NFL Power Rankings entering Week 16
Sweet and sour 16
The Bears lost in Cleveland and lost in Carolina when the Panthers won. Have no fear, the Panthers still have the worst record in the NFL. As for the top teams, the 49ers continue to roll. With the action heading into Week 16, here is how all 32 teams stack up…
32. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9, lost to Las Vegas Raiders)
63-21. There is a God. The Panthers won, so the Chargers can rest at the bottom of the Power Rankings.
31. Carolina Panthers (2-12, defeated Atlanta Falcons)
If no one saw it, how can anyone be sure?
30. Atlanta Falcons (6-8, lost to Carolina Panthers)
Don’t care how bad the weather was. You have to be able to score more than seven points against the Panthers anywhere a game is played under any conditions.
29. New England Patriots (3-11, lost to Kansas City Chiefs)
The Patriots were competitive against a strong Chiefs team. They just don’t have the offense to compete. The good news is they gained a game on the Panthers in the race for the first pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
28. Arizona Cardinals (3-11, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
The Cardinals were no match for the 49ers. But who is at this point?
27. Washington Commanders (4-10, lost to Los Angeles Rams)
Jacoby Brissett was impressive relieving Sam Howell. The last thing Ron Rivera needs on his way out is a QB controversy.
26. Chicago Bears (5-9, lost to Cleveland Browns)
Games like these are why the Bears will likely be looking for their next head coach at the end of the season.
25. New York Jets (5-9, lost to Miami Dolphins)
The Jets were destroyed by the Dolphins, and once again, were eliminated from the playoff rush. Keep Aaron Rodgers off the field for his sake and the team’s sake.
24. Tennessee Titans (5-9, lost to Houston Texans)
Blowing a double-digit lead to a team with Case Keenum at QB wasn’t good in 2013, let alone 2023.
23. New York Giants (5-9, lost to New Orleans Saints)
Tommy DeVito was injured and Tyrod Taylor couldn’t do much for the Giants. And give credit to New Orleans; the team showed up to play. The Giants did get a field goal from 40 … by their punter.
22. New Orleans Saints (7-7, defeated New York Giants)
The Saints brought Tommy DeVito back down to earth—with a cheap shot—and went on to down the Giants, which got them back to .500.
21. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8, defeated Los Angeles Chargers)
Not sure what the Raiders can take from wrecking the Chargers, who simply did not show up. They better not get overconfident. Antonio Pierce and the Silver and Black go from 0 to 63 in four days. Wild.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, defeated Green Bay Packers)
Baker Mayfield had a huge game and the Bucs somehow find themselves back at .500 with three games to go in the regular season.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7, defeated by Indianapolis Colts)
One of the great draft mysteries will always be why the Bears thought Mitchell Trubisky was worth a No. 2 overall pick. The Steelers are learning painfully that he isn’t.
18. Green Bay Packers (6-8, lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The nice run the Packers were on has been halted. Almost at the point of starting to think about the draft. One more loss will seal that thought process.
17. Minnesota Vikings (7-7, lost to Cincinnati Bengals)
The Vikings will rue this game if they don’t make the playoffs. They saw a 14-point lead erased, then another advantage in the fourth quarter erased before falling in OT. Ouch.
16. Los Angeles Rams (7-7, defeated Washington Commanders)
What looked like a comfortable win became a tight game when Jacoby Brissett came in and torched the Rams. This team is at .500 but quite vulnerable.
15. Denver Broncos (7-7, lost to Detroit Lions)
The great run by Denver came to a halt with the visit to Detroit. Sean Payton has three games to make sure the Broncos don’t slip back to old habits, which would end any postseason hopes.
14. Seattle Seahawks (7-7, defeated Philadelphia Eagles)
Drew Lock had the drive of his life and found Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the game-winning drive. It was the longest TD drive of the season for Seattle (92 yards), and it saved their season and playoff hopes.
13. Indianapolis Colts (8-6, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)
It doesn’t matter who gets hurt, the Colts seem to always find a way to compete on offense.
12. Houston Texans (8-6, defeated Tennessee Titans)
DeMeco Ryans for Coach of the Year.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
The Jaguars have issues, and are now in a three-way tie with the Texans and Colts in the AFC South. They are looking at the possibility of playing the Bucs in Week 16 without Trevor Lawrence (concussion protocol).
10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6, defeated Minnesota Vikings)
Evan McPherson delivered the game-winning kick after Jake Browning provided some heroics in the Bengals’ comeback win over the Vikings. The injuries are concerning, but the team has found ways to win.
9. Cleveland Browns (9-5, defeated Chicago Bears)
Maybe … Kevin Stefanski for Coach of the Year?
8. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, lost to Seattle Seahawks)
The Eagles were life and death and lost to Drew Lock. Matt Patricia in his Philly debut as defensive play-caller managed to allow Seattle to go 92 yards in the final minutes of the loss. Philly has gone from 10-1 to 10-4. Ouch.
7. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, lost to Buffalo Bills)
The Cowboys are rock stars at home. They go on the road and turn into rocks. The Bills dismantled a sluggish team that looked unmotivated at times, on offense and defense. Next up are the Fish, so things need to turn quickly in Big D.
6. Buffalo Bills (8-6, defeated Dallas Cowboys)
The Bills dominated Dallas every which way. Why is this team 8-6 if it can play to this level? That’s a big question.
5. Detroit Lions (10-4, defeated Denver Broncos)
The Lions got their act together and not a game too soon. They got 5 TD passes from Jared Goff, with Sam LaPorta catching three of them. The challenge: Keep on rolling.
4. Miami Dolphins (10-4, defeated New York Jets)
The bully Fish were back on display as they dismantled the Jets.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, defeated New England Patriots)
There are still some flaws in the team despite the win over the Patriots. Kadarius Toney is doing his best to be rendered inactive.
2. Baltimore Ravens (11-3, defeated Jacksonville Jaguars)
A strong road win sets the Ravens up for a Christmas night battle at San Francisco. How about a 1-2 Power Rankings tussle to close Week 16? Yes!
1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3, defeated Arizona Cardinals)
The 49ers are a well-oiled machine right now. Hard to imagine how this team lost three in a row. Since getting back in gear they have been unstoppable, and the momentum is at a prime level for the big game against Baltimore on Christmas Day.
