Dec. 08--Last week's rank in parentheses.
1. Panthers 12-0 (1): With four games to go, the front-runners for major awards are Cam Newton for MVP award and Ron Rivera for Coach of the Year.
2. Broncos 10-2 (2): Brock Osweiler and Von Miller both heading to free agency could make things mighty interesting for John Elway.
3. Cardinals 10-2 (4): They host the Vikings on Thursday in an interesting matchup. A win would go a long way toward securing a first-round bye.
4. Bengals 10-2 (5): Steelers are not going to catch them in the division, but they will provide a stiff test on Sunday.
5. Patriots 10-2 (3): If it was just a loss to the Eagles, you'd call it a speed bump, but injuries to Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are more like collapsed bridges.
6. Seahawks 7-5 (7): They'll be a dangerous wild-card team and they're getting into the playoffs with the next three versus the Ravens, Browns and Rams.
7. Steelers 7-5 (8): If they stay healthy, and that's a big if, this is a team no one wants to face in the AFC playoffs.
8. Chiefs 7-5 (9): The best turnaround no one is talking about. They've won six straight and three of the final four games are at Arrowhead.
9. Packers 8-4 (10): Hard to make a case they have solved what's ailing the offense, but they'll take that crazy win at Ford Field, and the Cowboys are next.
10. Jets 7-5 (13): Ryan Fitzpatrick has never played in a playoff game. He has the Jets in pursuit.
11. Vikings 8-4 (6): Teddy Bridgewater can't manage the offense when they're getting blown out. Curious to see the defense versus Carson Palmer and the Cardinals.
12. Bills 6-6 (15): No better way to hit the grind in December than with a three-game slate against the NFC East: at Eagles, at Redskins, Cowboys. Next stop 9-6?
13. Texans 6-6 (11): Their big chance to pull ahead of the Colts was dashed with a defensive letdown in Buffalo.
14. Colts 6-6 (12): They looked defeated and checked out most of the night in Pittsburgh. Maybe one more week until Andrew Luck returns.
15. Buccaneers 6-6 (17): Jameis Winston is really stepping forward as a leader for Lovie Smith's team, and that bodes well not just for the long term but for the next four games.
16. Bears 5-7 (14): They haven't played well at home and the Redskins are a hot mess on the road. One team will break through.
17. Eagles 5-7 (29): They could actually win the NFC East and we'd left them for dead after the Thanksgiving Day massacre in Detroit.
18. Giants 5-7 (18): Looks like this could be the end of the line for an impressive run by Tom Coughlin.
19. Raiders 5-7 (19): Derek Carr has been much better than he showed against the Chiefs.
20. Cowboys 4-8 (25): They finally won a game without Tony Romo and as improbable as it is, they're alive in the hot mess known as the NFC East.
21. Falcons 6-6 (20): We weren't expecting great things in Year 1 for Dan Quinn, but they're in a five-game free fall and the Panthers are next.
22. Dolphins 5-7 (23): This isn't going to be viewed as a very attractive job when it opens up and the reasons range from top to bottom.
23. Lions 4-8 (21): Only in Cleveland does the home team find more ways to lose in such dismaying fashion.
24. Redskins 5-7 (16): DeSean Jackson ran so far backward on a late punt return he might have carried his team right out of contention in the NFC East.
25. 49ers 4-8 (30): Everyone is saying Blaine Gabbert looks better than he ever did with the Jaguars. Folks, there was nowhere to go but up.
26. Ravens 4-8 (24): Possibility of Jimmy Time this week in Baltimore with Matt Schaub ailing. As fate would have it, Clausen faces the Seahawks again.
27. Rams 4-8 (22): The firing of offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti might be a tad late. How many coordinators will Jeff Fisher get anyway?
28. Saints 4-8 (26): You have to figure Sean Payton is outta here once the season is over. Quickly.
29. Titans 3-9 (31): The difference between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota right now is Winston has better players around him.
30. Jaguars 4-8 (28): Blake Bortles' five touchdown passes in a loss to the Titans was somehow overlooked. He's coming around for Greg Olson.
31. Chargers 3-9 (27): If this is their final year in San Diego, it's a hell of a way to go out.
32. Browns 2-10 (32): Johnny's back.
bmbiggs@tribpub.com
