1. PHILADELPHIA (8-1) Last week: 1
The only team that has guaranteed that it will not finish the 2017 season with a losing record, Philadelphia hits its bye with a plus-11.6-points-per-game differential that is the league's best.
2. NEW ENGLAND (6-2) Last week: 2
After allowing over 400 yards in each of their first six games, the Patriots have given up an average of 346 yards per game in their last two contests.
3. PITTSBURGH (6-2) Last week: 3
The Steelers face just two teams with a winning record in their final eight regular-season games, and both of those foes (Tennessee and New England) come to Heinz Field.
4. NEW ORLEANS (6-2) Last week: 7
The Saints' defense has accounted for just 12.7 points allowed per game during their six-game winning streak.
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- L.A. RAMS (6-2) Last week: 6 **
After a game with Houston this week, it gets rough for the Rams, who play the Vikings, Saints, Eagles, Seahawks and Titans during a brutal six-game stretch from Weeks 11-16. Los Angeles already has road wins against two teams with winning records (Dallas and Jacksonville), so it's not as if they've risen by beating lightweights, and three of their wins this year were by at least 33 points, so they're doing what good teams should do to outmatched opponents.
6. MINNESOTA (6-2) Last week: 5
Getting Teddy Bridgewater back on the 53-man roster is a wonderful sign for the fourth-year quarterback's recovery from his horrific knee injury, even though their short-term hopes are in Case Keenum's hands.
7. JACKSONVILLE (5-3) Last week: 12
Jacksonville ranks in the NFL's top 10 in net points per possession, net yards per possession and first downs per possession on both offense and defense, making the Jaguars the only team in the NFL with that distinction.
8. DALLAS (5-3) Last week: 8
The Cowboys just keep stacking wins while they have Ezekiel Elliott. If they have to play without him, can they play .500 ball? If they can, a playoff spot would be within reach.
9. CAROLINA (6-3) Last week: 10
The Panthers' defense has accounted for just 23 points allowed in their last three games -- five fewer than they gave up in their previous game against Philadelphia.
10. KANSAS CITY (6-3) Last week: 4
Just one team left on the Chiefs' schedule currently has a winning record (Buffalo, Week 12).
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- SEATTLE (5-3) Last week: 8 **
The Seahawks' first eight opponents have an average winning percentage of .401, giving them the league's weakest first-half schedule.
12. DETROIT (4-4) Last week: 16
The most difficult part of the Lions' schedule is behind them; they face just one team that currently has a winning record for the rest of the season (Minnesota, Week 12).
13. WASHINGTON: (4-4) Last week: 19
Legends are built on drives like the one Kirk Cousins led in the final minutes to beat the Seahawks.
14. BUFFALO (5-3) Last week: 9
Without takeaways, the Bills' success equation does not compute; the Bills forced an average of 2.7 takeaways in their five wins and 1.0 in their three defeats.
15. ATLANTA (4-4) Last week: 14
The Falcons can still move the football -- they rank second in the NFL in net yards and first downs per possession -- but they rank 11th in net points per series. Four of their next five games are at home, but four of their next five opponents have winning records, and they have the most difficult remaining schedule of any NFC team.
16. TENNESSEE (5-3) Last week: 17
The Titans never trailed against Baltimore and won despite averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
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- BALTIMORE (4-5) Last week: 15 **
Their only two wins in their last six games have come against teams starting backup quarterbacks. Their next two games will come against the Packers and Texans, who are playing without Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson, respectively.
18. L.A. CHARGERS (3-5) Last week: 24
Moving up by standing still on their bye week.
19. OAKLAND (4-5) Last week: 24
An impressive -- and necessary win at Miami gave them a split on their East Coast road trip, setting up a must-win game against the Patriots in Mexico City after their bye.
20. N.Y. JETS (4-5) Last week: 26
The Jets are 1-3 with an average scoring margin of minus-9 points per game on the road and 3-2 with an average margin of plus-3.6 at home. Unfortunately for the Jets, a majority of their remaining games are away from MetLife Stadium.
21. DENVER (3-5) Last week: 18
The Broncos still rank first or second in forcing three-and-outs and net yardage and first downs allowed per possession, but they dropped from seventh to 15th in net points allowed per possession because of Sunday's loss at Philadelphia. Denver allowed seven touchdowns, as many as its defense had permitted in the previous five games combined.
22. CHICAGO (3-5) Last week: 23
Always competitive at home, the Bears face the Packers and Lions at Soldier Field in their next two games.
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- GREEN BAY (4-4) Last week: 20 **
While the Packers obviously miss Aaron Rodgers, their defense is just as much of an issue, as they have allowed 27.5 points per game in their last four contests.
24. HOUSTON (3-5) Last week: 13
Without Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, the Texans appear to be done.
25. CINCINNATI (3-5) Last week: 21
At least the Bengals showed some fight, in a manner of speaking.
26. MIAMI (4-4) Last week: 22
Their offense bounces back, and their defense struggles. Still, their offense ranks 31st in net points per possession and 32nd in net yards per possession, and their defense (18th and 10th in both categories, respectively) is not enough to make up for it.
27. ARIZONA (4-4) Last week: 28
Their four wins came over teams that are a collective 5-27, including the 49ers twice (so their 0-9 mark counts double). They have just one game against a team that currently has a losing record before Christmas Eve.
28. TAMPA BAY (2-6) Last week: 27
With Jameis Winston out this Sunday, the game against the Jets becomes the Ryan Fitzpatrick Bowl, as the backup quarterback faces his former team. That's about it.
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- INDIANAPOLIS (3-6) Last week: 27 **
Jacoby Brissett's best game as a Colt -- 20-of-30 passing for 308 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions -- showed progress. His play has become steadier in recent weeks, and he has a 5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his last four starts as he learns how to limit his mistakes.
30. N.Y. GIANTS (1-7) Last week: 29
Their offense has accounted for just 13.3 points per game since injuries decimated their receiving corps in Week 6.
31. CLEVELAND (0-8) Last week: 31
The Browns' best chances at a win appear to be home games against the Packers on Dec. 10 if Rodgers remains injured and the Ravens on Dec. 17.
32. SAN FRANCISCO (0-9) Last week: 32
The 49ers still have trips to Chicago and Houston remaining after their bye, but this week's home game against the New York Giants could be their best chance at a win; otherwise 0-16 becomes a legitimate possibility.
