Gridiron Blitz: NFL Week 16 Power Rankings

Music to listen to:  One Thought at a Time by Massive Attack

The NFL season is heading towards its home stretch so now is a good time to look at how each team stacks up against each other

1) Green Bay Packers (13-1): The loss isn’t as big of a concern as the health of the offensive line. A lack of a pass rush on the defensive side of the ball also has to be a concern. However, the Packers are still the best team in football and will most likely get home-field advantage in the playoffs.

2) New Orleans Saints (11-3): Drew Brees has had an outstanding year but if the Saints are to return to the Super Bowl, the defense will have to continue to be opportunistic with gaining turnovers and the rushing attack has to improve outside of Darren Sproles. The drafting of Mark Ingram may be critical for the Saints to possibly win a road contest in difficult conditions at San Francisco or Green Bay.

3) San Francisco 49ers (11-3): The 49ers have the best defense in the NFL, an all-pro tight end and a solid running back. So why are they third in the rankings and in their own conference? The lack of a vertical passing game from respectable but not dynamic quarterback Alex Smith and underwhelming receivers Ted Ginn and Michael Crabtree makes me concerned that San Francisco will struggle to score points during crucial parts in the playoffs.

4) New England Patriots (11-3): Despite an average defense (and that’s being generous even before the Andre Carter injury on Sunday against Denver), poor rushing production and underwhelming receivers not named Wes Welker, the Patriots are in line to not only receive a first-round bye in the playoffs, but possibly gain home-field advantage. Having Tom Brady and excellent tight ends are always beneficial.

5) Baltimore Ravens (10-4): Hard to explain how a team that has won twice against Pittsburgh still finds a way to lose to teams with losing records.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): The team whose fortunes rely the most on good health.

7) Houston Texans (10-4): The loss to Carolina is concerning. The defense that has been carrying the team throughout the season showed some holes against the Panthers on Sunday.

8) Atlanta Falcons (9-5): Arguably the easiest team to read in the NFL. The Falcons will play ball control on offense, relying on a strong rushing attack to complement solid tight end play and two speedy receivers. The defense will do enough to not get beaten badly.

9) Detroit Lions (9-5): Too many late comebacks have been needed for this squad to get eight wins this season. Detroit won the contest at Oakland on Sunday because it had the two best players in the game, Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford. This logic usually works in basketball but in football, this reliance is concerning.

10) Dallas Cowboys (8-6): Unlike the Falcons, this team is often difficult to read but its not because of Tony Romo, who is having the best year of his career. The over-hyped defense has been a major disappointment, especially the secondary.

11) Cincinnati Bengals (8-6): A.J. Green is a star and Andy Dalton has been impressive in his rookie campaign. They’re still hanging around the playoff picture.

12) Denver Broncos (8-6): Now that the Tim Tebow excitement has dwindled down after the loss to New England, it will be interesting to see how the Broncos respond in the last two weeks of the season. The AFC West is still theirs to win, but the Broncos’ defense has been outstanding the last eight weeks of the season, a let down by that unit may mean difficult times in Denver with the below-average offense.

13) N.Y. Jets (8-6): Jets may still make the playoffs this year but the overall season has to be viewed as a disappointment.

14) San Diego Chargers (7-7): Its December which means the Chargers are making another late-season push towards the playoffs. However, the deficit may be too much for San Diego to make the postseason again especially when it ends the year with trips to Detroit and Oakland.

15) Seattle Seahawks (7-7): Marshawn Lynch is quietly having an all-pro year and may have even cracked the top-five in MVP voting if the Seahawks were having a better season.

16) Philadelphia Eagles (6-8): You’re darn right I have Philly ahead of the Giants. Eagles are finally getting healthy and playing as a unit.

17) New York Giants (7-7): Still control their own destiny in the NFC East. Eli Manning picked the wrong game to have his worst game of the season on Sunday at home against Washington. The Giants loss to Redskins may be the most inexcusable loss of this NFL season by a team when the circumstances are put into play.

18) Arizona Cardinals (7-7): Stat of the day from ESPN. The Cardinals have trailed at halftime in every contest this season, yet still have seven wins.

19) Oakland Raiders (7-7): Their fourth-quarter collapse most likely cost the Raiders a chance to make the playoffs.

20) Tennessee Titans (7-7): Caught the Colts when Indianapolis finally looked like a decent NFL team. Its clearly time to start Jake Locker in the final two games of the regular season and prepare for 2012.

21) Chicago Bears (7-7): Injuries have decimated this team to below-average when at the midseason point, they looked like a top-four team in the NFC.

22) Kansas City Chiefs (6-8): Excellent win against Green Bay and can still win the AFC West…

23) Miami Dolphins (5-9): Reggie Bush is showing an excellent example of someone who needed a change in environment and rededication to football to thrive in the sport.

24) Carolina Panthers (5-9): Odd season for the Panthers. Cam Newton has been excellent and there’s talent on the squad but it seems like Carolina should have a few more wins than five.

25) Washington Redskins (5-9): Draft a quarterback…

26) Buffalo Bills (5-9): Remember when Buffalo was 5-2…

27) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10): Only reason they’re this high is because of Jones-Drew.

28) Tampa Bucs (4-10): Biggest disappointment of 2011. The regression of quarterback Josh Freeman may be the most under-publicized story of the season.

29) Cleveland Browns (4-10): Draft a quarterback (sorry Colt McCoy)

30) Minnesota Vikings (2-12): How are you 2-10 with Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson?

31) St. Louis Rams (2-12): Based purely on talent, arguably the worst team in the NFL.

32) Indianapolis Colts (1-14): Draft a…

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?