NFL Power Rankings: Final Edition

Throughout the year, the Colts and the Saints stood above the rest of the competition. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees displayed their usual excellence, their teams played better-than-expected defense and they even changed kickers effectively during the course of the season. With identical 13-0 starts, we all but penciled them for February berths in Miami. That was until their wheels came off.

Whether a matter of choice (Colts), or plain accumulation of shortcomings (Saints), the top ranked teams in the NFL finished the ’09 campaign in the midst of losing skids. Those trends can’t help at all. Football is a game of momentum and you’re going to be carried by it right until the very end. Therefore, propelled by that premise, a new contender – Philip Rivers and the Chargers – made a late surge and took over as favorites. All of a sudden, the championship window looks wide open, because Indianapolis and New Orleans don’t look as flawless as they did in the beginning. However, they still have a shot at the hardware, and for that alone, their seasons can be considered successes.

Together the 32 teams wrote the chapters of the ’09 NFL Story. There were surprises, disappointments, records, collapses, hirings, firings and above everything, the games. Seventeen weeks gave each team a rightful place in the history books and along the way, they helped shaped the game. For the last time in the ’09 campaign, we’ll assign a thoughtful number to every squad in the sport of professional football.

Enjoy your NFL’s Chutes ‘N Ladders for Week 17:

Chutes ‘N Ladders – Week 17 – (1-16)

Chutes ‘N Ladders – Week 17 – (17-32)