NFL Football Handicapping

Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers got past the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, so they retain the top spot in this week's edition of the NFL Power Rankings. However, Rivers didn't have a great game against the Chiefs - he completed just 8-of-23 pass attempts for 97 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Thankfully, though, LaDainian Tomlinson had another big game, and the Chargers' defense held the Chiefs to just three field goals. San Diego will now try for their 13th win of the 2006 season Sunday afternoon on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.

And those Seahawks could really use a victory - they lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night, and they've fallen out of the Top 10 to No. 13 in the rankings this week. Also dropping out of the Top 10 were the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who both lost in Week 15 as well. The Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens hold down spots No. 2 and No. 3 once again this week, while the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots round out the current Top 5. The Cowboys, Saints, Eagles, Jets, and Broncos make up the rest of the Top 10.

Here is the Week 16 edition of the NFL Power Rankings.

01 - San Diego Chargers 12-2 SU, 9-5 ATS (Last Week 01)
LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns in their win over the Chiefs to improve his MVP chances.

02 - Chicago Bears 12-2 SU, 10-4 ATS (Last Week 02)
Ugly display by the Bears' vaunted defense on the weekend, as they gave up 31 points and were forced into OT.

03 - Baltimore Ravens 11-3 SU, 8-6 ATS (Last Week 03)
Had to rely mostly on Kyle Boller against the Browns, and he led them to a 27-17 home win over the division rival.

04 - Indianapolis Colts 11-3 SU, 8-6 ATS (Last Week 05)
Answered some of their critics by easily beating the Bengals on Monday night, but they still trail the Chargers.

05 - New England Patriots 10-4 SU, 7-7 ATS (Last Week 06)
Found the Texans to be very easy pickings on Sunday, but they still haven't been able to clinch the AFC East title.

06 - Dallas Cowboys 9-5 SU, 8-6 ATS (Last Week 09)
Terrell Owens caught five balls for 96 yards in their win over the Falcons, and he also caught a fine for spitting.

07 - New Orleans Saints 9-5 SU, 9-5 ATS (Last Week 04)
Only 207 yards and no TD passes for Drew Brees in the loss to the Redskins, but they're the NFC South champs.

08 - Philadelphia Eagles 8-6 SU, 7-7 ATS (Last Week 11)
Who needs Donovan McNabb? Jeff Garcia led them to another victory, and now they're looking good for the playoffs.

09 - New York Jets 8-6 SU, 9-5 ATS (Last Week 14)
The Jets are sticking around in the AFC playoff race; after beating the Vikings on the road they're now at 8-6.

10 - Denver Broncos 8-6 SU, 5-9 ATS (Last Week 16)
Jay Cutler led them to a victory over the Cardinals, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the big win.

11 - Cincinnati Bengals 8-6 SU, 7-6-1 ATS (Last Week 07)
Carson Palmer couldn't get much going against the Colts on Monday, and they failed to improve their playoff shot.

12 - Jacksonville Jaguars 8-6 SU, 8-6 ATS (Last Week 08)
Kept turning the ball over in their loss to the Titans on the weekend, and they handed the Colts the division title.

13 - Seattle Seahawks 8-6 SU, 4-9-1 ATS (Last Week 10)
Allowed three fourth-quarter touchdowns versus the Niners on Sunday, and failed to clinch the NFC West title.

14 - Tennessee Titans 7-7 SU, 10-4 ATS (Last Week 17)
Vince Young didn't do much against the Jaguars on Sunday, but the Titans found other ways to score in the win.

15 - Buffalo Bills 7-7 SU, 10-4 ATS (Last Week 19)
It's unlikely that the Bills will make the playoffs, but they still have an outside shot after blanking Miami on Sunday.

16 - Pittsburgh Steelers 7-7 SU, 6-7-1 ATS (Last Week 21)
Climbed back up to the .500 mark with a win over the Panthers on Sunday, despite just 140 yards from Big Ben

17 - New York Giants 7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS (Last Week 12)
Eli Manning couldn't get the job done again on Sunday, and now they're going to have a difficult time advancing.

18 - Atlanta Falcons 7-7 SU, 7-7 ATS (Last Week 13)
They got passing from Michael Vick versus the Cowboys - four TD tosses - but the loss dropped them to .500.

19 - Kansas City Chiefs 7-7 SU, 6-8 ATS (Last Week 15)
Back at the .500 mark after losing to the Chargers. Trent Green threw for just 185 yards, zero TDs, and one INT.

20 - Green Bay Packers 6-8 SU, 6-7-1 ATS (Last Week 23)
Brett Favre threw zero touchdown passes and three interceptions versus the Lions, but somehow they still won.

21 - St. Louis Rams 6-8 SU, 7-7 ATS (Last Week 24)
Steven Jackson ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns as they topped the Raiders and got back into the win column.

22 - San Francisco 49ers 6-8 SU, 8-6 ATS (Last Week 25)
Alex Smith threw for two touchdowns in their win over the Seahawks. They still have a chance at finishing at .500.

23 - Miami Dolphins 6-8 SU, 5-9 ATS (Last Week 18)
The Dolphins' playoff drive ended with their loss to the Bills on the weekend. Joey Harrington was picked off twice.

24 - Minnesota Vikings 6-8 SU, 6-8 ATS (Last Week 20)
The Brad Johnson experiment isn't going into the books as a success; have to make a QB move in the offseason.

25 - Carolina Panthers 6-8 SU, 4-9-1 ATS (Last Week 22)
Got a second-quarter field goal from John Kasay Sunday afternoon, but nothing else in their bad loss to the Steelers.

26 - Washington Redskins 5-9 SU, 6-7-1 ATS (Last Week 29)
Upset the Saints on the weekend to get their fifth victory of the season. Ladell Betts rushed for a game-high 119.

27 - Arizona Cardinals 4-10 SU, 6-8 ATS (Last Week 26)
No touchdowns and two interceptions for Matt Leinart against the Broncos. Edgerrin James ran for a Cards score.

28 - Cleveland Browns 4-10 SU, 7-6-1 ATS (Last Week 27)
Still stuck on four wins after losing to the Ravens on the weekend. Another wasted season of Cleveland football.

29 - Houston Texans 4-10 SU, 5-9 ATS (Last Week 28)
Managed just a third-quarter touchdown in their blowout loss to the Patriots. David Carr tossed four interceptions.

30 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-11 SU, 5-8-1 ATS (Last Week 30)
Tim Rattay did a good job as the Bucs' QB versus the Bears: 20-of-35 for 268 yards, with three TDs and one INT.

31 - Detroit Lions 2-12 SU, 4-10 ATS (Last Week 31)
They're still sticking with Jon Kitna at quarterback, even though they're now at 2-12 and he was picked off twice.

32 - Oakland Raiders 2-12 SU, 6-8 ATS (Last Week 32)
Two quarterbacks combined for zero touchdowns and three interceptions as they dropped another game Sunday.