Mark Craig's Week 17 power rankings

December 26, 2018 at 2:50AM

MARK CRAIG'S POWER RANKINGS

Biggest jump: Ravens, 10 to 2

Biggest fall: Chargers, 2 to 9

1. Saints, 13-2 (last week: 1)

NFC warning:  All miracles must go through the Big Easy.

2. Ravens, 9-6 (10)

NFL's best defense would make a scary playoff foe.

3. Chiefs, 11-4 (3)

No. 1 in scoring (35.3), 29th in scoring defense (27.9)

4. Bears, 11-4 (4)

Eighth in scoring (26.5), third in scoring 'D' (18.2)

5. Rams, 12-3 (5)

Blowing out the Cardinals not enough to move up.

6. Seahawks, 9-6 (11)

0-2 on the road against fellow NFC playoff teams.

7. Colts, 9-6 (6)

AFC's current sixth seed is 8-1 in its past nine games.

8. Patriots, 10-5 (8)

They're finished! They're dead! And … they're 10-5.

9. Chargers, 11-3 (2)

198  yards? 10 points? And a loss at home in prime time?

10. Eagles, 8-7 (15)

Vikings fans can't seem to get past these fellas.

11. Steelers, 8-6-1 (7)

The worst of the NFL's best teams?

12. Vikings, 8-6-1 (13)

Strength-of-victory percentage (.359) ranks 30th.

13. Titans, 9-6 (12)

No. 2 scoring defense currently seventh seed in AFC.

14. Cowboys, 9-6 (4)

A third NFC East title in five years.

15. Texans, 10-5 (9)

Losses to Indy and Philly in the past three weeks.

16. Browns, 7-7-1 (16)

Believe it or not, the Browns don't need to draft a QB.

17. Giants, 5-10 (21)

Believe it or not, Mannings don't play forever.

18. Redskins, 7-8 (17)

A loss to Philly would match 7-9 mark with Cousins in '17.

19. Packers, 6-8-1 (23)

Should they celebrate 540 yards vs. Jets? Probably not.

20. Broncos, 6-9 (20)

Any reason to be excited about Denver's QB situation in '19? Not now.

21. Bills, 5-10 (19)

Lost fifth straight to Pats. Surprised it's only five.

22. Buccaneers, 5-10 (22)

Ten or more losses in seven of the past 10 years.

23. 49ers, 4-11 (24)

Ten or more losses for a fourth straight season.

24. Dolphins, 7-8 (18)

How did this team win seven games?

25. Falcons, 6-9 (26)

Haven't lost 10 or more since 2014.

26. Jaguars, 5-10 (28)

For one day at least, Bortles was better than Kessler!

27. Lions, 5-10 (25)

Psst. When it's a Hail Mary, cover the guy who's 6-6.

28. Jets, 4-11 (30)

A win Sunday gives Todd Bowles three straight 5-11 seasons.

29. Raiders, 4-11 (31)

Free-agency needs:  Offense, defense, place to play.

30. Bengals, 6-9 (27)

They haven't had a winning season since 2015.

31. Panthers, 6-9 (29)

Fifty-two days ago, this team was 6-2.

32. Cardinals, 3-12 (32)

Anybody else think Fitz would look good in New England?

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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