Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Power Rankings: Final Regular-Season Look for Week 17

By Peter Panacy

Dec 26, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with mascot Rowdy after the game against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with mascot Rowdy after the game against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
33 of 33
Next
Dec 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; A New England Patriots fan holds a sign from the stands against the New York Jets in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Jets 41-3. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; A New England Patriots fan holds a sign from the stands against the New York Jets in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Jets 41-3. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

. New England Patriots. 1. team. 47. The Patriots shouldn’t get any style or difficulty points in our NFL power rankings for walloping the non-trying Jets 41-3 in Week 16. But the Pats are so good, it doesn’t matter anyway. They won’t shift out of the No. 1 spot this week. As long as quarterback Tom Brady continues to play at this level, we should expect the Patriots to remain AFC contenders all the way until, well, they aren’t. New England has nothing left to play for in Week 17, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Patriots put things into cruise control. But would we expect head coach Bill Belichick to do such a thing?. 13-2

More from Niner Noise

Next: 49ers vs. Rams: Week 16 Grades for San Francisco

Be sure to tune into Niner Noise’s final regular-season NFL power rankings next week as the 2016 campaign shifts to postseason mode.