Week 16 GPR - Quoth The Ravens, "We're Number One!"

Going into last night's possible Super Bowl preview game, I was prepared to leave San Francisco in the Number One spot even if the Ravens managed to squeak out a narrow victory over the Niners.  However, the total decisiveness of Baltimore's 33-19 victory last night, left me with no choice other than to move them into the top spot after NFL Week 16.

That game also shifted the calculus in a big way for the League MVP Award away from Brock Purdy and towards Lamar Jackson.

1. Ravens 11-4 (Last Week: 2)
2. 49'ers 11-4 (1)
3. Lions 11-4 (3)
4. Dolphins 11-4 (5)
5. Eagles 11-4 (4)
6. Bills 9-6 (7)
7. Browns 10-5 (9)
8. Chiefs 9-6 (6)
9. Cowboys 10-5 (8)
10. Rams 8-7 (Unranked)

As you can see, the Dolphins, Bills, and Browns moved up in the standings, while the Eagles, Chiefs, and Cowboys each dropped.  The Bengals dropped out of the Top Ten and the Rams moved into it as they now become "the team you don't want to have to play in the first round of the Playoffs."

Speaking of the Bengals, how about that can of Whoop-ass opened upon them by the Steelers on Christmas Eve.  The Steelers are barely breathing when it comes to the possibility of making the Playoffs, but they are in fact still breathing because the Bengals reverted into being the Cincy Bungles, something that it seems you can always count on.

So in what has been a disappointing season, let's shine a little light on Sunday's hero, third string quarterback Mason Rudolph, who turned in the best performance by a Steelers QB this season.

And, of course, we also got to enjoy yet another visit from our old friend, The Crying Bengals Lady.

Steelers now 4-1 in the AFC North with the Baltimore game in Week 18 remaining.  Baltimore may well be the best team in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, at the moment, but anything can happen when the Steelers and Ravens match up.  We may not see a Steelers playoff game this year, but there would be some level of satisfaction in a 5-1 division record if it happens.