If you’re into NFL football betting, you’re looking like the wisest of wise men if you put a wager on the to win the before the season started.

But, if you’re one of the many people who put money on the , Patriots, or , you might be feeling a little glum this week, since none of those teams are in the postseason.

Now, I can understand that Vegas might feel pretty good about having the top seeds from each conference as the favorites for Super Bowl XLIII, but they are just a couple of the contenders who ended the season on a slide, Cowboys and Jets included.

On that note, there are several changes in the final set of best and worst rankings, including at the very top.

Instead of just giving a top 10 for the final installment of the ‘best’ rankings, I thought I’d extend it to a top 12 for the 12 teams still standing.

Without rambling on any further, here’s the best of the best.

1. (12-4): Sure, they’re a wild-card team, and sure, they could easily be knocked out this weekend on the road against a hot San Diego team. But no team heads into the playoffs as hot as the Colts, who’d have been the AFC’s top seed if not for that now-forgotten 3-4 start.

2. (12-4): The Steelers rebounded from a disappointing loss at Tennessee by routing the hapless Browns to end the season.

3. (12-4): Losing three of their last four isn’t the way that they needed to go into the playoffs. Maybe they’ll remember that they have a title to defend in time to avoid an early exit, but don’t be surprised if this team is not the one representing the in Miami.

4. (12-4): They needed that last-minute rally in New Orleans to win the South and capture the #2 seed.

5. (12-4): I bet they’re glad they had that 10-0 start now, after their stuttering finish and the Colts’ blistering finish made for a tie atop the standings in the end, despite the Titans’ clinching the division weeks ago.

6. (11-5): The feel-good story continues on into the postseason for Tony Sparano and the Dolphins. Oh how sweet it is for .

7. (11-5): How far can this team go? Their defense is going to have to step up against Kurt Warner to avoid their great year coming to an end earlier than they want it to.

8. (11-5): Don’t sleep on this team. The Ravens have a rookie QB and are going on the road to a high-flying team, but they have a lot of guys who’ve been here before and know how to perform.

9. (8-8): Are the real finally showing up? If they are, there’s a more than fair chance there could be an 8-8 team in the Super Bowl.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1): If the Eagles defense wreaks as much havoc against the Vikings as they did against the Cowboys, could be in for a nightmare day.

11. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Whether or not Jackson can keep up his strong play over the last few weeks will be key to the Vikings’ hopes of playing past this weekend. He’s still prone to mistakes, but it looks like he’s taken his second chance by the horns, and that can only be good things for the Vikes‘ chances.

12. (9-7): After looking nothing like a playoff team for much of the previous month, the Cardinals gained some much-needed momentum with Sunday’s win over the Seahawks. Hosting a playoff game is a great accomplishment for the Cards, but winning it would be even greater.

It’d be punishing teams like the and to put them in the final bottom 10. Even though neither team is in the playoffs, both teams enter 2009 looking like they could be in the final dozen next season after strong finishes.

A couple other teams in the bottom 10 were also impressive down the stretch, and a promising 2009 could await, if the pieces fall into place. A few other teams are far too talented to be here, and go into the offseason wondering what they need to do to avoid another underachieving season in 2009.

23. (9-7): I don’t think too many people would argue with this one. The Cowboys were expected to be a Super Bowl contender this year, but instead. Did they even know they had a game on Sunday? Maybe they did, but they were already looking ahead to their vacations.

24. (6-10): had a better year than , but in the end, neither will be going to the playoffs.

25. (5-11): Nothing like playing the spoiler to someone playoff’s hopes, right? Maybe less = more wins for the Raiders.

26. (5-11): is going to be on the hot seat heading into next season, and if the Jaguars have another forgettable season in what stands to be a wildly competitive , he could be out of work this time next year.

27. (4-11-1): Three straight wins and a revelation at running back in Cedric Benson. Safe to say that will be back?

28. (4-12): has a job ahead of him to wipe this year off the books and turn the Seahawks back into one of the ’s top teams. Won’t be easy though, because the Cardinals are on the rise under , and ’s 49ers could very well make a run at the West title next season.

29. (2-14): What does the future hold for the Chiefs? A new coach? A new quarterback? It’ll be a pretty interesting off-season in K.C., that’s for sure.

30. (4-12): 31 points in their last six games. 0 in the last two. The inevitable happened with and GM , but it was a pretty painful way for things to end for all involved.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Did the Rams do enough against Atlanta to convince the brass that should be the head coach next year?

32. (0-16): You had to expect that they’d put up a fight at Green Bay, and they did. But thankfully the season is over, and the Lions can really start the rebuilding process now.

The postseason gets underway this weekend, and if you’re looking to make any wagers on this weekend’s wild-card games, your online sportsbook destination should be BetUS. Remember, wager responsibly!

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