Jeff Howe's NFL power board

Each week throughout the NFL season, Metro football writer Jeff Howe will rank all 32 teams from top to bottom. Don’t like his calls? Want to pat him on the back for giving props to your favorite team? Send him an e-mail at  jeff.howe@metro.us. (Each team’s record and movement from last week is in parentheses.)
*Not including late game

Power Game: Of course, you wait and you wait for a matchup like this: the season finale featuring divisional opponents and the top-two spots on the Power Board. Since Peyton Manning will barely see the field, the No. 1 Titans travel to Indy and beat the No. 2 Colts, 20-10, in the most meaningless Power Game ever.

1. Titans (13-2, +4). Not a big fan of calling something a “statement game” because it’s usually overblown and unnecessary. But the Titans definitely sent a statement to the Steelers and the rest of the AFC that you’ll have to bring it to win in Tennessee.

2. Colts (11-4, —). There’s a decent possibility the Colts could finish with the second best record in the NFL, but they’re locked into the AFC’s fifth seed in the playoffs.

3. Giants (12-3, +1). After so many botched efforts on significant field-goal tries in the last few years, the Giants finally capitalized from one of their opponents’ miscues.

4. Steelers (11-4, -3). Just when it looked like the Steelers might have been the team to beat, they opened it up again. I really have no idea who’s going to win the Super Bowl.

5. Ravens (10-5, +1). Willis McGahee called Saturday’s win a “mock funeral” and “the best concert ever in Irving, Texas.” Who was he rooting for in Super Bowl XXVII?

6. Panthers (11-4, -3). Even when I look at this team as a legitimate contender, I still can’t get past the thoughts of Jake Delhomme being unable to win in a tight situation.

7. Patriots (10-5, +1). In 2002, Chad Pennington’s Jets beat Brett Favre’s Packers to keep the Pats from the playoffs. Now, the Pats need Favre’s Jets to beat Pennington’s Dolphins.

8. Dolphins (10-5, +1). Brandon London’s father, Mike, just won the FBS national championship in his first season as the head coach at Richmond.

9. Falcons (10-5, +3). Matt Ryan is the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Michael Turner deserves some low votes for MVP.

10. Vikings (9-6, -3). Just an observation: Teams that begin changing quarterbacks in December don’t fare too well in the playoffs, if they get there at all.

11. Chargers (7-8, +9). Back from the dead for at least the second time this season, the Chargers are built to make a playoff run if they all decide to show up during the same week.

12. Bears* (8-6, +1). They’ve got a gem in Matt Forte and growth from Kyle Orton. Use this offseason to get the defense back intact (and a capable receiver would help, too).

13. Eagles (8-6-1, -3). Even if Reggie Brown scored on the final play, the way the Eagles and Redskins were playing on defense, Philly might have finished with a second tie.

14. Cowboys (9-6, -3). OK, let’s get this straight. You knew the run was coming and you gave up 159 yards on consecutive carries? Seriously? How ’bout them Cowboys?

15. Redskins (8-7, +6). The Redskins are just the latest team to keep the Eagles just that far away from reaching their dreams.

16. Buccaneers (9-6, -2). Since the playoff format changed in 2002, all 36 teams that started 8-3 made the playoffs. The Bucs were 9-3, now need a win and outside help.

17. Saints (8-7, +2). Drew Brees needs 402 yards to break Dan Marino’s single-season mark from 1984. The Panthers have the 11th best pass defense at 201.3 yards per game.

18. Broncos (8-7, -3). They’ve lost to the Chiefs by 14, the Jaguars by seven and the Raiders by 21, and they still have a shot to make the playoffs. Merry Christmas!

19. Cardinals (8-7, -1). If this were the BCS, the Cardinals would be the NFL’s version of Utah, the team no one wants around and is only there due to a lousy division/conference.

20. Texans (7-8, -3). Due to their division, it’s hard to say the Texans are close to being a contender, but they’re one more good draft away from being a pretty solid team.

21. 49ers (6-9, +2). According to Elias, Isaac Bruce passed former teammate Torry Holt for the most career receiving yards at the Edward Jones Dome (6,742-6,741).

22. Seahawks (4-11, +5). In the last three weeks, Seneca Wallace is 53-for-78 (68 percent) for 613 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and two wins. Wow.

23. Jets (9-6, -7). Football fans can take solace in the fact that a team that doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs likely won’t get there.

24. Bills (7-8, +1). They just destroyed the Broncos’ playoff chances and have a chance to do the same to the Patriots on Sunday … for the second time in three weeks.

25. Jaguars (5-10, -3). After blowing their lead against the rival Colts, the Jags have no chance of beating the Ravens this week. If you’re betting, take Baltimore -30.

26. Packers* (5-9, -2). It’s tough to pinpoint one area where the Packers really need to improve this offseason, which isn’t exactly a good thing.

27. Bengals (3-11-1, +1). Good against teams from Ohio and the surrounding area. Bad against everyone else. Sounds a lot like Ohio State.

28. Raiders (4-11, +2). Some day Tom Cable will tell his grandkids he was the coach of the Oakland Raiders. And you know what? No one’s going to believe him.

29. Browns (4-11, -3). The Browns have the distinction of being the only team that was held to less than 13 points by the Bengals this season. So there’s that.

30. Chiefs (2-13, -1). If Chiefs ownership really did consider keeping a coach who is 2-22 in his last 24 games, the play calling in the second half Sunday should have done him in.

31. Rams (2-13, —). They’re paying huge money to their quarterback, running back and April’s second overall pick. The Rams should consider trading down next draft.

32. Lions (0-15, —). Having Joey Harrington feel sorry for you is exponentially worse than the possibility of being the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. That’d be like David Hasselhoff laughing at an alcoholic, O.J. Simpson lending a hand to Maurice Clarett and Kimbo Slice giving advice to Hugh Heffner. Just doesn’t make any sense.