NFL Power Rankings - Week 17: Holiday gifts for all 32 teams
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.
It's the holiday season, so we're giving out presents to all 32 teams as the regular season comes to a close.
1. Baltimore Ravens (13-2)
Previous rank: 1
π A unanimous MVP vote: Lamar Jackson is already a lock to win the MVP award, but his electric season is deserving of the rare unanimous tag. He would become the second player in league history (Tom Brady, 2007) to be crowned unanimous MVP.
2. New Orleans Saints (12-3)
Previous rank: 2
π No. 1 NFC playoff seed: Sean Payton's squad already clinched the division title, but earning the right to host January games in the Superdome could determine how far it goes. The Saints need a Week 17 win, a Packers loss, and a Seahawks win over the 49ers to snag the NFC's top seed.
3. San Francisco 49ers (12-3)
Previous rank: 4
π Jimmy G hot stretch: San Francisco would need three straight games (or four if it loses out on a bye) of the good version of Jimmy Garoppolo in order to win the Super Bowl. The quarterback sprinkles in a top-tier performance every so often but rarely in succession.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)
Previous rank: 5
π Clock management: Kansas City looks primed to take the playoffs by storm. Andy Reid's done a masterful job, but clock mismanagement has doomed his teams in past postseasons. Perhaps the head coach can get a nice watch under his tree this year.
5. Green Bay Packers (12-3)
Previous rank: 6
π Another playmaker to emerge for Aaron Rodgers: Outside of Davante Adams, running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are the two Packers with the most catches. Tight end Jimmy Graham is next with only 34 receptions for 398 yards.
6. New England Patriots (12-3)
Previous rank: 8
π A new contract for Tom Brady: No Patriots fan wants to see their legendary quarterback finish his career with another team, yet signs increasingly point to the 42-year-old leaving as a free agent in the offseason.
7. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)
Previous rank: 3
π It's already been delivered: What's that rumbling sound? It's not Santa's sleigh, it's a Beast Quake! The Seahawks used all of their holiday magic to get Marshawn Lynch to return following season-ending injuries to Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, and C.J. Prosise.
8. Minnesota Vikings (10-5)
Previous rank: 7
π A healthy Dalvin Cook: The standout running back missed Week 16 due to a shoulder injury. It's vital for Minnesota that he's ready to roll when the playoffs arrive, especially with road games likely on the horizon.
9. Houston Texans (10-5)
Previous rank: 10
π A general manager: In truth, Bill O'Brien hasn't done a horrible job leading Houston's front office, but tough times are ahead. With limited draft picks and cap space to work with over the next two years, the Texans must get creative to compete for a title.
10. Buffalo Bills (10-5)
Previous rank: 9
π More receiver help: John Brown and Cole Beasley have proven to be solid acquisitions, but the Bills need additional upgrades to go from being a playoff contender to a Super Bowl threat.
11. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
Previous rank: 11
π A good deal for Tannehill: Tennessee looked like a different team when the former Dolphins passer replaced Marcus Mariota. Signing Ryan Tannehill to a friendly deal and improving other spots on the roster would increase the Titans' chances of an AFC South title in 2020.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)
Previous rank: 17
π A win this week: Philadelphia has as ugly of a three-game winning streak as a team can have, but it will still be playoff-bound for the third straight year with a Week 17 victory over the Giants.
13. Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
Previous rank: 14
π A do-over: The Rams don't need a gift as much as they need to find the gift receipt for Jared Goff's albatross of a contract.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
Previous rank: 13
π QB help: The Steelers need answers at the quarterback position - short and long term. They're about to play a must-win game with their third-string signal-caller, while Ben Roethlisberger will be 38 when he returns next year.
15. Oakland Raiders (7-8)
Previous rank: 21
π A miracle: In addition to a victory in their final game, the Raiders need wins from the Texans, Colts, and Ravens to capture the most unlikely of wild-card berths in their final season in Oakland.
16. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
Previous rank: 12
π A new coach: Jason Garrett won two Super Bowls as a player, but he sure as heck ain't leading the Cowboys to any championships as a coach.
17. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
Previous rank: 18
π A new decade that began like the last: The Falcons kicked off the 2010s with three straight playoff appearances and a 36-12 regular-season record. Atlanta would surely welcome similar success in 2020 and beyond.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
Previous rank: 15
π A long-term answer at quarterback: Whether it's via the 2020 draft or free agency, Bruce Arians must find an answer at the game's most important position. The Jameis Winston experiment has been a blast, but it's time to move on.
19. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
Previous rank: 19
π A Week 17 loss: Indy must find its long-term quarterback in 2020, and a loss on Sunday could put it in the 12-15 draft range rather than 16-20. The greater chance the Colts have to draft Andrew Luck's true successor, the better off they'll be.
20. Chicago Bears (7-8)
Previous rank: 16
π A time machine: Three years after the 2017 draft, Mitchell Trubisky is spinning his wheels in Chicago while Deshaun Watson stars in Houston and Patrick Mahomes dominates in Kansas City.
21. Denver Broncos (6-9)
Previous rank: 22
π A good offensive line: Drew Lock has looked promising over his first four starts but Denver has to significantly reinforce the rookie quarterback's protection going into 2020. We've seen the careers of talented young passers derailed by poor offensive lines time and time again.
22. Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1)
Previous rank: 24
π DPOY for Jones: Arizona's season hasn't been the instant turnaround some expected, but it could still end on a high note. The wildly underappreciated Chandler Jones deserves the Defensive Player of Year award, especially if he can get another four sacks to break Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22.5.
23. Cleveland Browns (6-9)
Previous rank: 20
π A winning season: Despite all of their impact acquisitions, the Browns will finish below .500 yet again in 2019, extending their sad streak to 12 seasons.
24. New York Jets (6-9)
Previous rank: 27
π Development from their franchise QB: Sam Darnold faces a pivotal offseason after his sophomore campaign was a write-off. He'll be in danger of being labeled a bust if he doesn't show serious improvement in 2020.
25. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
Previous rank: 23
π A fanbase: In 2020, the Chargers need something they haven't had in their first three seasons in Los Angeles - a true home game.
26. Carolina Panthers (5-10)
Previous rank: 25
π A healthy Cam: Kyle Allen isn't the answer at quarterback. Honestly, even after just one game, Will Grier likely isn't the solution either. The Panthers' long-term outlook relies heavily on Cam Newton's health - they can either reset and compete immediately with the former MVP at the helm, or start a rebuild by shipping him for a strong package of draft picks.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
Previous rank: 26
π A less patient owner: Reports surfaced recently that Shad Khan prefers to retain GM David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone. The owner should reverse course, as a full rebuild is the only way Jacksonville will be able to achieve long-term success. The duo's poor resume speaks for itself.
28. New York Giants (4-11)
Previous rank: 28
π Sacks: The inability to pressure the quarterback has made life tough for a Giants secondary that lacks talent. New York may not finish low enough in the standings to draft Ohio State's Chase Young, but it's got to do something significant in the pass-rushing department.
29. Miami Dolphins (4-11)
Previous rank: 30
π A fruitful draft: With three picks in the first round, the Dolphins have the ammo to move anywhere they want on the board. Miami faces immense pressure to ace the 2020 draft after trading so many assets for picks before the season started.
30. Detroit Lions (3-11-1)
Previous rank: 29
π A reliable running game: Since quarterback Matthew Stafford was drafted in 2009, Detroit has been one of the three worst teams in the league in rushing yards, yards per carry, and touchdowns on the ground.
31. Washington Redskins (3-12)
Previous rank: 31
π A new head of football operations: Washington's had one winning season since Bruce Allen was hired as the club's top executive under owner Dan Snyder in 2010. A once-proud franchise has gone to waste under Allen's management.
32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-14)
Previous rank: 32
π A playoff win: The Joe Burrow delivery package is already in progress. The next present for the Bengals is a playoff win, something they haven't had since 1990.