Year-end NFL Power Rankings
Bob Glauber
2011 year-end NFL Power Rankings
Newsday football columnist Bob Glauber brings you his year-end power rankings.
Rank
Change
Team
Record
Comments
1.
-
Packers
15-1
Packers rest Aaron Rodgers in advance of the playoff, but Matt Flynn keeps the offensive machine humming with a shootout win over the Lions. Big payday awaits Flynn on free agent market, while Rodgers is the odds-on choice to win MVP.
2.
-
Saints
13-3
Drew Brees finishes off a remarkable season with another dominant performance against the Panthers to put an exclamation point on the Saints’ NFC South title. Next stop, Green Bay in the conference championships?
3.
-
49ers
13-3
Jim Harbaugh caps a phenomenal year for the resurgent 49ers, who lock up the No. 2 seed with a romp over the Rams.
4.
-
Patriots
13-3
Pats’ leaky defense was exposed early against the Bills, but Tom Brady sure makes things better in a hurry. After falling behind 21-0, Brady’s Pats reel off 49 unanswered points to sew up No. 1 seed in AFC playoffs.
5.
-
Ravens
12-4
Ray Rice finishes off MVP-type season to help Bal’more win the AFC North and clinch a much-needed bye in the first round of the playoffs. Baltimore may have best defense in AFC playoffs.
6.
-
Steelers
12-4
Stillers hold off Browns in Cleveland, but it’s not enough to win the AFC North. They’re heading for Denver to meet up with Tim Tebow in the wild card round.
7.
3
Giants
9-7
Tom Coughlin preached the word “finish” all season, and the Giants did just that, winning their last two – including a Sunday night romp over the Cowboys – to finish first in the NFC East.
8.
1
Lions
10-6
Matthew Stafford does all he can to avoid a first-round matchup with the Saints, but his defense goes belly-up against the Packers. Would have had a better chance against the Giants in wild card, but Lions can’t close the deal in Green Bay.
9.
1
Falcons
10-6
Matt Ryan & Co. win going away against the woeful Bucs and draw the Giants on the road in the NFC wild card round. Good luck with that, especially with the way the Giants’ defensive line has played of late.
10.
1
Bengals
9-7
Bengals lose at home to Ravens, but back into playoffs thanks to home loss by Raiders.
11.
-
Eagles
8-8
A hollow four-game winning streak to finish off the season, but the Iggles hope to use it as a springboard for better things in 2012.
12.
4
Chargers
8-8
Yet another late-season run for Norv Turner’s Chargers, but it’s too little too late. Bolts were bounced from playoffs last week, and now it could be Turner who gets bounced as head coach.
13.
1
Cowboys
8-8
Cowboys’ offensive line can’t handle Giants’ pass rush, and Tony Romo pays the price. Two straight season-ending losses, and it’s see ya next year for the Pokes.
14.
5
Titans
9-7
Titans do their part and beat Houston – with a little help from the Texans, who eschew OT after a late-TD – but Tennessee is bounced from the tournament after losing tiebreaker to Bengals.
15.
2
Texans
10-6
T.J. Yates is expected to be ready for next week’s playoffs, but not before putting a scare into the Texans with a shoulder injury against Tennessee. Bengals on tap in wild card round.
16.
5
Cardinals
8-8
Cardinals win another OT thriller, this time at home over Seattle as John Skelton rallies Arizona for a respectable end to the season. Looks like he’ll have a shot at the No. 1 job next year in a competition with Kevin Kolb.
17.
2
Broncos
8-8
Tim Tebow can’t bring Denver back this time, as the Broncos lose at home to the Chiefs, 7-3. Not a good way to go into next weekend’s wild card round against blitz-happy Steelers.
18.
4
Raiders
8-8
Raiders have a chance to win the division after Denver lost, but the defense disappears against the Chargers and it’s no playoff run for Oakland.
19.
1
Bears
8-8
Bears’ season was essentially over when Jay Cutler broke his thumb. Only solace is win over Vikings to finish .500.
20.
3
Chiefs
7-9
Romeo Crennel beats Packers and Broncos in two of last three games to state his case for the Chiefs’ full-time head coaching gig.
21.
1
Dolphins
6-10
Miami goes 6-3 over its last nine and puts the Jets out of their misery with a 19-17 win at home in Jason Taylor’s final NFL game.
22.
5
Jets
8-8
Jets end the season on a three-game losing streak, and Mark Sanchez’s woeful performance has to be a concern heading into the off-season.
23.
5
Seahawks
7-9
Some decent performances by the Seahawks this year, but they’re still challenged at QB heading into 2012.
24.
-
Panthers
6-10
Cam Newton looks like the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, but there’s still a ways to go before Carolina challenges the Saints in the division.
25.
2
Jaguars
5-11
Lots of changes in store for the Jags, starting at the top with an ownership switch from Wayne Weaver to Shad Khan. After that, it’s hiring a head coach.
27.
1
Redskins
4-12
Two years into the Mike Shanahan era, and the Redskins are no closer to the Super Bowl than they were with Jim Zorn.
28.
3
Browns
4-12
Yet another miserable Browns’ season comes to an end. If ever a city deserved a winner, it’s Cleveland.
29.
3
Vikings
3-13
QB Christian Ponder gets much-needed experience, but it remains to be seen if he’s the answer long-term. Banged up by the end of the season.
30.
1
Buccaneers
4-12
Just a miserable season punctuated by ever-worsening blowout losses over the final two months. After 10 straight losses to end the season, Raheem Morris is asked to leave the building.
31.
1
Colts
2-14
Colts lose. Colts win. They are beaten by the Jaguars, but they win the rights to the No. 1 overall pick, which will likely be Stanford’s Andrew Luck. But the end of the season isn’t without a shock. Team president Bill Polian and his son, GM Chris Polian, are out. Could Peyton Manning be next, or is the Polians’ ouster a sign that team owner Jim Irsay wants to keep his future Hall of Fame quarterback? Stay tuned.
32.
1
Rams
2-14
Less than 24 hours after a blowout loss at home to the 49ers, Steve Spagnuolo is shown the door after three seasons.
