2017 NFL power rankings: Week 17 edition

The NFL wrapped up Week 16 on Christmas day, and that means we have arrived at the final week of the 2017 regular season. 12 teams will continue on in January with the playoffs, but for the other 20 teams, this is the last chance to finish the season strong.

We’re back with Week 17 NFL power rankings as the San Francisco 49ers find themselves on an absurdly ridiculous run. Winning four straight games generally is not absurd, but for a team that had won three games the previous season and a half of football, four straight wins is kinda crazy.

They managed their fourth straight win with a victory over one of the hotter teams in the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars had won three straight and seven of eight, and entered the game with the top-ranked defense in the league. Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers offense had no trouble against that defense, putting up 44 points (well 38 and Dontae Johnson’s pick-six). It was a crazy performance and just makes it that much more clear that Jimmy G is the answer.

Given that power rankings are entirely useless, I’m perfectly comfortable listing the 49ers at No. 1. They’re as hot as anybody in the league, so why not show them some more love? It does raise an interesting question though as to just who is still playing better than the 49ers right now. I mean, you could look at teams like the Patriots, Steelers, Saints, and Panthers, but it’s hard not to see the 49ers giving them all a tough matchup.

That also makes this weekend’s matchup with the Los Angeles Rams particularly interesting. I’m not sure what the Rams might have planned with their starters, but it would be a fitting matchup to close things out.

Here’s what our Week 17 power rankings look like.