NFL power rankings entering Week 17 of the 2025 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Los Angeles Rams (1): We know they just lost, their second defeat in four games … albeit a quasi-fluky one. We know they’ve fallen from the NFC’s projected No. 1 playoff seed to its sixth in a matter of days. We know they just fired their special teams coordinator − perhaps an overdue move given how that phase of the game has legitimately cost LA three wins this season. Put all that aside. The Rams still have the presumptive MVP in Matthew Stafford, a head coach as good or better than any in the league and a roster that can win anywhere in any variety of ways.
2. Seattle Seahawks (2): We know they just won, running their heater to five games. We know they’ve risen from the NFC’s projected No. 5 playoff seed to its first. We know they rarely lose playoff games in Seattle. But admirable as his career turnaround has been, we need to see QB Sam Darnold prove he can win on the big stage the way Stafford finally did after he joined the Rams.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8): They’ve won six in a row, but QB Trevor Lawrence has truly been in the zone over his last four games − with a 120.8 passer rating during that stretch while accounting for 14 TDs. The defense has also added another 10 takeaways in those four recent victories. Any number of teams could emerge from a muddled AFC field − but, after a decisive win in Denver, the Jags are certainly playing as well as anyone in the conference right now.
4. San Francisco 49ers (9): Considering they haven’t needed P Thomas Morstead this month, who needs to worry about whatever their defensive issues are? The Niners are two wins from securing the No. 1 seed, which launched them into the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2023.
8. Buffalo Bills (5): They escaped with a win … but struggling against the Browns while trying to manage QB Josh Allen’s foot injury is something to monitor even as the stars seem to be aligning elsewhere for this crew.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (12): At a time when it can’t seem to execute the ‘Tush Push,’ the offense oddly seems to be finding a groove − averaging 30 points and 386 yards, albeit against Vegas and Washington, over the past two weeks on the way to the NFC East crown.
27. Miami Dolphins (22): They looked good without Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup … but only because of their throwback uniforms.
29. Cleveland Browns (31): Bagging a Steelers quarterback, even if − especially if? − it’s old friend Mason Rudolph could be an especially satisfying way for DE Myles Garrett to set the single-season sack record.