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2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Raiders Clinch Playoff Berth, Giants Climb

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:54 a.m. ET

Fansided, Dan Parzych/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) celebrates with linebacker Daren Bates (56) and defensive tackle Darius Latham (75) after a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers during a NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a look at the 2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 16, with the Oakland Raiders clinching a playoff berth and the New York Giants continuing to rise.

There’s plenty to discuss when it comes to the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 16 between the Oakland Raiders securing a playoff spot and the New York Giants staying hot in the NFC.

For the first time since the 2002 season, the Raiders will be participating in this year’s playoffs after clinching a spot following Sunday’s thrilling 19-16 win over the San Diego Chargers. Oakland may have locked up a spot in the AFC, but they still have plenty of work to do as the next task becomes taking home the division title over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Luckily, the Chiefs provided the Raiders with some surprise help in Week 15, falling to the Tennessee Titans at home.

As for the Giants, the defense has helped this unit become one of the most dangerous in the NFC after holding Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions to scoring just six points. With the NFC East still up for grabs, expect New York to carry the momentum into the final two weeks, beginning on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Starting with the winless Cleveland Browns once again at 0-14, here’s a look at the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 16.

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs with the ball and is pursued by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leger Douzable (91) during the second half at New Era Field. Bills beat the Browns 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

32. Cleveland Browns (32)

With two more losses, the Cleveland Browns will be on the wrong side of NFL history be becoming just the second team to finish an entire season without winning a single game. The struggles on offense continued for the Browns against the Buffalo Bills after the team managed to score just 13 points in the loss.

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Sadly, Sunday marked the sixth game in a row where Cleveland as team was held to 13 points or less as this statistic is the perfect example of how frustrating this season has been for Hue Jackson. For a head coach in his first season with a new team, Jackson knew there was a chance the Browns could end up facing some struggles, but he never imagined the team would look this bad.

Cleveland was hoping Robert Griffin III would be the answer at quarterback, but it’s still too early to determine whether he’s the right answer as this was only his second start since returning from a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for a majority of the season. Even if Griffin was fully healthy for the entire year, there’s a good chance the Browns would have only won a few games anyway.

Then again, only winning a few games is still better than not winning a single game as the Browns hope for different results next weekend at home against the San Diego Chargers.

Dec 18, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley (44) tackles San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) in the second quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

31. San Francisco 49ers (31)

Was anyone really surprised by the San Francisco 49ers getting smoked by the Atlanta Falcons? There’s a reason why the 49ers haven’t won a single game since opening weekend as the defense simply had no answers for stopping Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons’ offense.

Not even a decent performance by Colin Kaepernick (20 of 33 for 183 yards with two touchdowns) was good enough for San Francisco as this team has now lost 13 games in a row. The decision to hire Chip Kelly was one of the most questionable moves of the offseason, and while he doesn’t have the best pieces to work with, this year is the perfect example of why the head coach isn’t cut for the NFL.

From finding a new quarterback to build the franchise around to hopefully deciding to part ways with Kelly as head coach, the 49ers need to make plenty of changes in the offseason in order to get this organization back on track. Isn’t it amazing to see how San Francisco was seen as one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL a few years ago, only to currently see them near the bottom of the league at this point in the season with only one win?

Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley during the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (30)

The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to prove why they only have two wins on the season after missing out on a golden opportunity to hand the Houston Texans a devastating loss at home. Between holding on to a 20-11 lead in the fourth quarter to forcing the Texans to bench Brock Osweiler, all the Jaguars had to do was play a little defense while wasting as much time as possible when having the football on offense.

Instead, the offense completely shutdown in the fourth quarter while Jacksonville’s defense allowed Houston to score 10 points before going on to lose the game 21-20. The Jaguars have now lost nine games in a row following their latest defeat from the Texans, and it didn’t really come as much of a surprise to see the team part ways with Gus Bradley as their head coach shortly after Sunday’s game.

To think Jacksonville was considered a team to keep an eye on at the beginning of the season when it comes to potential playoff sleepers to keep an eye on seems absolutely ridiculous at this point in the season. By failing to record more than five wins in each of the last four seasons as head coach for the Jaguars, it’s amazing to think how Bradley even lasted this long as head coach.

Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

29. Los Angeles Rams (29)

Between all of the struggles on offense to the recent firing of Jeff Fisher, all signs pointed to the Los Angeles Rams being in trouble on Thursday when facing off against the Seattle Seahawks. As expected, the Rams weren’t even close to competing with the Seahawks after scoring just three points on their way to a 24-3 loss.

At this point, Los Angeles just needs to focus on Jared Goff gaining experience as the rookie is still searching for his first win as a starter. Goff received plenty of pressure from Seattle’s defense throughout the game, and was even forced to leave after taking a nasty shot by Richard Sherman, but the former California star deserves a little slack when looking at the type of weapons he has to work with.

There’s only so much a rookie quarterback can do on his own without any serious weapons, and when looking at the receiving corps the Rams have provided Goff with, it’s easy to see why the offense sits at the bottom of the league. Hopefully, Los Angeles spends the offseason focusing on bringing in more effective weapons for their franchise quarterback, or Goff is going to be in for a long career.

Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach John Fox during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Green Bay defeats Chicago 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

28. Chicago Bears (28)

This season may not have gone according to plan for the Chicago Bears, but John Fox and company should feel somewhat proud for their performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. When seeing how the two teams compare on paper based off talent, nobody could have predicted the Bears would have come close to pulling off the upset, but they almost did.

After overcoming a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Chicago’s defense came up short on the final drive against Green Bay as Mason Crosby sealed the victory with a 32-yard field goal as time expired. All hope seemed lost for the Bears heading into the fourth quarter when they were trailing 27-10, and if they found a way to pull off this win against the Packers, it would have created even more of a mess in the NFC playoff picture.

Either way, this wasn’t a game Chicago was expected to win when considering all of the changes on offense, especially at the quarterback position with Matt Barkley. With Jay Cutler‘s future with the team uncertain, Barkley is trying to take advantage of the surprise opportunity to prove he deserves consideration for the job, although his three interceptions on Sunday certainly didn’t help his case.

On the bright side, at least Barkley managed to throw for 362 yards with two touchdowns in the cold.

Dec 17, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) talks to Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) on the bench after Petty left the game against the Miami Dolphins with an injury during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

27. New York Jets (27)

After falling just shy of a playoff appearance last year, the New York Jets took a major step back in 2016 as poor play at quarterback has resulted in this team being one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Even if the Miami Dolphins entered Saturday’s game as one of the hottest teams in football, it was embarrassing to see watch Bryce Petty struggle the way he did as the Jets dropped to 1-6 at home on the season.

When looking at the worst investments from this year, Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to rank near the top of the list as the veteran quarterback still found a way to throw an interception, despite limited action after replacing Petty in the second half. It’s not even the offense that needs improvement in the offseason as the defense has been a complete let down for New York all season, which is surprising after looking at all of the success from a year ago.

The roster may be filled with plenty of options at quarterback, but if the Jets were smart, they would focus on starting fresh in the offseason, whether it comes through the draft or free agency. While Todd Bowles set the bar high for himself after a successful first season as head coach, the argument can be made he’s going to start feeling plenty of pressure heading into 2017 if the necessary changes aren’t made for New York during the offseason.

Dec 18, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Matthews (24) runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

26. Philadelphia Eagles (24)

Once again, it was the receiving corps of the Philadelphia Eagles that failed to do their part after falling just short of defeating the Baltimore Ravens in their 27-26 loss. It’s easy to see why Eagles fans have so much respect for Carson Wentz as the rookie continues to give it his best effort each week, but there’s only so much he can do on his own with the offense.

Philadelphia surrendered next year’s first-round pick in order to move up in the 2016 NFL Draft and select Wentz, but the only chance they’re going to have of getting the most from their quarterback is if they provide him with reliable weapons on offense. Even though Ryan Mathews finished with 128 yards on the ground with a touchdown, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that Philadelphia’s top wide receiver Jordan Matthews (Zach Ertz doesn’t count since he’s a tight end) finished with 27 receiving yards on six catches.

When taking a closer look at these numbers, this means that Matthews averaged 4.5 yards per catch, which is unacceptable for any wide receiver playing at the NFL level. If the Eagles really want to get the most out of Wentz, they better make the necessary adjustments in the offseason, or giving up a first rounder to the Cleveland Browns will be a complete waste.

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is pressured by Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) during a NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

25. San Diego Chargers (25)

Is it even considered a surprise at this point if the San Diego Chargers end up long a game by single digits? Every time it seems like the Chargers are about to earn a key victory, they figure out a way to lose the lead in the fourth quarter before going on to lose.

This time, it was the Oakland Raiders that pulled off the amazing comeback in the fourth quarter against the Chargers as they went on to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2002 season following a thrilling 19-16 win. Even though San Diego was playing without some of their key players, such as Melvin Gordon, there’s no excuse for letting Oakland escape with a win in this one.

The fact that eight of San Diego’s nine losses on the year have come by single digits shows just how much of a disappointment this season has been for Mike McCoy and Philip Rivers. And to think this was the same team that lost nine of 12 games by single digits a year ago, the Chargers better figure out a way to close out games next season if they want the frustrations to come to an end.

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) stretches and score a touchdown as New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb (28) defends during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

24. Arizona Cardinals (22)

For the first time since taking over the duties of head coach with the Arizona Cardinals, Bruce Arians is going to finish with a losing season after his team fell short to the New Orleans Saints 48-41. Most teams that score 41 points in a single game tend to come up on the losing end, but this is another example of the how frustrating this season has been for the Cardinals.

After falling short of reaching the Super Bowl last January, Arizona was considered one of the early favorites to represent the NFC in this year’s big game, but that’s obviously no longer the case, as Arians will be watching from home along with the rest of his squad. Not even a historic season by running back David Johnson was good enough to give the Cardinals a chance for at least a Wild Card spot as this team will need to make plenty of adjustments in the offseason.

Who knows how many effective seasons Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald are going to have as the duo isn’t getting younger any time soon. If anything, 2016 seemed to be Arizona’s best chance of winning with this current squad, which makes the results of this year even more difficult to accept.

Dec 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) celebrates the touchdown by running back Jeremy Hill (right) against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

23. Cincinnati Bengals (19)

When looking at how this season has been for the Cincinnati Bengals, the only thing this team wanted to do in Week 15 was figure out a way to stick it to the Pittsburgh Steelers and ruin their playoff chances. The Bengals’ defense played well for the most part after limiting the Steelers to only finding the end zone once, but it still wasn’t enough as they went on to lose to their division rivals 24-20.

Cincinnati looked like they were going to cruise to an easy victory when comparing how they compared to Pittsburgh in the first half, but unfortunately Andy Dalton couldn’t find a way to get his offense to score a single point in the second half. There’s no question this game could have been much different with A.J. Green in the lineup, but the Bengals know they let this one slip away from them.

Now that Cincinnati is officially eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season, it will be interesting to see what sort of moves are made during the offseason as Marvin Lewis is still in search of that first playoff win as head coach. Then again, maybe the Bengals will finally be smart and part ways with Lewis in the offseason when considering he’s received every opportunity to prove he deserves to be the coach for this team, only to end up failing every time.

Dec 11, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera looks on during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Chargers 28-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

22. Carolina Panthers (20) (Play Monday Night)

To go from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl to sitting at the bottom of the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints, 2016 has turned into a year to forget for the Carolina Panthers as the best word to describe this season would be disappointment. Even after Cam Newton took home MVP honors a year ago, the Panthers were considered one of the top favorites to win the Super Bowl prior to the start of the regular season, but Ron Rivera’s squad has struggled to stay consistent with a 5-8 record heading into Monday night’s matchup against the Washington Redskins.

This was one of the games circled on the schedule at the beginning of the year for Carolina as they will face Josh Norman for the first time since deciding to part ways with the cornerback in the offseason. When looking at how the defense of the Panthers has played throughout the level, it’s easy to see how much they miss Norman and the type of impact he made for this team during their run at winning the NFC in 2015.

With Washington still alive in the NFC playoff hunt, Carolina could be in for another long outing on the road since they don’t have as much on the line other than playing the role of spoiler. At this point, the Panthers just want this disaster of a season to come to an end, and hope the final few weeks fly by so they can focus on regrouping in the offseason.

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) runs with the ball as Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Stephen Paea (99) pursues during the second half at New Era Field. Bills beat the Browns 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

21. Buffalo Bills (26)

The last thing the Buffalo Bills wanted to see happen in Week 15 was the Cleveland Browns picking up their first win of the 2016 season, especially since it would have come on the road. Luckily, the Bills displayed a strong performance on offense led by LeSean McCoy on their way to a 33-13 victory over the Browns.

McCoy was considered a steal when Rex Ryan was able to acquire the running back from the Philadelphia Eagles two years ago, and it’s easy to understand why after his performance against Cleveland. Not only did McCoy rush for 153 yards while finding the end zone twice, but he managed to post these numbers on just 19 carries.

Buffalo may fall short of their playoff dreams, but at least the offense seems to be taking the necessary steps in the right direction when it comes to the potential surrounding this team heading into 2017. As long as McCoy and Tyrod Taylor (17 of 24 for 174 yards with a touchdown to go along with 49 rushing yards) continue to progress, the Bills should feel confident with the direction of this offense.

If only this team didn’t come up short those first two games of the season, Buffalo would actually be in the AFC playoff picture, but there’s nothing they can do about it now.

Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Colts defeated the Vikings 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

20. Minnesota Vikings (18)

Any hope of the Minnesota Vikings making a last-minute run at the postseason is quickly going out the window after the team recorded another embarrassing loss at home to the Indianapolis Colts. When comparing the two teams on paper, all signs pointed to the Vikings’ defense having their way against the Colts, but that was far from the case as Andrew Luck led his team to a 34-6 victory.

After jumping out to a 5-0 start, Minnesota has now lost seven of their last nine games as the offense continues to struggle, which is sad when considering Indianapolis’ defense isn’t anything to brag about. With all of the hype surrounding the return of Adrian Peterson, it shouldn’t really be a surprise to see the veteran limited to only 22 rushing yards on six carries since this was his first action since Week 2.

The return of Peterson wasn’t even the main story on the Vikings’ end in this one as Sam Bradford continues to make a case for being one of the worst acquisitions from the offseason. For a quarterback that was supposed to help the offense keep Minnesota as strong contenders in the NFC, Bradford has made this team take a step back in 2016.

What’s even more frustrating is if—or when, for that matter—the Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention, they can’t even enjoy having a better draft pick since their first-rounder is going to the Philadelphia Eagles from the Bradford trade.

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

19. New Orleans Saints (21)

After recording six interceptions over the previous two games without throwing a single touchdown, Drew Brees looked like his usual self against the Arizona Cardinals after completing four touchdown passes, two of which went to Brandin Cooks. On the day, Brees threw for 389 yards on 37 of 48 passing during the team’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, this is another case of too little, too late for the New Orleans Saints.

Not only did the Saints enter Sunday’s game losing four of their last five, but opening the season with three-straight losses certainly didn’t help Brees and company when compared to the rest of the NFC picture. Brees and Cooks have proven to be an effective duo in recent years, but the two have struggled to connect at times throughout the 2016 season, although it was in full effect against the Cardinals after the wideout caught seven passes for 186 yards to go along with his pair of touchdowns.

This season may have turned out to be a disappointment, but at least Brees continues to prove he’s still capable of playing at a high level as the Saints shouldn’t have to worry about finding his replacement for at least another two or three years.

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (53) forces a fumble against Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood (11) in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Patriots won 16-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

18. Denver Broncos (17)

The Denver Broncos are suddenly in serious trouble when it comes to making the playoffs after suffering a second loss in a row on Sunday, this time to the New England Patriots. While a matchup against a future Hall of Fame in Tom Brady is never easy to prepare for, the Broncos’ defense did a solid job for the most part after holding the Patriots to scoring 16 points.

Once again, it was the offense that was an issue for Denver as Trevor Siemian failed to lead the team to a single touchdown. Not to mention, the struggles continued in the ground game as Justin Forsett led the way with only 37 rushing yards on 10 carries.

It’s tough to place one individual with the blame for an outcome on a game, but the two costly fumbles by Jordan Norwood need to be addressed, as both turnovers seemed to give New England plenty of momentum. A lot can happen in the next two weeks, but when seeing all of the help the Broncos would need from the rest of the teams competing for a playoff spot in the AFC, it almost seems impossible at this point.

Whether the team decides to stick with Siemian or take a different approach on offense, the quarterback issues need to be fixed in the offseason if the Broncos plan on returning to their Super Bowl level.

Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Andrew Luck (12) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Colts defeated the Vikings 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

17. Indianapolis Colts (23)

Cards on the table, nobody expected the Indianapolis Colts to come out firing on the road against the Minnesota Vikings after last weekend’s tough loss to the Houston Texans. But give Andrew Luck credit for coming up big when his team needed him the most. They may still trail the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans by one game in the AFC South standings, but at least Sunday’s win over the Vikings kept the playoff hopes alive for the Colts.

Not only did Luck complete 21 of 28 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns, but Luck failed to record a single turnover, as Indianapolis now prepares for a tough challenge on the road in Week 16 against the Oakland Raiders. The Colts may have experienced their fair share of struggles throughout the 2016 season, but all they need to do is earn a spot in the playoffs by winning the division to earn a fresh start in January.

With all of the money Indianapolis invested in Luck, the quarterback realizes it’s going to fall on his shoulder when it comes to getting this team to the playoffs. For a team that’s been back and fourth all season, nobody should be surprised to see Indianapolis in this position heading into the final two regular season games.

Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) and defensive end J.J. Watt (center) and defensive end Antonio Smith (94) stand on the sideline during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

16. Houston Texans (16)

Don’t be fooled by Sunday’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars; the Houston Texans face a tough dilemma over the next week when trying to figure out what to do at quarterback. In a decision that seemed to be long overdue, Brock Osweiler was benched before halftime against the Jaguars after throwing two interceptions. And believe it or not, Tom Savage was responsible for helping the Texans rally in the second half to escape with a close win over the Jaguars.

Even if he failed to record a single touchdown pass, Savage was effective with running the offense after completing 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards as Houston went on to defeat their division rivals 21-20. As enjoyable as this win was for the Texans, the victory was even more crucial for the AFC South standings since the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts both won on Sunday.

Houston may have invested a ton of money in making Osweiler their quarterback of the future, but with the quarterback having more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (14) heading into the final two games, the team may want to strongly consider starting Savage in Week 16. If it wasn’t for Savage rallying this team in the second half against the Jaguars, the Texans would have been trailing the Titans by a full game in the AFC South standings.

Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson (11) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) react after connecting on an 80 yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

15. Washington Redskins (13) — Play Monday Night

The Washington Redskins hope to continue fighting for a playoff spot with a critical home matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night. Not only is this game important for playoff indications, but there’s nothing Josh Norman would love more than to display a stellar performance against his former team.

After playing a key role in helping the Panther reach the Super Bowl last February, it was quite the surprise to see the team part ways with Norman during the offseason as the cornerback received a hefty contract from the Redskins. However, when looking at how much Carolina’s defense has struggled throughout the regular season, it’s safe to say they miss their former star cornerback as the argument can be made the defense would be in much better shape.

As much as Norman wants revenge against the Panthers, the difference makers in this game will most likely come down to the performance of Kirk Cousins. The quarterback has been doing everything in his power to prove he’s deserving of a long-term deal in the offseason, and when seeing how well he’s played over the last couple of weeks, the Redskins would be foolish not to pay Cousins at this point.

Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9)

Prior to Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers controlled their own fate with the playoffs by currently sitting in the final Wild Card spot for the NFC. After losing to the Cowboys, the Buccaneers hope to see the Washington Redskins fall to the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football.

For the most part, Tampa Bay played well when considering they were arguably facing the toughest team in football on the road and only lost 26-20. Of course, one of the main reasons behind the Buccaneers’ loss was the mistakes made by Jameis Winston at quarterback.

The former No. 1 pick looked impressive at times, but his three interceptions ended up being costly, even though one of them came right before halftime on a Hail Mary. Still, the fact that Tampa Bay was up heading into the fourth quarter shows they were capable of winning this game against Dallas.

Not to mention, the Buccaneers now trail the Atlanta Falcons by one game for first place in the NFC South heading into Week 16. To being in good position to needing a little bit of help over the final two weeks is going to be stressful for Tampa Bay, but the defense seems up for the challenge.

Dec 17, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (8) walks to the huddle during the first quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

13. Miami Dolphins (14)

Who would have thought after losing Ryan Tannehill for the season, it would be Matt Moore that would become the unsung hero for the Miami Dolphins against the New York Jets? For a quarterback that hadn’t started a game in five years, Moore was simply phenomenal against the Jets on Saturday night as four of his 12 completions went for touchdown passes.

If the Dolphins are going to have any chance of clinching one of the two Wild Card spots in the AFC, Moore will need to continue playing at this high level as the veteran finds himself in an unexpected position to help this team make a playoff run. Miami has emerged as one of the hottest teams in football over the last few months with eight wins in nine games, but a tough remaining schedule could play a factor in whether this team can clinch a playoff spot.

Between a tough game on the road against the Buffalo Bills next weekend along with ending the season at home against the New England Patriots, the Dolphins realize they still have their work cut out for them. Here’s to hoping Moore carries his confidence over from Week 15 towards the final two weeks to keep this amazing story of Miami’s 2016 season going.

Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs in for a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Tennessee won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

12. Tennessee Titans (15)

Talk about a thrilling way to win a football game as the Tennessee Titans went from missing out on an opportunity to take a lead following a failed two-point conversion to kicking a 53-yard field goal as time expired to clinch the 19-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. One week after making a statement by defeating the defending Super Bowl champions in the Denver Broncos, the Titans pulled off another epic win against one of the league’s hottest teams to remain in the hunt for the AFC South title.

At the beginning of the season, nobody expected to see Tennessee in consideration for the postseason, but thanks to limited turnovers by Marcus Mariota along with improvement in the ground game thanks to DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, the Titans still have a shot at hosting a playoff game if all goes well over the final two games.

All of a sudden, the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans could end up deciding the division as both teams currently head into Week 16 with 8-6 records. After two-straight wins over playoff caliber teams, Tennessee is playing with all of the confidence in the world right now, as they seem up for facing any team standing in their way of the postseason.

Dec 18, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

11. Baltimore Ravens (12)

It may not have been their strongest performance on defense, but the Baltimore Ravens still found a way to win against the Philadelphia Eagles to stay close to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the race for the AFC North title. All of a sudden, next weekend’s game on Christmas Day is even more meaningful since the Ravens currently trail their division rivals by one game in the standings.

However, a win over the Steelers on Christmas would officially put the Ravens in first place due to the head-to-head tiebreakers. If there’s any chance of that happening in Week 16, Baltimore will need a stronger performance by Joe Flacco in the passing game than he did against Philadelphia.

Flacco may have came through on two clutch touchdown passes, but he also recorded two costly turnovers against the Eagles while barely completing 50 percent of his passes (16 of 30 for 206 yards). With that being said, nobody has to remind Flacco how important a Christmas Day matchup with the Steelers is as these games have a history of coming down to the wire in the fourth quarter.

All Baltimore has to do is win their final two regular season games, and they’ll earn a home playoff game in January, which will obviously be a lot more difficult than it sounds.

Dec 18, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery (88) is congratulated for scoring a touchdown by quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

10. Green Bay Packers (11)

No matter what the records are for the two teams, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears always seem to keep it close as these NFC North rivals squared off on Sunday in what turned out be one of the coldest games from the 2016 season. Luckily for the Packers, the team kept their playoff hopes alive after barely escaping with the 30-27 win over the Bears to improve to 8-6 on the season.

In what may be turn out to be one of the biggest surprise performances from Sunday, it was Ty Montgomery that ended up making the difference for Green Bay on offense after rushing for 162 yards on 16 carries to go along with two scores. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers knew it would be difficult to pass with the frigid temperatures, and when considering all of the struggles this team has dealt with at running back due to injuries, it was a relief to see Montgomery step it up on a day where his team needed him the most.

Thanks to some help from the New York Giants, Green Bay has a better shot at winning the NFC North now as they trail the Detroit Lions by one game in the standings. And with these two teams squaring off in the regular-season finale, the Packers have every reason in the world to feel confident at the moment.

Dec 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) carries the ball as New York Giants linebacker Keenan Robinson (57) defends during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

9. Detroit Lions (4)

Should the Detroit Lions be concerned over Matthew Stafford‘s finger injury? Even if the Lions ended up on the losing end while facing a defense on the rise in the New York Giants, Stafford certainly didn’t make the Lions feel better for his performance in Week 15.

Not only was Stafford limited to completing 24 of 39 passes for 273 yards with an interception, but Detroit failed to record a single touchdown against New York as they let the No. 2 seed in the NFC slip away to the Seattle Seahawks. Along with losing the current first-round bye, the Lions now have to worry about the Green Bay Packers catching up in the NFC North as Mike McCarthy‘s squad only trails his division rivals by one game in the standings.

For a team that has established a reputation for rallying in the fourth quarter all season, everybody was expecting Detroit to do the same against New York in Week 15. Instead, the Lions will face even more pressure over the final two weeks with tough matchups against the Dallas Cowboys on the road before hosting the Packers in the regular-season finale.

Don’t look now, but the NFC North is all of a sudden up for grabs thanks to the Lions losing to the Giants.

Dec 18, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Terron Ward (28) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Marcus Cromartie (20) in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

8. Atlanta Falcons (8)

Julio Jones has missed the last two games, yet the Atlanta Falcons continue to stay hot after another big 41-13 win in Week 15. Even if those two wins came against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, every win is important for the Falcons moving forward as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are keeping it close in the race for the NFC South.

Most quarterbacks tend to struggle without their wideout, but Matt Ryan hasn’t let Jones’ absence impact Atlanta as the offense has seen numerous players step it up, especially in the ground game. This time around, it was Devonta Freeman who made the difference after finding the end zone three times while recording 139 yards on 20 carries.

Just imagine how dangerous the Falcons can be if Freeman and Tevin Coleman continue to stay hot when Jones does eventually return as there’s a reason this team ranks near the top of the league for their production on offense. And thanks to the Buccaneers falling short against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, Atlanta can relax a little bit heading into their final two regular season games against their division rivals in the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.

Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs against Tennessee Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Titans won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

7. Kansas City Chiefs (3)

When looking back at the end of the season, the Week 15 loss to the Tennessee Titans is going to be one the Kansas City Chiefs look back on, realizing there’s no reason why they should have ended up on the losing end. For the most part, the Chiefs played well on defense, but allowing the Titans to score 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter is unacceptable for a team fighting for a division title.

Plus, it certainly didn’t help Kansas City’s case they scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, only to record a single field goal for the remainder of the game. Inconsistency on offense has been a major issue for the Chiefs at times throughout the season, but with a chance to have a first-round bye in the postseason on the line, this is the wrong time Andy Reid‘s team to collapse.

To top it off, the remaining schedule doesn’t benefit Kansas City with two games against the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers. For a team that was considered one of the hottest in the AFC prior to Sunday, the Chiefs picked the wrong time to blow a game they easily should have won against the Titans.

Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) is restrained by defensive coordinator Kris Richard in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams during a NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. Seattle Seahawks (10)

Less than one week after suffering an embarrassing loss on the road to the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks bounced back with an easy win at home against the Los Angeles Rams to clinch the NFC West title. Now, the Seahawks will focus on their next task before the end of the regular season arrives, which is earning a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Over the years, Seattle has established a reputation for getting hot right before the postseason, and that appears to be the case once again—despite their two recent top losses to the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Whether or not that hot streak continues in the playoffs will fall on the shoulders of Russell Wilson (19 of 26 for 229 yards with three touchdowns against the Rams), as the quarterback has proven to be one of the most dangerous players in the league when healthy.

Thanks to the Detroit Lions losing to the New York Giants, the Seahawks control their own destiny when it comes to earning that first-round bye. With their final two games against the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, Seattle should feel confident about their chances for earning an extra week off before their first playoff game.

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) celebrates after a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers during a NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. Oakland Raiders (7)

For reasons that can’t be explained, the Oakland Raiders love to keep fans on the edge of their seats after another thrilling win on the road against the San Diego Chargers. With the win, the Raiders clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2002 season as the next task becomes figuring out a way to win the division.

Oakland got lucky in Week 15 thanks to some last-minute help by the Tennessee Titans in which they pulled off a thrilling win on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs took control of the division after defeating the Raiders the previous weekend, but it’s amazing how quickly the tables can turn in a span of a week.

They may have already clinched a playoff berth, but Oakland still has a tough remaining schedule with a home game against the Indianapolis Colts before wrapping up the regular season on the road against the Denver Broncos. Not to mention the Raiders also face the tough task of being inexperienced in the postseason. Derek Carr and company will realize the level of pressure is taken to a whole new level once January rolls around.

However, Oakland will worry about that when the time comes as the main focus is on the division race at the moment, as mentioned before.

Dec 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green (89) runs against Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Shawn Williams (36) during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5)

Who would have thought it would be the Pittsburgh Steelers coming through with a big win on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to six converted field goals by Chris Boswell? With the Baltimore Ravens winning against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers knew the last thing they could afford to see happen was suffer a loss to the Bengals, but the defense stepped up in the second half while the offense did just enough to get by.

It took Pittsburgh until the middle of the fourth quarter to finally find the end zone for the first time against Cincinnati, which coincidentally ended up being their first lead of the game. With a one-game lead over the Ravens, Christmas Day will be even more important for the Steelers as the winner of that game will control their own destiny when it comes to winning the division and earning a home playoff game.

To think this was the same team that was on a four-game losing streak earlier in the season, the Steelers seem like the type of team that would catch fire if they were to hold on and earn a spot in the postseason. With weapons like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, this offense is capable of causing all sorts of problems for any opponent in the AFC.

Dec 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) celebrates with quarterback Eli Manning (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Lions during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

3. New York Giants (6)

Even if they don’t miraculously find a way to win the NFC East, the New York Giants are the last bunch any team in the NFC is going to want to face once the playoffs roll around, assuming all goes well over the final two weeks. At 10-4, the Giants are in very good shape to at least earn a Wild Card spot, and the defense deserves plenty of credit for the way this unit has looked over the last couple of weeks.

As if last weekend’s performance of shutting down the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t already impressive enough, New York’s defense came up big once again in Week 15 after holding the Detroit Lions to scoring just six points. Obviously, the outcome of this game could have been much different with a healthier Matthew Stafford, but that shouldn’t take away from how dominant the defense of the Giants has been as of late.

New York has been in this position before over the years where they emerge as one of the hottest teams in the NFL right before the start of the postseason. If history is any indication of what’s in store for the Giants, they could be looking at another possible Super Bowl run if this team continues to play at this high level.

Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) and head coach Jason Garrett after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

2. Dallas Cowboys (2)

The Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking to silence any critics that believed this team was in trouble after losing to the New York Giants in Week 15. Turns out, the Cowboys are just fine as Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott bounced back with strong performances on offense.

Elliott continued to show why he was worth being the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft after rushing for 159 yards with a touchdown on 23 carries against a defense that’s been on the rise over the last few weeks. Not only has Elliott made a strong case for taking home Rookie of the Year honors, but the former Ohio State standout deserves to be in consideration for MVP as well.

As for Prescott, he managed to complete 32 of 36 passes to eight different receivers while throwing for 279 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown. No matter what he does, Prescott is always going to draw comparisons to what Tony Romo would have done in certain situations. However, the rookie continues to remain cool under pressure as he looks to keep the Cowboys in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung (23) celebrates after a play with cornerback Logan Ryan (26) and defensive back Duron Harmon (30) and defensive back Devin McCourty (32) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Patriots won 16-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

1. New England Patriots (1)

In a game that lived up to the hype of being a defensive battle, the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos, 16-3, to clinch yet another AFC East title as now the focus becomes locking up the top seed in the AFC. Most of the time, the Patriots are going to end up on the losing end when Tom Brady fails to score a single touchdown, but the quarterback helped the offense perform well enough to leave Denver with a win, which has been difficult for the future Hall of Famer to achieve throughout his career.

To see New England in this position after playing the first four games of the year without Brady due to suspension is simply amazing as the quarterback certainly deserves to be in the MVP conversation when the time comes. With nine wins in 10 games, the Patriots hot streak should continue next weekend with a favorable home matchup against the New York Jets.

As for the last game of the regular season, it will be interesting to see how New England approaches the Miami Dolphins, who control their own destiny by currently holding the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. Who knows, maybe that regular-season finale could turn into an early playoff preview at some point in January if the Dolphins continue to play their cards right.