NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Bills, Chiefs inch up, plus asking a big question of every team

HipKat · Dec 25, 2024

17. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 27-24

The big question: Why aren’t we talking more about Jaxon Smith-Njigba?

Seattle’s second-year wide receiver is fifth in the league with 1,089 yards and has clearly surpassed DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as Geno Smith’s favorite target. Smith-Njigba had eight catches, 95 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings on Sunday.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

18. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Beat New York Giants 34-7

The big question: What’s next for Kirk Cousins?

Cousins watched Sunday as rookie Michael Penix Jr. started and played well enough that it’s probably not likely Cousins will return to the Falcons’ starting job. The 13-year veteran is in the first year of a four-year deal that will be very expensive for Atlanta to get out of this offseason ($65 million dead cap hit). The Falcons could trade Cousins, but they’d have to find a partner he’s willing to play for because he has a no-trade clause. They could keep him as a $45 million backup next year, but who really believes that’s going to happen?

Up next: at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

19. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 38-30

The big question: What to do with Anthony Richardson?

The second-year quarterback rushed for 70 yards but threw only 11 passes Sunday. Maybe that’s the right formula for this team. The Colts’ 38 points were their most this season thanks to Jonathan Taylor’s 218 yards on the ground, but is it sustainable? Richardson, who is in the second year of his rookie deal, is last among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (61.6) and completion percentage (47.7 percent) and tied for fourth in interceptions (12) despite being 33rd in attempts (264), according to TruMedia. He doesn’t gain enough on the ground (45.4 per game, third in the league) to make up for that.

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

20. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

Last week: 20

Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 29-17

The big question: Is Mike McDaniel the right guy?

The Dolphins still have a 12 percent chance of making the playoffs, but Calais Campbell was in the locker room Sunday explaining how he might be released to sign with a contender once the postseason elimination becomes official. “It’s definitely something you think about,” Campbell said. The Dolphins have played in two playoff games under McDaniel — both Super Wild Card Weekend losses — and they are 6-9 under him in December and January regular-season games even after Sunday’s win.

Up next: at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

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21. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Lost to Carolina Panthers 36-30

The big question: Is this Kyler Murray’s ceiling?

Murray is the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the league ($46.1 million per year). For that, the Cardinals, who were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, have gotten one playoff game in six years. In that game, he completed 55.9 percent of his passes for 137 yards and two interceptions. He’s 16th in passer rating this season (92.6), and he has nine interceptions versus 16 touchdown passes.

Up next: at Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET

22. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 29-17

The big question: Is this a blip?

After three consecutive trips to at least the conference championship game, San Francisco is guaranteed a losing season after Sunday’s loss. If Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk return at full strength next year and the 49ers get a deal done with Brock Purdy, San Francisco might be right back in the fray next season. Or the wear and tear of keeping this thing going the last three years might have worn this franchise down. The 49ers have lost five of six.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

23. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

Last week: 27

Sunday: Beat Arizona Cardinals 36-30

The big question: Should Bryce Young return?

Since Week 12, Young is 17th in EPA per dropback (.06). That’s not great, but let’s compare it to the two games this year before he got benched: 32nd at minus-.44. Young passed for 158 yards, two touchdowns Sunday and had a 107.5 passer rating, the second highest of his career. Young is only halfway through his rookie deal and if the Panthers decide to stick with him, they can use what is now the No. 7 pick in the draft to help a porous defense.

Up next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

24. New York Jets (4-11)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 19-9

The big question: Will Aaron Rodgers return?

Rodgers said this after Sunday’s loss, which was the Jets’ fifth in six games: “Your perspective informs your truth and your truth makes your reality. The reality of the situation is what it is, but your perception you can change every day. … The last two weeks we can really see who is on board moving forward and who is ready to get out.” Anybody have any clue what this means? Neither do we. Stay tuned.

Up next: at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

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25. Chicago Bears (4-11)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 34-17

The big question: Is Caleb Williams trying to woo Ben Johnson?

In two games against Detroit this year, the Bears rookie quarterback has passed for 590 yards, five touchdowns and run for 73 yards. He also has lost both games because the Bears are the Bears, and they’ve now lost nine straight. Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator and one of the league’s top head coaching prospects, has to be thinking he could work with that.

Up next: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

26. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

Last week: 23

Monday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 34-0

The big question: When will they pay the bills?

The Saints already are projected to be an NFL-worst $63 million over the 2025 salary cap. This is not a new development in New Orleans where the Saints have been pushing their costs into the future for years now. The strategy made sense when the team was competitive, but they haven’t won more than nine games in a season since 2020, and they aren’t changing that this year.

Up next: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. New England Patriots (3-12)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 24-21

The big question: Can Drake Maye turn the page?

Let’s be honest, the Patriots are having a tough time moving on from the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. The fan base has hardly embraced first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. But at least there’s Maye. The No. 3 pick passed for 261 yards, ran for 30 and had New England up 14-0 early. If Maye can cut down on his interceptions (he has 10 this year), he might have a special second season and the Patriots can get on with their lives.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

28. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

Last week: 31

Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14

The big question: How much is Tom Brady involved?

Brady’s minority ownership is costing him the ability to properly prepare for his new job as a FOX color analyst because he’s not allowed into production meetings with other teams, but we don’t know how much it’s going to help the Raiders. Las Vegas is expected to be hiring a head coach and drafting a quarterback this offseason. Those are subjects Brady is surely to feel strongly about, but we don’t know yet how much influence he will have. The Raiders dropped to sixth in the draft with Sunday’s win.

Up next: at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 24-6

The big question: What to do at quarterback?

The Browns benched Jameis Winston and started Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday. It didn’t help. Deshaun Watson, who is still financially tied to the team tighter than any player in NFL history for the next two years, will be returning from an Achilles injury in the offseason, but there’s a question about whether the Browns want him back. Myles Garrett didn’t necessarily sound like it this week and had to walk back those comments Sunday. “I’m hoping he’s ready when the season comes, but that’s a tough injury to come back from,” Garrett said. “He’s been a hell of a teammate.”

Up next: vs. Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Lost to Las Vegas Raiders 19-14

The big question: Could this be where Ben Johnson lands?

Everyone wants to link the Lions offensive coordinator to the Bears job (including us above), but joining a division with Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota might not be the best career move. The Jaguars could offer Trevor Lawrence and a spot in the AFC South. They also have the No. 3 pick right now after losing to the Raiders.

Up next: vs. Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Lost to Indianapolis Colts 38-30

The big question: Did they keep the right executive?

Tennessee chose general manager Ran Carthon over head coach Mike Vrabel in the offseason. Carthon’s biggest offseason moves were hiring Brian Callahan and signing Calvin Ridley (25th in receiving, 857 yards) and Tony Pollard (11th in rushing with 1,015 yards, 619 yards less than the running back Tennessee let go, Derrick Henry). Meanwhile, Vrabel could be one of the most sought-after coaches this offseason.

Up next: at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. New York Giants (2-13)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 34-7

The big question: Should Brian Daboll or Joe Schoen return?

In October, Giants owner John Mara said he didn’t plan to fire his head coach or general manager. The Giants were 2-5 then. They are 2-13 now and have lost a franchise-record 10 straight games. That’s quite a feat for a team that started playing football in 1925. The Giants were not competitive Sunday against a rookie quarterback making his first career start (Michael Penix Jr.) and the Falcons, and are 31st in the NFL in point differential (minus-147).

Up next: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Bills, Chiefs inch up, plus asking a big question of every team