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Two more weeks left in this season and there is already a changing of the guard in each conference. The NFC, mostly dominated by the New York Giants, is now up for grabs; mainly involving the Carolina Panthers. Likewise, the Titans are losing their grip on the number one seed in the AFC to the low key Pittsburgh Steelers. I have changed the format on these rankings once again, eliminating the ‘opponent record' for each team. Besides, when it all comes down to it, wins and losses are all the matters.

1. Carolina Panthers- record: 11-3 (rank last week (3): defeated Broncos, 30-10)

Another dominant effort from ‘Smash and Dash', coupled with a typical Steve Smith performance, has this team in prime position to steal home-field advantage throughout the playoffs from the struggling Giants.

2. Indianapolis Colts- record: 10-4 (rank last week (4): defeated Lions, 31-21)

Seventh win in a row and one victory away from clinching one of the two wildcard spots this Thursday night. 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers- record: 11-3 (rank last week (5): defeated Ravens, 13-9)

Another hot team who could steal home-field advantage throughout the playoffs from the Titans. Why this team does not receive more love is beyond me. 

4. Tennessee Titans- record: 12-2 (rank last week (1): lost to Texans, 12-13)

The Titans are still a top five team, but with the Steelers and the Colts left on their schedule, they may not be here long.

5. Dallas Cowboys- record: 9-5 (rank last week (11): defeated Giants, 20-8)

Where have THIS defense been all year??? And will this be just a one-game sighting?

6. New York Giants- record: 11-3 (rank last week (2): lost to Cowboys, 8-20)

Wow, how the mighty has fallen, and with the conference tying Panthers coming into town! Whatever is the deal with this team, they better solve it before they end up one and done.

7. Minnesota Vikings- record: 9-5 (rank last week (8): defeated Cardinals, 35-14)

As a known Tarvaris Jackson apologist, I applaud his performance. But I can hear the haters now; ‘yeah, he threw four touchdowns, but it was only the Cardinals. Big deal! And they are no doubt the same ‘people' who believes Matt Cassel should be the Patriots' opening day starter next year. <you'll figure it out later>

8. New England Patriots- record: 9-5 (rank last week (9): defeated Raiders, 49-26)

Speaking of which, nice to finally see them put away a pathetic team properly. Two bad the Dolphins will probably take away their divisional title.

9. Miami Dolphins- record 9-5 (rank last week (9): defeated 49ers, 14-9)

Speaking of which, let's give it up for the executive of the year! Is there a team Parcells CANNOT fix??? (The Raiders, WITH Al Davis, does not count).

10. Atlanta Falcons- record 9-5 (rank last week (10): defeated Bucs, 13-10 OT)

Since I am giving out postseason awards, let's hear it for Matt Ryan for offensive rookie of the year!!! And if you have followed my blogs, you will know how big it is of me to declare that.

11. Baltimore Ravens- record: 9-5 (rank last week (6): lost to Steelers, 9-13)

Some people like Joe Flacco for OROY, but I do not. He has had more ‘rookie' moments than Ryan and benefits from a better defense to bail him out. Just my opinion.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- record: 9-5 (rank last week (7): lost to Falcons, 10-13 OT)

It sure is a terrible time for the real Bucs to show themselves. At least last year's team waited until the playoffs. This year's team may not even make it THAT far.

13. New York Jets- record: 9-5 (rank last week (17): defeated Bills, 31-27)

Now that they have let the Dolphins and Patriots catch up to them, they badly need to win at Seattle so they can hope to wrap up the division against the Dolphins the following week. 

14. Chicago Bears- record: 8-6 (rank last week (16): defeated Saints, 27-24 OT)

The Bears kept their very slim playoff hopes alive for another week.

15. Philadelphia Eagles- record: 8-5-1 (rank last week (18): defeated Browns, 30-10)

Where was THIS team a month ago?

16. Arizona Cardinals- record: 8-6 (rank last week (10): lost to Vikings, 14-35)

Perhaps this team is content with just winning their division....

17. Denver Broncos- record: 8-6 (rank last week (13): lost to Panthers, 10-30)

unlike THIS team that obvious does not want their division.

18. New Orleans Saints- record: 7-7 (rank last week (14): lost to Bears, 24-27OT)

With the emergence of the Falcons and Panthers, the Saints' window of opportunity has been officially shut for the time being.

19. Houston Texans- record 7-7 (rank last week (20): defeated Titans, 13-12)

This team could be a force to be reckoned with: Next season.

20. San Diego Chargers- record: 6-8 (rank last week (22): defeated Chiefs, 22-21)

This team will be a force to be reckoned with also: Next head coach.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars- record: 5-9 (rank last week (26): defeated Packers, 20-16)

If Jack Del Rio survives this off-season, that should be his ONLY Christmas present.

22. San Francisco 49ers- record 5-9 (rank last week (21): lost to Dolphins, 9-14)

They cannot be expected to beat EVERY AFC East team. At least they were competitive.

23. Seattle Seahawks- record: 3-11 (rank last week (27): defeated to Rams, 23-20)

Every win helps team morale, but hurts draft position.

24. Washington Redskins- record: 7-7 (rank last week (19): lost to Bengals, 13-20)

I can forgive loses to the Giants and even the Ravens. But the Bengals????

25. Cleveland Browns- record: 5-9 (rank last week (25): lost to Eagles, 10-30)

NOW Braylon Edwards want to catch passes!

26. Buffalo Bills- record: 6-8 (rank last week (23): lost to Jets, 27-31)

The Bills' will travel to a team that also does not want to win (Broncos). I'm guessing this game will end in a tie.

27. Green Bay Packers- record: 5-9 (rank last week (24): lost to Jags, 16-20)

Why are the Packers behind the likes of the 49ers and Browns? Look at their last four games for the answer.

28. Cincinnati Bengals- record 2-11-1 (rank last week (31): defeated Redskins, 20-13)

The Bengals bounced back well from their thumping at the hands of the Colts to defeat a more talented (and almost as dysfunctional) opponent.

29. Seattle Seahawks- record: 2-12 (rank last week (27): lost to Rams, 20-23)

I'm not so sure that this team is dysfunctional as much as the fact that they are just terrible.

30. Kansas City Chiefs- record 2-12 (rank last week (28): lost to Chargers, 21-22)

This was their sixth loss of the year by 7 points or less. Does this count as progress?

31. Oakland Raiders- record: 3-11 (rank last week (29): lost to Patriots, 26-49)

I'm still shocked that they had enough ‘firepower' to put up 26 points on an opponent.

32. Detroit Lions- record 0-14 (rank last week (32): lost to Colts, 21-31)

The Lions gave the Colts a scare and Orlovsky did not embarrass himself. I count that as progress.

Five notes from week Sixteen:

1. Perception is an interesting thing. It amazes me when two identical situations are interpret or treated vastly different. Take for example two Pro Bowl wide receivers, Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens. Both are very talented players who love passes thrown in their directions, but also have a habit of dropping passes (especially the easy ones). The one difference between them: Even though Edwards lead the league (again) in dropped passes, he is not a very vocal person and often goes unnoticed. Owens, on the other hand, only catches 49% of the passes thrown in his direction and gets mad when a teammate (who, by the ways, catches closer to 65% of passes thrown his direction) has more receptions and wonders why he is demonized. Interesting.

2. While the Colts are on the longest winning streak in the NFL and one Thursday night win away from clinching a playoff spot, they have been living on the edge much of this season. Double-digit comeback wins early in the season against the Texans and Vikings, along with close wins against the Browns and Lions can mean one of two things; either this team knows how to win the close games, or they are incredible luck. I do not care which one personally, as long as the winning continues!  

3. I will restate my question from earlier in the rankings: is there a team that Bill Parcells CANNOT rebuild? It is amazing how, over the course of his career, he has been able to build the New York Giants, then go to New England and take them to the Super Bowl, then work magic with  the Jets and Cowboys before doing mission impossible with the Dolphins. I may have left a team out of that equation, but my point has been made. This guy is a WINNER!

4. After leading a comeback victory against the winless Lions, Tarvaris Jackson (in his first start since September) throws four touchdowns against a team that is going to the playoffs. The Vikings still need a strong finish to win their division, because wildcard is not an option. The Falcons will be a tough challenge for them.

5. Speaking of the Vikings (and I hate to jinks them), Adrian Peterson has been remarkably durable during his short time there, so far. He seemed to be always hurt or kinked up in college, but has done well to stay healthy in the NFL. And because of that, the rushing title is for him to lose. And if the Vikings make the playoffs (and I have said this before), Adrian Peterson is the MVP of the league in my book.