When it comes to Creative Misfortune Power Rankings, winning isn't the only thing, but it is the most important component of the rating. I don't believe teams can be powerful if they consistently lose, even to other great teams.
The Forked Few~
Abandon hope and fortune all ye who rank here
# 32 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 31)
The season mercifully comes to an end after one last beat down in Atlanta.
# 31 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 32)
The Cards have serious issues on offense they will need to address during the offseason, starting at the quarterback position. On the bright side, the defense looks somewhat solid.
# 30 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 28)
Just when you think the Bills might be on to something, they throw out a collossal stink-bomb. Sure, it is difficult to beat New England, but you should be able to score more than three points against a division rival.
# 29 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 29)
Funny how when Ochocinco and Owens aren't in the lineup, Carson Palmer can play loose and go off for four touchdowns. Really makes you think, doesn't it?
# 28 - Denver Broncos (previous: 30)
TIM TEBOW!
The Creatively Challenged~
Folly remains ever their mistress
# 27 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 20)
How painfully sad is it that Seattle, starting their back-up quarterback and having lost nine games already this season, will be playing in primetime on Sunday night for the right to host a playoff game?
# 26 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 27)
Finally the 49ers do something right. Singletary should have been gone weeks ago when San Francisco still had a chance to make the playoffs. Once they were eliminated, why even bother making the in-season change?
# 25 - Houston Texans (previous: 25)
No one can fault you for losing to the wonder that is Tim Tebow, but, seriously, double-digit losses this season was quite unacceptable.
# 24 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 21)
An extra point doinked off the upright? Yep. Pretty much sums up the entire Cowboy season.
# 23 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 26)
A decent showing against a division rival, but there is still a lot of work left to be done in Cleveland.
# 22 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 22)
One more game until the nightmare season ends, but at least the 2011 search for a quarterback has gained some positivity. Joe Webb looked quite impressive against Philadelphia. And as far as Favre- will he or won't he? Oh, please, just go away already.
# 21 - Detroit Lions (previous: 23)
The Lions on a three-game winning streak? That hasn't happened in like... ever.
The Remarkably Average ~
Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory
# 20 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 16)
Look. Give up or don't give up. I don't care, just pick one and go with it for your week 17 game against the Colts.
# 19 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 18)
A trip out of the state to finish the season is exactly what the Dolphins need. Sure, the game will be in frigid New England against the best team in the league, but at least it won't be in the nightmarish confines of South Florida.
# 18 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 14)
A tough loss to the Colts means the Raiders will have to win in Kansas City in order to finish at .500 for the first time since their last Super Bowl appearance.
# 17 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 10)
Their early season losses finally sunk the Chargers.
# 16 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 15)
There is still hope. If Tennessee decides to play and Houston doesn't, Jacksonville could sneak back into the playoff picture when it matters the most.
# 15 - Washington Redskins (previous: 24)
Could Rex Grossman actually be the answer?
# 14 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 19)
Please, please, please, St. Louis. Beat Seattle and Sunday night. Sure, an 8-8 division champion isn't all that great, but it certainly would be better than the 7-9 Seahawks going into the playoffs.
# 13 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 17)
Tampa Bay still has a chance if they can knock off the defending champions and get help from the Bears and Redskins. Yes, it's a long shot, but if things go right, the Bucs could be in. Can you imagine both Seattle and Tampa Bay in the playoffs?
The Fortunate Seven ~
The best of those not yet elite
# 12 - New York Giants (previous: 8)
The total collapse against the Eagles followed by the second-half explosion of the Packers has all but killed the Giants. Now, if they could ever just get back to New York...
# 11 - New York Jets (previous: 4)
For a strong defense, the Jets sure allowed a lot of points to a suspect Bears offense. The Jets are in the playoffs, but they have serious issues that need to be corrected if they hope to make a near-magical run like last year.
# 10 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 13)
One more win and the division, once again, will be theirs.
# 9 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 12)
All the Pack have to do is beat the Bears.
# 8 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 3)
Michael Vick lost his bid to be the league's MVP with the sub-par performance of the Eagles on Tuesday. He still will be the Comeback Player of the Year and may do some damage in the post-season, but the Vikings gave the league a beautiful blueprint on how to short-circuit the high-flying Eagles explosive offense.
# 7 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 9)
The best surprise team of the season and a young team that can may surprise a lot of people in the playoffs, especially if they can manage to avoid New England until the championship game.
# 6 - Chicago Bears (previous: 11)
The Bears still have something to play for and the last team they want to see in the playoffs is Green Bay.
The Creative Elite ~
Wielding misfortune at its finest
# 5 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 6)
The Ravens can still take the division if Pittsburgh stumbles against Cleveland as long as they can get by Cincinnati.
# 4 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 5)
A win and a week off will provide enough motivation for the Steelers to put away the Browns.
# 3 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 7)
These are the defending champions everyone remembers. Now they have sown the seeds of doubt in the Falcons should they meet again in Atlanta during the playoffs.
# 2 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 2)
Atlanta is still the best team in the NFC, but great teams close out games against their division rivals at home with so much on the line.
# 1 - New England Patriots (previous: 1)
With nothing to play for in week 17, how will Belichick approach the game? If history has shown us anything, Brady and the other starters will be on the field late into the game until the Patriots are ahead by 30.
Week 16 Power Ranking Awards:
The Free Fallers - New York Jets (-7), San Diego Chargers (-7) and the Seattle Seahawks (-7)
The Biggest Movers - Washington Redskins (+9), St. Louis Rams (+5) and the Chicago Bears (+5)
Maintaining The Status Quo - New England Patriots (1), Atlanta Falcons (2), Minnesota Vikings (22), Houston Texans (25) and the Cincinnati Bengals (29)
Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLV Favorite ~ After Week 16
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