NFL Power Rankings

By Adam Zimmerman

We're almost to that final stretch run for the National Football League. The final bye weeks are upon us and we are nearly through the first 3/4 of the season. Let's take a look who has the best chances of taking home the Lombardi trophy in 11 weeks. The YHTS Power Rankings:

1. Kansas City Chiefs

As  the only undefeated team left, the Chiefs deserve the top spot even if they aren't the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Their defense is legit. How legit? We'll find out Sunday night as they take on former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback, Peyton Manning. If the KC pass rush can get to Manning, the Broncos may end up being one of the best 5th seeded wild cards we've seen.

2. Denver Broncos

It comes down to Peyton Manning. If he plays like the best player in the world like he did to start the season, the Broncos can beat anyone. If he's too hurt to move around and avoid hits and sacks, the Broncos will struggle. They don't have the running game to score big without Peyton's arm and they may not have the defense to win if they can only score 24-30.

3. New Orleans Saints

Unbeatable in a dome. But the Super Bowl is outside this year. In New York. In January.

4. Seattle Seahawks

While critics may try to stir up controversy by saying the Seahawks had a few down weeks, the fact is the Seahawks are just as good as we hoped they'd be. If they can get home field advantage throughout the playoffs, they'll be playing in the Super Bowl. If they have to play in the Superdome or Green Bay, I'm not so sure. 

5. San Francisco 49ers

I know they only scored 9 points against the Panthers but this offense is not designed to put up big numbers in the regular season. The 49ers still have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and once they start clicking, they'll be nearly impossible to stop come playoff time. They have the type of offense to keep the ball away from the likes of Brees and Manning. 

6. Carolina Panthers

They beat San Francisco so I can understand if you believe they should be put ahead on the rankings. However, this list is more about who has the best chance to win the Super Bowl. It is really hard to beat a team twice in a season so I'd give the 49ers the edge if they meet again, hence their current spot. That being said, this defense is very good.

7. New England Patriots

They keep getting healthier and healthier. Each week Tom Brady gets more comfortable with his receivers. Only getting better - this could be a very dangerous team come January.

8. Indianapolis Colts

Would still be higher if not for their embarrassing loss to the Rams last weekend. Still have to prove they can win without Reggie Wayne.

9. Detroit Lions

As potentially scary of an offense as any team except for New Orleans. Defense is sneaky good too - not legit good, but will put up a good performance when you least expect it.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

I love me some Giovanni Bernard. He's so much fun to watch. Putting them at 10 may be lingering effects of how good they looked on Hard Knocks. Expect this team to go up and down the remainder of the season before winning the division by a game over the Ravens.

11. San Diego Chargers

May be the best Chargers team in the last half decade. Unfortunately for them, their division may be as top heavy (KC and Denver) as it has been ever. The only way to make the playoffs will be as the 2nd Wild Card team, and they will have plenty of company fighting for that spot with them.

12. Green Bay Packers

You could convince me to put them in the top 8 if you can convince me that Aaron Rogers will come back just as healthy and effective as he was a few weeks ago. He truly is the most skilled player in the league. Now that he has a running game behind him, A-Rog and the Packers could become a very scary team come December and January.

13. Chicago Bears

Underrated offense, overrated defense. The last 6 weeks in the NFC North - Detroit, Green Bay, Chicago - will be the most interesting division race in the league.

14. Dallas Cowboys

I am not surprised New Orleans did what they did against Dallas' defense on Sunday. The Cowboys field maybe 8 actual NFL players on defense. The offense was the truly embarrassing unit that day. Between Demarco, Dez, Terrance Williams, Witten, Romo, and an improved offensive line there is no excuse for them not to keep up with whatever the other team is doing to their defense.

15. New York Jets

Geno and Rex need a reality TV show on BET. You'd watch it.

16. Baltimore Ravens

Raise your hand if you were excited about getting Ray Rice with the 3rd overall pick this season and he's fucked you over. Good, didn't think it was just me.

17. Arizona Cardinals

Their defense is a playoff quality defense. They have the Honey Badger, which I love. But Carson Palmer isn't going to take them to the playoffs. Hopefully for their sake, they get a chance to pick up one of the young QBs in the draft and can take the next step.

18. Philadelphia Eagles/Washington Redskins/New York Giants

The offenses aren't terrible. The defenses have been. Sure they're all only, at most, 2 games back from Dallas, but none of these teams have shown, even just for one whole game, that they can put together any sort of late season push.

The NFC LEast's #1 Fan. 

21. Atlanta Falcons

I can't tell you exactly why this team isn't good anymore. They've been hit with the injury bug, but then again, so has nearly everyone. This defense needs a lot of help this offseason though, I do know that.

22. Tennessee Titans/Cleveland Browns/St. Louis Rams/Oakland Raiders

Each of these teams has a defense that has shown flashes, even full games, of competence. Each of these teams has started a quarterback that has shown flashes, even full games, of "franchise QB" potential. That being said, Locker, Huard, Bradford and Pryor are not going to be hoisting a Lombardi Trophy - ever. No matter where they go, they are not Super Bowl winning quarterbacks and if you don't have one of the 10-12 guys in the league who is a true Super Bowl quarterback, you better draft one the first chance you get.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers

How great has it been watching this team shit the bed all season? Finally Ben Rapelithsberger is being exposed as overrated and finally this defense is gotten too old. Time for the Rooneys to rebuild.

27. Houston Texans

How great has it been to watch the Steelers suck this season? Not nearly as great as watching the dumpster fire that is the state's JV football team. JJ Twat can bleed up and down the sideline all he wants, this team is back where it belongs.

Darrrrr

28. Buffalo Bills/Miami Dolphins

These teams have their potential franchise QBs. Now it is up the GMs to build around them with quality pieces. Obviously they're not having the 2013 they hoped for, but eventually their years of top-10 draft picks will pay off.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars/Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Yuck.

32. Minnesota Vikings

I'm sorry Adrian Peterson. Maybe this is karma for you going to Oklahoma. I'd like to think so.