Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 17

The NFL regular season is officially over!  While the only rankings that truly matter are the ones in the standings, the Top 12 returns for one final rendition.  After all, making the playoffs is important, but entering the playoffs with some real momentum can be even more vital.  We we prepare for the most exciting time of the sports year, here’s how we see the league’s Top 12 teams stacking up.  And as for the Patriots, well, let’s just say that after this past week, their final position won’t be very pretty..

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	13-3	Bye Week
		My pick for the Super Bowl.  They’re the hottest team in the league, and perhaps the one with the least big weaknesses.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		5	3	11-5	vs. Eagles
		My pick to lose the Super Bowl.  Nobody’s playing better in the NFC right now than Dallas.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		4	1	14-2	Bye Week
		The loss of Welker has shifted the power in the AFC.  As much as it pains me to say, a San Diego/Indy AFC Championship seems nearly inevitable.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		6	2	13-3	Bye Week
		Can the Saints regain their prior form and shake off the rust from three pathetic losses?  No team in the league is more dangerous, but few have to make a bigger turnaround than New Orleans.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		10	5	12-4	Bye Week
		I became pretty disenchanted with the Vikings, but they did flex their muscles in Week 17.  They certainly could make the Super Bowl.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		2	4	10-6	vs. Ravens
		New England is going to have to play out of their minds to overcome the loss of Welker.  The one and only upside is that the mentality of this team just changed.  No longer are they “great in their own mind”.  They can’t ever become complacent.  Every man on that roster is going to have to take their game to the next level. Perhaps that’s exactly what they needed.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		7	N/A	10-6	vs. Jets
		Yes, they’re back in the playoffs, which is cause for celebration in Cincy.  But I can’t say this team has been lighting it up lately…
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		8	N/A	11-5	@ Cardinals
		Can’t put much stock in the Pack’s win agsinst the tanking Cardinals.  However, this ranking is based of their strong second half of the year.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		3	6	11-5	@ Cowboys
		When you can secure a bye week, and you don’t even show up, you deserve the 6th seed, and a 6 place drop in the rankings.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		9	1	10-6	vs. Packers
		Arizona could be frisky.  I don’t see it happening, but nobody should sleep on them.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		N/A	N/A	9-7	@ Patriots
		Baltimore took care of business and did what they needed to make the playoffs.  I’ve been saying they were a good team all season.  Let’s also say that I’m less than overconfident about the Patriots chances next week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		11	1	9-7	Eliminated
		The Jets had the playoffs handed to them on a silver platter.  Pittsburgh was the true #12 team this year. While certainly not as inequitable as last year’s debacle where the 11-5 Pats were out and the 8-8 Chargers were in, it’s a shame the Steelers aren’t in the post-season.