Week 17 Barometer

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It never ceases to amaze me how fast the football season goes and how much it changes along the way. It seems like just yesterday that teams like Carolina and Pittsburgh were considered Super Bowl contenders, while the likes of Tennessee and New Orleans were destined for another doormat season.

In our final NFL Barometer, our rankers decide who’s hot and who’s not as the season comes to a close and the playoffs are about to begin. Can a wild card get hot and pull off a Steeler-esque run like last year? Or will one of the heavy favorites continue to dominate with their elite play from the regular season all the way to Miami?

Recently, we asked several Cafe members to rank all 32 NFL teams from first to worst after Week 16 of the 2006 season. The average number for each team, based on their submissions, was calculated and the teams were ranked accordingly (to increase consistency, the highest and the lowest values for each team were disregarded).

Rank	Change	TEAM	Avg Rank	K n a p p	B l u e	S l i m	M a r t i n	J a y
1 (1)		San Diego	1.0	1	1	1	2	1
They had a little scare against Seattle. Can Marty Schottenheimer kick his playoff curse and take his team deep into the playoffs?
2 (2)		Baltimore	2.0	3	2	2	1	2
The Ravens have been dominating the trenches over the past few weeks. When you can get after the opponent’s QB and protect your own, you’re gonna be a force in the playoffs.
3 (4)		Chicago	3.3	2	4	3	4	3
The Bears seem to be coasting in to the playoffs after coming from behind to beat the Lions last week. Can they turn the intensity back on in January?
4 (5)		New England	4.3	5	3	5	3	5
Tom Brady was really roughed up against the Jaguars. Can the Patriots keep his jersey clean enough to make a playoff run?
5 (7)		New Orleans	5.3	4	8	4	8	4
At 10-5, the Saints have locked up the second seed on the NFC side. There have been teams in recent years that have missed the postseason at 10-6. That shows you how weak the NFC is this year.
6 (3)		Indianapolis	6.3	7	5	6	7	6
The Colts seem to be content with just making the postseason. They don’t look interested in getting that crucial first round bye.
7 (9)		Philadelphia	7.0	6	7	8	6	8
Jeff Garcia and the Eagles continue their stellar play. Can they continue that in the playoffs?
8 (11)		Denver	7.3	8	6	7	11	7
They got a Christmas gift on the botched extra point by the Bengals. Do they have a better present waiting for them in the postseason?
9 (7)		Cincinnati	9.7	12	9	10	9	10
Finding yet another way to beat themselves, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are fading. Can they gather enough mental toughness to beat the Steelers?
10 (5)		Dallas	11.0	10	13	9	10	14
“Romo-mania” seems to be dying down. Can Bill Parcells get his team refocused on their postseason goal?
11 (17)		Tennessee	11.3	9	12	15	13	9
Vince wins. Period. They need help from other teams to sneak into the playoffs though.
12 (10)		Jacksonville	12.0	13	11	13	5	12
The seesaw season continues. The Jags can’t put together a handful of good games to save their lives.
12 (15)		NY Jets	12.0	11	10	14	18	11
After defeating the Dolphins, all the Jets have to do is beat the struggling Raiders to make the postseason. They can surely do that, right?
14 (16)		Kansas City	13.7	15	14	12	14	13
Going 1-3 in December has all but locked them out of the playoffs.
15 (14)		Pittsburgh	15.7	17	15	17	12	15
They’re 5-0 against teams not named Baltimore in their last seven games. Unfortunately, they were outscored 58-7 in their two beatings from the Ravens.
16 (12)		Seattle	16.0	14	17	11	24	17
They probably don’t deserve to be in the playoffs based on performance, but they have won their division and could enter the postseason at 8-8.
17 (18)		Buffalo	16.7	19	16	18	16	16
Are the Bills finally headed in the right direction?
18 (24)		St. Louis	18.0	16	19	16	25	19
Marc Bulger is on fire in St. Louis. Can he and the Rams sneak into the postseason at 8-8?
19 (18)		Miami	19.3	25	18	21	19	18
Their loss to the Jets essentially locked in the AFC playoff picture. They probably didn’t get Christmas cards from the Bengals, Titans, or Jaguars.
20 (20)		Atlanta	20.7	20	21	20	23	21
The Falcons playoff hopes may have just flown out the window. Can the Falcons take down the Eagles in the season finale?
20 (24)		Carolina	20.7	22	20	23	17	20
Too little, too late for the Panthers.
22 (13)		NY Giants	21.0	21	23	19	15	23
The Giants are out of strikes and Tom Coughlin’s head may roll once the season is over.
23 (26)		Green Bay	22.0	18	22	24	20	24
Brett and the Packers go into Chicago in late December for another classic matchup between these two teams.
24 (21)		San Francisco	24.0	23	24	22	29	25
Going 1-4 in their last five games has dropped them from the playoffs. Can they play spoiler and upset the Broncos?
25 (22)		Washington	25.0	27	27	26	22	22
Can the Redskins put the final nail in the coffin of their division rivals when they face the Giants?
26 (23)		Minnesota	25.3	24	28	25	21	27
The Vikings look ahead to the future as rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson tries to find his way in the league.
27 (27)		Arizona	26.0	26	25	27	26	26
Leinart will sit with the shoulder injury. That means Shawne Merriman and the Charges get to tee off on the nimble feet of Kurt Warner.
28 (29)		Houston	27.7	28	26	28	27	28
In a battle of the badlands, Houston heads to Cleveland to see who is worse.
29 (30)		Tampa Bay	29.0	29	29	30	28	29
With no real option at quarterback, an underwhelming offensive line, and an aging defense, Jon Gruden has his work cut out for him to get the Bucs back on top.
30 (28)		Cleveland	30.7	30	31	31	30	31
Things are too familiar in the Dawg Pound. What will it take for Cleveland to turn things around?
30 (31)		Oakland	30.7	32	30	29	32	30
The Raiders get a chance to play spoiler against the Jets. Will they score their first road win of the year?
32 (32)		Detroit	31.7	31	32	32	31	32
Can they hold on to the top draft spot?

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