Benigno's Best: NFL Wild-Card Week Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers 15-1 (1)
Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers. Forget about it! How about Matt Flynn? A franchise record six TD passes and 480 yards in wild 45-41 win over wild card Lions. Detroit has not won at Lambeau since 1991.
Next: Divisional Playoffs
2. New Orleans Saints 13-3 (2)
Five more Drew Brees TD passes to close out record breaking season. Saints basically shattered every offensive record imaginable in blowout of Panthers.
Next: vs. Lions
3. New England Patriots 13-3 (3)
Pats clinch home field throughout AFC playoffs, with 49 unanswered points after spotting Bills 21-0 lead. Can't see these guys being one-and-done in the playoffs this year.
Next: Divisional Playoffs
4. San Francisco 49ers 13-3 (4)
What a rookie season for Jim Harbaugh, as Niners clinch first round bye holding off lousy Rams in St. Louis. It will be interesting to see how far they go in playoffs, considering they have by far the worst quarterback of any of the NFC playoff teams.
Next: Divisional Playoffs
5. Baltimore Ravens 12-4 (5)
Clinch first AFC North crown in the John Harbaugh era by beating playoff bound Bengals in Cincy. Can they beat the Steelers for a third time this year? Can they beat the Pats in Foxborough for AFC Title? Remember all four Ravens losses this year have been on the road.
Next: Divisional Playoffs
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4 (6)
Two losses to Ravens cost Steelers division crown. Got to be concerned with health of Big Ben and now Rashard Mendenhall is out as they head to Denver for Wild Card showdown. Probably have to win road games in Foxborough and Baltimore to get back to the Super Bowl.
Next: @ Broncos
7. New York Giants 9-7 (10)
Wild year ends with division crown as Giants finish off fragile Cowboys in winner take all finale for NFC East. With Big Blue's D-line healthy for first time in months and emergence of Victor Cruz as game's most explosive wideout, these guys will be a tough out in the playoffs.
Next: vs. Falcons
8. Atlanta Falcons 10-6 (unranked)
Atlanta clinches fifth seed and date at Meadowlands on Sunday with thumping of brutal Bucs in Atlanta. About time "Matty Ice" wins a playoff game.
Next: @ Giants
9. Detroit Lions 10-6 (7)
Matt Stafford over 500 yards passing and five TD's as Motown Cats put up 41 at Lambeau. Problem is Matt Flynn throws six TD passes and Packers score 45. More than likely setting up a one and done for Lions in New Orleans in first playoff appearance since 1999.
Next: @ Saints
10. Houston Texans 10-6 (9)
AFC South champs close season on three game losing streak as they lose season finale versus Titans. Give Gary Kubiak credit for going for two to try and win game even after false start penalty pushes Houston back five yards. Can't blame coach for not wanting to play overtime in meaningless game with playoffs coming up Saturday.
Next: vs. Bengals
What's your Top 10 look like? Sound off below...
