Another week, another reshuffle at the top spot. This time, the Minnesota Vikings, fresh off their 16-0 shutout of their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers, are the No. 1 team. The New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams are close behind.
In the chart below, purple — in honor of Minnesota — indicates current division winners. Blue denotes teams in wild-card position, while the uncolored teams remain in the hunt. Red highlights teams eliminated from postseason play.
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| Rank | Team | Power rank (1 to 100) | Change from last week |
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings (12-3) | 78 | 1 |
| 2 | New Orleans Saints (11-4) | 77 | -1 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) | 75 | 1 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Rams (11-4) | 75 | 1 |
| 5 | New England Patriots (12-3) | 74 | -2 |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers (11-4) | 71 | 0 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) | 70 | 1 |
| 8 | Jacksonville Jaguars (10-5) | 63 | -1 |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons (9-6) | 62 | 0 |
| 10 | Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) | 59 | 0 |
| 11 | Seattle Seahawks (9-6) | 57 | 2 |
| 12 | Baltimore Ravens (9-6) | 57 | -1 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) | 55 | 2 |
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys (8-7) | 53 | -2 |
| 15 | Detroit Lions (8-7) | 52 | -1 |
| 16 | Washington Redskins (7-8) | 48 | 3 |
| 17 | Green Bay Packers (7-8) | 47 | -1 |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans (8-7) | 44 | 0 |
| 19 | Buffalo Bills (8-7) | 43 | -2 |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals (7-8) | 40 | 4 |
| 21 | Chicago Bears (5-10) | 40 | 4 |
| 22 | Oakland Raiders (6-9) | 40 | -2 |
| 23 | Miami Dolphins (6-9) | 36 | -2 |
| 24 | New York Jets (5-10) | 35 | -2 |
| 25 | Cincinnati Bengals (6-9) | 35 | 3 |
| 26 | San Francisco 49ers (5-10) | 35 | 3 |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) | 35 | -4 |
| 28 | Houston Texans (4-11) | 30 | -2 |
| 29 | Denver Broncos (5-10) | 30 | -2 |
| 30 | Indianapolis Colts (3-12) | 20 | 0 |
| 31 | New York Giants (2-13) | 17 | 0 |
| 32 | Cleveland Browns (0-15) | 8 | 0 |
Is it possible Case Keenum, an undrafted quarterback with time spent with the Houston Texans, St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and Vikings over a six-year career, might be capable of steering his team to the Super Bowl? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. The 29-year-old journeyman has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 3,358 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, making him the second-most valuable quarterback in 2017 per ESPN’s True Quarterback Rating (69.9 QBR). The game charters at Pro Football Focus rank him at No. 10, while Football Outsiders has him higher at No. 5. In other words, Keenum is the real deal by multiple metrics, which makes the Vikings the team to beat once you consider their terrific defense as well.
The Rams have MVP candidate Todd Gurley spearheading an offense that ranks third for points per drive (2.4) in 2017. Gurley leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,305) and rushing touchdowns (13) in addition to ranking tied for 21st for receiving touchdowns (six), making him the most productive player from scrimmage in 2017.
New England scooped up linebacker James Harrison, recently released from the Steelers, in an effort to bolster its pass rush. Harrison played just 40 snaps for Pittsburgh this season but was ranked the 15th-best edge rusher in 2016, per the game charters at Pro Football Focus. Can he recapture that form in New England?
The 49ers appear to have a franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. In his four starts for San Francisco, the former backup to Tom Brady in New England has completed 98 of 143 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,250 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, making him the third-best quarterback in that span per PFF.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-4)
Winner: Panthers, 54 percent
Pick: Panthers +4
The Falcons can clinch a playoff berth with a win, but their defense is suspect. They allow an above-average rate of points per drive (1.9) with the seventh-highest passer rating against (95.9) in 2017.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5)
Winner: Ravens, 80 percent
Pick: Ravens -9.5
The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth with a win and should see quarterback Joe Flacco produce in the regular season finale. Over the past four weeks, Flacco has completed 65 percent of his passes with a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, including a 90.8 passer rating under pressure, the fourth-best mark over that span.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans
Winner: Jaguars, 69 percent
Pick: Jaguars -3.5
Garoppolo showed the Jaguars’ secondary can be vulnerable, but Marcus Mariota struggled against Jacksonville his first time around, throwing for 215 yards plus a touchdown and interception (78.5 passer rating) in Week 2. In addition, Mariota hasn’t fared well against the top pass defenses in the league this year. When facing a pass defense that ranks in the top 10 per Football Outsiders — Jacksonville ranks No. 1 — he averages a 67.3 passer rating this season. That rises to a more respectable 85.2 against everyone else.
Remaining games
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (-9)
Winner: Seahawks, 73 percent
Pick: Seahawks -9
Buffalo Bills (-3) at Miami Dolphins
Winner: Bills, 56 percent
Pick: Bills -3
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (-12)
Winner: Vikings, 89 percent
Pick: Vikings -12
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-10.5)
Winner: Steelers, 98 percent
Pick: Steelers -10.5
Dallas Cowboys (-3) at Philadelphia Eagles
Winner: Eagles, 73 percent
Pick: Eagles +3
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (-6.5)
Winner: Lions, 65 percent
Pick: Lions -6.5
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (-4)
Winner: Texans, 57 percent
Pick: Texans +4
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-3.5)
Winner: Broncos, 54 percent
Pick: Broncos -3.5
New Orleans Saints (-7) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winner: Saints, 82 percent
Pick: Saints -7
New York Jets at New England Patriots (-15.5)
Winner: Patriots, 90 percent
Pick: Jets +15.5
Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers (-8)
Winner: Chargers, 74 percent
Pick: Chargers -8
San Francisco 49ers (-1) at Los Angeles Rams
Winner: 49ers, 52 percent
Pick: 49ers -1
Washington Redskins (-3) at New York Giants
Winner: Redskins, 76 percent
Pick: Redskins -3
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