1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) – They struggled with Denver and still won by 7 but it doesn’t matter. The Chiefs are the best team in the NFL and it’s not close.
2. New Orleans Saints (10-2) – Still not a Taysom Hill believer but he got them another win and that Saints defense is starting to lock in.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) – With a loss to Washington it drops the Steelers one spot. The loss of Bud Dupree is a factor but the offense has to get into a better rythym or the Steelers could be one and done in the playoffs.
4. Cleveland Browns (9-3) – The Browns jump into the Elite 8 because Baker Mayfield showed up and showed out in Tennessee. The Titans got smashed and Mayfield was a big part of the offensive dominance the Browns displayed on Sunday. The Browns are hot at the right time as we head into the middle of December and they are playing better football than the division leading Steelers.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-4) – With a chance to put the division in a strangle hold the Seahawks blew a December home game to the New York Giants who were 4-7 coming into the game. No doubt the Giants defense has gotten better and the game plan was excellent but we’re talking about a 4-7 team with Colt McCoy starting his first game of the year at QB for the Giants. There is no excuse for Seattle to not have won this game. Again the Seattle defense played well but in a rare occurence this time it was the offense that couldn’t get it done. Russell Wilson is elite but even he doesn’t get it done every week.
6. Tennessee Titans (8-4) – The Titans took one on the chin at home to Cleveland but had been playing good football. One loss won’t derail their momentum but keep an eye out for how they respond defensively. The Titans defense was torched over and over again Sunday.
7. LA Rams (8-4) – The Rams defense is good against any team that isn’t 49ers. The Rams offense is good against any team that isn’t the 49ers. The Rams have the ability to beat any team any given week but Jared Goff needs a lot of help. That’s the concern with this team going forward. Goff hasn’t proven he can lift the Rams to a win when things aren’t going well around him.
8. Buffalo Bills (9-3) – With a dominating victory against the 49ers the Bills jump back into the Elite 8 and get the nod over the Colts. Josh Allen has started to play better but has to be more consistent week to week. If he can manage to do that the Bills will be a very dangerous team come playoff time. I don’t know if the talent is elite enough on the defensive side of the ball to shut down the really explosive offenses. When the playoffs roll around Allen might have to match teams score for score. Lucky for Buffalo Josh Allen and this offense with Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley can do just that.
