Week 17 NFL Power Rankings and Predictions: Playoff Blitz

So yeah, the NFL decided to screw up my schedule by being sissies and moving back the Eagles-Vikings game due to some snow. Therefore, I did not have time to do full Power Rankings this week. Seeing that it is Thursday and I have not posted it yet (or even started), I'm going to post an abridged version for this week, sorry. So I'm just going to say all my major thoughts for this week right now:

1. Damn the Falcons & Saints for breaking my unblemished Monday Night Football record this year during the final Monday Night Football game.
2. Can someone explain to me why the Bears-Jets game turned into a shootout? Both offenses are awful and both defenses are great. I'm confused. I'm going to write that game off as shenanigans. Maybe both defenses decided not to play for the lols.
3. Congrats on the Chiefs for finally ending the Chargers' reign of terror in the AFC West.
4. 1-7 at home is unacceptable for the Dolphins. Especially when one loses to the Lions at home.
5. Please god, let the Rams beat the Seahawks so I don't see a team with a losing record in the playoffs.
6. It's official: The Texans have the worst pass defense of all time. Bye Gary Kubiak. Welcome Bill Cowher?
7. Tom Coughlin may be done as Giants HC. His record in November & December is unacceptable. And,  he's ancient and they will want to hold onto DC Perry Fewell.
8. How the hell do the Eagles lose at home to the Joe Webb-led Vikings?
9. While it is no surprise Mike Singletary was fired, the timing is slightly odd. What's the point of appointing an interim head coach for only 1 game? You won't learn anything about him one way or the other... Unless you don't plan on keeping him, either, and you just wanted to make a point about Mike Singletary. 
10. All divison matchups in Week 17 may have been the best thing commissioner Roger Goodell has ever done. Only a handful of teams will be resting starters in Week 17, and it created a bunch of interesting scenarios. One possible improvement would be to pit last season's #1/#2 and #3/#4 in Week 17. More chance at a meaningful game.

Power Rankings

Biggest Winner: Minnesota Vikings (+4)

Biggest Loser: New York Giants (-7)

1.  New England Patriots (13-2, +1)
2. Atlanta Falcons (12-3, -1)
3. Baltimore Ravens (11-4, +1)
4. New Orleans Saints (11-4, +3)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5, -2)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4, +0)
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6, +1)
8. Chicago Bears (11-4, +2)
9. New York Jets (10-5, +0)
10. Indianapolis Colts (9-6, +2)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5, +2)
12. New York Giants (9-6, -7)
13. San Diego Chargers (8-7, -2)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6, +2)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7, -1)
16. Oakland Raiders (7-8, -1)
17. Minnesota Vikings (6-9, +4)
18. Miami Dolphins (7-8, +0)
19. Dallas Cowboys (5-10, -2)
20. Tennessee Titans (6-9, -1)
21. St. Louis Rams (7-8, +2)
22. Cleveland Browns (5-10, -2)
23. Washington Redskins (6-9, +1)
24. Detroit Lions (5-10, +2)
25. Houston Texans (5-10, -3)
26. Seattle Seahawks (6-9, -1)
27. Buffalo Bills (4-11, +0)
28. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11, +1)
29. San Francisco 49ers (5-10, -1)
30. Arizona Cardinals (5-10, +0)
31. Denver Broncos (4-11, +0)
32. Carolina Panthers (2-13, +0)

Predictions for Next Week

Prediction Accuracy for Last Week: 9-7 (56.25%)
Overall Prediction Accuracy: 111-67 (62.36%)

Miami (7-8) @ New England (13-2): Miami by 7. Dolphins usually split the Patriots, and New England will likely rest their starters, having already clinched homefield advantage in the AFC. Plus, Sparano is on the hotseat so the team will be motivated.
Tampa Bay (9-6) @ New Orleans (11-4): New Orleans by 10. May be a long shot for the Falcons to drop to the Panthers, but stranger things have happened in the NFL. Something to play for. Although the Bucs also want to hold onto their playoff dreams by beating the Saints. Bucs need both Giants and Packers to lose, though.
Carolina (2-13) @ Atlanta (12-3): Atlanta by 14. Atlanta needs this win to secure the division (and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs). Otherwise, they open the door for the Saints to take the NFC South.
Minnesota (6-9) @ Detroit (5-10): Detroit by 3. No playoff implications, both teams playing for respect.
Oakland (7-8) @ Kansas City (10-5): Kansas City by 3. Chiefs clinched the division after the Chargers' loss last week, but a Chiefs loss and a Colts win would allow the Colts to take the No. 3 seed from the Chiefs. Expect the Chiefs to play, but it will be close.
Buffalo (4-11) @ New York Jets (10-5): New York J by 7. Jets have a chance to take No. 5 seed, so something to play for. Will likely not rest starters.
Cincinnati (4-11) @ Baltimore (11-4): Baltimore by 7. Baltimore can take the AFC North from the Steelers if they win and Steelers lose.
Pittsburgh (11-4) @ Cleveland (5-10): Pittsburgh by 3. The Steelers have to play and win or they may lose the division to Baltimore (which would actually knock them to the No. 6 seed if the Jets also win).
Jacksonville (8-7) @ Houston (5-10): Jacksonville by 3. The Jaguars aren't eliminated, but they need the Colts to lose and to beat the Texans themselves.
Dallas (5-10) @ Philadelphia (10-5): Dallas by 7. The Eagles are locked into the No. 3 seed, they have nothing to gain nor lose. They will likely rest their starters for the Wildcard round.
New York Giants (9-6) @ Washington (6-9): New York G by 7. Giants still have shot at playoffs with a Packer loss, and the Redskins should not be a major threat. Still, they  have played awful the last two weeks.
San Diego (8-7) @ Denver (4-11): San Diego by 7. Game has no playoff implications.
Arizona (5-10) @ San Francisco (5-10): San Francisco by 3. I like interim head coaches in their first game. I also like the 49ers better than the Cardinals.
Chicago (11-4) @ Green Bay (9-6): Green Bay by 10. In the extremely unlikely event that BOTH the Saints and Falcons lose, the Bears will actually play to try to clinch home-field advantage. Otherwise, the Bears will have nothing to play for (already 100% securing either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed at the time this game is played), and may rest starters (or not play to full potential). Green Bay, on the other hand, is fighting for their playoff life. If they win, they're in (and play Philadelphia).
Tennessee (6-9) @ Indianapolis (9-6): Indianapolis by 7. This game also depends on a previous game. If the Jaguars lose to the Texans and the Chiefs beat the Raiders, the Colts will have nothing to play for and will likely rest starters for the Wildcard round (which would likely lead to Titans win). However, if Jags win, the Colts will need to win to make the playoffs. I like Manning in that situation. Also, if the Chiefs lose, the Colts could take the No. 3 seed from them.
St. Louis (7-8) @ Seattle (6-9): St. Louis by 3. Well this is it, the game of the week and destined matchup since like 6 weeks ago. Winner is in... and will have the distinct honor of being the worst team in playoffs. I wouldn't be able to stand it if a losing-record team made the playoffs, so I hope to god rookie Sam Bradford can lead the Rams to a win. Plus, at home, the Rams may have a shot at actually winning a playoff game. The Seahawks would be annihilated for sure.

Results of Last Week's Poll

Last week, I asked my readers "Who had the most exciting kick/punt return last week?" between DeSean Jackson's punt return in the final seconds to win against the Giants, offensive guard Dan Connolly's 71-yard rumble against the Packers, or Devin Hester's record setting punt return at the Vikings?

Apparently, my readers have a taste for the dramatic as DeSean Jackson's return won the poll with 66% of the vote. The other two amazing returns were tied at 16%.

If you will excuse me for making the obvious poll, this week's poll is "Which currently-out, but still alive, team is most likely to take a playoff spot in Week 17?" between the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Seattle Seahawks?

Vote on the right-sidebar of my blog!