The gap between contenders has narrowed dramatically as the NFL regular season heads into its final month, leaving the playoff picture wide open heading into Week 17.

"The margin between 10 and one is smaller than it's been all season, so seeing your team back here means they're right in the mix," Tom Brady said while unveiling his latest power rankings on Christmas Eve. "We're heading into Week 17 and we know who the good teams are. What we're going to figure out over the next month is who the great teams are."

This weekend, Brady will broadcast what could shape up as a Super Bowl preview: the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.

"I hope everyone has a great Christmas. Surrounded by friends and family, we're headed off to Buffalo for a great showdown against the Eagles on Sunday. If this gets a million likes, I'll jump through a burning table before the game. Hang on. No, deal's off."

The Rankings

Brady noted significant movement at the top of his power rankings, underscoring the competitive depth across the league.

"We got movement at the top spot yet again, and I think it just shows how many teams have a real shot this year at hoisting the Lombardi."

Seattle (No. 1): The Seahawks claimed the top spot after winning their fifth consecutive game in a thrilling Thursday night matchup against the Rams. Brady acknowledged his initial skepticism about the team has been overturned by their performance.

Jacksonville (No. 2): The Jaguars hit their season high after defeating the previously top-ranked Broncos on the road. On a six-game winning streak, Jacksonville can clinch the AFC South this weekend against Indianapolis—and could even claim the AFC's top seed, a development Brady noted seemed unlikely two months ago.

Buffalo (No. 3): The Bills extended their winning streak to four games with a victory over the Cleveland Browns, keeping the AFC East race alive. Brady downplayed the ugly nature of the late-December lakeside matchup, noting the key was escaping with the win and moving forward.

Denver (No. 4): The Broncos dropped a spot following a home loss to Jacksonville but remain in contention. Brady characterized the defeat as an outlier and cautioned against panic at Mile High given the team's overall body of work.

San Francisco (No. 5): The 49ers are gaining momentum following Brock Purdy's masterful performance Monday night. Despite injury troubles throughout the season, the offense is hitting its stride at the right time, and their playoff experience gives them an edge, Brady said.