Broncos top team in power rankings

NEW YORK (AP) - The Denver Broncos are heading to the playoffs as the top team in the final AP Pro32 NFL power rankings of the season.

Led by Peyton Manning, the Broncos (13-3) closed the regular season on an 11-game winning streak. The AFC West champs received 10 first-place votes and 382 points in balloting Wednesday by The Associated Press' panel of 12 media members who regularly cover the league.

The New England Patriots moved up to second with one-first place vote and 361 points. The San Francisco 49ers were third with the other first-place vote and 352 points.

The top 12 teams are all in the playoffs, with the Green Bay Packers ranked sixth.

Atlanta was fourth; Seattle fifth.

Indianapolis was the biggest surprise, starting 32nd and last and finishing ninth.

Kansas City (2-14) finished 32nd.
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Comments on the Green Bay Packers by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):

GREEN BAY PACKERS (6)

Chris Berman (ESPN, 4) - Reward for going 9-2 down the stretch facing Adrian Peterson three times in six games.

Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 5) - Playing at Lambeau will help them in a rematch against Vikings.

Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 6)

Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 4) - Getting Woodson back huge especially for their run defense this weekend vs. Adrian Peterson.

Bob Glauber (Newsday, 6) - Terrifically entertaining game against Minnesota, even if the Packers lost. It'll all be forgotten if Green Bay wins the rematch in the wild card round.

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 6) - Aaron Rodgers won his second consecutive NFL passing title, completing 67.2 percent of his passes with 39 touchdowns and only eight interceptions for an efficiency rating of 108.0.

Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 6) - Good news: The Packers draw Minnesota for the second time in a week, and they get them at Lambeau Field where they beat the Vikings earlier this year and where won their 17 of their last 19, including the playoffs. Bad news: They're 2-4 in their last six playoff games at home.

Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 6) - Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood is dangerous this time of the year.

Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 6) - They lost to the Vikings in Week 16, but get them at home in wild card weekend. The Packers need to shore up their run defense and pass protection.

John Lynch (Fox Sports, 3) - I know they just lost to Minnesota, but at this time of the year ride the best QBs and Aaron Rodgers is a great one. That defense will have to show more for the Pack to have true staying power in the playoffs.

Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 6) - If the Packers can't figure out how to stop Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson they could be one-and-done in the playoffs.

Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 2) - Despite the fact they lost Sunday, Aaron Rodgers is playing great football. And that's a very good sign for the Packers.