Atlanta fans hold up a sign proclaiming the team's NFC South champions' status prior to the Falcons clinching home field advantage in the post-season against the Carolina Panthers during the final week of the NFL's regular season. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Once a week, Tony breaks down the balance of power in the National Football League.

	1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS [unchanged] Overall record: 14-2 Streak: Won eight This is the second time in three years that the Patriots head into the playoffs as Super Bowl favourites. We know their offence is on fire, but will the defence be able to step up and make plays when it counts, or crumble like the unit in Super Bowl XLII? I’m sure quarterback Tom Brady will do everything in his power to avoid a repeat that ruined a perfect season.
	2. ATLANTA FALCONS [unchanged] Overall record: 13-3 Streak: Won one The Falcons got what they wanted: Home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. But in order to make it to Dallas next month, that No. 22-ranked pass defence will have to improve in a hurry.
	3. PITTSBURGH STEELERS [up from 5] Overall record: 12-4 Streak: Won two While the Steelers clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC, the more exciting news was the return of all-world safety Troy Polamalu, who will greatly benefit from the off-week Pittsburgh earned with its blow-out victory in Cleveland.
	4. BALTIMORE RAVENS [unchanged] Overall record: 12-4 Streak: Won four If there’s one team that isn’t bother with the prospect of playing the post-season on the road, it’s the Ravens. Another encouraging sign is safety Ed Reed returned to Pro Bowl form at just the right time.
	5. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS [down from 4] Overall record: 11-5 Streak: Lost one Hard to complain about a loss in the season finale when the Saints “fall into” a matchup with Seattle in the first-round of the post-season.
	6.CHICAGO BEARS [unchanged] Overall record: 11-5 Streak: Lost one Don’t dismiss the Bears’ loss in Green Bay despite locking down the NFC’s No. 2 seed before the game even started. Chicago played all out but was bested by a determined Packers team.
	7. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES [unchanged] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Lost two Michael Vick boldly stated that had he played the entire game, his Eagles’ squad would’ve taken the Packers earlier this season. Well, with Green Bay in town once again, we’ll get to see if Vick can back up his words.
	8. N.Y. JETS [unchanged] Overall record: 11-5 Streak: Won one After all their bravado throughout the season and Super Bowl talk, it’s time for Rex Ryan’s group to actually do something on the field.
	9. GREEN BAY PACKERS [up from 10] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Won two Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been showered with accolades since taking over from Brett Favre. But Rodgers knows better than anybody else - particularly since he replaced No. 4 - that reputations are made with post-season victories and Super Bowl titles. Simple making yearly playoff appearances isn’t going to cut it in Green Bay.
	10. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS [up from 11] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Won four They made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, overcame a dearth of injuries and remain a player in the AFC.
	11. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS [down from 9] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Lost one Quarterback Matt Cassel had an outstanding season for the Chiefs, but struggled with a Raiders pass rush in the final week. With Baltimore rolling into Kansas City, Cassel will have to contend with a superior front seven then the one he had trouble with this past Sunday.
	12. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS [up from 13] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Won two The biggest hurdle facing these young Buccaneers will be the step up in competition. They won’t be catching anybody by surprise next season.
	13. N.Y. GIANTS [down from 12] Overall record: 10-6 Streak: Won one Two late-season collapses weren’t enough to get coach Tom Coughlin fired. In fact, he could get a contract extension as the Giants don’t normally allow their head coach to enter the final year without a deal.
	14. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS [unchanged] Overall record: 9-7 Streak: Won one Rookie running back Ryan Mathews (126 yards, 3 TDs against Denver) finally showed why he is was a first-round pick. The production, however, came a little too late.
	15. OAKLAND RAIDERS [up from 17] Overall record: 8-8 Streak: Won one It’s one of those quirky stats you place under the weird file. The Raiders finished a perfect 6-0 in the AFC West, but will be watching the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms. It was the first time a team swept through its division without earning a post-season berth since the 1970 merger, a thought that’s going to drive owner Al Davis crazy, if it hasn’t already.
	16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS [up from 20] Overall record: 7-9 Streak: Won one The Seahawks become the only franchise to win a division title while sporting a losing record. Can you image if they somehow manage a playoff run all the way to the Super Bowl? We’re talking CFL hilarity here.
	17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS [down from 15] Overall record: 8-8 Streak: Lost three Had someone told owner Wayne Weaver in September that his beleaguered franchise would win eight games, he would’ve taken it in a heartbeat. Yet seeing his team drop its last three games and letting the AFC South crown slip away isn’t any easier to take.
	18. ST. LOUIS RAMS [down from 16] Overall record: 7-9 Streak: Lost one I’ve been poking fun at the ineptitude of the NFL West, but the Rams are in great shape with quarterback Sam Bradford under centre.
	19. MIAMI DOLPHINS [down from 18] Overall record: 7-9 Streak: Lost three There could possibly be three quarterbacks available in the upcoming draft by the time Miami’s number comes up. With questions continuing to dog Chad Henne, it’ll be interesting to see if the Dolphins pull the trigger on one of them.
	20. DALLAS COWBOYS [up from 24] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Won one It appears Jason Garrett will remain the head coach of the Cowboys. If you have the owner’s ear then plead for defensive reinforcements next season, Jason.
	21. DETROIT LIONS [up from 23] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Won four Hey the Lions finally finished out of the NFC North basement for the first time in three years. Is that progress or was Minnesota that bad?
	22. MINNESOTA VIKINGS [down from 19] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Lost one The Vikings removed the interim tag on coach Leslie Frazier, who must now find a quarterback to replace Brett Favre. And speaking of the future Hall of Famer, his first months of retirement (please retire Brett, I’m serious go away) will be dealing with a sexual harassment suit.
	23. TENNESSEE TITANS [down from 22] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Lost two With all the Vince Young-Jeff Fisher distractions this year, it’s easy to forget that this franchise has several talented players in place. Although running back Chris Johnson will make life miserable for GM Mike Reinfeldt if he doesn’t get a lucrative contract in the off-season.
	24. HOUSTON TEXANS [up from 25] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Won one Exactly how many more bad years does it take to oust Gary Kubiak? I mean, the guy has been the coach for five years, produced one winning season and no playoff appearances. It makes me want to work for owner Bob McNair. I figure I can build a nice bed – in true George Costanza style – under my desk and enjoy a fruitful 30-year stint in Houston.
	25. WASHINGTON REDSKINS [down from 21] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Lost one As an admitted Cowboys fan I have one request for coach Mike Shanahan: Please re-sign Rex Grossman and make him the starting quarterback next year. Pretty please!
	26. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS [up from 27] Overall record: 6-10 Streak: Won one After five seasons Alex Smith pocketed $24 million US of guaranteed money but the 49ers are no closer to finding franchise quarterback during that time. It’s a perfect example of why teams can’t afford to miss when they take QBs first overall.
	27. CLEVELAND BROWNS [down from 26] Overall record: 5-11 Streak: Lost four Now that Eric Mangini is gone, president Mike Holmgren said his first priority is to find the team’s next head coach. Come on, Mike, you know you’re just itching to get back to the sidelines. Just get it over with already.
	28. ARIZONA CARDINALS [unchanged] Overall record: 5-11 Streak: Lost one Once thought of as a rising coach in the league, Ken Whisenhunt won’t be in owner Bill Bidwill’s good book if the Cardinals have a repeat of this season’s debacle.
	29. DENVER BRONCOS [up from 30] Overall record: 4-12 Streak: Lost one What a sight. Denver icon John Elway, the team’s new front-office boss, was on the sidelines watching his beloved Stanford Cardinal and likely first-overall pick Andrew Luck destroy Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl Monday night. Now, I’m no mind reader, but you have to figure thoughts of Luck in a Broncos uniform has to be on Elway’s wish list.
	30. BUFFALO BILLS [down from 29] Overall record: 4-12 Streak Lost two Another lousy year results in the 11th straight season the Bills won’t be in the playoffs. Next year doesn’t look any brighter, boys.
	31.CINCINNATI BENGALS [unchanged] Overall record: 4-12 Streak: Lost one So Marvin Lewis is staying on as head coach. Considering the Bengals’ archaic way of doing business and Lewis’ dwindling coaching appeal, the move isn’t that surprising.
	32. CAROLINA PANTHERS [unchanged] Overall record: 2-14 Streak: Lost two I’ve chided John Fox throughout the season, but the former Panthers’ sideline boss won’t take long to get back on his feet. The man is still a respected NFL coach. As for the Panthers, there is a report that the franchise will select Luck if the redshirt sophomore declares for the draft. You’ll get no argument from here.