FINAL POWER RANKINGS
With Super Bowl LI in the books, here are our final NFL power rankings for the 2016 season ... with some consideration for how 2017 might be shaping up in some cities:
1. New England Patriots
Some are asking what will motivate Tom Brady and Bill Belichick now. Uh, hello. They’re two Lombardi trophies shy of making the Patriots the first team to win seven.
2. Atlanta Falcons
The defense couldn’t get off the field when it had to, and the offense couldn’t stay there. Will heartbreak drive the young Falcons forward or ruin them?
3. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers says they need only to reload. But the Packers could lose a lot of bullets, Julius Peppers, T.J. Lang, Nick Perry, Jared Cook and Eddie Lacy among them.
4. Dallas Cowboys
The future looks awfully bright even if the Tony Romo cloud hovers for now. How nice would it be if LB Jaylon Smith can contribute in 2017?
5. Seattle Seahawks
Assuming Earl Thomas doesn’t follow through on his retirement musings, this team returns basically intact. But offensive line upgrades are a must.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
Just when the defense looks ready to uphold the Blitzburgh tradition, questions arise about Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown that will define the offseason.
7. Oakland Raiders
They seem poised to reclaim their position as a perennial power, assuming the uncertain future about their location doesn’t become an unmanageable distraction.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid is standing behind QB Alex Smith heading into the 2017 season. Is Reid’s faith misplaced at this point?
9. Miami Dolphins
First-year coach Adam Gase lived up to his reputation, revitalizing an offense on the cusp of something special. But the defense needs help.
10. Tennessee Titans
Keep an eye on this bunch, which fell a tiebreaker shy of the playoffs. The Titans have two of the top 18 draft picks and loads of salary cap space.
11. New York Giants
As much as they improved, this imbalanced team’s inability to run the ball or stop the pass was apparent in the postseason. Maybe they were on “cruise” control.
12. Denver Broncos
New coach Vance Joseph arrives with much buzz, promising to sustain defensive dominance. Who’s going to tutor the young quarterbacks? Maybe Romo?
13. Detroit Lions
Now that the smoke and mirrors have lifted, it’s time to remember this team was outscored and outgained in 2016. Lots of work to be done.
14. Houston Texans
J.J. Watt is fully recuperated from back surgery. But how long will it take QB Brock Osweiler to recover from his car wreck of a season?
15. Washington Redskins
As they presumably prepare to break the bank for Kirk Cousins, will they need overdraft protection to get him targets if DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon leave?
16. Minnesota Vikings
They have enough defense to host Super Bowl LII next year but ... whither Adrian Peterson? Whither Teddy Bridgewater (or maybe Sam Bradford)?
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They are shedding unfavorable contracts and will have cap space to again become an enticing free agent destination.
18. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees probably will keep them competitive, but can the Saints really expect to hang with their explosive division rivals if the defense doesn’t get a makeover?
19. Arizona Cardinals
Believing this season was an aberration, WR Larry Fitzgerald and QB Carson Palmer have decided to come back for 2017. That’s a plus — probably.
20. Indianapolis Colts
Already a hectic offseason with GM Ryan Grigson fired, P Pat McAfee retired and QB Andrew Luck under the knife. Work cut out for GM Chris Ballard.
21. Baltimore Ravens
If you think this team is getting old, even with Steve Smith Sr. gone, you are correct. Fourteen players on the roster are at least 30.
22. Carolina Panthers
One year after clearly being the top quarterback in the NFC South, Cam Newton was most decidedly the division’s worst in 2016. Is the truth somewhere in the middle?
23. Cincinnati Bengals
CB Adam “Pacman” Jones used to be a positive beacon for a team that likes to issue second chances to at-risk players. But now?
24. Los Angeles Chargers
So they’re going to build their new L.A. fan base by playing in front of 27,000 people at home for the next two years? Riiiiight.
25. Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz’s disturbing finish overshadowed his stellar start. His passer rating over his last dozen games was 72.3, and Philly went 4-8.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tom Coughlin took them to two AFC title games in five years after starting from Square 1. The team’s new czar is at least at Square 5 now.
27. Los Angeles Rams
Big risk they’re assuming by hiring Sean McVay could be substantially offset by coup of also signing defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
28. Buffalo Bills
First-year head coach, no apparent answer under center and a GM who doesn’t seem totally plugged into what’s going on. Seems encouraging.
29. Chicago Bears
Poor Jordan Howard. He finished second in the NFL with 1,313 rushing yards but didn’t get a single rookie of the year vote and got about as much publicity.
30. New York Jets
Amazing to think a team this bad — and with no quarterback carrying a megacontract — finds itself needing to get under the salary cap.
31. San Francisco 49ers
The job is yours, Kyle Shanahan. After all that Super Bowl criticism, you can now fail to milk the clock and no one will bat an eyelash.
32. Cleveland Browns
If your team had $100 million to spend in free agency and two first-round picks, you’d be excited. But Cleveland’s fans know better.