2. Atlanta Falcons (13-3, Previous: 2)

The Raanan Rankings - Week 17

Offense: 4.5
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 4.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 21.5

Overall: The NFC's best team from start to finish in the regular season. The reality is it means nothing if Matt Ryan and Co. can't win a playoff game. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Week 17 By Jordan Raanan, XFINITY Sports

For so many teams, it was the year of unfulfilled expectations. Just look at the Black Monday carnage. The bottom two teams in the Raanan Rankings were trendy picks to win their divisions. The 28th and 26th-ranked teams were expected to make some noise. They didn't.

Instead, it was the year of the rookie quarterback. The top five features teams led by Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and two rookies — Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson. Andrew Luck's Colts also cracked the Top 10.

Just another 17-week campaign in the books. Here are the final regular season Raanan Rankings: (AP Photos)

(Note: The Raanan Rankings are comprised of a total score for each team from five categories — offense, defense, special teams, quarterback and coaching. The scale for each category ranges from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Ties for teams with identical points totals were broken based on number of wins, head to head matchups and quarterback ranking.)

Jordan Raanan has covered the NFL since 2005. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan, Facebook or email him at jraanan@hotmail.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. Denver Bronco... Offense: 4.5
Defense: 4.5
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 5
Coaching: 4.5
Total Points: 22.5

Overall: Peyton Manning retains his title as the “Greatest Regular Season Quarterback of All-Time.” (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Atlanta Falco... Offense: 4.5
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 4.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 21.5

Overall: The NFC's best team from start to finish in the regular season. The reality is it means nothing if Matt Ryan and Co. can't win a playoff game. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
3. Seattle Seaha... Offense: 4
Defense: 4.5
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 21

Overall: Nobody in the NFC is playing better than the Seahawks right now. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. New England P... Offense: 5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 5
Coaching: 4.5
Total Points: 20

Overall: The Patriots averaged 35 points per game this season. That's five points more than the second-ranked team (Denver) and 22 points more than Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. Washington Re... Offense: 4
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 4.5
Coaching: 4.5
Total Points: 20

Overall: Alfred Morris finished second in the NFL with 1,613 yards rushing. Pretty good for a sixth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. Green Bay Pac... Offense: 4
Defense: 3
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 19.5

Overall: Aaron Rodgers' final line: 39 TDs, 8 INTs, 67.2 completion percentage, 108 QB Rating. And somehow his name barely gets mentioned in the MVP race. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
7. Houston Texan... Offense: 4
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 3.5
Total Points: 19

Overall: The loss of Brian Cushing ultimately kept them from being one of the NFL's best teams. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. San Francisco... Offense: 4
Defense: 4.5
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 3.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 19

Overall: The final tally for Alex Smith: 13 TDs, 6 TOs, 1,869 total yards in nine starts; Colin Kaepernick: 15 TDs, 5 TOs 2,229 total yards in eight starts. It’s time to find out if Jim Harbaugh’s midseason switch was really the right call. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. Cincinnati Be... Offense: 4
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 3.5
Coaching: 3.5
Total Points: 19

Overall: Geno Atkins' 12.5 sacks was the most from an interior lineman (aside from J.J. Watt this season) since Baltimore's Trevor Pryce had 13.0 in 2006. (AP Photo/Michael Keating)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
10. Indianapolis... Offense: 4
Defense: 2.5
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 18

Overall: Coaches (Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians) of the Year! (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
11. Baltimore Ra... Offense: 3.5
Defense: 3
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 3.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 18

Overall: Joe Flacco threw 22 touchdown passes in 16 games this season. Not ideal in a contract year. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
12. Minnesota Vi... Offense: 3.5
Defense: 4.5
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 1.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 18

Overall: Couldn't be any more impressed with Adrian Peterson and the Vikings in the final two weeks of the regular season. They won at Houston and vs. Green Bay to make the postseason. Wow! (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
13. Dallas Cowbo... Offense: 3.5
Defense: 3
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 3
Total Points: 17

Overall: This idea that Tony Romo can't play in big games is ridiculous. That’s like saying the previous eight games weren't big games with the Cowboys' season on the line? (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
14. Chicago Bear... Offense: 2
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 3.5
Coaching: 3
Total Points: 16.5

Overall: Sorry Bears players, it was just time for a change. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
15. New York Gia... Offense: 4
Defense: 1.5
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 2.5
Total Points: 16.5

Overall: Why did the Giants miss the playoffs? Their defense was putrid. They finished 31st in total defense. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
16. Pittsburgh S... Offense: 2
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 2.5
Total Points: 16.5

Overall: The Steelers got nothing this season from Troy Polamalu and James Harrison. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
17. New Orleans ... Offense: 4.5
Defense: 1
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 4.5
Coaching: 3
Total Points: 16

Overall: Drew Brees finished with 5,177 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. The Saints finished allowing more than 50 yards per game than any other team. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
18. Carolina Pan... Offense: 3.5
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 4
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 16

Overall: Free DeAngelo Williams! The Panthers running back rushed for 210 yards in the season finale against the Saints. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
19. St. Louis Ra... Offense: 2
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 3.5
Quarterback: 2.5
Coaching: 4
Total Points: 15.5

Overall: Clearly a step in the right direction for the Rams. Now they just need to add to their offensive talent. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
20. Miami Dolphi... Offense: 2
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 2
Coaching: 3
Total Points: 15

Overall: It was obvious Sunday in New England, Miami is still a world behind the Patriots, the class of the AFC East. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
21. Tampa Bay Bu... Offense: 3
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 3
Coaching: 2.5
Total Points: 13.5

Overall: Josh Freeman threw 10 interceptions in the final five weeks of the season. Unacceptable. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
22. Cleveland Br... Offense: 2
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 4.5
Quarterback: 1.5
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 13.5

Overall: Cleveland seemed to be heading in the right direction. Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner still decided to clean house and fire coach Pat Shurmur. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
23. San Diego Ch... Offense: 2
Defense: 3.5
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 2.5
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 13

Overall: Norv Turner and A.J. Smith just had to go. Had… to… go. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
24. Arizona Card... Offense: 1
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 4
Quarterback: 1
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 12

Overall: The Cardinals finished the season losing 11 of their last 12. Ouch. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
25. Tennessee Ti... Offense: 2
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 1.5
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 10.5

Overall: When you don't land Peyton Manning, the eccentric, old owner might deliver a pink slip. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
26. Detroit Lion... Offense: 2.5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 1.5
Quarterback: 3
Coaching: 1
Total Points: 10.5

Overall: Jim Schwartz… saved by a contract extension in the offseason. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
27. New York Jet... Offense: 1
Defense: 4
Special Teams: 2
Quarterback: 1
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 10

Overall: No way general manager Mike Tannenbaum could survive after seeing the offensive talent the Jets put on the field this season. No team in the NFL had worse offensive personnel. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
28. Buffalo Bill... Offense: 1.5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 1.5
Coaching: 1.5
Total Points: 9.5

Overall: The Bills are only about a decade behind the curve. What did they expect when they hired a 70-year-old GM. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
29. Oakland Raid... Offense: 1.5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 1.5
Coaching: 1.5
Total Points: 9.5

Overall: Four assistants fired after one year on the job. It's like Al Davis is still in charge. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
30. Jacksonville... Offense: 1
Defense: 3
Special Teams: 3
Quarterback: 1
Coaching: 1.5
Total Points: 9.5

Overall: General manager Gene Smith was fired on Monday. That doesn't bode well for head coach Mike Mularkey. A holdover head coach never lasts long with a new GM. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
31. Philadelphia... Offense: 1.5
Defense: 1.5
Special Teams: 1.5
Quarterback: 2
Coaching: 2
Total Points: 8.5

Overall: The end of the Andy Reid was ugly. The Eagles have dropped 23 of their last 35 games. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
32. Kansas City ... Offense: 1.5
Defense: 2
Special Teams: 2
Quarterback: 1
Coaching: 1
Total Points: 7.5

Overall: And the GM of the worst team in the league kept his job. Imagine that. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.