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With two weeks left in the 2024 NFL regular season, the race for the top of the league is tight.
Who will keep bringing the gifts for Christmas week, and who's ready to fade before ringing in the new year?
Here's looking at how all 32 teams stack up against each other, complete with some stocking-stuffer nuggets about why they're ranked where they're ranked ahead of the second-to-last week of the season.
NFL WEEK 17 PICKS: Against the spread | Straight-up predictions
NFL Power Rankings Week 17
1. Kansas City Chiefs 14-1 (previous ranking: 1)
The Chiefs got an injury scare from Patrick Mahomes before he turned back into the league's most frightening quarterback. The Texans learned he was the real nightmare before Christmas last Saturday.
2. Buffalo Bills 12-3 (3)
The Bills made their divisional game against the Patriots a little too interesting, almost letting down after the epic Lions takedown. They will look to keep up tuning up well for the playoffs with the Jets and Patriots again to close the season.
MORE: Josh Allen injury update
3. Detroit Lions 13-2 (4)
The Lions smashed their cold-weather narrative with Jared Goff, and their injury-riddled defense also rose to the occasion in Chicago. They flexed again as the NFC's best team with the Eagles getting grinched.
MORE: Jared Goff shakes off cold-weather criticisms | Lions fake fumble on wild TD
4. Minnesota Vikings 13-2 (5)
The Vikings got into a shootout with the Seahawks, but Justin Jefferson is the gift that keeps on giving when their passing game and offense overall needs it most.
MORE: How Eagles loss impacts race for NFC's No. 1 seed
5. Philadelphia Eagles 12-3 (2)
The Eagles saw Jalen Hurts get hurt, and riding Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown around Kenny Pickett wasn't enough in Washington. They will wait to unwrap a division title until Week 17 or Week 18 while they hope that Hurts can go.
MORE: Jalen Hurts injury update | Saquon Barkley rushing record tracker
6. Green Bay Packers 11-4 (6)
The Packers can't be forgotten in the race for the NFC title with Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, and the defense, plus their experience of winning the playoff last season. They also are made for the most wonderful time of the year with their weather wariness.
7. Baltimore Ravens 10-5 (8)
The Ravens are finding some real defense and big plays at the right time to help Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. They are back in the AFC title mix, not far behind the Chiefs.
MORE: AFC North standings after Ravens win vs. Steelers
8. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5 (7)
The Steelers' wheels are coming off with some key injuries and Russell Wilson slumping. Consider them fading and likely to lose the division title behind the Ravens again.
9. Washington Commanders 10-5 (9)
The Commanders are trying to catch up to the Eagles with Captain Comeback Jayden Daniels at work. They are playing much better after the bye and finding a lot of holiday cheer in December.
MORE: Jayden Daniels ends OROY race, starts Commanders' Super Bowl hype
10. Los Angeles Rams 9-6 (14)
The Rams' young defense has been key of late to liff up Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, and the offense. They are pulling a 2023 with another playoff-bound surprise.
MORE: Rams playoff outlook after win vs. Jets
11. Houston Texans 9-6 (10)
The AFC South champions proved they were no match for the Chiefs. They're not looking great for another home playoff win with C.J. Stroud having a mild sophomore slump.
MORE: Tank Dell injury update
12. Los Angeles Chargers 9-6 (13)
The Chargers got some of their clutch mojo back with their Justin Herbert-led comeback against the Broncos. They are dangerous in the playoffs because of Jim Harbaugh.
MORE: Chargers playoff outlook after win vs. Broncos
13. Denver Broncos 9-6 (11)
The Broncos have been game all season long with Bo Nix being a keeper at quarterback, but their late defensive issues vs. the Chargers would signal a short playoff stay ... if they can still get there with the Bengals and Chiefs looming.
MORE: Broncos playoff outlook after loss vs. Chargers
14. Seattle Seahawks 8-7 (15)
The Seahawks were up to the task vs. the Vikings but just didn't have enough from the running game and defense with their passing games trading blows. It looks like the first year of Mike Macdonald might finish just shy of the playoffs.
MORE: Seahawks playoff outlook after loss vs. Vikings
15. Atlanta Falcons 8-7 (20)
Michael Penix Jr. didn't prove to be an upgrade over Kirk Cousins yet in his first rookie start at QB, but the running game and defense remain the real strengths to keep them alive.
MORE: Falcons playoff outlook after win vs. Giants
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-7 (12)
The Buccaneers are doing their best to win another NFC South title, but their defensive breakdown against the Cowboys really cost Baker Mayfield and their balanced, explosive offense any chance.
MORE: Buccaneers playoff outlook after loss vs. Cowboys
17. Cincinnati Bengals 7-8 (18)
The Bengals would give Joe Burrow a chance to win MVP if they can somehow pull off that playoff miracle. Week 17 at the Broncos means a ton.
MORE: Joe Burrow 'looked like Superman' in record-setting performance | Bengals playoff outlook
18. Dallas Cowboys 7-8 (19)
The Cowboys are fighting hard with Cooper Rush, which means they are fighting hard to keep Mike McCarthy. That's starting to look like the most likely scenario for 2025.
MORE: Cowboys eliminated from playoff contention despite win vs. Bucs
19. Indianapolis Colts 7-8 (21)
Jonathan Taylor made sure he held on to the ball when they needed him to stay in the playoff race. He is having a much-needed positive effect on Anthony Richardson.
MORE: Jonathan Taylor atones for last week's mistake with big game, ironic celebration | Colts playoff outlook
20. Miami Dolphins 7-8 (22)
The Dolphins showed the needed fight offensively to blow past the short-handed 49ers. Mike McDaniel is salvaging some positives amid the overall disappointment.
MORE: Tyreek Hill explains ugly drops vs. 49ers | Dolphins playoff outlook
21. Arizona Cardinals 7-8 (16)
The Cardinals' road issues and Kyler Murray's rollercoaster season came to a head in the loss to the Panthers that ended Arizona's playoff hopes.
MORE: James Conner injury update
22. San Francisco 49ers 6-9 (17)
Brock Purdy will still get his big contract because he's kept the offense together despite getting less help from the defense with each passing week. That unit needs some key personnel and schematic changes.
23. New Orleans Saints 5-10 (23)
The Saints need to think about life after Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara while they are both on the shelf, but the new coaching staff needs to also restore some defense.
24. Carolina Panthers 4-11 (26)
The Panthers should be officially excited about the future with Bryce Young. He is a real-deal playmaker again under QB whisperer Dave Canales.
NFL DRAFT NEWS:
25. Chicago Bears 4-11 (24)
The Bears' defensive strengths have all but disappeared without Matt Eberflus' influence, and their offense seems to be just waiting for a coaching spark, too.
26. New York Jets 4-11 (25)
The Jets' offensive momentum with Aaron Rodgers hit a thud with the rising Rams coming to town. At least Davante Adams keeps being awesome.
27. New England Patriots 3-12 (29)
Drake Maye is giving the Patriots a lot of positives going into what should be a much better Year 2 with an improved supporting cast.
28. Tennessee Titans 3-12 (30)
The Titans found out that Mason Rudolph also isn't a QB answer, but they should be more worried about fixing their sorry run defense in 2025.
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29. Cleveland Browns 3-12 (27)
The Browns gave it a shot with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at QB, but it's hard for them to have any impact offensively when their once-great defense puts them in deep holes.
30. Las Vegas Raiders 3-12 (32)
The Raiders came out with a strong defensive effort to jump the Jaguars, but it might be too little too late to save Antonio Pierce.
MORE: Antonio Pierces brushes off question about NFL Draft positioning
31. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-12 (28)
The Jaguars need a lot of defensive help, but their offense is doing the best it can with backups and limited firepower.
32. New York Giants 2-13 (31)
The Giants are playing out the string with whoever is at QB, but they need to do a lot of fixing everywhere on defense. Having a good pass rush means little when everything else breaks down.
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