1. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 13-2
Week 17 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 16 MVP: Rookie running back David Johnson continued his hot streak, totaling 127 yards with a touchdown.
One thing to know: This may be the best team in football right now. They've somehow quietly won eight games in a row, they just throttled the third-best team in the NFC in the Packers, and could, amazingly, finish ahead of the 14-1 Panthers.
2. Carolina Panthers
Record: 14-1
Week 17 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 16 MVP: Defensive tackle Kawann Short helped the Panthers defense with seven tackles, two sacks, and two quarterback hits.
One thing to know: The Panthers finally lost, looking flat against a motivated Falcons team. The team was naturally disappointed, but it may be better for taking pressure off of them in the long haul.
3. New England Patriots
Record: 12-3
Week 17 opponent: at Miami Dolphins
Week 16 MVP: Jamie Collins’ recovered a fumble and took it to the end zone in the 3rd quarter that helped the Patriots rally back and eventually force overtime.
One thing to know: The coin toss snafu shouldn’t hurt the Patriots too much. If they beat the Dolphins on Sunday, they’ll secure home field advantage for the playoffs.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 10-5
Week 17 opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 16 MVP: Jeremy Maclin eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, so we’ll give it to him.
One thing to know: Winners of nine straight, the Chiefs have become everyone’s favorite team to win the AFC. Bill Barnwell writes at ESPN that it isn’t crazy to call Andy Reid’s squad a possible Super Bowl team.
5. Denver Broncos
Record: 11-4
Week 17 opponent: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 16 MVP: DeMarcus Ware secured an AJ McCarron fumble in OT to give the Broncos a much-needed win and playoff berth.
One thing to know: All controversies aside, Peyton Manning is reportedly not going to get the starting job back from Brock Osweiler, even when he’s healthy.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 11-4
Week 17 opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 16 MVP: Carlos Dunlap sacked Brock Osweiler three times on Monday night, giving him 13.5 on the season. That’s officially a new franchise record, though in 1976 — before sacks were an official stat — Coy Bacon had 22 sacks for the Bengals.
One thing to know: AJ McCarron will undergo an MRI after sustaining an injury on his left wrist on the final play of Monday night’s loss to the Broncos. In case you forgot who the Bengals third-string quarterback is, it’s former Ball State QB Keith Wenning. Wenning has never thrown a pass in the regular season, but could make an appearance in the playoffs.
7. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 9-6
Week 17 opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 16 MVP: Doug Baldwin had 118 receiving yards and a touchdown. He has 11 touchdowns in the last five games.
One thing to know: Two of the Seahawks' six losses have come against the Rams, so we're not worried about the letdown by Seattle. The big test comes next week against the Cardinals.
8. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 10-5
Week 17 opponent: at Green Bay Packers
Week 16 MVP: Jerick McKinnon gave the Giants problems, running for 89 yards on seven carries for two touchdowns.
One thing to know: The Vikings will play the Packers for the NFC North this Sunday.
9. Green Bay Packers
Record: 10-5
Week 17 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 16 MVP: Eddie Lacy was one of the lone productive players, totaling 88 yards and a receiving touchdown.
One thing to know: However, the Packers afternoon could be defined by this leveling of Lacy. The 38-8 loss was the worst of Rodgers' career.
10. New York Jets
Record: 10-5
Week 17 opponent: at Buffalo Bills
Week 16 MVP: Brandon Marshall continues to dominate. Against the Patriots, he caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: Is Ryan Fitzpatrick a serious MVP candidate? According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Fitzpatrick at least deserves to be in the conversation. MV-Patrick!
11. Washington Redskins
Record: 8-7
Week 17 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 16 MVP: Kirk Cousins had one of his best games of the season, throwing for 365 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
One thing to know: The Redskins have made a surprising postseason berth, but there's one big red flag.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 9-6
Week 17 opponent: at Cleveland Browns
Week 16 MVP: DeAngelo Williams played well, even if the Steelers lost. The running back logged 100 yards and two scores against the Ravens.
One thing to know: The Steelers completely shot themselves in the foot when they lost to the Ravens on Sunday. Now they’ll need the Bills to beat the Jets in order to make the playoffs.
13. Houston Texans
Record: 8-7
Week 17 opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 16 MVP: DeAndre Hopkins doesn’t seem to care who is throwing him the ball. He picked up 117 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He’s third in the NFL in receiving yards, behind Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.
One thing to know: Although Brandon Weeden has played well for the Texans over the past two weeks, head coach Bill O’Brien said that if Brian Hoyer is cleared from concussion protocol, he’ll start on Sunday against the Jags.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 7-8
Week 17 opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 16 MVP: Frank Gore found the back of the end zone twice against the Dolphins.
One thing to know: The Colts are technically not out of the playoffs just yet. They need to win, and hope eight other scenarios all play out in order to win the AFC South. So you’re saying there’s a chance!
15. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 8-7
Week 17 opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 16 MVP: Julio Jones shredded the Panthers with 178 receiving yards and one of the most impressive touchdowns of the season.
One thing to know: The Falcons upset the Panthers to give them their first loss of the season. Unfortunately for Atlanta, it was a reminder of their strong start to the season before six straight losses ended their playoff bid.
16. Buffalo Bills
Record: 7-8
Week 17 opponent: vs. New York Jets
Week 16 MVP: Mike Gillislee ran for 93 yards, including a 50-yard score to help the Bills grind out an ugly win over the Cowboys.
One thing to know: The Bills may be eliminated from the playoffs, but they can still make sure the Jets don’t get in, either. If Rex Ryan’s team beats the Jets (in Ryan Fitzpatrick’s big homecoming, no less), the Jets will need the Steelers to lose in order to make the playoffs.
17. St. Louis Rams
Record: 7-8
Week 17 opponent: at St. Francisco 49ers
Week 16 MVP: Defensive end William Hayes mauled Seattle's offensive line for seven tackles, three sacks, and six QB hits!
One thing to know: The Rams have had a streaky season. After getting to 4-3, they lost five in a row, and have now won three in a row.
18. Oakland Raiders
Record: 7-8
Week 17 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 16 MVP: The ageless Sebastian Janikowski hit a 50-yarder to give him 52 career field goals of 50 yards or more. That puts him tied for the NFL record.
One thing to know: Fullback Marcel Reece has been suspended four games and the Pro Bowl for testing positive for performance enhancing jobs.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: at New York Giants
Week 16 MVP: Jordan Matthews continued his improved play, with 104 receiving yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Chip Kelly has a more optimistic view of the Eagles than the rest of the NFL world.
20. New York Giants
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 16 MVP: Robert Ayers was one of the few Giants who brought pressure on the Vikings, with multiple sacks, multiple pressures, and a +2.7 grade from PFF.
One thing to know: The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention before the game began. The biggest question on the horizon is what Tom Coughlin's future holds.
21. Chicago Bears
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 16 MVP: We'll give it to running back Ka'Deem Carey, who managed two touchdowns on just one catch and seven carries for a total of 17 yards. That's solid red zone work!
One thing to know: Veteran RB Matt Forte may be on his way out after telling reporters there's not much hope for a new deal with the Bears.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: at Carolina Panthers
Week 16 MVP: Charles Sims had a big day, totaling 117 yards with a touchdown.
One thing to know: Doug Martin trails Adrian Peterson by just 74 yards for the more rushing yards this season — an unexpected development.
23. Detroit Lions
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: at Chicago Bears
Week 16 MVP: It was an efficient outing for Matthew Stafford as he completed 29 of 37 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: After starting the season 1-7, the Lions have gone 5-2. There's a decent team buried somewhere in there.
24. New Orleans Saints
Record: 6-9
Week 17 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 16 MVP: If you picked up Tim Hightower for the fantasy football finals, you made a good choice — he had 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: The Saints defense set the NFL record for most passing touchdowns allowed in a season!
25. Miami Dolphins
Record: 5-10
Week 17 opponent: vs. New England Patriots
Week 16 MVP: Jarvis Landry had a nice day for the otherwise terrible Dolphins, hauling in seven catches for 111 yards. One of them was OBJ-esque. Landry now has the most catches through two seasons in NFL history, but will need to hold off Beckham next week in order to keep the record.
One thing to know: Ryan Tannehill is day to day with a leg injury.
26. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 5-10
Week 17 opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16 MVP: Ryan Mallett threw a career high 274 yards on Sunday. Ryan Mallett!
One thing to know: Beating the Steelers on Sunday might’ve been the worst thing the Ravens could have done. Fine, it helped knock a divisional opponent temporarily out of the playoffs, but it also likely cost them five spots in the upcoming draft, down to eight.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 5-10
Week 17 opponent: at Houston Texans
Week 16 MVP: Allen Hurns caught eight passes for 106 yards to give him 1,013 receiving yards on the season. Hurns and Allen Robinson now both have over 1,000 receiving yards on the year, marking the first time since 2001 that Jacksonville has had two receivers do this in the same season.
One thing to know: ESPN’s Mike DiRocco writes that the Jaguars might consider changing their defensive scheme in 2016 because whatever they’re doing now just isn’t working.
28. San Diego Chargers
Record: 4-11
Week 17 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 16 MVP: Dontrelle Inman is making the most of his NFL opportunity. The former CFL standout enjoyed another productive game for San Diego, hauling in eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. And because the Chargers’ defense is so depleted, Inman also played some snaps at safety.
One thing to know: The Chargers fined Eric Weddle $10,000 for staying on the field during halftime to watch his daughter perform during Week 15 — likely the team’s last game in San Diego. Not a great look!
29. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 4-11
Week 17 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 16 MVP: Darren McFadden ran for 99 yards, so we'll give it to him.
One thing to know: Even Jerry Jones was left speechless by the Cowboy's incompetence during the 16-6 loss to the Bills.
30. Cleveland Browns
Record: 3-12
Week 17 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 16 MVP: Johnny Manziel made up for an average passing line (13-32, 136 yards, one interception) by rushing for 108 yards on 11 carries. Mr. Football might just have a future in Cleveland.
One thing to know: The Browns are expected to fire G.M. Ray Farmer but keep head coach Mike Pettine.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 4-11
Week 17 opponent: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 16 MVP: Blaine Gabbert, competent quarterback, logged 22-33 passing for 225 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
One thing to know: Is Jim Tomsula already preparing to be fired?
32. Tennessee Titans
Record: 3-12
Week 17 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 16 MVP: Tre McBride. The seventh-round rookie caught his first career pass and recorded his first TD, so for the lowly Titans, that’s an MVP-worthy game.
One thing to know: So long as the Titans don’t do anything crazy — like win in Indianapolis on Sunday — they’ll secure the first pick in the draft.