody scares me more than the panthers, no matter where the game’s played.
2. Seahawks (12-4) – The defense never has lapses in concentration, and is one of the most consistent units in all of football, but the offense still becomes stagnant at times, and unless the game is played in Seattle, there’s a chance this team can be venerable.
3. Broncos (13-3) – The Broncos have just been crushing people lately, and Evil Manning completed one of the greatest seasons in history.  They still have their weaknesses, and Welker’s injury will matter when they’re playing against stronger playoff opponents.
4. 49ers (12-4) – I had them one spot bellow the Cardinals until this week.  Since Michael Crabtree has come back, the Niners have quietly won 6 games in a row and are getting hot at the right time.
5. Cardinals (10-6) – Up until this week there wasn’t a hotter team in the league.  The defense is tremendous and Palmer decided not to interceptions all of a sudden.
6. Patriots (12-4) – I know about the injuries they’ve had to endure but there’s nothing scarier than facing Brady/ Bellicheck in the playoffs.
7. Chargers (9-7)- People might not remember that the King of December’s actually really good in the post season, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Philip Rivers beat the Bengals and then Peyton Manning in the playoffs.
8. Colts (11-5) The Colts are a pretty uninspiring 11-5, because people remember their odd losses.  But they have probably beat the most really good teams this year out of anyone.  They step it up when they need to, and I don’t know if there’s a bigger wild card unless…
9. Packers (8-7-1)  …you consider Aaron Rodgers a bigger deal.  If he’s in form, and the defense can step it up like they usually do in the playoffs, the Packers can be dangerous.  But we just haven’t seen enough of the offense to know.
10. Eagles (10-6) – The offense is the real deal, but the defense still need work.  I just don’t trust a first year coach and young QB enough in the playoffs .
11. Chiefs (11-5) – Maybe somewhat of the Arizona syndrome from a few years back.  A team that was so locked into a playoff spot early, that they didn’t try the last 5 or 6 weeks.  They could make a splash but we haven’t seen the best of the Chiefs for weeks now.
12. Saints (11-5) – The hype train really cooled down at the wrong time.  They’re so home field dependent.
13. Bengals (11-5) – Will we get 3 TD Andy Dalton, or 3INT Andy Dalton.  The rest of the team is moderately consistent, but when your QB is the only factor determining whether a team wins or not (and he’s not named Tom Brady) your in bad shape.
14. Cowboys (8-8) – The defense came to play against the Eagles, but Kyle Orton wasn’t good enough to win them the game.
15. Ravens (8-8) – The Ravens were a pretty average team this year, and a lot had to do with the downfall of Ray Rice.
16. Jets (8-8) – Ended the season on a really high note, with Geno playing smarter, the secondary a little more solid, and a stellar pass rush.
17. Bears (8-8) – The defense got worse and worse as the season went on, and Jay Cutler didn’t help his cause for getting a long term deal.
18. Dolphins (8-8) – Two bad losses to end the year put a damper on what was honestly a really good season.
19. Rams (7-9) – The Rams are set to make the playoffs next year.  Their two 1st round pick should fill any wholes they still have.
20. Steelers (8-8)
21. Giants (7-9) – Started 0-6 and finished 7-3.  Still not a great team by any stretch of the imagination, but at least we know they’ll be back next year.
22. Titans (7-9) – Jack Locker’s injury midseason was really bad for this team’s growth.  Chris Johnson looks really good still.
23. Bills (6-10) – The defense came into form late in the year, and when the offense is healthy they show a lot of promise.
24. Lions (7-9) – The stars aligned for them to make a playoff run and they just crumpled to the ground.
25. Buccaneers (4-12) – The coaching has always been the problem here.
26. Vikings (5-10) – Peterson’s injury makes their team almost unwatchable.
27. Jaguars (4-12) – They showed heart in the second half of the season, and their coach somehow looks legit after a 12 loss season.
28. Raiders (4-12) – One thing the Raiders should have been able to do is find out if they have their QB of the future, and unfortunately they couldn’t do that right.
29. Browns (4-12) – They were in a lot of games down the stretch and looked like they were actually trying to lose in the 4th quarter.
30. Falcons (4-12)- Not sure what this team’s strength is right now.  They have been playing a little better of late, and next year they’ll have a healthy Roddy White and Julio Jones.
31. Redskins (3-13) – Because of the circus the team has been this year I really felt like putting them last.  They’ve lost 8 straight, have benched their franchise QB, have the worst combined defense/special teams in the league, and now Alfred Morris has fumbling problems.
32. Texans (2-14) – 14 losses in a row.  At least they didn’t trade away their first round pick for this year…