Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts after a failed 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Ljons beat the Packers 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
This week’s NFL power rankings show that outside of the clear division leaders (there are just five), the wildcard picture is as murky as ever. There are three tight division races in the AFC South, NFC East and NFC North. That leaves five divisions filled with teams duking it out for the four wildcard slots.
The AFC has seven teams within two games of the top wildcard spot. At 6-4, the Steelers currently hold the top wildcard spot and thanks to the Bills’ win over the Jets on Thursday Night Football, Buffalo holds the sixth spot at 5-4. The Jets, Dolphins, Chiefs, Raiders and Texans are all within one game of the final wildcard spot. If you’re asking me, I don’t think Buffalo will hold onto that spot throughout the rest of the season, but they have as good a chance as anybody to end up there after Week 17. Good luck trying to choose the six seed.
The NFC has eight teams within two games of the top wildcard spot. Currently, Green Bay and Atlanta hold the wildcard spots, each at 6-3. While all six teams chasing sit two games back at 4-5, Atlanta has lost three of their last four and Green Bay has lost three straight. The NFC wildcards are far from set. In the mix are, surprisingly, Washington, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis followed by Seattle, Philadelphia and the Chicago Bears. Yes, the Bears are still alive.
While the Lions are the only team in the NFC North that’s out of the playoff picture, they got a pretty sizable consolation prize, winning in Wisconsin for the first time since most fans can remember. I mean, I was seven years old the last time the Lions did that. Part of me wants to see Detroit salvage their season and show that they’re not as bad as their 1-7 start. The other part of me is screaming “WHY WOULD YOU PLAY YOURSELF OUT OF A TOP 5 DRAFT PICK?!?!?!?!” If you’re not playing for a playoff spot, you’re playing for a draft pick, but I like the fight this Lions team is showing.
This week’s biggest riser is Kansas City. The Chiefs moved up seven spots from 20 to 13 in large part because there are eleven 4-5 teams. The Chiefs have won three straight and have games against Buffalo, Baltimore and Cleveland along with four division games split between the Chargers and Raiders. It’s setting up nicely for a team that started 1-5.
Our biggest drop this week was split between the Cowboys, Colts, and Saints who all fell four spots from 26, 17, and 18, respectively. The Cowboys lose. It’s what they do. The Colts are struggling to keep pace in the worst division in football. The Saints had a perfect opportunity to claim a wildcard spot early. They lost two straight to bad teams. Boo. Boo them all.
That about does it for the big movers and shakers in this week’s NFL power rankings, so without further ado: