JACKSONVILLE – Here are senior writer John Oehser's pre-Week 17 2015 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
1.Arizona Cardinals (13-2) | 3 | No team's playing better. Period
2.Carolina Panthers (14-1) | 1 | Pop the champagne, '72 Dolphins; no more unbeatens this season
3.New England Patriots (12-3) | 2 | They're beat up … but they're still the overwhelming AFC favorites
4.Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) | 5 | Those Chiefs are so hot right now – and now they're in the playoffs
5.Seattle Seahawks (9-6) | 4 | They still are and will remain the team no one wants to play
6.New York Jets (10-5) | 10 | They just keep winning when it matters most
7.Minnesota Vikings (10-5) | 11 | A solid playoff team, but a real contender?
8.Denver Broncos (11-4) | 7 | Clinched a playoff spot – and with that defense, they can beat anyone
9.Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) | 8 | Getting Andy Dalton back is far and away the key
10.Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) | 6 | A more damaging, uncharacteristic loss they haven't had in a while
11.Green Bay Packers (10-5) | 9 | With Aaron Rodgers, they always have a chance
12.Washington Redskins (8-7) | 12 | NFC East Champions
13.Houston Texans (8-7) | 13 | Only the weirdest of weird final weekends will keep them out
14.Atlanta Falcons (8-7) | 15 | The ship got righted a week or two too late in A-Town
15.Oakland Raiders (7-8) | 19 | Future looks bright no matter where they play next season
16.Detroit Lions (6-9) | 22 | Won five of the last seven games
17.Buffalo Bills (7-8) | 14 | Too little too late this season for Rex & Company
18.Indianapolis Colts (7-8) | 20 | Only the weirdest of weird final weekends will get them in
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-9) | 16 | What a difference a few weeks make
20.Philadelphia Eagles (6-9) | 17 | Had control of destiny Saturday – and quickly lost control
21.New York Giants (6-9) | 18 | Four consecutive seasons out of the postseason for Big Blue
22.Chicago Bears (6-9) | 21 | Have the feel of team that could be good next season
23.St. Louis Rams (7-8) | 23 | Swept the Seahawks … now wait 'til next year again
24.New Orleans Saints (6-9) |25| Drew Brees is good … injury or no injury
25.Baltimore Ravens (5-10) | 29 | Never count out this proud franchise
26.Dallas Cowboys (4-11) | 26 | Three consecutive losses after brief late-season life
27.San Diego Chargers (4-11) | 28 | Seven consecutive losses in AFC West
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) | 24 | Six days 'til draft talk
29.Miami Dolphins (5-10) | 27 | Now 4-7 since midseason coaching change
30.San Francisco 49ers (4-11) | 30 | Limping to the finish in '15
31.Cleveland Browns (3-12) | 31 | Don't look now, but Johnny's giving them hope
32.Tennessee Titans (3-12) | 32 | Jaguars probably didn't deserve their help anyway
