CSN's Week 17 NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys, Patriots Coasting Into Playoffs

We've reached Week 17 in the NFL with two clear powerhouses in the Patriots and Cowboys. With just one week remaining in the regular season, which teams will fill in the final playoff spots and which teams will be on the outside looking in?

After taking in all the action from this past week, here is CSN's NFL Power Rankings for Week 17, compiled by Derrick Gunn and John Boruk.

1. Patriots (13-2)
Tom Brady's 25/2 TD/Int ratio is unreal. He's my choice for MVP. -Boruk

The Pats have 14 takeaways and just one giveaway in the last five weeks. -Gunn

2. Cowboys (13-2)
If I was Jason Garrett, I'd rest Prescott and Elliott for the Eagles game. -Boruk

The Cowboys had nothing to play for Monday night and still demolished Detroit. -Gunn

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3. Raiders (12-3)
Without Derek Carr, Oakland probably doesn't win another game this season. -Boruk

With Derek Carr, the Raiders are a dangerous squad. Without him, the Raiders could be one and done in the playoffs. -Gunn

4. Chiefs (11-4)
Don't quite understand the Dontari Poe TD pass at the end of the game. Not necessary. -Boruk

Andy Reid gets his 172nd career win and is tied with Bill Parcells for 12th place on the all time list. -Gunn

5. Steelers (10-5)
That 4th quarter may have been the most explosive we've seen the Steelers' offense this season. -Boruk

Survived a hard fought battle with Baltimore to win the AFC North. -Gunn

6. Falcons (10-5)
Highest-scoring team in the league scored their fewest points (15) in Philadelphia. -Boruk

Should Matt Ryan be mentioned in MVP chatter? He's 1st in QB rating (115.5) and 3rd in passing yards (4613), TD passes (34) and completions (69.5 percent). -Gunn

7. Seahawks (9-5-1)
Allow me to reiterate: The Hawks aren't the same team without safety Earl Thomas. -Boruk

Were the only unbeaten squad at home before falling to Arizona. -Gunn

8. Giants (10-5)
In the last 10 weeks, the Giants have lost twice, both in the state of Pennsylvania. -Boruk

Playoff bound, but haven't scored more than 19 points in the last four weeks. -Gunn

9. Packers (9-6)
Aaron Rodgers is 5-1 in his last six games at Ford Field. Pack will win the NFC North. -Boruk

When Aaron Rodgers speaks, we have to listen. Five in a row and counting. -Gunn

10. Lions (9-6)
What a collapse it would be if the Lions failed to make the playoffs. Can still get in with a loss. -Boruk

The Lions are reeling and now a date with red-hot Green Bay for the NFC North title looms. -Gunn

11. Dolphins (10-5)
Adam Gase should be considered for coach of the year after rallying the Dolphins from a 1-4 start. -Boruk

Running back Jay Ajayi has been a pleasant surprise. 6th in rushing (1,213) and tied for 3rd in rushing touchdowns (10). -Gunn

12. Ravens (8-7)
Regardless of the outcome, Joe Flacco is still a clutch quarterback in crunch time. -Boruk

John Harbaugh is not used to missing the playoffs and is out for the second year in a row. -Gunn

13. Texans (9-6)
Somehow the Texans are a playoff team despite a -42 in point differential, 4th worst in the AFC. -Boruk

Won the last three games by a total of eight points. -Gunn

14. Buccaneers (8-7)
Losing tight end Cameron Brate is a big blow to a team that still has playoff aspirations. -Boruk

Bucs on a two-game slide. Slim playoff hopes, but need a lot of help. -Gunn

15. Broncos (8-7)
Broncos offense has managed just 23 points over their last three games. A 1-4 record in the AFC West. -Boruk

Falling behind early in games finally caught up to the Broncos in the end. -Gunn

16. Redskins (8-6-1)
Kirk Cousins needs 370 yards against the Giants to finish the season with 5,000 passing yards. -Boruk

The Skins can breathe a sigh of relief, no structural damage to Robert Kelley's knee. -Gunn

17. Titans (8-7)
If Marcus Mariota can come back healthy and start quickly, the Titans are the team to watch in 2017. -Boruk

We can now only speculate what might have been had Mariota not broken his leg. -Gunn

18. Colts (7-8)
With 33 yards Sunday, Frank Gore can become the oldest RB with a 1,000-yard season since John Riggins in 1984. -Boruk

The Colts had five losses by eight points or less. All were winnable. -Gunn

19. Saints (7-8)
I know Sean Payton has won a Super Bowl, but that was 7 years ago. His job shouldn't be secure heading into 2017. -Boruk

The Saints are still an offensive juggernaut, but the defense needs to be overhauled. -Gunn

20. Vikings (7-8)
A Vikings loss coupled with an Eagles win will actually help their first-round draft position. -Boruk

From 5-0 to 2-8 since Week 7. -Gunn

21. Bills (7-8)
If a new coach can fix the defense, this may be the most attractive job out there right now. -Boruk

Bills haven't been to the playoffs since 1999 and now Rex and Rob Ryan won't be around to oversee the team's future. -Gunn

22. Cardinals (6-8-1)
David Johnson could become the first RB ever with 100 yards from scrimmage in all 16 games. -Boruk

RB David Johnson has 15 straight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage. Can set a new all-time record this Sunday. -Gunn

23. Bengals (5-9-1)
Marvin Lewis will finish with his first losing season since 2010. -Boruk

The Marvin Lewis watch continues. -Gunn

24. Eagles (6-9)
Who's the Eagles' MVP this season? Hard to say, but I'd lean towards Brandon Graham. -Boruk

Taking down the Giants showed this crew has not quit. -Gunn

25. Panthers (6-9)
How will Cam Newton, only 27, bounce back from arguably the worst season of his NFL career? -Boruk

From the penthouse to the outhouse. -Gunn

26. Chargers (5-10)
I would like to drop the Chargers to 31st after losing to the previously winless Browns. -Boruk

They must now live with the shame of losing to the Browns. -Gunn

27. Bears (3-12)
Some good young talent on offense (Cameron Meredith, Jordan Howard), they just need a QB to pull it all together. -Boruk

Matt Barkley threw five picks vs. the 'Skins, the most in a game by a Bears QB since 2009 (Jay Cutler). -Gunn

28. Jets (4-11)
The Jets once had a top-notch defense. They have allowed 145 points in their last 4 games. -Boruk

Their play Christmas Eve vs. the Patriots was like their season. Embarrassing. -Gunn

29. Rams (4-11)
L.A.'s new coach will soon realize Jared Goff is not a franchise quarterback. Goff now 0-6 to start his career. -Boruk

WR Kenny Britt became the first Rams receiver to go over 1000 yards since 2007. -Gunn

30. Jaguars (3-12)
Will be interesting to see what the Jaguars decide to do with QB Blake Bortles, the 3rd overall pick in 2014. -Boruk

Jags switch coaches and snap a nine game slide. Go figure! -Gunn

31. 49ers (2-13)
Chip Kelly's great offensive mind has produced the worst passing attack in the NFL at 181.3 yards per game. -Boruk

RB Carlos Hyde was having his best pro season ever and tears his MCL. -Gunn

32. Browns (1-14)
Sorry 2008 Lions, you're still the only member of the 0-16 club. -Boruk

Browns win!!! Browns win!!! It must be Christmas. -Gunn

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