Broncos top Patriots in pre-playoff poll

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 Chicago the highest-ranked non-playoff team at 13th.
 
Atlanta was fourth; Seattle fifth.
 
Indianapolis was the biggest surprise, starting 32nd and last and finishing ninth.
 
Kansas City (2-14) finished 32nd.

Complete list:
 
1  Denver Broncos

AFC West
Record: 13-3

2  New England Patriots

AFC East
Record: 12-4

3  San Francisco 49ers

NFC West
Record: 11-4

4  Atlanta Falcons
NFC South
Record: 13-3

5  Seattle Seahawks
NFC West
Record: 11-5

6  Green Bay Packers
NFC North
Record: 11-5

7  Washington Redskins
NFC East
Record: 10-6

8  Houston Texans
AFC South
Record: 12-4

9  Indianapolis Colts
AFC South
Record: 11-5

10  Minnesota Vikings
NFC North
Record: 10-6

11  Baltimore Ravens
AFC North
Record: 10-6

12  Cincinnati Bengals
AFC North
Record: 10-6

13  Chicago Bears
NFC North
Record: 10-6

14  New York Giants
NFC East
Record: 9-7

15  Dallas Cowboys
NFC East
Record: 8-8

16  Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC North
Record: 8-8

17  New Orleans Saints
NFC South
Record: 7-9

18  St. Louis Rams
NFC West
Record: 7-8

19  Carolina Panthers
NFC South
Record: 7-9

20  Miami Dolphins
AFC East
Record: 7-9

21  San Diego Chargers
AFC West
Record: 7-9

22  Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC South
Record: 7-9

23  Buffalo Bills
AFC East
Record: 6-10

24  Tennessee Titans
AFC South
Record: 6-10

25  Cleveland Browns
AFC North
Record: 5-11

26  New York Jets
AFC East
Record: 6-10

27  Arizona Cardinals
NFC West
Record: 5-11

28  Detroit Lions
NFC North
Record: 4-12

29  Philadelphia Eagles
NFC East
Record: 4-12

30  Oakland Raiders
AFC West
Record: 4-12

31  Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC South
Record: 2-14

32  Kansas City Chiefs
AFC West
Record: 2-14 
 
   Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP

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