NFL power rankings: The regular season is in the books and the NFL Playoffs have arrived. It’s everyone’s favorite time of year, when legacies are on the line as 14 teams battle it out on the road to Super Bowl LV.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers have spent most of the season at the top of our NFL power rankings. With the playoffs set to kick off, it should come as no surprise they are the teams to beat in the AFC and NFC. While they are the favorites, though, there is plenty of incredible competition.
Thanks to the new format for the NFL Playoffs, we’ll see six games this coming weekend. More football means an even greater shot at some shocking upset and wild finishes. Of course, it’s also a time for some future Hall of Fame quarterbacks to shine and cement their incredible legacies. Finally, after a 17-week season, it’s playoff time.
With the NFL Playoffs set to begin, let’s dive into our latest NFL power rankings.
NFL Power Rankings: Who will win Super Bowl LV?
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Repeating as Super Bowl champions isn’t easy, but the Kansas City Chiefs have an incredible opportunity to do it this year. With the starters resting in Week 17, Patrick Mahomes and Co. will have a two-week break before returning to action in the NFL Playoffs. When you have the NFL’s best offense paired with a defense capable of generating takeaways, the sky is the limit. The road to Super Bowl LV will be challenging, but this is the team to beat.
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2. Green Bay Packers
On the verge of going into the NFL Playoffs with a healthy roster, the Green Bay Packers lost All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari to a torn ACL. It’s a massive blow for the NFL’s best offensive line and will make a postseason run more challenging for Aaron Rodgers. With that said, the Packers are on fire right now. Home-field advantage in the NFC, an MVP quarterback, a dominant run game and an underrated defense. It won’t surprise anyone if the road to Super Bowl LV goes through Green Bay.
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3. Buffalo Bills
We said before the season that Josh Allen is the one player standing in the way of the Buffalo Bills being Super Bowl contenders. Sure enough, with Allen playing at an MVP-caliber level, the Bills are a legitimate threat to the Chiefs in the AFC. The offense is incredible to watch and the defense is starting to rediscover its form. Now, let’s see how Allen performs in the playoffs.
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4. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have taken their fans on a roller coaster ride this season. At times, this looked like the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC. Then you’d see brutal stretches where it seemed like the Seahawks wouldn’t even make the NFL Playoffs. Credit to this team for getting refocused and locking in when it matters, because this defense is on fire and the offense is dangerous.
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5. New Orleans Saints
Timing is everything for the New Orleans Saints. Alvin Kamara tested positive for COVID-19, putting his availability for the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs in jeopardy. It all comes at a time when Michael Thomas is closing in on a return, finally healthy after dealing with injuries all season. We have confidence in the Saints at home. After that, Drew Brees’ playoff history makes it wise to bet against him.
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6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is the reason why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Tom Brady. The fans love that he brought this team back to the playoffs, but this will all be forgotten if Bucs suffer an early playoff exit. At this team’s peak, it can beat anyone. The problem, as we’ve seen in recent months, it goes through cold stretches and its defense is a bigger liability than before. There are a wide range of outcomes for the Buccaneers, but playing Super Bowl LV at home in Tampa Bay isn’t the likeliest result.
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7. Baltimore Ravens
Sitting at 6-5, the Baltimore Ravens needed a huge turnaround to make the NFL Playoffs. Sure enough, Lamar Jackson put the team on his back and carried it to the promised land. With five consecutive victories, this team feels confident and its defense is healthy at the right time. They disappointed last year as the No. 1 seed, but the Ravens have a good shot at surprising people this time around.
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8. Pittsburgh Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers jumped out to an 11-0 record, the No. 1 seed seemed like a strong bet and an undefeated record even seemed possible. Instead, with everyone expecting Pittsburgh to crash down to earth, that’s exactly what it did. There’s nothing wrong with a 12-4 record and an AFC North title, but injuries have decimated a dominant defense and Ben Roethlisberger isn’t capable of beating a playoff team on his own.
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9. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are headed to the NFL Playoffs for the first time in 18 years. It’s ridiculous how long this fan base has waited for playoff football to return, but the moment is finally here. The Browns have the running game to dominate in January, no matter where they play. An AFC North battle against the Steelers is exactly the kind of matchup that will make the first round of the playoffs fun to watch.
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10. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are headed to the NFL Playoffs. After suffering an inexplicable Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jonathan Taylor and Philip Rivers easily took care of business in Week 17. Looking ahead to the playoffs, things don’t bode well for Indianapolis. After all, they have to go up against the high-flying Bills in Western New York. Good luck with that.
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11. Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry shouldered the load for this team in 2019, pushing them into the NFL Playoffs. With the way Tennessee’s defense has played this season, Tannehill and Henry have been asked to carry this team more than ever. Henry is capable of a 150-yard game any week and Tannehill has suddenly become one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. But this team struggles in shootouts and with one of the league’s worst defenses, that doesn’t bode well for their life in the playoffs.
12. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears might need to rethink paying Mitchell Trubisky. In a crucial NFC North battle, Trubisky came up well short and showed his alarming limitations as a quarterback are still there. Even more alarming for Chicago, its defense was picked apart by Aaron Rodgers for four touchdowns and it never looked difficult. This team doesn’t have much of a chance against the New Orleans Saints next weekend.
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13. Los Angeles Rams
It’s a shame the Los Angeles Rams don’t have a reliable quarterback. Put an above-average starter under center and we’re talking about the best team in the NFL, easily the greatest threat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, a brilliant head coach and an elite defense will be wasted. Sean McVay remains a quarterback away from a Super Bowl ring. We’ll see that first-hand against the Seahawks next week.
14. Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team might be the feel-good story of the 2020 NFL season. Ron Rivera battling cancer and winning, Alex Smith’s remarkable comeback story and this team overcoming Daniel Snyder. Washington’s defense is outstanding, one capable of causing plenty of issues for opponents. Unfortunately, the offense isn’t remotely in a position to win a playoff game. As a result, this incredible ride likely ends in an immediate playoff exit.
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NFL power rankings: Despite a narrow win over the Falcons last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs sit atop our latest power rankings. They do so after having clinched home-field advantage in the AFC Playoffs. The Green Bay Packers remained at two after also clinching homefield in the NFC. On the other side of the ledger, the Jacksonville Jaguars remain the worst team in the league.
Let’s dive into our latest NFL power rankings heading into NFL Week 17.
NFL Week 17: Schedule and game-by-game predictions
NFL power rankings: Who is the best NFL team entering Week 17?
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t often win games in pretty fashion. We saw that on display once again, this time in Week 16 with a game that probably should have gone to overtime. Kansas City didn’t find the end zone until the final minute of the second quarter and didn’t return until Patrick Mahomes’ go-ahead touchdown strike with 1:55 left in the game. All that matters is the Chiefs have the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Besides, this team will be unstoppable when it starts clicking.
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2. Green Bay Packers (2)
The Green Bay Packers made two statements in Week 16. First, Aaron Rodgers deserves to be the NFL MVP and that’s something no one saw coming from the 37-year-old quarterback. Second, Green Bay’s run defense might not be as problematic as we thought. The Packers utterly destroyed the Tennessee Titans and are a Week 17 victory away from a first-round bye. Facing the Packers at Lambeau Field in the playoffs should scare every NFC contender.
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3. Buffalo Bills (3)
The Bills had absolutely no problem with a horrible New England Patriots team in Week 16, defeating Bill Belichick and Co. by the score of 38-9 to move to 12-3 on the season. Buffalo’s stingy defense held Cam Newton to 15 net passing yards on 10 attempts before he was benched. Meanwhile, Josh Allen threw four more scores against zero interceptions and has now tallied 42 total touchdowns in 15 starts. Sean McDermott’s squad looks like a well-oiled machine.
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4. Seattle Seahawks (5)
Seattle entered Week 16 with everything on the line, facing a tough matchup. Russell Wilson made enough plays to keep the Seahawks ahead. The bigger story from Sunday’s game, even more so the past few weeks, is this defense. Once a unit that looked like it couldn’t stop a JV squad, Seattle’s defense has been among the NFL’s best as of late. They are back in the hunt as Super Bowl contenders.
Related: NFL defense rankings – Examining the top defenses in the NFL.
5. New Orleans Saints (4)
The only person who can stop Alvin Kamara is Sean Payton putting the football in Taysom Hill’s hands. Kamara delivered a performance for the ages, leading the Saints to victory and an NFC South title with six touchdowns. It proves how valuable he is to this offense and why he should be the focal point in the NFL Playoffs. Otherwise, given Drew Brees’ struggles, it will be an early exit in January for the Saints.
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NFL power rankings: Playoff contenders entering Week 17
6. Baltimore Ravens (6)
Getting hot at the right time can mean everything. Plenty of Baltimore’s recent stretch of dominance can be explained by a laughably weak schedule, but this team is playing better on both sides of the ball. The Ravens control their destiny, with a win in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals guaranteeing a playoff berth. Whether they face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans or Cleveland Browns, this looks like a team who can win in the first round.
Related: NFL QB rankings – Russell Wilson not a top-five QB? Aaron Rodgers for MVP.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
For those questioning Tom Brady’s arm strength, the 43-year-old silenced the critics in Week 16. A 348-yard performance with four scores, all of that done in a single half. The Buccaneers were completely rolling on Saturday, in what the fan base can only hope is a sign of things to come. The Atlanta Falcons await in Week 17, but there won’t be much on the line for either team.
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8. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
Trailing 24-7 midway through the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh found itself at a pivotal moment. It felt like the Steelers were about to drop their fourth consecutive game, heading into the NFL Playoffs on a frigid note. Suddenly, Ben Roethlisberger came alive and Pittsburgh’s defense never let the Indianapolis Colts smell points again.
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9. Tennessee Titans (9)
A year ago, the Titans were in the middle of riding Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry into a hot streak that carried them to the AFC Championship Game. Based on how this team looked in Week 16, don’t count on that happening again. Tennessee can’t play defense, it can’t pressure the quarterback and it is screwed if this team falls behind. That all spells disaster in the playoffs.
10. Miami Dolphins (12)
FitzMagic saved the day. With head coach Brian Flores displeased by rookie Tua Tagovailoa’s performance and the team needing a spark, in came Ryan Fitzpatrick. It made the difference, igniting a spark that turned things around and ended in an epic finish. Believe it or not, the Miami Dolphins will enter Week 17 on the verge of making the playoffs.
11. Cleveland Browns (7)
There’s no getting around the humiliation that comes from a loss to the New York Jets. With that said, Cleveland played without its top four receivers and its two best offensive linemen in Week 16. A slight pass can be given, but this game also wiped away any shot at winning the AFC North and a home playoff game. Things looked so promising and now it could all come crashing down, which seems fitting for Cleveland.
12. Chicago Bears (15)
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Just a few weeks ago, the Bears seemed dead in the water. A six-game losing streak is usually a death sentence for a team’s playoff hopes, but Chicago enters Week 17 in a “win-and-in” scenario. The offense is playing out of its mind right now and this defense remains one of the best in the NFL. Sunday’s matchup against the Packers will be a great litmus test to determine if this team is for real.
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13. Indianapolis Colts (10)
The Colts could be kicking themselves all offseason for their fourth-quarter collapse in Week 16. There’s a chance this becomes just the third NFL team to win 11 games and miss the playoffs, a painful stat Indianapolis wants no part of. Given how inconsistent the Colts have played as of late, though, it might be an outcome they deserve.
14. Los Angeles Rams (13)
Jared Goff is the one thing holding the Los Angeles Rams back from being the best team in the NFL. Coincidentally, his broken right thumb is also the issue that might keep this team out of the playoffs. John Wolford is not an NFL quarterback and Los Angeles realistically has little hope to win in Week 17 if he is the starter. If this team doesn’t make the playoffs, every NFC contender should consider it a Christmas gift.
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15. Arizona Cardinals (14)
Arizona controlled its playoff destiny, it simply needed to beat an injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers team with nothing to play for. If you watched this Week 16 NFC West clash, you’d think the Cardinals were the club whose season was already over. Blame for this collapse can fall on Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. Either way, the Cardinals need a wake-up call this offseason.
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16. San Francisco 49ers (22)
The San Francisco 49ers are going to be Super Bowl contenders next season. Watching this team fight in every game, playing under difficult circumstances and without so many impact players, speaks to Kyle Shanahan’s coaching abilities. The 49ers will close out their season in Week 17 and we’d give them a shot to at least make things scary for the Seahawks.
17. Minnesota Vikings (18)
Mike Zimmer will see Alvin Kamara in his nightmares. The Vikings couldn’t tackle, failed to fill running lanes and made far too many mental mistakes. The end result was an ugly loss to the Saints in Week 16 and knocked out of playoff contention. Minnesota could beat the Detroit Lions in Week 17 to finish 7-9, but this will go down as a disappointing season.
18. Dallas Cowboys (27)
The Cowboys still have a shot at winning the NFC East, it’s only fitting for 2020. Andy Dalton ripped Philadelphia’s secondary to shreds and this team is now coming off three consecutive victories. It will take plenty of help in Week 17 to make the playoffs, including a win over the New York Giants, but the fact it’s possible is a credit to the players.
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19. Los Angeles Chargers (23)
The Chargers have won consecutive games with last-minute scores. Even reading those words, it sounds too impossible to be true. Justin Herbert set the rookie record for passing touchdowns and the number could be even higher if he had a good play-caller designing this offense. Consider that the top priority on this team’s 2021 resolutions list.
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20. Washington Football Team (16)
The Dwyane Haskins era is over. Frankly, it’s fitting that it ended with the 23-year-old getting benched for a third-string quarterback and then skipping out on his media obligations after the game. As for the Washington Football Team, its playoff hopes rest entirely on Alex Smith being cleared for Week 17. Can we just not have an NFC East team in the playoffs?
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21. Atlanta Falcons (24)
Atlanta nearly pulled off an even bigger upset in Week 16 than the Jets over the Rams. If not for a dropped interception and Younghoe Koo’s shanked kick on a game-tying attempt, the Falcons might actually have won. Raheem Morris is proving he deserves to remain the head coach in 2021, but some moves will need to be made this offseason.
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22. Las Vegas Raiders (19)
The Las Vegas Raiders battled with Miami until the end, but some baffling coaching decisions by Jon Gruden proved costly. It’s becoming an all too familiar story with this club, they start hot and then choke away a shot at the playoffs when the season starts to wind down. Given Gruden is locked into a 10-year contract, though, he is safer than he should be.
23. New York Giants (20)
Daniel Jones didn’t give the football away in Week 16, which we’ll consider an accomplishment based on the standards he has created in his two NFL seasons. The Giants seemed to be in a great spot to win the NFC East a few weeks ago, but it all came crashing down during this three-game losing streak. Does this team deserve to be in the playoffs? No. But this year is bizarre, weird things happen and the 6-10 Giants winning the division seems plausible.
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24. Philadelphia Eagles (17)
The Eagles are officially eliminated from playoff contention. It’s a fitting end to a season that no one in Philadelphia will want to remember. Week 17 doesn’t really matter, it’s just more days leading up to the most fascinating NFL offseason in years.
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25. New England Patriots (21)
What a pathetic Week 16 performance from Cam Newton and the Patriots. The former NFL MVP was benched after putting up 15 net passing yards on 10 attempts with his team down 31-9 in the third quarter. Bill Belichick was clearly frustrated. Among other things, these Patriots now need to reset at the quarterback position. They also lack talent at the skill positions. This year’s performance is a prime example of that.
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26. Carolina Panthers (26)
If Joe Brady returns as Carolina’s offensive coordinator next season, it will be just as valuable as a healthy Christian McCaffrey in 2021. This offense is fun to watch, even without its All-Pro offensive weapon and we expect even greater things from it a year from now. After a Week 17 loss to the Saints, Carolina will be in an even better position for a top 2021 NFL Draft pick.
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27. Denver Broncos (25)
Coming out of the 2020 season, Drew Lock provided the Broncos with far more questions than answers. He is tied with Carson Wentz for a league-high 15 interceptions and is the least accurate quarterback in the NFL. Based on everything we’ve seen, it’s in the team’s best interests to find a quarterback this offseason.
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28. New York Jets (31)
Consecutive victories, words we never expected to use when writing about the New York Jets. It’s not like Adam Gase’s squad beat fellow cellar-dwelling teams, the Rams and Browns are legit playoff-caliber opponents. The Jets have officially lost out on Trevor Lawrence,
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29. Cincinnati Bengals (29)
A matchup between two of the worst teams in the NFL delivered the fireworks you’d expect. Cincinnati pulled out a 37-31 victory and Zac Taylor is firmly secured as the head coach for 2021. That might not be for the best, but maybe everything works out.
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30. Houston Texans (30)
Can we request a trade for Deshaun Watson on his behalf? He delivered another MVP-caliber performance in Week 16, but it doesn’t matter because practically everything else around him is terrible. Oh, thanks to a porous offensive line, he also suffered another injury. The Texans should never be trusted with a talented quarterback.
31. Detroit Lions (28)
The Lions were already cooked before, but things really got ugly in Week 16. Losing most of their coaching staff to COVID-19 protocols and then seeing Matthew Stafford get hurt, just more nails in the coffin. Big changes are coming to Detroit this offseason, moves that could result in a new front office, coach, defense and quarterback.
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32. Jacksonville Jaguars (32)
The Jacksonville Jaguars have secured the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, guaranteeing they can take Trevor Lawrence. This is a moment the organization and fan base has waited years to experience. While they sit at the bottom of our NFL power rankings, the Jaguars would be much higher in future rankings for NFL teams.
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NFL power rankings Week 16
NFL power rankings: The Pittsburgh Steelers have proven to be pretenders. The same thing can’t be said for their division rivals in that of the Ravens and Browns. Over in the NFC, the Saints failed to make a statement against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. It’s with this backdrop that we provide you with our latest NFL power rankings.
Let’s dive into our latest NFL power rankings heading into NFL Week 16.
NFL Week 16: Schedule and game-by-game predictions
UPDATE: Dec. 27, 10:15 AM EST
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1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes got punched in the mouth by the New Orleans Saints. It’s unusual to see Mahomes get hit 11 times and New Orleans made every one of them count. Yet, the Chiefs came out on top. Not only did Kansas City win 32-29, it dominated. Just looking at the total yards (411 to 285) and time of possession (41 to 19) advantages says it all. The Kansas City Chiefs are the best team in the NFL.
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2. Green Bay Packers (2)
The Green Bay Packers are coasting to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and pivotal home-field advantage in the NFL Playoffs. The first-round bye would be huge for this team, but having Drew Brees or Tom Brady have to play at Lambeau Field in January could be just as important. Offensively, everything on this team is clicking right now and it’s evident Matt LaFleur is just starting to unleash Aaron Jones. The Tennessee Titans will be a huge test for Green Bay in Week 15, but it’s always smart to bet on Aaron Rodgers in a high-scoring game.
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3. Buffalo Bills (3)
For the first time in 25 years, the Buffalo Bills are AFC East champs. We predicted it nine months ago, but this team is exceeding the grandest expectations. When Josh Allen isn’t pressured, he’s an MVP-caliber quarterback and his connection with Stefon Diggs is unstoppable. The New England Patriots await in Week 16 and a win would put Buffalo one step closer to the No. 2 seed.
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4. New Orleans Saints (5)
The only person who can stop Alvin Kamara is Sean Payton putting the football in Taysom Hill’s hands. Kamara delivered a performance for the ages, leading the Saints to victory and an NFC South title with six touchdowns. It proves how valuable he is to this offense and why he should be the focal point in the NFL Playoffs. Otherwise, given Drew Brees’ struggles, it will be an early exit in January for the Saints.
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5. Seattle Seahawks (12)
We needed to see the Seahawks beat a quality opponent before moving them up in the NFL power rankings. Narrowly knocking off the Washington Football Team isn’t a statement victory, but it showed Seattle could compete when facing an elite defense. That’s especially important in the NFC, given this team could easily face the Los Angeles Rams or New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round. The Seahawks are a legitimate playoff team and deserve a top-10 spot, but there is a monumental gap between the NFL’s top-five teams and its next tier.
6. Baltimore Ravens (11)
The Ravens control their destiny and the path to the NFL Playoffs is extremely comfortable. Baltimore easily handled its business against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Already rolling with three consecutive victories, the Ravens close out the year with the New York Giants (Week 16) and Cincinnati Bengals (Week 17). If they win both, this team could be dangerous. With that said, there’s not enough on the roster to realistically compete for the Super Bowl.
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7. Cleveland Browns (9)
Ladies and gentleman, Baker Mayfield. Mayfield has a 117.7 quarterback rating across his last four starts with 1,232 passing yards and a 10/1 TD/INT ratio. It was the 25-year-old’s inconsistency and his issues under pressure that kept this offense from being dominant. With an unstoppable running game and Mayfield feeling confident, the Browns will be very dangerous in the playoffs.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
For those questioning Tom Brady’s arm strength, the 43-year-old silenced the critics in Week 16. A 348-yard performance with four scores, all of that done in a single half. The Buccaneers were completely rolling on Saturday, in what the fan base can only hope is a sign of things to come. The Atlanta Falcons await in Week 17, but there won’t be much on the line for either team.
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9. Tennessee Titans (10)
Derrick Henry is the new Santa Claus. When December rolls around, that’s when you know Henry will make his rounds around the NFL. Tennessee’s 6-foot-3 and 247-pound running back has racked up 367 rushing yards over his last two games. In Week 16, he gets to face a defense with a reputation for missing tackles, getting run over, and giving up huge gains. That bodes well for Tennessee’s offense, but its defense is in danger of giving up 40-plus to the Packers.
10. Indianapolis Colts (7)
On the one hand, victories are always valuable and Sunday’s win pushes the Colts one step closer to the NFL Playoffs. In their last meeting, Indianapolis needed the Houston Texans to suffer a botched snap to wipe away a potential victory. During their Week 15 rematch, Texans receiver Keke Coutee fumbled away the game-tying touchdown with 20 seconds left. We’ll get a great litmus test for this team and its chances of competing in the AFC playoffs when they face Pittsburgh in Week 16.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)
What an absolutely pathetic recent performance from Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past few games. Losers of two consecutive after winning their first 11, Pittsburgh lost to the two-win Cincinnati Bengals by the score of 24-17 in Week 15. Big Ben was atrocious under center. A previously stout Steelers defense was embarrassed by none other than Ryan Finley (yes, that Ryan Finley). Simply put, this team is a pretender.
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12. Miami Dolphins (13)
FitzMagic saved the day. With head coach Brian Flores displeased by rookie Tua Tagovailoa’s performance and the team needing a spark, in came Ryan Fitzpatrick. It made the difference, igniting a spark that turned things around and ended in an epic finish. Believe it or not, the Miami Dolphins will enter Week 17 on the verge of making the playoffs.
13. Los Angeles Rams (4)
Everyone thought 2020 was already crazy, a year full of things that no one could have predicted. Even in this scenario, the New York Jets beating the Rams seemed impossible. We know one thing for certain. For all the offensive weapons the Rams have and even with one of the NFL’s best defenses, Jared Goff won’t let this team win a Super Bowl. Years from now, we might have to look back on this era with the knowledge that Goff kept Sean McVay from winning at least one Super Bowl ring.
14. Arizona Cardinals (14)
Arizona controlled its playoff destiny, it simply needed to beat an injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers team with nothing to play for. If you watched this Week 16 NFC West clash, you’d think the Cardinals were the club whose season was already over. Blame for this collapse can fall on Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. Either way, the Cardinals need a wake-up call this offseason.
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15. Chicago Bears (22)
The Chicago Bears have taken their fans on a roller coaster ride this season. This looked like a legitimate threat in the NFC after a 5-1 start, but it all came crashing down with six consecutive losses. Apparently, the whiplash from going 5-1 to 5-7 sparked something in Chicago. The Bears have now won consecutive games, getting some revenge on the Vikings in a 33-27 victory.
16. Washington Football Team (15)
Alex Smith’s days of being a good NFL quarterback are over. After watching Dwayne Haskins on Sunday, though, it served as a reminder about how many holes Smith covered for. This team sorely missed Antonio Gibson in Week 15 and with the offense not clicking, it resulted in a 20-15 defeat. Washington has given new hope to the New York Giants, but we’d still bet on the WFT winning the NFC East.
17. Philadelphia Eagles (21)
This is a different team with Jalen Hurts. The rookie, considered a project quarterback entering the year, demonstrates that he can handle himself as a starter. Thanks to his strong play over the past two games, Doug Pederson should be safe heading into 2021. Meanwhile, with Hurts looking like the starter in 2021, count on Carson Wentz demanding a trade. Frankly, the Eagles are better off without him.
18. Minnesota Vikings (17)
Mike Zimmer will see Alvin Kamara in his nightmares. The Vikings couldn’t tackle, failed to fill running lanes and made far too many mental mistakes. The end result was an ugly loss to the Saints in Week 16 and knocked out of playoff contention. Minnesota could beat the Detroit Lions in Week 17 to finish 7-9, but this will go down as a disappointing season.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (18)
The Las Vegas Raiders battled with Miami until the end, but some baffling coaching decisions by Jon Gruden proved costly. It’s becoming an all too familiar story with this club, they start hot and then choke away a shot at the playoffs when the season starts to wind down. Given Gruden is locked into a 10-year contract, though, he is safer than he should be.
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20. New York Giants (20)
Remember when the Giants beat the Seahawks and people talked about this team like it would be dangerous in the playoffs? It really doesn’t matter if it’s Daniel Jones or Colt McCoy under center. This offense can’t be counted on to win games. The Ravens should claw the Giants to shreds and win by double digits in Week 16.
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21. New England Patriots (16)
There is crashing down to earth and then there’s the New England Patriots. Cam Newton can’t cover up the holes in this offense and it’s led to one of the worst offenses in the NFL. New England won’t be in the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 2008 and Belichick is headed for a losing season after the Bills beat him in Week 16.
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22. San Francisco 49ers (19)
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The San Francisco 49ers are going to be Super Bowl contenders next season. Watching this team fight in every game, playing under difficult circumstances and without so many impact players, speaks to Kyle Shanahan’s coaching abilities. The 49ers will close out their season in Week 17 and we’d give them a shot to at least make things scary for the Seahawks.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (25)
The Los Angeles Chargers have won games in spite of Anthony Lynn this season. He nearly cost them again on Thursday Night Football, but Justin Herbert saved the day. Once this team gets the right head coach in place, it could make huge strides next season. If it’s offered, bet on the Chargers as a playoff team in 2021.
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24. Atlanta Falcons (23)
Something about the falcons and three-score leads in the third quarter just don’t mix. Atlanta wasted away a huge upset over the Buccaneers in Week 15, but that’s par for the course when facing Tom Brady. At this point, it’s time to start thinking about the future. One that might not involve Matt Ryan.
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25. Denver Broncos (24)
The Broncos are officially eliminated from playoff contention, but everyone saw that coming months ago. We can blame injuries on both sides of the ball, including Courtland Sutton and Von Miller, but this offense just isn’t good. At some point, John Elway must seriously question if Drew Lock can be a franchise quarterback.
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26. Carolina Panthers (26)
It’s time to sink a fork in the Carolina Panthers. Christian McCaffrey’s injury-riddled 2020 season really took away from a potentially electrifying offense and offensive coordinator Joe Brady could only mask the holes for so long. Meanwhile, this defense is just way too inexperienced to be counted on. We’ll hope for better things in 2021. There’s more reason for confidence now that Marty Hurney is gone.
Related: 2021 NFL mock draft – Blockbuster trades shake up 2021 NFL Draft.
27. Dallas Cowboys (28)
The Dallas Cowboys finally gave Tony Pollard a shot to start. In Week 15, he might have hit two birds with one stone. Proving he is capable of carrying a full workload and sparking drama between the Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott. Quite frankly, Dallas can be a better team in 2021 if it trades Zeke this offseason.
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28. Detroit Lions (29)
The Lions were already cooked before, but things really got ugly in Week 16. Losing most of their coaching staff to COVID-19 protocols and then seeing Matthew Stafford get hurt, just more nails in the coffin. Big changes are coming to Detroit this offseason, moves that could result in a new front office, coach, defense and quarterback.
Related: Making the case for Robert Saleh as Lions head coach
29. Cincinnati Bengals (31)
We have to give credit where it’s due. Zac Taylor and his Bengals could have simply given up a few weeks back when rookie No. 1 pick Joe Burrow went down to a torn ACL and MCL. Instead, this talent-stricken team has been fighting and fighting. That came to a culmination in a shocking 27-17 win over the 14-point favorite Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. At the very least, these Bengals seem to have fight in them. We can’t say the same thing for the two teams below them in our latest power rankings.
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30. Houston Texans (27)
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The Houston Texans really don’t deserve Deshaun Watson. He almost beat the Indianapolis Colts again, but his teammates just can’t hold onto the football. Frankly, there’s an argument to be made that Watson deserves NFL MVP votes. At this point, though, he’d just take having a decent head coach and general manager.
31. New York Jets (32)
Sunday might have been the happiest Adam Gase has been in years. He knows he is getting fired, but the Jets kept him around confident he was bad enough to finish with an 0-16 record. It’s really fitting that New York lost, especially a game where it entered as a 17-point underdog. This fan base will be dealing with this painful memory for a decade-plus.
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32. Jacksonville Jaguars (30)
Week 15 of the 2020 NFL season might go down as a pivotal day in NFL history. The Jets gifted Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars, an early Christmas present that there can never be enough thanks for. Assuming Jacksonville avoids blowing this, winning a game, the Jaguars are set to be a power in 2021.
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NFL power rankings Week 15
NFL power rankings: We’re now getting down to the nitty gritty when it comes to the 2020 NFL season. Three weeks remain until the playoffs. While the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs remain the top dog, there’s another team trying to stake a claim to that status in the AFC.
Over the NFC, a Week 14 loss by the New Orleans Saints changes up the landscape in a big way. Meanwhile, the New York Jets remain bottom feeders.
Let’s dive into our NFL power rankings before Week 15 kicks off.
Update: Dec. 20, 10 AM EST
NFL Week 15: Schedule and game-by-game predictions
NFL power rankings: Super Bowl LV favorites
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
Kansas City found itself in unfamiliar territory in Week 14. Trailing 10-0, Patrick Mahomes had two interceptions and took a baffling 30-yard sack. The Chiefs just weren’t clicking and facing a great defense, it started to feel like an upset was brewing. But, that’s the thing about Mahomes and Kansas City’s weapons. Right when you think they are bottled up, they deliver 30 unanswered points.
The Chiefs are the best team in the AFC and deserve to be the Super Bowl LV favorite. Now, we can all get excited about the Week 15 battle against the New Orleans Saints. This game will be even better thanks to Drew Brees’ return, but the absence of Michael Thomas is significant. The best game in Week 15 is a great test for both teams.
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2. Green Bay Packers (3)
The Green Bay Packers are NFC North champions once again. Aaron Rodgers and Co. will be watching the Saints-Chiefs battle closely, with a home playoff game already locked up and the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. Green Bay’s win over the Carolina Panthers, a Saturday Night Football clash in Week 15, pushes them one step closer to the No.1 seed. If the Saints lose, Green Bay takes a one-game lead over New Orleans for home-field advantage and a first-round bye. Given the Packers’ light schedule the rest of the way, they could cruise to the top seed.
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3. Buffalo Bills (5)
Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs are quickly entering the conversation to be one of the NFL’s best quarterback-receiver combinations. We also can’t help but notice this defense is starting to show some signs of the highly-praised unit that everyone raved about in 2019. Put those things together and you’ve got a legitimate Super Bowl contender. With the division locked up, for the first time in 25 years, Buffalo sets its sights on the No.2 seed.
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4. Los Angeles Rams (6)
If defense wins championships in the modern NFL, teams should be fearful of the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterbacks perform like Daniel Jones against this defense, averaging 6.1 yards per pass attempt. Running backs don’t fare much better, with opponents averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Sitting at 9-4, the Rams are practically guaranteed to achieve a 10-win season with the New York Jets on deck. With that said, Jared Goff prevents Los Angeles from being higher in our NFL power rankings.
5. New Orleans Saints (2)
New Orleans entered Week 14 as favorites to win the NFC, with everyone expecting them to blowout the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, Taysom Hill couldn’t do quite enough as a passer and this defense picked an awful time to disappear against the run. New Orleans also couldn’t get to Jalen Hurts (zero sacks) and the rookie did a nice job finding holes in the secondary. Now, look ahead to Week 15 and imagine what Patrick Mahomes could do.
Fortunately for New Orleans, Drew Brees is back and reports indicate he is healthy. That’s a boost for this offense, especially in a potential shootout. However, he is really going to miss Michael Thomas in this matchup. We’re expecting a loss, but the Saints wouldn’t slide too far down our NFL power rankings.
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6. Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
This is a flawed football team. Losing linebacker Devin Bush and edge rusher Bud Dupree has taken a toll on this defense, creating holes in the middle of the field and limiting Pittsburgh’s ability to create pressure. However, it’s the offense that is the real problem. The Steelers aren’t running the football, don’t have the offensive line to even do it effectively and now there are health worries surrounding Ben Roethlisberger. If the Chiefs win the No. 1 seed, the right opponent could upset Pittsburgh in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.
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7. Indianapolis Colts (8)
Indianapolis needed to rebound after getting run over by the Tennessee Titans then barely knocking off the Houston Texans. The Las Vegas Raiders provided just that. Offensively, the Colts did whatever they wanted to in Las Vegas. Philip Rivers threw two scores and averaged 8.7 yards per pass attempt. On the ground, Jonathan Taylor (150 yards, two touchdowns) led a 212-yard performance by Indianapolis. The Colts should deliver another win against the Texans next week, before drawing a must-see AFC clash against the Steelers.
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8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10)
Looking to squash reckless speculation about their relationship this week, Tom Brady and Bruce Arians tried to golf together. But, the NFL stepped in and didn’t let this duo have some fun on the links. While the golf outing was ruined, Sunday’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings should leave everyone feeling good. It was a crucial win for Tampa Bay, but there are still plenty of things for Brady (15-of-23 passes completed, 196 passing yards) and this defense (335 total yards allowed) to clean up before Week 15.
9. Cleveland Browns (6)
Given how well Baker Mayfield and the Browns’ offense played Monday night against the Ravens, it was disappointing to see how the game ended. Mayfield led Cleveland to what seemed to be a game-tying touchdown drive to force overtime. But as we saw all evening, the defense could not hold up its end of the bargain. The end result was a 47-42 loss. We’re more than a little concerned that the 9-4 Browns gave up north of 230 yards on the ground in Week 14. That must be fixed.
10. Tennessee Titans (9)
Derrick Henry is starting one of those stretches again. He delivered another 200-yard performance in Week 14, utterly destroying the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 15, he’ll have a chance to drop another 200-burger on the Detroit Lions. This is Henry’s time of year and it helps set up the play-action pass perfectly for Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown. This is a fun team to watch, but they don’t have a defense capable of going on a deep playoff run. It’s not an issue in Week 15, but it spells trouble for next week against the Packers.
11. Baltimore Ravens (13)
Dramatic. Ridiculous. A defining moment for reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. With his team at 7-5 on the season, Jackson led the Ravens to a dramatic 47-42 win on Monday night. He did so after returning to the game following an injury. A campaign that has been defined by struggles on Jackson’s part and a COVID-19 outbreak could now lead Baltimore to the playoffs. It heads into Week 15 practically in a tie with the Miami Dolphins for the final playoff spot in the AFC.
12. Seattle Seahawks (11)
Seattle took care of business against the New York Jets, but that really isn’t saying much. There’s just not a lot of credit to be given for beating a historically bad NFL team. That said, it does keep the Seahawks on pace with the Rams in the battle for the NFC West crown. Looking ahead to Week 15, things are going to be a lot more challenging. Washington will create pressure on Russell Wilson, collapsing the pocket and creating havoc. How Seattle’s offensive line fares and whether or not Wilson protects the football will decide one of the best Week 15 games.
13. Miami Dolphins (10)
A young team gave the defending Super Bowl champions a fight. While some luck might have involved, with multiple tipped footballs turning into interceptions, the Dolphins kept things close with Kansas City. More importantly, especially since expectations weren’t exactly high for Miami entering the season, Too Tagovailoa showed tons of promise against a good defense. Sitting at 8-5, Miami should achieve a double-digit win season if it plays to its potential against the New England Patriots and Raiders. After that, with a playoff spot likely locked up, this team will give a scare to whoever they face.
14. Arizona Cardinals (14)
There was legitimate reason to question whether or not Arizona would beat the New York Giants. Given how well New York’s defense played coming into Week 15, paired with Kyler Murray’s struggles, this set up offered a lot of negative possibilities for the Cardinals. Props to Murray for finding a different way to win on Sunday. While he didn’t post jaw-dropping numbers, he found open receivers and moved the football downfield. With Arizona’s defense playing the best It has in weeks, everything came together for a decisive 26-7 victory. Let’s see how this team fares against the Philadelphia Eagles.
15. Washington Football Team (17)
Maybe the Washington Football Team should never change its name. Expecting Ron Rivera to turn this club into a winner in his first year was asking way too much. This team has been terrible for years and while 6-7 isn’t a winning record, it could be enough in the NFC East. Riding a four-game win streak with Chase Young playing at a phenomenal level, we’re putting the Seahawks on upset alert in Week 15.
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16. New England Patriots (15)
Cam Newton’s arm might be done. While one of the NFL’s worst receiving corps can be blamed for some of this passing attack’s struggles, it doesn’t excuse what the eyes can see. The zip isn’t there on his passes, with it taking a lot of effort to make throws beyond 10 yards. The Patriots took a gamble on Newton and it didn’t work out. Then again, it’s hard to imagine any quarterback doing well in this offense.
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17. Minnesota Vikings (20)
Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay could be costly for Minnesota. It came in clinging to the No. 7 seed and a playoff spot, now that’s gone and it’s impossible to ignore Dan Bailey’s role in this defeat. Playoff watch isn’t over, though, with two winnable games against the Chicago Bears (Week 15) and Detroit Lions (Week 17) looming. That said, Minnesota is dangerously close to NFL purgatory as a team outside the playoff and drafting outside the top-20 picks.
18. Las Vegas Raiders (16)
The Las Vegas Raiders have utterly collapsed. From a 6-3 record and minutes away from beating the Chiefs for a second time, to a 7-7 record. Frankly, if not for Gregg Williams, this team is riding a five-game losing streak and some questions about Jon Gruden. Set to face the Dolphins in Week 16, the Raiders will sink further.
19. San Francisco 49ers (18)
At this point, San Francisco might just want the season to be over. They came into Week 14 with the most injured players in the NFL and they added to their total on Sunday. Deebo Samuel might be out for the season, Raheem Mostert is hurt again and Fred Warner is now dealing with an injury. Week 15 really should be just another game to check off before this team’s disastrous season finally ends.
20. New York Giants (19)
The Giants had an excellent opportunity to prove their victory against Seattle wasn’t a fluke. Instead, Daniel Jones proved why this team shouldn’t be feared when he is under center. Blame injuries if you’d like, but New York’s second-year quarterback hasn’t shown he is the long-term solution. If the Giants land a top-12 pick, they must consider replacing Jones with better talent.
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21. Philadelphia Eagles (24)
Not the result we expected from two teams headed in very different directions. New Orleans seemingly had every matchup advantage against the Eagles, but Philadelphia came up huge on both sides of the ball. Jalen Hurts proved he deserves an extended look as QB1, likely for the rest of the 2020 season, and Miles Sanders demonstrated why this needed to be a run-first team. The Eagles should lose to the Cardinals in Week 15, but wild things happy with NFC East teams. If they win, somehow, Philadelphia still has a shot at hosting a playoff game.
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22. Chicago Bears (25)
Chicago’s long nightmare is over. Wait, nope, Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are still leading this team. The Bears utterly dominated the Houston Texans in Week 14, with much of the credit once again going to this defense. It was nice to see Mitchell Trubisky keep feeding Allen Robinson the football, something Nick Foles could rarely accomplish. A win snaps a six-game losing streak, but it pushes Chicago further away from a top quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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23. Atlanta Falcons (21)
A matchup between two teams who can’t close in the final minutes delivered predictable results. Both the Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers repeatedly tried snagging defeat from the jaws of victory, but Atlanta’s last-second turnover sealed its fate. It’s in this team’s best long-term interests to lose out (vs. TB, @ KC, @ TB). If they can pull that off, a 4-12 season will put Atlanta in a great spot for the 2021 NFL Draft.
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24. Denver Broncos (26)
There are reasons for optimism in 2021. We expect this defense to be much better and a receiving corps with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler is electrifying. In the end, the outlook for the Broncos all rests on Lock.
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25. Los Angeles Chargers (27)
Anthony Lynn is a great assistant coach, but this season proves that he just isn’t the one to get it done as a head coach. The Chargers escaped with a Thursday Night Football victory in Week 15, but more problems arose in the fourth quarter. There’s a chance Los Angeles beats the Denver Broncos in Week 16, but this is a 6-10 season at best. Given all of the talent, that’s a disappointment.
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26. Carolina Panthers (22)
Credit to offensive coordinator Joe Brady for making things work for as long as possible without Christian McCaffrey. The All-Pro running back is just too good and his absence is now apparent when watching this offense. Pair that with the holes in the secondary and at linebacker, it’s just too much for a young team to overcome. Carolina’s future is bright, but there is work to be done this offseason.
Related: 2021 NFL mock draft – Blockbuster trades shake up 2021 NFL Draft.
27. Houston Texans (23)
Houston, we have a problem. The Texans are failing Deshaun Watson once again. Chicago racked up six sacks and 10 quarterback hits on Watson in Week 14, basically living in the backfield. It led to a nasty injury for Watson. Most teams would sit their franchise quarterback after that, amid a blowout. Instead, the Texans sent Watson back out to keep getting hit. At this point, the Texans need to let Watson pick his next coaching staff.
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28. Dallas Cowboys (29)
Dallas seemed to be preparing for a purpose on Sunday. Whether it was rallying around Andy Dalton or an effort to support Jerry Jones’ confidence in Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys played pretty well. Now, let’s remember this was a matchup of bad teams with a lot of backups on the field. This will be remembered as a miserable season for Dallas. The offseason could be even worse if they screw up the Dak Prescott negotiations.
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29. Detroit Lions (28)
The Lions made the right decision to fire Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn, but cleaning house doesn’t suddenly make this a decent team. Missing Kenny Golladay has really hurt this passing attack, but Detroit’s defense is the real problem. There are plenty of great head coaching candidates in 2021, but only one is the perfect hire.
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30. Jacksonville Jaguars (30)
A team can only fight for their head coach for so long. At some point, after Derrick Henry repeatedly ran over every defender on Jacksonville’s roster, the last remaining life disappeared from this club. It’s 11 straight losses for the Jaguars and with the Ravens. Nears and Colts left on the schedule, 1-15 feels inevitable. Good news, the 2021 NFL Draft will do wonders for this team.
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31. Cincinnati Bengals (31)
The Cowboys are one of the worst teams in the NFL and they just beat Cincinnati by 23 points. It had to feel good for Andy Dalton, getting some revenge against this franchise. This is the same team we watched in 2019. Quite simply, the Bengals can’t do anything offensively and the defense is miserable. Pittsburgh will eat this team alive in Week 15.
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32. New York Jets (32)
We’re so close to NFL history. Winless entering Week 15, the Jets are just three games away from becoming the third 0-16 team in the history of this wonderful game. It’s not even about tanking, this roster is laughably bad. It’s going to take a massive overhaul to fix things in 2021, but it starts with a new head coach and quarterback.
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NFL power rankings – Best NFL teams entering Week 14
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The Chiefs might not have the best record, but there is no denying they are the best team in the NFL. Kansas City’s defense isn’t on the same tier as the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Patrick Mahomes and Co. can easily exploit Pittsburgh’s defense. With Mahomes running away with NFL MVP and Kansas City’s pass rush clicking, expect the Chiefs to dominate the Miami Dolphins in Week 14.
Many might expect this to be a close matchup, given Miami’s strength is its defense. While that is true, the Dolphins don’t have the speed to match up in man coverage with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman. Look for the Chiefs to make a statement in Week 14.
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2. New Orleans Saints (3)
It’s not always pretty watching Taysom Hill play quarterback, but he can take advantage of bad defenses. Life is good with a 10-2 record and Drew Brees nearing a return. We don’t expect New Orleans to rush Brees back, though. Fortunately, this team should roll without him in Week 14. While the Saints will focus on the Philadelphia Eagles, everyone is circling that Week 15 battle against the Chiefs. Will it be a Super Bowl LV preview? It will make for great television on CBS, with Tony Romo calling it all.
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3. Green Bay Packers (4)
Aaron Rodgers is having an MVP-caliber season, but that dud against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will prevent it from happening. When this offense is clicking, the Packers can beat anyone to go on a run to Super Bowl LV. However, this defense is still a problem and we can’t ignore this team’s inconsistency in cold weather. Green Bay should win out the rest of the way, resulting in a 13-3 record. It’s still fair to wonder how much better this team could be if they devoted their 2020 draft picks to improve this defense.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
Many thought the Steelers would win 10-12 games in a best-case scenario this season. Fast forward to Week 13, and Pittsburgh was rolling with an 11-0 record. Injuries (Devin Bush, Bud Dupree) are starting to take a toll on this defense. That came out in droves during an ugly 23-17 loss to Washington on Monday night. Alex Smith ate this defense alive en route to coming back from a 14-0 deficit. It has people rethinking the Steelers’ status as a top-end contender heading into Week 14.
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5. Buffalo Bills (6)
Defeating an injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers team is one thing. Doing it in convincing fashion with San Francisco battling for playoff relevance is another. Josh Allen has rebounded from some struggles earlier this season to reenter the elite conversation. The third-year quarterback has now accounted for north of 3,700 total yards with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 starts this season.
There were plenty of skeptics around Allen and this team entering 2020. Credit to them for proving they are one of the best teams in the NFL and they should showcase it once more in Week 14.
6. Los Angeles Rams (7)
Coming off a last-second loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles needed to rebound quickly to stay in the hunt for the NFC West crown. We’ve given credit to this defense all season, but Jared Goff played really well in this one and made the difference in a 38-28 victory. If the Rams win out (vs. NE, vs. NYJ, @ SEA, vs. ARZ), this division belongs to them and they make for a scary playoff team.
7. Cleveland Browns (12)
The Browns are recognized as a team worthy of the NFL Playoffs, but everyone questioned if Baker Mayfield could truly make this team a threat in January. Facing the Tennessee Titans, we saw the best version of Mayfield. A five-touchdown performance in the first half shows what he can do and how dangerous this offense is with a passing game. The big test comes in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, who crushed Cleveland 38-6 in Week 1.
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8. Indianapolis Colts (8)
Indianapolis narrowly avoided a disaster in Week 13. While the Texans are playing a lot better since firing Bill O’Brien, losing to this team is still a bad look. Fortunately, a bad snap in the final seconds crushed Houston’s hopes for an upset. The Colts will be happy about an 8-4 record and have a good shot to win the AFC South, but there are alarming issues that will be exposed in the NFL Playoffs.
9. Tennessee Titans (5)
Tennessee’s hopes of beating the Browns essentially vanished rather quickly. Derrick Henry’s failed fourth-and-1 run and his fumble at Tennessee’s 25-yard line set up Cleveland’s touchdown drives. Already trailing 24-7, consecutive three-and-outs led to additional scoring drives for the Browns. This isn’t a team that can overcome huge deficits, not with Derrick Henry’s limitations in the passing game. Sitting at 8-4, the Titans can turn things around with the Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 14) and Detroit Lions (Week 15) on deck.
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10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10)
Coming out of the bye week, the Buccaneers can only hope the time off allowed them to fix their issues. As of late, we’ve seen a defense that gives up a lot of big plays and an offense that isn’t tailored to suit Tom Brady’s declining physical skills. Pressure is mounting on Bruce Arians to make changes, but Tampa Bay also needs Brady to start cutting down the interceptions (11).
This team will have a great shot to finish the regular season strong, starting in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. If the bye week fixed a lot of their problems, the Buccaneers can jump back into discussions for Super Bowl LV.
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11. Seattle Seahawks (9)
An embarrassing showing by the Seahawks. While the New York Giants have an excellent defense, there’s no justifiable excuse for Russell Wilson and Co. scoring one touchdown. Wilson’s NFL MVP campaign is over and the Seahawks look more suspect than ever. At the very least, facing the New York Jets in Week 14 is almost guaranteed to be a victory.
12. Miami Dolphins (11)
Miami took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals. Once again, much of the credit for Sunday’s win must be given to the defense. Brian Flores has built a group that is one of the league’s best defenses, proving that every game. No one expected the Dolphins to be an eight-win team this quickly, but they’ve already hit that mark with an 8-4 record. With that said, largely because of this inexperienced offense, the Dolphins have no chance in Week 14 against the Chiefs.
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13. Baltimore Ravens (16)
The Ravens are starting to welcome a lot of key players back from COVID-19. Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins joined several defensive starters in a Week 13 return, and it resulted in a 34-17 rout of Dallas. Sure enough, this team looked more like the AFC contender we’re used to watching. Sitting at 7-5, a Week 14 matchup against the Browns is pivotal.
If Baltimore pulls out the victory, it’s easy to see a five-game winning streak (vs. JAX, vs. NYG, @ CIN) carrying this team into the NFL Playoffs. On the other end, a loss might sink the team’s playoff hopes.
14. Arizona Cardinals (13)
Arizona’s run in the top-10 of our NFL power rankings was fun while it lasted. The Cardinals are nosediving quickly with three consecutive losses. Opposing teams are figuring out how to contain Kyler Murray and until Kliff Kingsbury makes adjustments, things won’t get any better.
15. New England Patriots (17)
The Patriots have won plenty of ugly games this season, but Sunday’s outright dominance of the Los Angeles Chargers was a sight to behold. New England’s defense held Los Angeles to averaging 3.6 yards per play and its special-teams unit found the end zone twice. While playing on a short week is challenging, especially with an opponent like the Rams waiting, Bill Belichick will have his team prepared for Thursday Night Football.
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16. Las Vegas Raiders (14)
It took an epic choke job, or maybe pure tanking, for the Raiders to avoid losing to one of the worst NFL teams in decades. Darren Waller was a hero for the Raiders and even New York’s fans in Week 13. If not for his 200-yard performance, the Raiders have a 6-6 record. Las Vegas still has a shot at the playoffs, but there’s little reason to predict they beat the Colts in Week 14.
17. Washington Football Team (24)
Washington headed into Monday night’s game boasting a 4-7 record and in need of a win to overtake first place from the New York Giants. The one problem? It was going up against the 11-0 Steelers. In stunning fashion, Alex Smith led his squad to a 23-17 win. The team’s defense stepped up when it counted the most as Washington earned its third consecutive win. This squad is for real and clicking at the exact right time.
18. San Francisco 49ers (15)
Monday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills pretty much puts an end to San Francisco’s playoff aspirations. The injury-plagued team sits at 5-7 on the campaign. Unfortunate circumstances, including multiple season-ending injuries, a COVID scare and relocating temporarily to Arizona, has led to this mess of a season for the defending NFC champs. They’ll play out the string and regroup next offseason.
19. New York Giants (23)
Finally! There is a team in the NFC East that actually deserves to win the division. We’re not remotely close to saying the Giants can be a threat in the NFL Playoffs, Daniel Jones is still at quarterback and the offense is an eyesore. With that said, New York’s defense is excellent and deserves a lot more praise for its role in this four-game win streak. If the G-Men beat the Cardinals in Week 4, we’ll have to move Big Blue into the top-15 of our NFL power rankings.
20. Minnesota Vikings (18)
After a 1-5 start to the season, there was every reason to move on from the Vikings. Fast forward to Sunday and this team clawed its way to another victory, improving to 6-6. Dalvin Cook is literally carrying this team, recording his second game with 34-plus touches.
If the Vikings want to beat the Buccaneers in Week 14, though, it will require Kirk Cousins to have a monster game. While that seems unlikely to happen, strange things keep occurring in 2020. A victory on Sunday would make this squad feel like a lock for the playoffs, which seemed impossible months ago.
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21. Atlanta Falcons (19)
The Falcons had a few shots to win on Sunday, which says a lot about interim head coach Raheem Morris. Atlanta’s defense is looking a lot better lately, holding the Saints and Raiders to 27 total points in the past two games. Realistically, this team will likely finish much lower in the NFL power rankings when the season ends with the Buccaneers (Week 15 and 17) and Chiefs still on the schedule. It might be a good thing, because the Falcons would benefit from having a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
22. Carolina Panthers (20)
The Carolina Panthers could welcome back Christian McCaffrey out of the bye week, a welcome return for an offense that needs the All-Pro running back. In Matt Rhule’s first NFL season, there’s a lot to feel great about. Teddy Bridgewater is playing well, young talent is emerging on both sides of the ball and an inexperienced team is learning what it takes to win close games in the NFL. If McCaffrey plays in Week 14, the Panthers can beat the Denver Broncos.
23. Houston Texans (22)
Give credit to Deshaun Watson, who is playing like an elite quarterback without Bill O’Brien. Will Fuller’s suspension certainly hurts Houston’s offense and Watson missed his go-to weapon on Sunday, but he still threw for 341 yards against one of the NFL’s best pass defenses. It’s a shame this team won’t have its first- or second-round picks this year. Fortunately, Watson might get a brilliant offensive mind as his next head coach.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (27)
Carson Wentz reportedly came into Sunday’s game on a short leash, but Doug Pederson kept sticking with his guy. Finally, with the Eagles trailing 23-3, Jalen Hurts took over. The rookie impressed in his first substantial action, providing a spark for this entire team. It wasn’t enough to deliver a comeback, but he might have done enough to earn his first start. With that said, things would get ugly for Hurts behind this offensive line in Week 14 against the Saints.
Eagles news: Doug Pederson’s job in serious jeopardy
25. Chicago Bears (21)
It’s a matter of time until Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are fired. Mitchell Trubisky’s turnovers doomed the Bears once again, a familiar theme for his NFL career. The 5-1 start feels like it happened years ago and this six-game losing streak is making it painfully evident the Bears need to clean house. At this point, Nagy might only be sticking around to help Chicago land a higher draft pick. Perhaps the Bears will draft the right quarterback this offseason.
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26. Denver Broncos (25)
Credit to the Broncos for really challenging Kansas City. It’s not easy to stop the Chiefs in the red zone, but Denver did just that on a national stage. This same kind of performance will give them a chance in Week 14 against the Panthers. With that said, trusting a team with Drew Lock at quarterback isn’t wise. We’d encourage the Broncos to keep their head coach and to find a new quarterback in 2021.
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27. Los Angeles Chargers (26)
The Chargers have kept a lot of games close this season, but things are starting to unravel. While it’s too early to say this team has quit on Anthony Lynn, getting blown out by the New England Patriots is a troubling sign. Justin Herbert is still a future star and we love this roster, when everyone is healthy. However, coaching and injuries are holding Los Angeles back. If sweeping changes are made this offseason, the Chargers could have a Browns-like rise in 2021.
Chargers news: Anthony Lynn coaching for his job?
28. Detroit Lions (31)
Crazy what happens when you fire a bad head coach. In the first game in the post-Matt Patricia era, Detroit delivered a comeback victory against an NFC North rival. Even more impressive, the Lions dropped 34 points without Kenny Golladay and D’Andre Swift. Rumors are already swirling about who will become Detroit’s next head coach. If the right hire is made and a new general manager overhauls this defense, Detroit could be a playoff team in 2021.
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29. Dallas Cowboys (30)
No one really expected the Cowboys to compete with Baltimore on Tuesday night. They were down 17-10 at half, but couldn’t stay within striking distance thereafter. Now sporting a 3-9 record, America’s Team sits dead-last in the woeful NFC East division. Not a good look for Year 1 of the Mike McCarthy era. At least the opportunity probably looms for Dallas to acquire an impact player near the top of the 2021 draft.
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30. Jacksonville Jaguars (29)
Doug Marrone won’t last past the NFL’s Black Monday, but it’s evident this team fights for him. The Jaguars have lost 11 consecutive games but were defeated by the Vikings and Browns by five total points. Hiring the right general manager will be key, because Jacksonville is set up perfectly for a huge offseason with tons of draft picks and cap space.
Related: 2021 NFL mock draft – Blockbuster trades shake up 2021 NFL Draft.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (28)
Take Joe Burrow away from the Bengals and it’s the same miserable team we saw in 2019. Looking at the team’s remaining schedule vs. DAL, vs. PIT, @ HOU, vs. BAL) and there’s every reason to think this losing streak continues. If Cincinnati finishes 2-13-1, the front office needs to fire Zac Taylor. There will be plenty of coaches, including Joe Brady, who would love an opportunity to guide an offense with Burrow, Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. If Taylor returns in 2021, it will be another wasted year.
32. New York Jets (32)
New York came dangerously close to losing its lead in the race for Trevor Lawrence. Frankly, Week 13 should be all the evidence needed to demonstrate why Adam Gase and Gregg Williams can’t be fired until the Jets secure the No. 1 overall pick. This organization can’t blow its shot at a generational talent. While this is a miserable year for the fans, it will get better next spring.