Over the past three seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have won three straight games heading into Christmas, after being officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Naturally.
With nothing left on the line, Atlanta is suddenly playing some of its best football of the season, turning December into a showcase of what might’ve been. It’s fun, it’s frustrating, and it probably goes a long way toward buying more time for Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot.
Merry Christmas, Falcons fans.
The rest of the league’s
Christmas slate was mostly noise, outside of Denver strengthening its bid for the #1 seed. Last week, however, delivered the real chaos, with multiple teams taking losses that effectively ended their playoff chances.
Let’s get into this week’s power rankings:
1) Seattle Seahawks (12-3) (even)
I just know keeping Sam Darnold and company at the top is going to look horrible once they lay an egg in the divisional round of the playoffs, but I’m believing in this defense and this offense’s ability to do just enough to continue their winning ways.
2) New England Patriots (12-3) (+1)
Drake “Drake Maye” Maye is playing lights-out football right now. It’s incredible how New England has bounced back so quickly under Vrabel, and how impressive Josh McDaniels has looked as an offensive play-caller again.
3) Los Angeles Rams (11-4) (-1)
This Rams team is still the odds-on favorite for the Super Bowl in what has been the most wide-open season in a while, and for good reason. Matthew Stafford is the odds-on favorite for MVP and the defense is still rolling on all cylinders.
4) Denver Broncos (13-3) (even)
They keep finding ways to win, and Christmas Day was no different. Now, Sunday, against the Jaguars, that was a red flag. But, there’s no doubt that Bo Nix and company are playing Super Bowl-contending ball.
5) Buffalo Bills (11-4) (+1)
Still the best QB in the AFC, Josh Allen and the Bills are racking up wins at the right time. Let’s see if they can carry that momentum through January.
6) Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) (+1)
Herbert and company looked like a machine on Sunday against the Cowboys. Now, they get the potential game of the week as they head off to Houston to fight for playoff positioning.
7) Chicago Bears (11-4) (+1)
Chicago is the feel-good story of the NFL, and Ben Johnson is the people’s champ as he helped Chicago pull the most out of Caleb Williams and this Bears offense. Will it be enough to win a playoff game? Probably not, but seeing it be enough to likely win the division has been fun to see.
8) San Francisco 49ers (11-4) (+1)
They’re back. The 49ers offense is looking like the well-oiled machine that Kyle Shanahan enjoys running year in and year out. And just in time for the postseason.
9) Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) (-4)
Did an overtime loss against the Bears necessitate such a large drop-off? No. But it did cement the fact that some real holes in the Packers are simply too large to have them higher than the other two NFC playoff teams in front of them. Congrats on the playoff berth, though.
10) Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) (+1)
Well, I was wrong. This Jaguars team is electric. Trevor Lawrence is playing lights out and the offense is humming. Congratulations to the fans in Duval. You deserve it.
11) Houston Texans (10-5) (+1)
It’s been a climb, but the Texans are one of the more fun teams to watch because of their willingness to play in such a physical manner. Let’s see how that matches up against the Chargers and their offense, which is finding itself amid their own late-season run.
12) Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) (+1)
They’re in, I’m not necessarily very excited to see them play. Maybe with the Bills coming up, they’ll shape up, but the Eagles have been a frustrating watch for some time now.
13) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) (+1)
Win against the Cleveland Browns, and you’re in. Lose and you (probably) face a pissed-off Baltimore team that is itching to show that the earlier parts of the season were a fluke (they weren’t).
14) Baltimore Ravens (7-8) (+2)
Just make Week 18 matter. That should be the goal. Try your damndest to make week 18 matter.
15) Carolina Panthers (8-7) (+3)
There are a lot of weird ways you could win or lose this division. But the easiest way is to just continue to win. If you win this week, Carolina, and the Bucs lose, you’re in regardless of next week. However, lose this week, and you have to sweep this Bucs team, who has swept you the past two years.
16) Detroit Lions (8-8) (-6)
From first to worst. The truest showcase of how hard it is to maintain elite-level play in the NFL. Sorry, Detroit fans.
17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) (even)
The division is still in play, but unless Carolina lays an egg, eight wins ain’t going to cut it. This game against the Dolphins may decide the future of Todd Bowles’s head coaching career.
18) Indianapolis Colts (8-7) (-3)
While the Phillip Rivers story is nice, and a great discussion-starter for the state of QBs in this day and age, this season that was once filled with so much promise just a month ago has been mired in mediocrity.
19) Minnesota Vikings (8-8) (even
That defense. Wow. If only the quarterback position were a little better this season. The pains of the young quarterback development route of team-building.
20) Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) (even)
So, the season wasn’t what you expected, Cowboys fans, but at least your offense is fun, and Dak Prescott is still pretty good.
21) Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) (even)
There are no words for how this season has been if you’re a Chiefs fan, especially after the years of “we’ll figure it out” that have preceded the 2025 season. Hopefully, Travis will return, and Patrick will be ready for the start of the season.
22) Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) (+2)
That was an ass-kicking on Sunday. It is so good to see Joe Burrow play football again, and it really is not fun that he won’t be in this year’s playoffs.
23) Atlanta Falcons (6-9) (even)
It was disjointed, but it was still a win on Sunday. The case for keeping Raheem Morris around becomes stronger, and my will to watch this team on a week-to-week basis, coincidentally, has gotten weaker.
24) Miami Dolphins (6-9) (-2)
Well, that was…not great. But, the Dolphins have the chance to spoil the Bucs season if they can find a way to kick the Bucs while they’re down on Sunday.
25) Arizona Cardinals (3-12) (even)
The Cardinals had zero answer for Bijan Robinson on Sunday, and I don’t know what answers they may have for a pissed-off Joe Burrow and company.
26) New Orleans Saints (5-10) (+1)
If the Saints find a way to secure a third-place finish in the NFC South, I will not be held responsible for my actions.
27) Washington Commanders (4-12) (-1)
Injuries are the worst. The Commanders are finding out first-hand just how hard it can bite a team in a single season.
28) Tennessee Titans (3-12) (+1)
Keeping Cam Ward healthy and notching a nice win over the Chiefs? Not a bad Sunday.
29) New York Jets (3-12) (-1)
There’s no reason to allow Tyler Shough to have 300 passing yards. No reason at all.
30) Cleveland Browns (3-12) (+1)
The Browns have the chance to do the funniest thing to the Steelers on Sunday.
31) New York Giants (2-13) (-1)
Giants-Raiders. Gross. Disgusting. I can’t wait.
32) Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) (even)
Read above, but also, may the worst loser…lose? I don’t know.
