Over the next two weeks, the fate of the NFC South will be decided.

That's right, folks. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are duking it out for the (likely) No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff field next month. In one corner, you've got the resurgence of Baker Mayfield leading a high-octane Tampa Bay offense. In the other, you've got rookie Michael Penix Jr. trying to do what Kirk Cousins couldn't for almost the entire second half of the season -- keep the Falcons' offense afloat.

No disrespect to anyone involved here, but can we drop the charade?

Neither the Buccaneers nor the Falcons will stand much of a chance against the NFC's No. 5 seed. Right now, that's the 13-win Minnesota Vikings. Crazier things have happened, and I know the ghost of the "BeastQuake" looms over us all when we look at the supposed undeserved playoff teams that happen to win their division. But the Vikings are just so much better than both squads, assuming that matchup holds up. (I feel similarly about the Detroit Lions in the same position.)

Even still, at this point in time, there is no reason to believe that either the Buccaneers or Falcons have enough for a deep playoff run. Among many other reasons, their division title chase would already be over for one party if that was the case.

So, kudos to whoever finishes on top -- we hope you defy all the odds.

The Buccaneers and Falcons are a major point of conversation in For The Win's Week 17 NFL Power Rankings. Let's see where the NFC South contenders and the rest of the league sit, with the playoffs finally around the corner.

32. New York Giants

Last week's rank: 32

Tyrone Tracy and Malik Nabers are building blocks who can help lift whoever is throwing passes in New York next season. Andrew Thomas's return is another selling point. Otherwise, the Giants are gonna have to bear down and find the kind of high-tide players who can help the rookie quarterback this team will almost certainly select at or toward the top of next spring's NFL Draft. --Christian D'Andrea

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week's rank: 30

The Jaguars couldn't beat the Las Vegas Raiders. THE RAIDERS. Entering Sunday, they had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft! Why is Doug Pederson still working in Jacksonville? Public appearances? I'm so confused. -- Robert Zeglinski

30. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week's rank: 31

The Raiders had worked too hard to roll over for the Jaguars, draft position be damned. Aidan O'Connell isn't a long-term solution, but he is at least a viable stopgap backup who should have a long and lucrative NFL career in front of him. Brock Bowers is great. That's about all the nice things I have for Las Vegas right now. -- CD

29. Cleveland Browns

Last week's rank: 27

In Jameis Winston's absence, Dorian Thompson-Robinson couldn't do anything to the Cincinnati defense. Just like Winston couldn't really replace Deshaun Watson, who once faced more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as "predatory behavior." Now, Myles Garrett might want a trade in the offseason. Don't get it twisted. The Browns deserve all of this. -- RZ

28. New England Patriots

Last week's rank: 29

Drake Maye continues to show signs of life as a franchise quarterback, from his scrambling ability to the absolutely gorgeous deep ball touchdown he threw to Kayshon Boutte in Buffalo. He's also turnover-prone and he straight up dropped the ball late in New England's comeback effort in Week 16. That's a long-term problem with a short-term benefit. The Patriots are now in line for a top-two draft pick. -- CD

27. Tennessee Titans

Last week's rank: 28

Brian Callahan challenged the notion of his Titans being soft. He's right. Most NFL players are tough. This Tennessee team that just surrendered 38 points to one of the NFL's worst offenses is awful, not soft. -- RZ

26. New York Jets

Last week's rank: 26

For a moment, it looked like Aaron Rodgers would once again spoil the Jets' draft position. He opened the game with a 99-yard drive capped off with a touchdown pass to Davante Adams. Fortunately for the Los Angeles Rams, this was the last time he found the end zone in a 19-9 home loss. The clutch play that defined his early career is gone, along with the pocket awareness that once made him unstoppable. That culminated in three different turnovers on downs in Week 16 and one terrible third-down strip sack that effectively ended the game. -- CD

25. Chicago Bears

Last week's rank: 23

Caleb Williams hasn't thrown an interception in nine straight games. While he's not exactly taking every risk imaginable, he's not playing with a brazen dink-and-dunk approach either. The deep shot plays are there, and he takes plenty of them. That the Bears have lost nine consecutive games in this kind of stretch for their starting quarterback says everything. There is a basement at the rock bottom in Chicago. -- RZ

24. Carolina Panthers

Last week's rank: 24

Bryce Young shouldn't be trucking anyone at 204 pounds -- an official weight that basically comes with a wink and a nod. But there he was in Week 16, running over Cardinals defensive backs and leading Carolina to another win. The Panthers have a long way to go, and Young is far from perfect, but he's shown enough promise after returning to the starting lineup to keep his team from discarding him and drafting a new QB after only two seasons on the job. -- CD

23. Indianapolis Colts

Last week's rank: 25

Indy scored 38 points on Sunday. Anthony Richardson threw for less than 200 yards, while Jonathan Taylor ran roughshod. That should tell us something about where the Colts stand -- now and in the future. Not much of it is good. -- RZ

22. New Orleans Saints

Last week's rank: 21

Monday night's route at the hands of the Green Bay Packers was a reminder of the gap between the team's aging veteran core and the young players who are either not ready or incapable of playing meaningful snaps for a playoff team. The rebuild continues, even if general manager Mickey Loomis continues to make win-now moves to sate the salary cap loan sharks he's failed to pay off over the last decade. -- CD

21. San Francisco 49ers

Last week's rank: 18

It turns out that playing with an injury-decimated depth chart wasn't feasible. For a 49ers team spiraling the drain, any absence -- be it perennial All-Pro Trent Williams or even third-string running back Isaac Guerendo -- feels like an impossible hill to climb. Make no mistake. Miami's double-digit win on Sunday was a mercy. -- RZ

20. Dallas Cowboys

Last week's rank: 22

The Cowboys dad-strengthed their way to a win. I don't know how else to describe it. Multiple balls that should have been big gains for the Buccaneers turned into Dallas takeaways. This isn't a team willing to go softly into its goodnight … and that might mean another season of Mike McCarthy as head coach. Yay? -- CD

19. Arizona Cardinals

Last week's rank: 17

All year, the Cardinals were OK. Nothing special. Nothing terrible. They didn't look like a world-beater, but at least they were in a firm playoff position and progressing well in Jonathan Gannon's rebuild. But that changes when you lose to the Panthers, even if Carolina is no longer an afterthought. Arizona can still finish this season strong, but 2024 is starting to seem like a massive step back for a team that hoped to make meaningful progress forward. -- RZ

18. Atlanta Falcons

Last week's rank: 20

There was a lot to like about Michael Penix Jr.'s starting debut for Atlanta. Yes, it came at the hands of the inept Giants, the NFL's current answer to the Washington Generals. But even still. Penix was poised, confident, and executed the Falcons' offense in a manner that the immobile Kirk Cousins simply couldn't lately. Taking Atlanta to its first postseason since 2017 would be an incredible story, and Penix seems more than capable of doing so. -- RZ

17. Miami Dolphins

Last week's rank: 19

Tua Tagovailoa was able to win even with diminished returns from Tyreek Hill, who had only three catches in Sunday's win over the 49ers (but one for a touchdown). That was enough to keep Miami's slim playoff hopes alive with games against the Browns and Jets remaining. Even if two wins don't lead to a wild card bid, rallying from 2-6 to a winning record would be a reassuring, if hollow, consolation prize. -- CD

16. Houston Texans

Last week's rank: 14

Amid C.J. Stroud's sophomore slump, Houston already had enough issues on offense. Then, young playmaker Tank Dell dislocated his kneecap. The Texans will again win the AFC South. But it's getting harder and harder to see them playing long past wild card weekend, if at all. -- RZ

15. Seattle Seahawks

Last week's rank: 13

Things are officially grim in Seattle, as the Seahawks are 0-3 against the NFC North teams who matter and face playoff odds of less than 20 percent thanks to a two-game losing streak. Geno Smith remains capable of dizzying highs and frustrating lows. The defense continues to show proof of concept but falls apart at terrible intervals. As a continuation of the Seahawks' good-not-greatness, it's concerning. As a starting point for first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, it's encouraging. -- CD

14. Cincinnati Bengals

Last week's rank: 16

Somehow, against all odds, the Bengals remain very alive. Joe Burrow has the Cincy offense humming, and Lou Anarumo's defense is, at least, somewhat passable again. Now, with a win against Denver on Saturday, the Bengals can put themselves in position for an unfathomable late-season playoff rally. Saturday is officially one of the biggest games of the Burrow era. Let's see if these Bengal tigers can deliver. -- RZ

13. Denver Broncos

Last week's rank: 11

Bo Nix's star has faded, but he continues to outplay expectations and provide hope that he can be the franchise quarterback Denver badly needs. While he threw for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns Thursday, his inability to find the end zone in the second half created the leverage Los Angeles needed for a comeback win. This should be all the sign ownership needs to spend the 2025 offseason surrounding him with high-value skill players to prevent future droughts. -- CD

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week's rank: 10

Flummoxed by a feisty Cowboys defense, the Buccaneers could not get out of their own way on Sunday night. With control of NFC South in the balance, Jourdan Lewis ripped the ball out of Jalen McMillan's hands on a sure fourth-quarter touchdown. Then, after Baker Mayfield made a heroic shovel pass, Daron Bland stripped Rachaad White for a game-winning fumble. The Buccaneers have been a surprising, if uneven, operation this year. They now have almost no margin for error and some help to win their fourth straight division championship. -- RZ

11. Los Angeles Chargers

Last week's rank: 15

Matters did not begin smoothly for the Chargers on Thursday night. Justin Herbert couldn't get anything sustainable rolling. The Broncos seemingly did whatever they wanted en route to a 21-10 lead. Then the floodgates opened. Herbert engineered five scoring drives (including three touchdowns) in a win that will likely cement this flawed but fun Chargers team into the AFC postseason. -- RZ

10. Washington Commanders

Last week's rank: 12

It took a Jalen Hurts injury and the Philadelphia defense weirdly stepping on rakes over and over, but Jayden Daniels' Commanders pulled out the dramatic win. As a result, Washington has its first season of at least 10 wins in over a decade. Barring an inexplicable late collapse, the Commanders will also soon make the postseason for the second time in the 2020s. -- RZ

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week's rank: 7

How much of Pittsburgh's offensive lull is thanks to George Pickens' offense, and how much is due to the fact that defenses are beginning to figure out Russell Wilson's tendencies as a Steeler? Mike Tomlin's team has only scored 30 total points in the last two weeks, allowing the Ravens to climb back into the AFC North race in the process. Wilson hasn't had more than 200 net passing yards in any of his last three games, which could doom his team to a new round of January frustration. -- CD

8. Los Angeles Rams

Last week's rank: 9

The Rams started the season 1-4 and now control their own destiny in the NFC West with two weeks to play. It's a remarkable turnaround and a reminder of how dangerous Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay can be. The budding defense on the other side of the ball continues to be bend-don't-break dangerous. On Sunday, that resulted in three different turnovers on downs and a third-down strip-sack of Aaron Rodgers that sealed the game. -- CD

7. Green Bay Packers

Last week's rank: 8

Josh Jacobs was a risky pickup after his disappointing 2023. But paying for an RB1 paid off for the Packers, as Jacobs is on pace for more than 1,400 rushing yards and A.J. Dillon has missed the entire season on injured reserve. That's more great resource allocation for a franchise that keeps making the right moves. -- CD

6. Minnesota Vikings

Last week's rank: 5

For a brief moment in November, it looked like perhaps Sam Darnold would regress like he had in 2022. Instead, he just crushed the Seahawks for three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 39 yards out amidst pressure and nursing a sore ankle. It's time for the Vikings to have the benefit of the doubt. They can be a real problem in the postseason. -- CD

5. Baltimore Ravens

Last week's rank: 6

At midseason, it sure seemed like the Ravens lost their footing. But then the Steelers started losing ground, Lamar Jackson kept dicing opposing defenses up. Now, Baltimore is back in position for a second consecutive division title. Beyond Jackson's MVP-caliber play the most encouraging aspect of this has been the Ravens' mini-resurgence on defense. They've allowed at least 20 points just once since the start of December. -- RZ

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Last week's rank: 3

Ooof. Well, the debate over Jalen Hurts's value is over. The Eagles turned the reins to Kenny Pickett and, after a quick slant touchdown on his third pass of the day, he was effectively a drain on the offense. His biggest plays were pass interference penalties and any time he had to progress through his roots you could see the blue screen of death reflect in his pupils. Philadelphia needs to do whatever is necessary to ensure Hurts is 100 percent by playoff time. - CD

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Last week's rank: 4

The Chiefs have 11 wins by one score. They are 14-1. For most other teams, this kind of winning formula would be unsustainable for the postseason. For the Chiefs, who somehow always know what to do when the chips are down, all bets are off. Forcing everyone in the AFC playoff field to likely eventually visit Kansas City is that big of a feather in the Chiefs' cap. -- RZ

2. Detroit Lions

Last week's rank: 2

After losing most of their starting defense for the season, the Lions delivered a statement on Sunday: they're not throwing in the towel. Yes, it was against the lowly Bears, but Detroit flexed its muscles and came out firing in an important road win in Chicago. Now, with the Eagles' latest loss, Detroit is back in the driver's seat for the NFC's No. 1 seed. Dan Campbell has his faults but he has one very important quality. He knows when to push all the right buttons. -- RZ

1. Buffalo Bills

Last week's rank: 1

It wasn't pretty. Josh Allen threw two interceptable balls at a defensive back who'd been a healthy scratch for the Patriots the previous two weeks (Marte Mapu intercepted one of them). But he course corrected in time to make up for a depleted defense and keep Buffalo alive in its quest for the top seed in the AFC. Games against the Jets and Patriots (again) present a very real path to a franchise record 14 wins. - CD

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 17: The Buccaneers, Falcons, and the NFC's most pointless standoff