I haven't updated my rankings since Week 10, so what I thought I would do this time around is just look at the last 5 weeks and see who is hot and who is not. One, it's good to know who is playing well as we gear up for the playoffs and, two, it's interesting to see how teams are playing now that the weather is turning cold and nasty.
The results are pretty surprising, and point toward the possibility of some exciting upsets in the early rounds. The Steelers and Giants both look like they may make early exits, while the Vikings and Chargers could make runs. The Jags and Bucs have both quietly moved into position to play spoiler. The Patriots are still the team to beat, but teams are beginning to figure them out and make them look mortal again (what happens to their 16-0 record if they're finally upset in the second round by, oh, say, Jacksonville?). And lest we forget, the Cowboys and Packers are still the elite in the NFC and the Colts are still the defending Superbowl champs (and winners of their last 5).
I was beginning to get bored by the season and the prospect of the Patriots blowing everyone out, but this list gives me hope that something interesting could still happen. The only thing that scares me now is the prospect of the Chargers putting up 51 points against the Browns in the first round. Cleveland needs to steal that #4 spot from Pittsburgh and hope it snows in what would then be a potential match-up with the Jaguars.
1. Minnesota Vikings 5-0 (NFC #6 Seed)
2. New England Patriots 5-0 (AFC #1)
3. San Diego Chargers 4-1 (AFC #3)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-1 (AFC #5)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-1 (NFC #4)
6. Indianapolis Colts 5-0 (AFC #2)
7. Green Bay Packers 4-1 (NFC #2)
8. Dallas Cowboys 4-1 (NFC #1)
9. New Orleans Saints 3-2
10. Seattle Seahawks 4-1 (NFC #3)
11. Houston Texans 3-2
12. Cleveland Browns 4-1 (AFC #6)
13. Denver Broncos 2-3
14. Cincinnati Bengals 2-3
15. Washington Persons 2-3
16. Philadelphia Eagles 2-3
17. Chicago Bears 1-4
18. Arizona Cardinals 2-3
19. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-3 (AFC #4)
20. New York Jets 2-3
21. St. Louis Rams 2-3
22. New York Giants 3-2 (NFC #5)
23. Oakland Raiders 2-3
24. San Francisco 49ers 2-3
25. Tennessee Titans 2-3
26. Baltimore Ravens 0-5
27. Buffalo Bills 2-3
28. Carolina Panthers 2-3
29. Miami Dolphins 1-4
30. Detroit Lions 0-5
31. Kansas City Chefs 0-5
32. Atlanta Falcons 0-5
