NFL power rankings entering Week 17 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):
2. Detroit Lions (3): The first team in franchise history to win 13 games, they’re trying to pave the NFC pathway to the Super Bowl directly to Ford Field. Plenty of work yet to do on that front, even for a team that’s almost certainly the franchise’s best of the Super Bowl era (since 1966) – the Lions’ 493 points and 7-0 road record are club bests – much as that’s also indicative of their checkered-at-best history over that period. Regardless, give Dan Campbell and Co. credit for continuing to play at a high level no matter how many injuries and other obstacles they must navigate. Detroit is the only team this season with a 1,000-yard rusher with 10 TDs (Jahmyr Gibbs) and a 1,000-yard receiver with 10 TDs (Amon-Ra St. Brown).
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6. Philadelphia Eagles (2): This dip is less the result of dropping a game on the road to a quality Commanders team and more a function of the uncertainty currently clouding QB Jalen Hurts’ (concussion) availability – similar to what the Chiefs were dealing with a week ago when Mahomes injured his ankle. Regardless, Philly is a near lock for the No. 2 seed and, assuming Hurts is back soon, could very much be vying for a second Super Bowl berth in three seasons.
7. Baltimore Ravens (8): QB Lamar Jackson’s immediate priority might be Queen Bey. Otherwise, he and his teammates very much seem to be rounding into championship form at the right time … and 12 years after they won the last Super Bowl staged in New Orleans.
10. Washington Commanders (12): Sunday’s win was exciting, dramatic and puts them on the verge of a playoff berth and their first regular season with at least 11 wins since 1991. But let’s not forget it came despite five turnovers and against a Philly team forced to field an injured backup quarterback.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (16): It took a 48-year stretch, but the Bolts have now converted the NFL’s last two successful fair catch kicks. Bummer that Bill Belichick, who enjoys an arcane football rule as much as anyone, won’t be on the sideline at Foxborough on Saturday when the Chargers visit.
13. Houston Texans (13): Apparently, they think it’s wise to be WR Diontae Johnson’s fourth employer in less than a year … though claiming him is also a referendum on the state of their receiving corps behind WR1 Nico Collins.
15. Denver Broncos (10): … However if they lapse at Cincinnati on Saturday – and Denver’s résumé overfloweth with victories against lightweights – then, with no wild-card berth yet secured, the pucker factor will go up significantly heading into Week 18.
16. Seattle Seahawks (14): DT Byron Murphy II made a huge rookie mistake Sunday, committing a pivotal facemask penalty on Sam Darnold one snap before the Minnesota quarterback threw the game-winning TD. Did we mention Murphy is a rookie?
17. Atlanta Falcons (18): The switch to QB Michael Penix Jr. is the obvious change for a team that’s reclaimed the NFC South lead. But the more important one might be a revitalized pass rush averaging four sacks per game over the past four weeks … after getting 10 total in the first 11 games.
20. Indianapolis Colts (21): Sunday is what they were supposed to be all along offensively with QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor in the backfield – an attack that can unleash an unstoppable running game able to cover up most any other flaw. Maybe it’s what they will be in 2025.
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32. New York Giants (32): Welp. With the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft nearly in hand, perhaps their second century of existence will begin much better than the way the first one is ending.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.