2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Chiefs, Cowboys lock up division, Browns fall apart
By Randy Gurzi
Previous: 16th. Pittsburgh Steelers. 18. team. 55. .
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered this weekend with a shot at making a run at the AFC North. Then, they were completely manhandled by the Kansas City Chiefs who were up 23-0 at halftime and then spent the entire second half killing the clock.
Kansas City even took out Patrick Mahomes early in the fourth since the win was in the bag. For the Steelers, they’re now 7-7-1 and need a whole lot to go right in order for them to get back into the AFC North race.
They do have games against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens left but with how much they struggled in Week 16, it’s hard to believe in them.
28. . . Previous: 21st. Las Vegas Raiders. 17. team
17. Las Vegas Raiders
They beat the Browns in Week 15 which gave the Las Vegas Raiders a little more hope that they could finish 2021 with a winning record. Of course, they benefited from Cleveland being down to their third quarterback, but a win is a win.
Then in Week 16, they again benefited from a quarterback being out as Teddy Bridgewater missed this contest. That meant the Raiders faced a Denver team led by Drew Lock — who ended up with just 153 yards.
Las Vegas also held the Broncos to just 18 yards rushing. Having said all that, they still only won by four and needed a last-second field goal to win the week prior. In other words, they may have a winning record but they’re not striking fear into the hearts of legit contenders.