NFL Power Rankings Going Into Wild Card Weekend

Athlon Sports' weekly rankings of NFL teams. The Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos head into the playoffs as the No. 1 seeds in the NFC and AFC, respectively. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have locked up the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

Here are our NFL Power Rankings following Week 17 of the season:

1. Falcons (13-3) John Abraham injures ankle in meaningless defeat.

2. Broncos (13-3) Eleventh straight win clinches No. 1 seed in playoffs.

3. Patriots (12-4) Rob Gronkowski scores in return from forearm injury.

4. 49ers (11-4-1) Clinch first-round bye with win plus Packers’ loss.

5. Texans (12-4) J.J. Watt falls two sacks shy of single-season record.

6. Packers (11-5) Lose at Minnesota, set to host rematch at Lambeau.

7. Seahawks (11-5) Russell Wilson ties rookie TD pass record (26) in win.

8. Redskins (10-6) RG3 plays through pain, leads Skins to playoffs.

9. Ravens (10-6) Ray Lewis returns for “last ride” before retirement.

10. Colts (11-5) Chuck Pagano victorious in first game back in Indy.

11. Bengals (10-6) Hope playoff rematch in Houston has happy ending.

12. Vikings (10-6) Adrian Peterson makes history, playoffs in victory.

13. Bears (10-6) Lovie Smith fired, Mike Ditka calls the move “stupid.”

14. Giants (9-7) Too little, too late for reigning Super Bowl champs.

15. Cowboys (8-8) Tony Romo throws season-ending INT vs. Redskins.

16. Steelers (8-8) Mike Tomlin avoids first losing season with victory.

17. Rams (7-8-1) One win away from first winning season since 2003.

18. Panthers (7-9) Win four straight, five of last six, to finish season.

19. Saints (7-9) Drew Brees first ever with three 5,000-yard years.

20. Dolphins (7-9) Fourth straight losing season ends in shutout loss.

21. Chargers (7-9) Pull the plug on coach Norv Turner, GM A.J. Smith.

22. Buccaneers (7-9) Muscle Hamster finishes with 1,454 yards, 11 TDs.

23. Titans (6-10) First ever with two players to score two return TDs.

24. Bills (6-10) Fire Chan Gailey; establishing analytics department.

25. Jets (6-10) Rex Ryan leaves town with job intact — for now.

26. Cardinals (5-11) Ken Whisenhunt fired after losing 11 of last 12 games.

27. Browns (5-11) Ready to hire sixth coach since 1999 return to NFL.

28. Lions (4-12) Calvin Johnson falls 36 yards short of 2K campaign.

29. Eagles (4-12) Andy Reid fired after 130–93–1 record in 14 seasons.

30. Raiders (4-12) Dennis Allen fires OC Greg Knapp after down year.

31. Jaguars (2-14) Is it Tim Tebow time now that season is finally over?

32. Chiefs (2-14) Fire Romeo Crennel, status of Scott Pioli uncertain.