Our NFL Power Rankings continue. To see part one of the rankings, click here.
15. Tennessee Titans – (8-7) Marcus Mariota breaking his leg was a horrible way to end the season. But at least Mike Mularkey will have an excuse to point at for losing to the Jaguars other than his shitty coaching. Last week: 12
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (8-7) The Bucs are still alive for the playoffs. Here’s what has to happen for them to get in. First, the Buccaneers have to beat the Panthers. The Lions have to beat the Packers and the Redskins and Giants have to end in a tie. But that’s not all. Because of the playoff formula and the strength of schedule, the Titans have to beat the Texans and the Colts have to beat the Jaguars. Yes. The Bucs need two AFC teams to win to make the NFC playoffs. I don’t know guys. It doesn’t look good. Last week: 15
17. Baltimore Ravens – (8-7) Of all the underperforming teams this season, none have surrendered more than the Ravens. This should have been a 12-4 team. Instead they’re watching the playoffs at home. Last week: 16
18. New Orleans Saints – (7-8) Will Sean Payton be back in 2017? As a Rams fan I hope not. Last week: 21
19. Indianapolis Colts – (7-8) The Colts can add a few players on defense and completely turn this thing around. The only question is if Chuck Pagano is the man to lead them through it. Last week: 17
20. Arizona Cardinals – (6-8-1) Speaking of disappointments, a lot of people are feeling that way about this Cardinals team. Not me, since I predicted they’d miss the playoffs completely, but you know, other people. People who know a lot less about NFL football. Last week: 24
23. Philadelphia Eagles – (6-9) The Eagles have over-performed anyone’s expectations this season. Their final game is meaningless to them and the Cowboys, so for both team’s sake I wish they’d just replace the NFL game with a pillow fight. Last week: 19
18. Buffalo Bills – (7-8) The Rex Ryan farewell tour ended at home against the Dolphins. Congratulations, Bills fans. Feels good, doesn’t it? Last week: 20
19. Carolina Panthers – (6-9) Better luck next year, Panthers. Step one is to nail the draft. Step two is Cam Newton working with a QB coach one-on-one and getting his fundamentals back. If that happens, Carolina is right back in the mix in 2017. Last week: 23
22. Minnesota Vikings – (7-8) Adrian Peterson came back and probably immediately wished he didn’t. Last week: 18
25. Cincinnati Bengals – (5-9-1) Marvin Lewis announced this week he wouldn’t be retiring after this season. OK. If the Bengals were any other team they wouldn’t wait for that to send him on his merry way. Last week: 25
26. San Diego Chargers – (5-9) Mike McCoy not only wasn’t the first coach fired, it looks like he’ll make it all the way through the end of the regular season. Kudos. Last week: 26
27. Jacksonville Jaguars – (3-12) What a difference an actual NFL level head coach makes. Doug Marrone should get a real shot at this job. I’m not sure he will. Last week: 30
28. New York Jets – (4-10) Bryce Petty is on injured reserve and Ryan Fitzpatrick gets one more chance at a multiple interception game in a Jets uniform. Throw one for me, Fitzy. Last week: 27
29. Chicago Bears – (3-12) The Bears will have a high pick to maybe get a quarterback if they don’t think Matt Barkley is the guy. I’d give him another year, myself. But I’d still take a quarterback somewhere in the draft. Last week: 28
30. San Francisco 49ers – (2-13) If only you could play the Rams every week. Last week: 31
31. Cleveland Browns – (1-14) I knew you could do it. No team is as bad as that 2008 Detroit Lions team and the fact that you, the 2016 Browns, could still win a game shows the complete freak of nature that Lions team was. Last week: 32
32. Los Angeles Rams – (4-11) That’s a brand new way to lose, Rams. It’s nice to now defensive coordinator Gregg Williams feels so much solidarity with the fired Jeff Fisher that he wants to ensure he won’t be working in the NFL next season either. So congratulations, thanks to a win from the Browns and the 49ers (over you), you’re the worst team in the league this week. Last week: 29
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