NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Broncos Improve Slightly In SB Nation NFL Power Rankings

In the latest SB Nation NFL Power Rankings, the Denver Broncos moved up from dead last (No. 32) to No. 29 following their 24-23 victory over the Houston Texans. Joel Thorman is ready to believe that Tim Tebow is the future long-term quarterback for the Broncos:

Tim Tebow is the future? After Sunday's game, I can see that argument.

It appears as though the Broncos' new head coach will need to be "in" on Tebow rather than will Tebow be "in" with the new coach.

The Carolina Panthers, who secured the first overall pick, fell to No. 32. The San Francisco 49ers joined the Denver Broncos, the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings in firing their head coach during the season. The dropped to No. 31. The Buffalo Bills, 4-11 like the Broncos, lost to the Patriots and took spot No. 30.

The Houston Texans fell out of the top 20 and seven spots to No. 25. The San Diego Chargers (No. 15) and the Oakland Raiders (No. 18) fall into the middle of the league. The AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs entered the top 10 this week at No. 9. The New York Giants and the Chargers were the two teams to drop out of the top 10.

The New England Patriots remain the team to be, taking the top spot once again. The New Orleans Saints took the No. 2 spot from the Atlanta Falcons after defeating them on Monday night. The Falcons dropped to No. 5.

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Will The Kansas City Chiefs Move Into The Top 10?

The NFL's week 16 has not ended yet because we still have the Minnesota Vikings-Philadelphia Eagles game tonight (Tuesday). That's why SB Nation will unveil its latest power rankings on Wednesday; however, Joel Thorman offers a small preview of what to expect when they are released.

Should the Eagles win tonight, Thorman hints that Philly could take the No. 2 spot behind the New England Patriots because of the Falcons' loss to the Saints on Monday night. Or maybe the Ravens, Saints or Steelers will take the spot.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the Titans over the weekend, secured the AFC West and should move into the top 10 after being No. 11 last week. But will that be enough to hold off the Colts and the Packers? Both teams currently hold a playoff spot in their respective conferences.

The San Diego Chargers will lose the No. 9 spot after dropping their game to the Cincinnati Bengals, but how far will they fall? At least they'll be above the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos.

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Tim Tebow's First Victory Should Move Broncos Up; Patriots Still No. 1

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos to a rousing 24-23 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon. Tebow played a part in both fourth quarter touchdowns for the Broncos, throwing one to Correll Buckhalter and running one in for the game-tying score. He put up 308 passing yards and had his first career fourth quarter comeback victory. It should also be enough to let the Broncos escape from the power rankings cellar.

Last week, the Broncos were No. 32 in SB Nation's Power Rankings for the second week in a row, falling behind the Arizona Cardinals, the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Of those teams, Carolina lost and secured the No. 1 overall pick the April's NFL draft with a 2-13 record through 15 games. Carolina should re-take the lowest spot in the rankings this week.

The Cardinals (5-10) pulled off a late victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas night to rebound from a loss to the Panthers the previous week. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Diego Chargers and now have four victories, the same number the Broncos have.

The Buffalo Bills fell to 4-11, losing to the New England Patriots, 34-3. They should see a fall from the No. 24 slot. The New England Patriots, the No. 1 seed in the AFC, will remain atop the power rankings this week. The Atlanta Falcons should remain No. 2 as long as they beat the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.