NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

1. Arizona Cardinals: Even after losing Tyrann Mathieu for the season, the Arizona Cardinals managed to demolish Rodgers and Packers, recording 9 total sacks. Meanwhile, quarterback Carson Palmer is still making a strong case for the MVP Award.

2. Carolina Panthers: After showing signs of weakness for the past several weeks, Carolina finally lost their first game of the season this past week. Against cornerback Josh Norman,  receiver Julio Jones caught 7 of his 8 targets for 91 yards, meaning the Panthers star cornerback may be starting to show signs of weakness.

3. New England Patriots: The Patriots may have lost to the Jets in overtime this past week, but it is important to mention the large numbers of injuries that this team has sustained, losing players like Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Sebastian Vollmer, Devin McCourty, Jordan Richards, and Rob Ninkovich. Almost all of these players will be back for the first round of the playoffs, so the Patriots should still be the most feared team in the AFC.

4. Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City's 19-13 win over the Browns may not have been pretty, but the Chiefs have still won 9 straight games, and are likely the hottest team in football. With star defensive players Tamba Hali and Justin Houston both listed as day-to-day, this team will just need to rest their guys in Week 17 now that they've clinched a playoff spot.

5. Denver Broncos: It seems like the Denver Broncos are going to stick with the young Brock Osweiler rather than start veteran Peyton Manning come playoff time. The 2015 Denver Broncos are a more talented version of the 2006 Bears team: an inconsistent offense combined with a dominant defense.

6. New York Jets: Cornerback Darrelle Revis is officially back from the concussion he sustained in November, where he now has an interception in back to back games. Last week, the Jets managed to beat the Patriots to leapfrog the Steelers for a spot in the playoffs, and if quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to play well, New York could make a run in the postseason.

Top 5 CBs Cmp % when targeted:  Darrelle Revis: 44.2  Patrick Peterson: 46.8  Delvin Breaux: 48.8  Robert Alford: 49.3  Richard Sherman: 50

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 29, 2015

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: Entering Week 16, many viewed Pittsburgh as one of the hottest teams in all of football thanks to their well-balanced offense; however, a devastating loss to the Ravens now has Pittsburgh on the outside looking in. The Steelers could make a serious run in the playoffs, but they obviously need to make the postseason first.

8. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are already a lock for the postseason, but a loss to the Rams at home is not a good look for one of the "hottest" teams just two weeks before the playoffs. For the first time in five weeks, Wilson's passer rating dipped below 100 in a game, so maybe the Seahawks offense peaked too soon.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: AJ McCarron's statline against the first-ranked Broncos pass defense was fairly impressive considering it was just his second time starting in the NFL. The Bengals simply need Andy Dalton to be ready to play for the first week of the postseason if they have any shot at winning the AFC Championship.

10. Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have scored 38 points or more in back to back weeks, and they lost by just three points to the Cardinals in Week 14. Adrian Peterson is leading the league in rushing as of Week 17, and Bridgewater's passer rating has crept above 90 for the year. Minnesota now has the opportunity to beat the struggling Packers to win the NFC North for the first time since 2009. 

NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

1. Carolina Panthers: Running back Jonathan Stewart may have been missing last week, but Cam Newton and the Panthers offense still managed to score 38 points in a win over the Giants. In two of the past three games, the Panthers defense has allowed 35 points or more, where even though Carolina's perfect season is alive and well, there are certain signs of the locomotive slowing down as the playoffs approach.

2. New England Patriots: One by one, Patriots stars are returning from the injuries they sustained earlier in the year, including Rob Gronkowski, Dont'a Hightower, and Jamie Collins. As seen with last week's game when both Chung and McCourty were sidelined, the most important thing for this Pats team is to remain the top seed while staying healthy. The addition of Steven Jackson will certainly help New England's nonexistent run game this season.

3. Arizona Cardinals: The loss of free safety Tyrann Mathieu to a torn ACL will be an incredibly costly injury to one of the best secondaries in football, but with Bruce Arians as the head coach, the Cardinals are still very much in contention. At the age of 35, Carson Palmer is having the best statistical season of his career (4,277 yards, 32 touchdowns, 106.7 passer rating), and he has a shot at amending his horrible playoff record (0-2 with a 66.5 passer rating in the postseason).

4. Seattle Seahawks: In one of the strangest turn of events, the Seattle Seahawks are 5-0 ever since Marshawn Lynch sustained an injury against the Cardinals. Quarterback Russell Wilson has caught fire over the last several weeks, especially when throwing the ball to receiver Doug Baldwin. Seattle has a chance to regain their pride within the NFC West with a win over the Cardinals in Week 17.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: When quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a legitimate threat to dethrone the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Receiver Antonio Brown is basically unstoppable, especially with his eye-popping stat line against the top ranked Broncos secondary last week (16 receptions, 189 yards, 2 scores). Many would have expected the MCL injury to Le'Veon Bell would have derailed the Steelers offense, but back up running back DeAngelo Williams has done a great job temporarily replacing the young star.

.@AntonioBrown84 is the 1st player in @NFL history to have 2 games with 15+ catches in a single season. pic.twitter.com/k8ghoOTuLb

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 21, 2015

6. Kansas City Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs have won their last 8 games and are likely the hottest team in all of football. With wins against the Steelers and Broncos, the success of Kansas City's football team has not been hindered by the loss of running back Jamaal Charles for the season. Defensively, safety Eric Berry earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time since being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, with two of KC's linebackers making the Pro Bowl as well (Tamba Hall and Justin Houston). The Chiefs could pull off the impossible and make the playoffs after a 1-5 start.

7. Green Bay Packers: After losing four of five games during the middle of the year, the Packers have started to return to their winning ways with a three game win streak. The loss of receiver Jordy Nelson at the start of the year had a larger impact on this team than many people expected, as it shows the lack of depth at the receiver position. With teams focusing most of their efforts on Randall Cobb, and Eddie Lacy struggling to return to last year's form, the Packers offense is just not the same as it once was.

8. Denver Broncos: Brock Osweiler is 3-2 in games when starting this season, but by losing the past two games, the Broncos are currently on track for the third seed in the postseason. Over the past two years, the Broncos are 7-0 when running back CJ Anderson rushes for 85 yards or more, so establishing the run against teams like Cincy will be key for this offense moving forward.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: While AJ McCarron may have been able to win the first start of his career, the entire success of the Bengals hinges upon Andy Dalton's health come playoff time. Cincinnati has a tough game against the Denver Broncos next week, where a win would put Cincy on track for a first round bye in the postseason. Yet with Dalton missing from the lineup, this sort of outcome is unlikely.

10. New York Jets: Now that cornerback Darrelle Revis has returned from the concussion he sustained back in November, the Jets have a legitimate shot at earning a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Jets do not control their own destiny, as they must win their next two games and hope for at least one loss by the Chiefs, Steelers, or Broncos. This week, the Jets are home against the injury-plagued Patriots, so it would be unwise to count out New York just yet.

The @Patriots are seeking their 6th 13-win season since 2003 (most in NFL). Franchise had none from 1960-2002. Patriots at Jets - 1 ET

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 27, 2015

Drew Brees will start vs Jags despite being questionable with torn plantar fascia. https://t.co/DNVRztDzBd pic.twitter.com/CNmh6ZwKQB

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 27, 2015

Panthers: trying to join 2007 Patriots as only teams to start a season 15-0 in regular season

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 27, 2015

Will the Carolina Panthers Go Undefeated?

While the Carolina Panthers may have been able to defeat the Giants this past weekend to move to 14-0, the win did not come easily. Eli Manning and the Giants led a four-touchdown comeback, with their last score being a pass to Odell Beckham Jr. with 1:46 left in the game. So maybe Carolina's defense was not able to close out the game, but Cam Newton ultimately marched 49 yards in 8 plays to set up Graham Gano's game winning field goal. With two games left in the regular season, the Panthers only need to beat the Falcons on the road next week and then the Buccaneers at home in Week 17 for an undefeated regular season. So let's take a look at these next two games, as well as any potential playoff teams capable of handing the Panthers their first loss of the season.

Falcons: At this point in the season, the Falcons must win their final two games just to have a chance at a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately for Falcons fans, Atlanta has lost their last five games against the Panthers over the course of three different seasons, where their most recent matchup resulted in a 38-0 loss for the Falcons just two weeks ago. Even though the Panthers defense allowed 38 points to the Saints the week before, and 35 points to the Giants a week later, this defense managed to play to its full potential against the Falcons. Next week's key matchup will be Panthers cornerback Josh Norman versus star wide receiver Julio Jones, where in their last matchup against one another, Julio Jones caught seven passes for 88 yards but no touchdowns. In two of the last three games where teams have been able to score a lot of points against the Panthers, the offenses were able to get over the top of the Panthers secondary for a couple of big plays. The Falcons just don't seem like they have it in them, so I predict another win for the Panthers next week.

Prediction: Panthers over Falcons

Record: 15-0 

Buccaneers: Now that the Bucs have no chance of making the playoffs, Tampa Bay gains nothing from beating the Panthers in the last game of the season other than a sense of pride; in fact, it would be more advantageous for Tampa to intentionally lose this game in an effort to gain a better position in the draft. If Tampa loses another game, it's likely that they would sneak into the top 10 of the 2016 NFL Draft. Had this game taken place several weeks earlier when Jameis Winston became more comfortable in the pocket, Mike Evans had returned to full health, and Doug Martin emerged as Pro Bowl caliber running back once again, the Bucs had a legitimate shot at giving the Panthers their first loss. More importantly, deep threats Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson would give the Panthers secondary fits all game. Yet since this is not the case, the Panthers will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to by undefeated by the end of the regular season.
Prediction: Panthers over Buccaneers
Record: 16-0

Seahawks: With the Seahawks basically locked in as the fifth seed in the playoffs, a weak NFC East team as the fourth seed, and a likely win by the third seeded Packers in the first round of the playoffs, a Seahawks-Panthers matchup is almost inevitable. Sure, there are a lot of assumptions that must be made to get to this point, but the odds are in favor of this rematch from last year's Divisional Round taking place once more. Even with running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls injured, the Seahawks are one of the hottest teams in football, with quarterback Russell Wilson throwing for 19 touchdowns and no picks in his last 5 games. The Seahawks secondary is good enough to slow down the Panthers offense as they did last year in the playoffs, but the Seahawks are also very talented when it comes to throwing the deep ball (Wilson is 13 of 15 with a passer rating of 125.6 when on passes 31 yards or longer). Lastly, Lynch is expected to make his return come playoff time, so don't be shocked when the Seahawks defeat the Panthers in the Divisional Round for the second year in a row.
Prediction: Seahawks over Panthers
Record: 16-1

Midseason NFL Playoff Seeding Predictions

AFC Playoff Seeding

1. New England Patriots (15-1): Injuries to players like Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman, and Nate Solder have been unable to derail this offensive locomotive, but as they continuously stack up, it will be interesting to see if the perfect record remains.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): The Bengals have always been known to start well in September and October, but with consecutive losses over the past two weeks, the number one overall seed in the AFC seems unlikely.

3. Denver Broncos (11-5): The quarterback situation is difficult to figure out, but I simply don't see the Broncos making it past the first round of the playoffs despite a great defense.

4. Indianapolis Colts (8-8): The AFC South is the softest division in football, and once Andrew Luck is able to return from injury, the Colts will be a solid bet to win the division.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): A healthy Big Ben will make this team dangerous by the end of the season, even though star running back Le'Veon Bell is injured.

6. Buffalo Bills (10-6): The Bills have an easy schedule to end the year, and talent on either side of the ball will make them a solid playoff contender.

NFC Playoff Seeding

1. Carolina Panthers (14-2): The undefeated Panthers are certainly clicking on both sides of the ball, where Luke Kuechly is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year. Cam Newton is earning MVP buzz, even with Kelvin Benjamin out for the year.

2. Green Bay Packers (12-4): The Packers have cooled off  substantially since their 6-0 start to the season, where the injury to receiver Jordy Nelson is finally starting to catch up with this dynamic offense. Running back Eddie Lacy will need to return to last season's form in order to take some pressure off of the reigning MVP.

3. Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Carson Palmer is sneaking his way into the MVP discussion thanks to his impressive statistics (3,066 yards, 27 TD's, 9 INT's) and 8-2 overall record. The Cardinals must hope that Palmer remains healthy in order to prevent last year's collapse from happening again.

4. New York Giants (10-6): With the Redskins, Cowboys, and Eagles all playing poorly, the Giants are pretty close to locking down an NFC East title. As long as the Giants are in the playoffs, you can never count out Eli Manning and the Giants.

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): A rough start to the season and an injured "Beast Mode" has left the Seahawks out of the discussion for a first round bye in the postseason. With the abundance of talent on this roster, expect the Seahawks to turn it around late in the season.

6. Minnesota Vikings (9-7): With Adrian Peterson leading the league in rushing yards (1,006 yards), less pressure is placed on Teddy Bridgewater to make plays, as seen last season. Their schedule is not easy, per se, but they should be able to make the playoffs.

2015-2016 NFL Wild Card Round Predictions

(3) Broncos over (6) Bills: Seeing how the Bills have one of the best pass rushes in all of football, it would be tough for the 39-year-old Peyton Manning to complete most of his passes when he's on the ground for the entire game. Luckily, C.J. Anderson will hopefully be there to bail him out.

(5) Chargers over (4) Ravens: The Ravens are always a brutal team to play against in the playoffs, especially with quarterback Joe Flacco at the helm, who has posted a 6-2 record with 18 touchdowns and three picks in his last eight postseason games. The lack of receivers in Baltimore will help a mediocre Chargers defense, and the addition of Melvin Gordon for the Chargers will take some pressure off of Rivers.

(3) Panthers over (6) Giants: While the Panthers won their first playoff game during the Cam Newton-era last season, but similarly to the Ravens, you can never count out the New York Giants when January rolls around. This game could be an absolute bloodbath, but the advantage goes to Carolina due to their punishing defense and home field advantage.

(5) Cardinals over (4) Cowboys: The Cowboys had the opportunity to be one of the best team's in football had they signed DeMarco Murray in the offseason, but instead, they are putting all of their eggs in one basket--the passing game--and hoping it works. Now that Arizona has a talented defense (ranked fifth last year in point allowed), they could be a difficult team to face in the postseason.

Giants among teams reportedly inquiring about trading for Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor: http://t.co/6urokkS0aG pic.twitter.com/TWMx7qMTf5

— SI NFL (@si_nfl) September 6, 2015

Chargers don't see a problem with Melvin Gordon's pass protection http://t.co/AqVqWapvr9

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 28, 2015

2015 NFC Playoff Seeding Predictions

1. Green Bay Packers (13-3): The Packers are basically a lock for winning the NFC North for the fifth straight year due to a lack of competition within their division. Green Bay suffered no major losses in the offseason and managed to re-sign receiver Randall Cobb to create a solid receiving corp for Aaron Rodgers. And even though the Packers must play all four NFC West teams this year, the game against the mighty Seahawks will be in Lambeau.

2. Seattle Seahawks (12-4): After appearing in the past two Super Bowls, the Seahawks are poised for a return to the Big Game in 2016. Quite possible the weakest part of Seattle's depth chart was its receiving corp, but by trading for All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham, dual threat quarterback Russell Wilson will lead one of the most productive offenses in the league. The Legion of Boom lost cornerback Byron Maxwell to free agency, but the core of this legendary secondary remains intact. The Seahawks are bound to earn a first round bye for the third year in a row.

3. Carolina Panthers (10-6): Cam Newton suffered career lows in almost every single major statistical category last season after losing receiver Steve Smith. The receiving corp has some great young talent lead by second year player Kelvin Benjamin, along with rookie Devin Funchess. Meanwhile, Carolina's defense is still very solid, especially with the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly being one of the league's best players. The race for the NFC South title last year was more or less a pillow fight, but expect the Panthers to see a lot more difficult competition next season as they look for a third straight division title.

Panthers expect Kelvin Benjamin to be full go in training camp. The 2nd year WR was limited in participation in OTA's

— Best Nfl Matchups (@best_nfl) July 23, 2015

4. Dallas Cowboys (10-6): The loss of DeMarco Murray to the division rival Eagles could be detrimental to the Cowboys next season, especially with such a massive hole now at the running back position. Murray's incredible season with the help of the NFL's best offensive line took plenty of pressure off of quarterback Tony Romo and the rest of Dallas' offense. Moreover, a successful running game gave the defense more time to rest off the field, so it will be interesting to see if the Cowboys can continue to remain relatively solid on defense without Murray.

5. Arizona Cardinals (11-5): Hopefully, Arizona's defense will still be able to find success as last year's defensive coordinator leaves for the head coaching job in New York. Bruce Arians is one of the best head coaches in football, and if quarterback Carson Palmer is able to stay healthy, the Cardinals will have yet another chance to dethrone the Seahawks from atop the NFC West.

6. New York Giants (9-7): Second year wide receiver Odell Beckham appears to be one of the most talented young players in recent memory, and with Victor Cruz returning from a season-ending injury, as well as the addition of running back Shane Vereen, New York's passing game has the potential to be lethal in 2015. New York's pass rush lacks the same talent seen by the two Championship winning teams of the past, so it will be interesting to see if Eli Manning can succeed with more pressure on the offensive side of the ball.

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings

1. Denver Broncos: After the Seahawks lost at home in a Week 16 matchup, the Denver Broncos are now number one in the power rankings. Peyton Manning threw his 51st touchdown pass in 2013 against the Houston Texans last weekend, breaking Tom Brady's record of 50. Manning and the Broncos offense is clearly the best in the league, but Von Miller's ACL injury will cause Miller to miss the rest of the season, a huge loss to the Broncos defense.

2. Seattle Seahawks: For the first time since 2011, the Seattle Seahawks lost in their own stadium, this time it was against the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 16 matchup. The game was low scoring, and it appeared that the Seahawks would be able to tie it within the final two minutes, but a costly interception cost them the game. This loss at home may shake the Seahawks' confidence at home, maybe planting a seed of doubt into their minds.

3. Carolina Panthers: Following their home win against the New Orleans Saints, all the Carolina Panthers need in order to clinch a first round bye is to win their Week 17 matchup against the Falcons on the road. Carolina's defense particularly, the run defense, has been absolutely superb so far in 2013, and with soon-to-be Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly leading the way, the Panthers are very likely to win the NFC South.

4. New England Patriots: The Patriots are unable to create any type of consistency in 2013, especially due to all of the devastating injuries; however, their dominant win over the Baltimore Ravnes on the road proves they are still a powerhouse in the NFL, especially with quarterback Tom Brady leading the way. The team played well on both sides of the ball, and they still have a shot at clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs despite all of the challenges they have faced.

5. San Francisco 49ers: Sure, Monday Night's game between the Niners and the Falcons was exciting to watch, but considering the Falcons were 4-10 going into this game, the Niners should have won by a larger margin. The Niners are on a five game winning streak, with a 10-2 record in their last 12 games. The defense as a whole carrying this time, and offensively a dominant running game allows the Niners to be in contention for a spot in the playoffs.

6. Kansas City Chiefs: After starting the season at 9-0, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost four of their last seven, proving that the Chiefs may not be a powerhouse in this league after all. The Chiefs defense is not nearly as stingy as they were at the start of the season. In their first 9 games, the Chiefs defense allowed an average of 12.3 points per game, whereas their defense is allowing nearly 24 points per game in the last seven. The number don't lie.

7. New Orleans Saints: The Saints' loss to the Carolina Panthers last weekend clearly shows New Orleans' terrible weakness when playing on the road. The Saints may be undefeated so far this season when playing in the safety of the Superdome, but on the road, they are 3-5, a clear weakness for the Saints. Peyton Manning is receiving all of the spotlight, but Drew Brees is also having yet another great season in 2013.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Many assumed that Arizona's two game winning streak would be snapped once they travelled to Seattle, but instead, Arizona handed the Seahawks their first loss at home since December of 2011. The Cardinals might just be the hottest team in the NFL right now, even though they have yet to be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Originally, the Cincinnati Bengals offense struggled due to the inconsistent passing game under quarterback Andy Dalton. Wide receiver AJ Green is truly the centerpiece of this offense, as he ranks within the top 5 in the entire National Football League in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. The defense is clearly the core of this team as a whole, but AJ Green is the superstar of the team.

10. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are obviously the most inconsistent team of 2013. This season, the Colts have beaten the 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos, and Chiefs (combined record of 46-14), but have lost to inferior teams such as the Chargers, Dolphins, and Rams. Quarterback Andrew Luck has shown signs of progress since his rookie season, but his future performance in the playoffs several weeks from now is unpredictable to say the least.

-------------------------------------------------

11. Philadelphia Eagles

12. San Diego Chargers

13. Philadelphia Steelers

14. Chicago Bears

15. Baltimore Ravens

16. Dallas Cowboys

17. Green Bay Packers

18. Miami Dolphins

19. St Louis Rams

20. New York Jets

21. Detroit Lions

22. New York Giants

23. Buffalo Bills

24. Tennessee Titans

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Atlanta Falcons

29. Cleveland Browns

30. Washington Redskins

31. Oakland Raiders

32. Houston Texans

Week 16 Predictions

Game to Watch: Saints @ Panthers: Who would have guessed at the beginning of the year that Carolina would still be in contention for the NFC South title as of Week 16? With a win over New Orleans on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers would be in control of the NFC South, leapfrogging them into the second seed of the playoffs. The Panthers are coming off of a 30-20 victory over the New York Jets in Week 15, where Cam Newton passed for 273 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, New Orleans was blown out by a crippled St. Louis Rams team last weekend, even though Drew Brees threw for 393 yards and a score. The last time New Orleans and Carolina played one another, Carolina was blown out on the road, allowing a season high 31 points on defense. Unfortunately for the Saints, they will not be within the safety of the Superdome, where they remain undefeated so far 2013. The Saints on the road are a completely different team, as they are 3-4 when traveling to the opponents home stadium. This Sunday's matchup definitely favors the Carolina Panthers.
Panthers over Saints 27-24

Stand Out Performance: QB Andy Dalton: The Cincinnati Bengals offense has been relatively inconsistent so far in 2013, but quarterback Andy Dalton is projected to have a monster game on Sunday. His opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, rank dead last in passing touchdowns allowed, as well as 30th in the league for passing yards allowed per game. Andy Dalton is averaging 252.5 passing yards and 2.5 touchdowns within his last two games, and these numbers are bound to increase following his performance against the Vikings. With rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes out with an injury, the Minnesota Vikings have no solid cornerback capable of shutting down Cincy's star wide receiver, AJ Green. Both Green and Dalton are sure to have big performances in their game against Minnesota on Sunday.
QB Andy Dalton: 295 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD

Player to Watch: Candlestick Park: This Sunday will be the San Francisco 49ers' last game inside the famous Candlestick Park, where they have been playing since 1971. Originally opened in 1960 for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, Candlestick Park has hosted many important events, ranging from The Beatles final concert, to two MLB all star games, to eight NFC Championship games, and two World Series. On Monday Night, the San Francisco 49ers will play Atlanta on Monday Night Football, and there will surely be a ceremony preceding the football game.

Week 16 Predictions:

Dolphins over Bills

Panthers over Saints

Bengals over Vikings

Broncos over Texans

Titans over Jaguars

Chiefs over Colts

Browns over Jets

Rams over Buccaneers

Cowboys over Redskins

Lions over Giants

Seahawks over Cardinals

Ravens over Patriots

Packers over Steelers

Chargers over Raiders

Eagles over Bears

49ers over Falcons

NFL Power Rankings Week 13

1. Seattle Seahawks (10-1): Because the Broncos suffered an overtime loss to the New England Patriots, the Seahawks remain the unquestionable number one team in the power rankings. The Seahawks have not lost a home game since 2011, and even though the defense is gaining a large amount of attention, the offense ranks 2nd overall in points scored (27.8) and 3rd overall in rushing yards (147.9). If the Seahawks are able to obtain the number one seed in the playoffs, the home field advantage throughout the postseason will immediately lift this Seahawks team to the NFC Championship Game, or even the Super Bowl. Plus, Percy Harvin's return won't hurt...

2. New Orleans Saints (9-2): New Orleans close call against the Atlanta Falcons is somewhat worrisome, but then again, rivalry games are a completely different story from regular games, so it is difficult to weigh this narrow victory quite so heavily. Quarterback Drew Brees is having an MVP-caliber season in 2013, and even the defense is showing steady signs of improvement ever since they added Rob Ryan to the coaching staff. If there is any team in the NFC capable of knocking out the Seahawks from the playoffs, it would be the high-flying Saints offense.

3. New England Patriots (8-3): In a game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Tom Brady once again got the best of Peyton Manning, as he erased a 24 point deficit, and the Patriots went on to win in overtime. Despite the terrible weather conditions, Tom Brady passed for 344 yards with 3 touchdown passes, culminating a passer rating of 107.4. In his past 3 games, Brady is averaging a passer rating of 116.8, especially after a spectacular performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots are starting to look like their former selves.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-3): The Carolina Panthers won their seventh game in a row last Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The Panthers were losing to Miami for almost the entirety of the second half, but for the second straight game, quarterback Cam Newton led an 80 yard drive down field for the game winning touchdown. Luckily, the defense is able to give Cam Newton and the offense the ability to succeed, where linebacker Luke Kuechly is a legitimate contender for Defensive Player of the Year.

5. Denver Broncos (9-2): The loss to the New England Patriots bumped the Denver Broncos down several spots in the power rankings. Peyton Manning no longer looked superhuman, the defense forfeited 31 unanswered points in the second half alone, and several short-term injuries will weaken the team as a whole. The Denver Broncos are playing the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, so a win on the road would be sure to move this team up in the power rankings.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2): The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Chargers last weekend in a 41-38 shootout, but luckily for the Chiefs, Denver lost to New England on Sunday Night, so the Chiefs are still tied for first in the division. To go along with the loss in San Diego, Kansas City suffered two key injuries to leading pass rushers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. The two pass rushers have combined for a grand total of 20 sacks in 2013, so the defense will have its hand full with Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense this weekend.

7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4): The 49ers beat the struggling Redskins on Monday Night, and for the first time since Week 1, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for three passing touchdowns, along with an additional 235 passing yards. At 7-4, San Francisco is three games behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, but after losing two close games to Carolina and New Orleans, the San Francisco 49ers showed their resiliency by limiting the Redskins to just 6 points in Washington.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4): After having a firm control of the AFC North, Cincinnati lost two straight overtime games to the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. Cincinnati's dominant win over the Cleveland Browns last week is a good sign for Cincy's offense, even though star wide receiver AJ Green was limited to just two receptions for 7 yards and no touchdowns.

9. Arizona Cardinals (7-4): Following two losses to San Francisco and Seattle in Weeks 6 and 7, the Cardinals won four straight, where their most recent victory was a 40-11 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Arizona is flying under the radar in 2013, but similarly to last year, we predict the Cardinals to miss the playoffs after a solid start. In the next game, Arizona must travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles, and then to end the season, Arizona will play both Seattle and San Francisco in the last two weeks.

10. Indianapolis Colts (7-4): The Indianapolis Colts are officially the most inconsistent team in all of football. After beating San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver before the Bye, the Colts have lost to both the Cardinals and the Rams within the past two games. In those two games, the offense has been held to an average of 9.5 points per game, while the defense allowed an average of 39 points. Apart from a Week 16 at Kansas City, the Colts have a relatively easy schedule to conclude the regular season, so there is no doubt in my mind that the Colts will earn a spot in the playoffs despite their inconsistent play as of late.

NFL Power Rankings Week 11

1. Kansas City Chiefs: The Kansas City Chiefs' Week 10 Bye came at a perfect time, as they will be playing the Denver Broncos in Week 11. The Chiefs may be 9-0, but their first game against Denver in 2013 will truly separate the men from the boys.

2. Denver Broncos: The San Diego Chargers are a mediocre team at best, and yet the Denver Broncos were a touchdown away from going into overtime. Luckily, Peyton Manning's four touchdowns were enough to give Denver the win on the road. This week's game against Kansas City will be the biggest regular season game of the year without a doubt.

3. Seattle Seahawks: I have my doubts about this Seattle Seahawks team. They may have beaten Atlanta Falcons on the road, but the Falcons are struggling in 2013, especially due to Matt Ryan's terrible turnover numbers. The previous week, Seattle almost lost to Tampa Bay who, at the time, was winless! The 9-1 record is great, but I bet they lose two or three more by the end of the year.

4. New Orleans Saints: A dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football shows the resilience of this football team, especially after an ugly loss to the Jets the previous week. Drew Brees looks spectacular, and we expect this team to be a powerhouse throughout the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots: Who would have guessed that the New England Patriots would be 7-2 going into their Week 9 Bye? New England's Bye will allow a team that is riddled with injuries to have several key players grow stronger, therefore improving the team as a whole.

6. Indianapolis Colts: Despite beating some of the most talented teams in the NFL so far this season, the Colts were utterly annihilated by the St. Louis Rams last weekend. Andrew Luck turned the ball over a whopping four times, almost resembling Michael Vick and his turnover troubles. Every team has at least one terrible game during the regular season, so even though the Colts dropped pretty drastically in the power rankings, they should be able to bounce back quickly.

7. Carolina Panthers: It is about time that people start taking this Carolina Panthers team seriously. At 6-3, the Panthers are coming off of a victory over the San Francisco 49ers, limiting the powerhouse offense to just 9 points. The Carolina Panthers offense may have scored only 10 points, but the defense proved they are capable of stopping the best of the best. The Panthers are clearly a threat come playoff time.

8. San Francisco 49ers: In a loss against the streaking Carolina Panthers, the defense looked great, but the offense was a mess. Colin Kaepernick has not turned into the elite quarterback that many were hoping for, as he threw for just 91 yards and an interception against the Panthers.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: The Cincinnati Bengals managed to pull off the impossible; a last second hail marry pass in order to send the game into overtime. The Bengals lost the game to Baltimore in overtime, putting their record at 6-4. The offense needs to find its groove once again, especially when passing the football.

10. Detroit Lions: The NFC North is riddled with injuries and inconsistent play, so it was only time for the Detroit Lions to step up their game and gain control of the NFC North. Detroit's passing game ranks third overall in the league, and with a guy like Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, that should come as no surprise. 

Week 10 Predictions

Game to Watch: Panthers @ 49ers: On Sunday, the two hottest teams in football (apart from Andy Reid's Chiefs) will battle late in the afternoon. The Carolina Panthers, led by quarterback Cam Newton, have flown under the radar, as they sit at 5-3, just one game behind the New Orleans Saints. The competition may be weak, but in their last four games, Carolina's offense has averaged 32.5 points per game, an astounding statistic. Cam Newton's passing statistics are not jaw-dropping, yet they are good enough to get the job done. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers' offense has been rolling ever since their terrible offensive performance against Indy. The running game ranks first in the league thanks to running back Frank Gore and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, as they have averaged 153.0 yards per game. The San Francisco 49ers have always been strong in their own stadium, so we see the 49ers beating Cam Newton and the Panthers on Sunday.
49ers over Panthers 37-31

Stand Out Performance: TE Jimmy Graham: Apart from a terrible performance against the New England Patriots, tight end Jimmy Graham has been incredibly consistent throughout the season. If Graham's incredible play continues, he will record 1,492 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, where both would be NFL records among tight ends. The Dallas Cowboy pass defense has been absolutely atrocious in 2013, ranking 31st overall in passing yards allowed per game. Be prepared for a monster performance by this monster of a tight end.
TE Jimmy Graham: 145 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Player to Watch: QB Nick Foles: Who would have thought that Nick Foles, a third round pick out of Arizona in the 2012 NFL Draft, would tie the NFL record for passing touchdowns at 7. Sure, it was against the Oakland Raiders' defense, but 7 passing touchdowns is a sensational number that deserves to be discussed. The Eagles offense has been an emotional roller coaster so far this season, with its many ups and downs. The Eagles are going up against a very beat-up Packers defense. Nick Foles will not throw for 7 touchdowns, no how, no way; however, we can see Nick Foles passing for several touchdowns in a narrow victory over Green Bay.
QB Nick Foles: 285 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 INT

Week 10 Predictions:

Redskins over Vikings (Incorrect)

Seahawks over Falcons

Bengals over Ravens

Lions over Bears

Eagles over Packers

Colts over Rams

Giants over Raiders

Steelers over Bills

Titans over Jaguars

49ers over Panthers

Cardinals over Texans

Broncos over Chargers

Saints over Cowboys

Buccaneers over Dolphins

Last Week: 9-4

2013 Season: 92-41 (69.1%)

Top 10 Uniforms of All-Time: Carolina Panthers

Honorable Mention: Carolina Panthers: It was a difficult choice to decide between the Carolina Panthers' uniforms and the Las Angeles Rams uniforms. In the end, I awarded Carolina with an honorable mention over the Rams, due to their edgy colors of black and blue. The blue along the sleeves and collar provides a great contrast with the black. Their logo looks awesome on the side of the helmet opposite two black and blue stripes.

2012 NFL Predictions (NFC South)

1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): The Atlanta Falcons will likely take advantage of the Saints crumbling franchise, and based on how much talent they have on their roster, they clearly deserve the number one spot in the division. Michael Turner is 30 years old, old for any running bad. Luckily, Turner has been playing like he's 20 for the past few seasons, and even if his statistics were to drop off slightly, the running game will be fine. Matt Ryan on the other hand is entering the prime of his career, and he has the option of throwing to Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and the up and coming wide receiver in Julio Jones. Offense will be key, but the defense still has it's stars that can be the difference between a win and a loss. Corner back Asante Samuel was added in the off season, and should be able to improve a mediocre pass defense. This is Atlanta's time to win their division, and maybe Matt Ryan will be able to win his first championship.

Roddy White (Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-Picayune)

Week 1: Falcons @ Chiefs W
Week 2: Broncos @ Falcons W
Week 3: Falcons @ Chargers W
Week 4: Panthers @ Falcons W
Week 5: Falcons @ Redskins W
Week 6: Raiders @ Falcons W
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Falcons @ Eagles L
Week 9: Cowboys @ Falcons W
Week 10: Falcons @ Saints L
Week 11: Cardinals @ Falcons W
Week 12: Falcons @ Buccaneers W
Week 13: Saints @ Falcons W
Week 14: Falcons @ Panthers W
Week 15: Giants @ Falcons W
Week 16: Falcons @ Lions L
Week 17: Buccaneers @ Falcons W



2. New Orleans Saints (9-7): If you haven't heard already, the New Orleans Saints were caught by the NFL holding a bounty program, run by their defensive coordinator Greg Williams. The fines not only removed their head coach, several defenders, and the GM for half a season, but the bounty will shake-up this organization for years to come. Drew Brees and his elite wide receiver corp will keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot, but it is the defense that will hurt most. Newly added linebacker Curtis Lofton missed the final preseason game, and might even miss the season opener against Washington. Brees' leadership will be tested, but if the franchise can do without Sean Payton, then maybe New Orleans remains a threat for the Super Bowl.

Jimmy Graham (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Week 1: Redskins @ Saints W
Week 2: Saints @ Panthers L
Week 3: Chiefs @ Saints W
Week 4: Saints @ Packers L
Week 5: Chargers @ Saints W
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Saints @ Buccaneers L
Week 8: Saints @ Broncos L
Week 9: Eagles @ Saints W
Week 10: Falcons @ Saints W
Week 11: Saints @ Raiders W
Week 12: 49ers @ Saints W
Week 13: Saints @ Falcons L
Week 14: Saints @ Giants L
Week 15: Buccaneers @ Saints W
Week 16: Saints @ Cowboys L
Week 17: Panthers @ Saints W



3. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Cam Newton shocked the world last season by putting up unseen numbers. Keep in mind; he was a rookie! As a sophomore quarterback in the NFL, this will be his second biggest test to see if he can handle the pressure. Him and wide receiver Steve Smith got along quite well, but Smith began to fade once the double coverage came. Carolina now has the best running game in football with Mike Tolbert, DeAngelo Williams, and obviously Cam Newton. The NFC South is an offense-heavy division, and Carolina's defense struggled last season. That is why the panthers went out and drafted linebacker Luke Kuechly, in my book the best defender to come out of last April's draft. There is just the right amount of youth and experience on this team, which is why I believe the Carolina Panthers have a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

DeAngelo Williams (Kim Klement/Getty Images)

Week 1: Panthers @ Buccaneers L
Week 2: Saints @ Panthers W
Week 3: Giants @ Panthers W
Week 4: Panthers @ Falcons L
Week 5: Seahawks @ Panthers W
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Cowboys @ Panthers W
Week 8: Panthers @ Bears L
Week 9: Panthers @ Redskins L
Week 10: Broncos @ Panthers W
Week 11: Buccaneers @ Panthers W
Week 12: Panthers @ Eagles L
Week 13: Panthers @ Chiefs L
Week 14: Falcons @ Panthers L
Week 15: Panthers @ Chargers L
Week 16: Raiders @ Panthers W
Week 17: Panthers @ Saints L


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): A disappointing 2011 led to Tampa signing two big offensive names; wide receiver Vincent Jackson and guard Jahri Evans. Josh Freeman now has an all-star receiver to throw to, but will it be enough? The running duo of LaGarrette Blount and Doug Martin will do well against the weak NFC South defenses, and Josh Freeman will have to cut down on the interceptions if they wish to win close games. Besides the drafting of safety Mark Barron, however, they did nothing to fix their absolutely atrocious defense, which ranked dead last in several major defensive categories. I'm not sure what their approach will be, but unless the defense pulls off a miraculous turn around, the Bucs will remain at the bottom of the food chain once again.

Vincent Jackson (Dave Martin/AP Photo)

Week 1: Panthers @ Buccaneers W
Week 2: Buccaneers @ Giants L
Week 3: Buccaneers @ Cowboys L
Week 4: Redskins @ Buccaneers L
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Chiefs @ Buccaneers L
Week 7: Saints @ Buccaneers W
Week 8: Buccaneers @ Vikings W
Week 9: Buccaneers @ Raiders L
Week 10: Chargers @ Buccaneers L
Week 11: Buccaneers @ Panthers L
Week 12: Falcons @ Buccaneers L
Week 13: Buccaneers @ Broncos L
Week 14: Eagles @ Buccaneers L
Week 15: Buccaneers @ Saints L
Week 16: Rams @ Buccaneers W
Week 17: Buccaneers @ Falcons L

Preseason: Players to Watch (NFC South)

New Orleans Saints: LB Curtis Lofton: What...a...MESS! The recent bounty charges have suspended two current Saints defenders; linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith. No doubt this defense will struggle in 2012, but the organization went out and acquired linebacker Curtis Lofton. While playing for Atlanta, Lofton managed 492 total tackles, 142 of those came in 2011 (5th in the league). It will be difficult for Lofton to replace the three-time pro-bowler in Jonathan Vilma, so it will be important for him to play his best football yet. Hopefully, he will start 2012 on a high note by doing well in his four preseason games.

Curtis Lofton (Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire)

Atlanta Falcons: CB Asante Samuel: The Atlanta Falcons ranked 20th overall in passing yards allowed last season, so they went out and signed Asante Samuel. Problem solved, right? Sure, Samuel has made a name for himself in the National Football League, but the star is showing sings of aging. Since his extraordinary 2006 season with the Patriots (10 interceptions, 65 tackles, 24 putdowns), Samuel's stats have dipped, where last season was quite possibly the worst of his career. The 31-year old has been lucky injury wise, even though he has played just three complete seasons. Will his age catch up with him, or is Samuel going to lead the Falcon's defense back into the top ten?

Carolina Panthers: LB Luke Kuechly: In my opinion the single most talented defender to come out of last April's draft, Luke Kuechly has high expectations on this Carolina Panthers defense. His accomplished college career (ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, First-team All-American) got him drafted 12 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by Carolina. The Panthers defense struggled immensely last year, so drafting a linebacker helps there defense in almost every category. Kuechly is one of the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and it all starts with his first few games in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman: The worst defense of 2011 was awarded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and newly drafted safety Mark Barron won't be able to fix all of their problems. This means head coach Greg Schiano will have to rely heavily on their offense. However, if the 2011 Josh Freeman were to show up instead of the one we saw in 2010, the Bucs will be eyeing yet another season below the .500 mark. It was rumored the quarterback might be traded in 2012, so where he plays next season relies on how he plays in 2012.