GSM NFL Power Rankings- Week 17 » Greenville Sports Media

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As we usher in 2024 on Sunday night, New Years Eve festivities won’t have the monopoly on fireworks.

The NFL is winding down its regular season and the offensive and defensive fireworks will practically pop right off your television screen.

The next two weeks will decide two things: playoff seeding, and who makes the playoffs to begin with.

Many teams are in the hunt for a wild card spot. A select few have already clinched a playoff spot and look to clinch home field advantage. The one thing every team still mathematically alive in the playoff race has in common is desperation. Heroes will be molded in real time. There will be jubilation and victory, but there will also be heartbreak and defeat. It’s the most desperate time of the year for NFL teams, and we will be watching every minute of it.

1. Baltimore Ravens (Prev. 2)

Baltimore takes the top spot in our Power Rankings for the first time this season! The Ravens looked like the most complete team in the NFL on the evening of Christmas Day, and they will be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.

2. San Francisco 49ers (Prev. 1)

The Ravens were simply the better team on Monday night, but the 49ers will be fine.

3. Miami Dolphins (Prev. 7)

Finally, a big win in Miami. The Dolphins finally beat a team over .500, taking out the Cowboys in Miami on Christmas Eve. Miami still has a shot at the #1 seed in the AFC.

4. Buffalo Bills (Prev. 5)

Buffalo did just enough to escape the broken Chargers, and keep their strong momentum going into a pivotal 2 week stretch.

5. Dallas Cowboys (Prev. 3)

Two straight losses in Dallas. They must correct the slide quickly if they want a chance at a home playoff game or two.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev. 6)

A far too close win over the Giants combined with a Cowboys loss has the Eagles in solid position in the NFC East. Lotta ballgame left, however.

7. Detroit Lions (Prev. 8)

The first ever NFC North title for the Lions has to be oh so sweet for long suffering Detroit fans. There will be a playoff game in Detroit this season.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (Prev. 4)

Kansas City has a lot of things to figure out and a very short time in which to figure things out.

9. Cleveland Browns (Prev. 13)

Joe Flacco has given this team new life. Is this the Nick Foles story again?

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev. 9)

Things are beginning to fall apart in Jacksonville. There’s time to fix the problems, but not much.

11. Los Angeles Rams (Prev. 11)

Paraphrasing Dory the fish from Pixar’s Finding Nemo, just keep winning. Just keep winning. Just keep winning, winning, winning.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev. 16)

The Steelers are back in it. Just win, baby.

13. Cincinnati Bengals (Prev. 10)

The Bengals and Browning finally fell in a humbling loss to the Steelers. The AFC wildcard race will be fascinating to watch this season.

14. Tampa Bay (Prev. 17)

Baker is balling for the Bucs and the playoffs (via a division title) are well in Tampa Bay’s sights.

15. Houston Texans (Prev. 12)

A loss to the Browns hurts the Texans badly, but a Jaguars loss keeps them right about even in the divisional race. Someone has to win the AFC South. Why not Houston?

16. Seattle Seahawks (Prev. 18)

Win out, and the Seahawks are in the playoffs. Lose once or twice? It gets a lot more interesting.

17. Indianapolis Colts (Prev. 15)

A bad time for a Colts collapse, as they fall to 8-7, along with seemingly half of the AFC.

18. Atlanta Falcons (Prev. 24)

Here come the Falcons. All eyes are on Atlanta. Well, maybe not all of them, but a few of them at least, which is more than there was before.

19. Green Bay Packers (Prev. 19)

They have a technical playoff chance, but that seems unlikely for a team that has lost 2 out of 3, with the lone win coming in tight fashion against the lowly Panthers.

20. Las Vegas Raiders (Prev. 23)

It’s been a heck of a late push by Las Vegas, but it might be too little too late. This weekend will go a long way towards seeing if the Raiders have a playoff shot.

21. Minnesota Vikings (Prev. 20)

Minnesota lost, and you cannot lose this time of year. It’s an uphill battle from here.

22. New Orleans Saints (Prev. 21)

It was tight, but the Rams controlled the game throughout, and the Saints are rapidly falling out of wild card contention.

23. New York Jets (Prev. 22)

Too little, too late.

24. Denver Broncos (Prev. 14)

Russell Wilson has been benched and the Broncos have a tiny chance to make the playoffs. It’s safe to say that Broncos Country wants to leave the ride.