NFL Week 17 Power Rankings: Bears coasting towards a Top 5 pick

Another week, another divisional blowout loss for the Chicago Bears. As I've said before, once the Bears fired former head coach Matt Eberflus was fired, they waved the white flag on the 2024 season. Sure, there hope that interim head coach Thomas Brown could shock the world and win a few games, but that was only a fool's hope. In reality, he is utterly outclassed in a division featuring not one, not two, but three Coach of the Year candidates.

The only good thing that came from Week 16's loss to the Detroit Lions is that Caleb Williams was spectacular, racking up 334 yards (his fourth 300+ yard game this season) while completing 65% of his passes for two touchdowns and a 107.7 passer rating. He also extended his NFL rookie record streak of passes without an interception to 326, putting him within striking distance of Aaron Rodgers' single-season record of 402.

These silver linings, and the hopes that Chicago will finally get the head coaching hire right this offseason, are the only things Bears fans have to hold onto right now as they continue to tumble down this week's power rankings. At this point in the season, any changes in the order are minimal since we know who every team is at this point and can discern flukes from legitimate concerns.

1. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 1)

MVP candidate Josh Allen didn't look great this week, but divisional games are always weird. The Bills still got the win so they stay atop the NFL.

2. Detroit Lions (Last week: 2)

The Lions could not have made this win over the Bears look any easier. Lions fans better hope that they bring home a Super Bowl title this year because there's almost no chance that their rockstar coaching staff of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are returning next season.

3. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 3)

Boy, the Ravens needed that win. They knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers to claim a share of the top spot in the AFC North with just two games left. A home playoff game is now within reach.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 5)

After a short injury scare last week, Patrick Mahomes seemed fine on Saturday, guiding his team to another win. At 14-1, the Chiefs look ready to defend their title for another year.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 4)

I won't drop the Eagles too far after finally snapping their 10-game winning streak. They lost Jalen Hurts early in the game and still managed to put up 33 points. They would have won anyway if it wasn't for a rare, disastrous drop by DeVonta Smith late in the 4th quarter.

6. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 6)

Honest question: do the Vikings really need rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy? Sam Darnold is dealing and I don't see any reason to move away from the hot hand next year, even when McCarthy will be healthy.

7. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 7)

Congrats to the Packers on pitching the first shutout of the 2024 NFL season! They downed the Saints 34-0 on Monday Night Football without ever breaking a sweat, though this should have been predictable since the Saints were forced to start rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler.

8. LA Chargers (Last week: 13)

After an embarrassing loss to the Buccaneers, the Chargers responded with an exciting but decisive win over division rival Denver Broncos on primetime. One more win will punch their playoff ticket.

9. LA Rams (Last week: 9)

The Rams got another win, but in back-to-back weeks now they've looked vulnerable. Was that hot streak a mirage, or is this just a minor hiccup?

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 8)

As I said last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a good team but they are not built for a long playoff run. A new quarterback is still very much a need.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 10)

The Buccaneers blew a prime opportunity against a weak Cowboys team. With that loss and Atlanta's win, they're currently out of the playoff picture with just two weeks left.

12. Houston Texans (Last week: 11)

Even worse than that loss to Kansas City was the loss of Tank Dell. He suffered a gruesome injury on Saturday and has already been ruled out for the season. Just a brutal development for the team and for Dell.

13. Denver Broncos (Last week: 12)

The Broncos fought hard but couldn't get it done against Jim Harbaugh's Chargers. However, they are still in control of their own destiny. They can get into the playoffs as the seventh seed with just one more win.

14. Washington Commanders (Last week: 14)

It feels unfair to leave the Commanders where they were after an emotional comeback win, but the fact is the Eagles beat themselves more than the Commanders beat them, and losing Jalen Hurts so early in the game was brutal.

15. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 15)

Like the Commanders, I wanted to push the Falcons up a bit with their big win, but this one also came with a huge caveat: the fact that they beat the lowly, last place Giants.

16. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 17)

Miami isn't mathematically eliminated yet, but it would take a minor miracle to worm their way back into the playoffs after dropping to 7-8 on the year.

17. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 16)

The Seahawks have a short turnaround this week, drawing the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football in a desperate effort to save their playoffs hopes. They're just one game behind the LA Rams for the division title and they play each other in the regular season finale, but that game won't hold any weight if Seattle is already out by then.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 18)

A disappointing season for the Bengals is finally almost over. In a cruel twist of fate, Joe Burrow outplayed every other quarterback in the league this year, but his team sits at just 7-8, leaving him outside the MVP race.

19. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 21)

The Cowboys have won two in a row now for the third time this season, but they've still been eliminated from the NFC playoff picture. They'll enter the offseason with far more questions than answers about the future.

20. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 22)

Some folks will say it was a mistake for the Raiders to pick up a win and likely end their chances at the first overall pick, but head coach Antonio Pierce isn't having any of that.

21. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 20)

While Brock Purdy looked better this week, it's clear that the Niners can't win without the inordinate number of Pro Bowl players they've grown accustomed to over the last few years. Now officially out of the playoffs, the biggest question facing this team is whether to break the bank for Bock Purdy now or let him play out his final year and then hit him with the franchise tag.

22. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 24)

After a hot start against division rival Tennessee Titans, Indy very nearly gave this game away in the fourth quarter. Like every other team this low in the rankings, they have some major issues to address this offseason, and unfortunately for Indy it's becoming more and more clear that Anthony Richardson is likely not the long-sought heir to Andrew Luck.

23. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 19)

Once sitting atop the NFC West, the Cardinals have now lost four of their last five. They've got a lot of work to do heading into the offseason.

24. New England Patriots (Last week: 25)

The Patriots need major help everywhere on the roster except quarterback. Drake Maye is their guy and he will be their guy for a long time.

25. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 28)

This time, the Panthers did not fumble away an upset victory in overtime. Instead, Chuba Hubbard punched in the emphatic game-winning touchdown over Arizona. Bryce Young was solid if unspectacular as he continues to make a case to remain Carolina's QB1 in 2025.

26. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 23)

Is there a less attractive open head coach job in any major sports league than the New Orleans Saints? Not only is the roster bad but they're still in salary cap hell that will take years to clear off the books. Oh, and they just got shutout in front of the entire NFL world.

27. New York Jets (Last week: 26)

Speaking of unattractive head coach job opportunities, the Jets remain a mess. The Aaron Rodgers experiment was a complete failure and this team simply doesn't have any fight in them right now. The job will be filled, of course, but it won't be anyone's first pick.

28. Chicago Bears (Last week: 27)

The third and final (for now) open head coaching spot is in Chicago, and unlike New Orleans and New York, this one sizzles with opportunity. Despite a disappointing team season, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has shown everyone why he was the consensus first overall pick in this year's draft. With this kind of potential under center, the Bears will have the attention of the very best head coaching candidates, like the offensive coordinator just a few hours up the road.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 29)

Doug Pederson is still the coach for now, but that will likely change on Black Monday. The Jaguars have been a complete mess and need a total roster overhaul. Even Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback they paid to be the franchise guy, shouldn't be considered safe for more than one or two years.

30. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 30)

No other first-time head coach this year has had a worse time than Brian Callahan. The Titans are just awful.

31. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 31)

I can't wait to publish my final power rankings this year just so I won't have to talk about the Cleveland Browns again for several months.

32. New York Giants (Last week: 32)

At least the Giants control their own destiny. Lose these last two games and they secure the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.