So many of the team’s in the NFL’s elite class have proven fallible of late. That includes the Eagles and Lions. Do you know what that doesn’t include? Patrick Mahomes’ ankle. Or his health in general. That impacts these NFL power rankings.

The NFL’s true iron man is as tough as they come, as we saw on that awesome touchdown run less than a week after he went out with an ankle injury. Mahomes just finds a way. So do the Chiefs, who seem to be getting stronger at just the right time. All of their speed is getting healthy and the defense remains as dominant as ever, a mixture than will prove tough to beat this postseason. Especially with Mahomes at the helm. He’s still the NFL’s greatest active player.

The Chiefs will be challenged in the AFC and outside the conference by top teams who will slug it out in the postseason.

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There are always a few suspect contenders, in the NFC South and NFC West, which could leave some playoff worth teams on the outside looking in. The AFC better hope Cincinnati gets shut out, because Joe Burrow’s playing at an MVP level and could torch competition if the Bengals shockingly sneak in.

Let’s take a look at how the league shakes as compared to last time in these Week 17 NFL power rankings:

1. Detroit Lions (13-2): Ben Johnson’s beautiful mind surely impressed the Bears on Sunday. I mean, stumble bum? That’s next level stuff.    

2. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1): Pat Mahomes is not human.  

3. Minnesota Vikings (13-2): Sam Darnold can make stacks on stacks on stacks somewhere in free agency. He shouldn’t forget what being surrounded by an all-star cast is worth.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3): Eagles need Jalen Hurts to get well soon. Like, really soon.

5. Buffalo Bills (12-3): Bills have an easy schedule remaining. Stay healthy. Get ready. Winter is coming.

6.  Baltimore Ravens (10-5): Ravens clinched yet another playoff berth. And proved they: 1. Can beat the Steelers. and 2. Don’t need Lamar to carry them.

7. Green Bay Packers (11-4): Packers are the NFC’s silent assassins. Nobody wants to see them in the postseason’s first round.

8. Washington Commanders (10-5): Jayden Daniels is really showing us something in big moments. So impressive for a rookie. He got a huge win over Philly.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5): As much as Mike Tomlin might not want to admit, the Steelers need George Pickens.    

10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6): Justin Herbert can be as good as QB in the league. If he’s on fire, the Chargers are tough to beat.

11. Los Angeles Rams (9-6): The Rams are playing so tough. And with Matthew Stafford throwing dimes. That’s a good combo.  

12. Denver Broncos (9-6): Have the Broncos hit their ceiling? It’s possible that a good team is edged out of the playoffs.

13. Houston Texans (9-6): Prayers up for Tank Dell. The emotions after his injury showed how much the Texans players love him.  

14. Atlanta Falcons (8-7): The Kirk Cousins signing was a huge mistake. The Michael Penix draft pick was not.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7): Bucs have given up control of the NFC South. Big loss to Dallas that they could’ve won. Something tells me Baker won’t quit.   

16. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8): Joe Burrow’s in the MVP conversation if Cincy pulls out a miracle and makes the playoffs.  

17. Seattle Seahawks (8-7): Seattle is playing tough teams tough, but on the losing end of results. Gotta win out, including Thursday night in Chicago, and hope for some help.

18. Miami Dolphins (7-8): The Dolphins run game finally gets cranking, but it sure seems like it’s too little, too late.  

19. Dallas Cowboys (7-8): The Cowboys are gonna win just enough to keep Mike McCarthy around, aren’t they?

20. Indianapolis Colts (7-8): Jonathan Taylor with the hat trick. And ran up the tunnel after one. Bo knows that’s cool.

21. Arizona Cardinals (7-8): Cardinals go out with a whimper. Tale as old as time.

22. San Francisco 49ers (6-9: The Super Bowl handover is real. Especially when you lose that game.

23. Carolina Panthers (4-11): Chuba Hubbard’s tenacity deserves your applause. Panthers fight every week.   

24. Chicago Bears (4-11): There was a point where the Bears were losing competitive football games. Now they’re just getting waxed. Hard to imagine them winning again.

25. New Orleans Saints (5-10): Saints looked like a mess on national TV. Owners HATE that. Changes are coming. If only a disastrous salary-cap situation might allow them.

26. New York Jets (4-11): Now Aaron Rodgers is talking about Jets organizational leaks? Once a conspiracy theorist, always a conspiracy theorist.

27. New England Patriots (3-12): Some folks don’t like Drake Maye. We do. He’s a fighter. On a good team, he’s a quality quarterback.

28. Cleveland Browns (3-12): Myles Garrett got sack No. 100. Nobody deserves to be on a better team more than that guy.

29. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12): The Raiders are gonna win some meaningless games and lose out on Shedeur Sanders, aren’t they?

30. Tennessee Titans (3-12): Mason Rudolph and Will Levis have almost the exact same stats. None ff them are good.  

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12): Lost to the Raiders in the Toilet Bowl. Which is a joke six-year-old me would’ve found delightful.

32. New York Giants (2-13): The Giants have no answers at so many spots. They may keep Brian Daboll, but does he want them to?