1. Green Bay Packers (14-1): With five touchdowns against the Bears on Christmas night, Aaron Rodgers finished his 2011 campaign with a 45:6 touchdown-interception ratio. The Pack got a lot of attention for their near-perfect season, but Rodger’s near-perfect season deserved more credit.
2. New Orleans Saints (12-3): Any team that has to face the high-flying Saints in the Superdome is in trouble. This team plays with so much emotion and passion at home, and Drew Brees plays legend – wait for it – dary.
3. San Francisco 49ers (12-3): Okay, who had Marshawn Lynch as the first running back to score on the 49ers rush defense?
4. New England Patriots (12-3) The Patriots played the first half of the Miami game like they were still prepping for a Sunday showdown. But the fact that Tom Brady and Co. can rev the engine and get their offense going at any time is impressive.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4): Even without Big Ben, the Steelers cruised to victory over the hapless Rams. Granted, it was the Rams defense, but a surging Rashard Mendenhall could be a difference-maker in the postseason.
6.Baltimore Ravens (11-4): Still, I can’t put all my marbles in the Ravens bandwagon. Ray Rice is a monster, but they lack a true identity.
7. Detroit Lions (10-5): For the first time since 1999, the Lions can par-tay like it’s 1999. The playoff-bound Lions obliterated the Bolts, flaunting what this offense can look like when it’s clicking on all cylinders.
8. Atlanta Falcons (9-6): I don’t believe that the Monday night loss is a true portrayal of how good this team actually is. However, if these two teams meet against in New Orleans in two weeks, the Falcons’ playoff run should be short-lived.
9. New York Giants (8-7): Will we get good Eli or bad Eli? A dominant pass rush or no pass rush? These weekly questions concerning the G-Men’s inconsistency is the only holding them back.
10. Dallas Cowboys (8-7): Is this not the biggest game of Tony Romo’s career?
11. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6): What a Cinderella story for rookie Andy Dalton and the Bengals to be the frontrunner for the final wildcard slot in the AFC. Over the summer, this team was projected to draft in the top 10.
12. Houston Texans (10-5): Both wildcard teams are hopeful they’ll get a shot at the Texans in the first round of the playoffs. They’re simply collapsing at the most inopportune time.
13. Denver Broncos (8-7): It’s been so long since we last saw Tebow Time; will we see it again as the doubters reemerge and the Broncos fight for the playoffs?
14. Oakland Raiders (8-7): The Raiders cling to AFC West title hopes when they face the Chargers in what can only be touted as “The Inconsistency Bowl.”
15. New York Jets (8-7): The Jets, arguably, were the most disappointing time in the league this season. Let the offseason banter about Mark Sanchez’s future begin … now.
16. San Diego Chargers (7-8): There’s the San Diego Chargers we’ve come to love and hate in 2011.
17. Seattle Seahawks (7-8): With a hard-fought effort against the current division winners, the Seahawks have proven their close to being contenders.
18. Tennessee Titans (8-7): As the team on deck to replace Cincy should the Bengals lose, expect Matt Hasselbeck to put on a show against the Texans, who blew them out in October, 41-7, in Nashville.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (7-8): The way the Eagles have played with Michael Vick healthy, I don’t believe Andy Reid’s job is in jeopardy. Next year, however, is a different story.
20. Arizona Cardinals (7-8): The Cardinals need to figure out who their quarterback for 2012 is.
21. Carolina Panthers (6-9): It feels like “Swag” Newton is rewriting the record book every single week. With him at the helm, this offense is very dangerous, and I would not be shocked if they were contenders next season.
22. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9): When Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton face off Sunday in the “John Elway Bowl,” the battle of will is tested against the art of revenge. Who ya got?
23. Miami Dolphins (5-10): The Fins want to find a big-name hire to build some momentum in South Beach, but Todd Bowles has this defense playing spectacular.
24. Washington Redskins (5-10): Somebody should inform Mike Shanahan that the worse the record, the better quarterback they can draft in April.
25. Chicago Bears (7-8): Josh McCown > Caleb Hanie
26. Buffalo Bills (6-9): The Bills beat Tebow on Christmas Eve – is that some sort of sick joke?
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11): The Jags still have a chance to remain relevant. A loss to Indy would put the Rams in the driver’s seat for Andrew Luck. Let the drama begin!
28. Minnesota Vikings (3-12): Joe Webb outperformed Christian Ponder as the quarterback of this team. A.K.A.: there’s a lot of uncertainty about the future of this organization.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11): The Bucs are now the frontrunner for the Florida Futility Bowl, but nobody told Raheem Morris apparently.
30. Cleveland Browns (4-11): Four consecutive 11-loss seasons in Cleveland, the common denominator being still quarterback-less.
31. St. Louis Rams (2-13): Would the Rams give up on Sam Bradford after year No. 2 to draft the prize of the 2012 draft, Andrew Luck? And would Jeff Fisher or Jon Gruden be his head coach?
32. Indianapolis Colts (2-13): It’s suck for Luck, not win two in a row. C’mon, Dan Orlovsky.