NFL Week 16 power rankings

By Rick Morris

NOTE: Previous rankings in parentheses.

TOP TIER – LEGIT SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS

1 Atlanta (1)

2 New England (2)

3 Baltimore (4)

4 Pittsburgh (3)

5 New York Jets (8)

6 New Orleans (5)

7 Philadelphia (7)

8 New York Giants (6)

SECOND TIER – LEGIT PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

9 Chicago (9)

10 Indianapolis (14)

11 Jacksonville (11)

12 Kansas City (15)

13 San Diego (12)

14 Green Bay (10)

15 Tampa Bay (13)

16 St. Louis (16)

17 Seattle (19)

THIRD TIER – PLAYOFF LONGSHOTS

18 Tennessee (21)

19 San Francisco (27) NOTE: Niners are only ranked this high because they have a remaining chance of winning the worst division in NFL history.

FOURTH TIER – WON’T MAKE PLAYOFFS, BUT NOT THE WORST OF THE WORST

20 Miami (17)

21 Oakland (18)

22 Dallas (23)

23 Houston (20)

24 Minnesota (22)

25 Washington (24)

26 Buffalo (25)

27 Cleveland (26)

28 Detroit (28)

FIFTH TIER – BOTTOM FEEDERS

29 Cincinnati (31)

30 Arizona (29)

31 Denver (30)

32 Carolina (32)

BIGGEST RISERS: San Francisco (8 spots), Indianapolis (4 spots), Kansas City and New York Jets (3 spots)

BIGGEST FALLERS: Green Bay (4 spots), Houston, Miami, Oakland and Tennessee (3 spots)

RANKINGS BY DIVISION – 1 POINT PER RANKING SPOT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TEAM, LOWEST SCORE IS BEST

1 AFC East (53)

2 NFC South (54)

3T NFC East (62)

3T AFC South (62)

5 AFC North (63)

6 NFC North (75)

7 AFC West (77)

8 NFC West (82)