NFL Power Rankings entering Week 15
Quarter of the season to go ...
The Ravens soared into Week 15, leaving behind a wild slate of action that included a wild night in Kansas City—forever known as the “Kadarius Toney Offsides” game—and a big win in Dallas. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers continue to define awful. As the NFL calendar heads into the final stretch, here’s how all 32 teams stack up…
32. Carolina Panthers (1-12, lost to New Orleans Saints)
Same story, different week. Putrid team. Awful owner.
31. Washington Commanders (4-8, BYE)
The Commanders had the week off — hopefully, they used it to figure out how to play defense.
30. New England Patriots (3-10, defeated Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Patriots figured out how to score for one half and then the offense went back to sleep. Hard to imagine how this defense isn’t recognized for how stout it is.
29. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8, lost to Minnesota Vikings)
The Raiders only allowed a field goal … and lost. What more is there to say? …
28. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8, lost to Denver Broncos)
The Chargers lost Justin Herbert to a finger injury. That should not be an excuse for keeping Brandon Staley as head coach any longer. Mercifully, end this error, er, era.
27. Chicago Bears (5-8, defeated Detroit Lions)
The Bears should have swept the season series from the mighty Lions. Justin Fields is doing his best to convince Chicago management the team doesn’t need a quarterback.
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-10, BYE)
The Cardinals had the week off to savor their win at Pittsburgh in Week 13.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7, defeated Atlanta Falcons)
Baker Mayfield led a game-winning TD drive and the Buccaneers came within a few yards of giving it back to the Falcons. Awful division and Bucs are one of three teams in a tie for first … before tiebreakers. Yikes.
24. New Orleans Saints (6-7, defeated New Orleans Saints)
Don’t get overconfident, Saints fans: You beat the Panthers.
23. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Falcons fall below .500 and sit in a three-way tie for first after losing a division game to the Bucs. They came close to a game-winning score on the last play but close is what teams in the NFC South are about. Close but never enough.
22. Tennessee Titans (5-8, defeated Miami Dolphins)
The Titan looked like winners, losers and then pulled off a remarkable comeback for their first win of the season on the road. At Miami, no less.
21. New York Giants (5-8, defeated Green Bay Packers)
With apologies to George Toma — Tommy DeVito is the New Jersey “Sodfather.” Three in a row and a late drive for the Giants to win. This kid is remarkable.
20. New York Jets (5-8, defeated Houston Texans)
Zach Wilson delivered in the second half after a punt fest in the first. The Jets’ defense is terrific. Imagine if this team did have Aaron Rodgers at QB. Wait, Wilson threw for 301 yards? Why are we talking about Rodgers?
19. Seattle Seahawks (6-7, lost to San Francisco 49ers)
In addition to not having Geno Smith, the Seahawks had to start Drew Lock. That equaled the fourth straight loss for a team that was once 6-3.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6, lost to New England Patriots)
Losing to a pair of 2-10 teams in four days shows you how bad Mitchell Trubisky is at leading an offense. However, the spotlight is now on head coach Mike Tomlin.
17. Green Bay Packers (6-7, lost to New York Giants)
The Packers made mistakes against the Giants and still had a shot to win. The defense came up awful against Tommy DeVito on the final drive, though. Matt LaFleur is now 16-1 in December.
16. Los Angeles Rams (6-7, lost to Baltimore Ravens)
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Tough to lose a road game on a punt return in overtime.
15. Indianapolis Colts (7-6, lost to Cincinnati Bengals)
The Colts fell behind, caught up, and then were walloped by the Bengals. What was Gardner Minshew doing in the game after taking that shot to his head?
14. Minnesota Vikings (7-6, defeated Las Vegas Raiders)
The Vikings’ defense shut out the Raiders and still only won by three points.
13. Denver Broncos (7-6, defeated Los Angeles Chargers)
The Broncos’ magical turnaround continues with a road win at SoFi. This team could make the playoffs. Has any team that gave up 70 points or more in one game ever made the postseason? (And the Bears beating Washington 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game doesn’t count.)
12. Houston Texans (7-6, lost to New York Jets)
C.J. Stroud exited with a concussion in the Texans’ worst performance of the year. Throw this one out and burn it. Giving up 30 points to the Jets in 30 minutes is inexplicable.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6, defeated Indianapolis Colts)
The Jake Browning express continues despite the QB leaving the game because he didn’t drink enough water and got a cramp in his hand. Can the team continue to surge without Joe Burrow? The next two games should be interesting, with the Vikings and Steelers not really posing any major threats lately.
10. Buffalo Bills (7-6, defeated Kansas City Chiefs)
After a turbulent week, the Bills somehow escaped Kansas City with a victory. That certainly doesn’t guarantee Sean McDermott is on firm ground.
9. Detroit Lions (9-4, lost to Chicago Bears)
Dan Campbell has to be concerned about how inconsistent his team is. The Lions could have easily lost the season series to the Bears. They find trouble, dig out of it, but eventually pay the price with a loss. Tough to believe but this 9-4 mark comes with major questions week after week.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5, lost to Cleveland Browns)
Trevor Lawrence played on the bum ankle but the Jags didn’t have enough to defeat a talented Cleveland Browns team. They remain in first as both the Colts and Texans lost.
7. Cleveland Brown (8-5, defeated Jacksonville Jaguars)
Joe Flacco threw for 311 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Jaguars. Can you be Comeback Player of the Year if you only play a handful of games? (Kidding.) Regardless, this team is looking solid.
6. Miami Dolphins (9-4, lost to Tennessee Titans)
The Dolphins had the game in their control, and then saw it frittered away to Tennessee. Quite a bad loss and only so much can be blamed on Tyreek Hill being injured. If they are a one-man band, the team is way out of tune.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5, lost to Buffalo Bills)
It could have been one of the greatest plays in NFL history. Kadarius Toney ruined it and all that’s left is an all-time lowlight. Foolish.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3, lost to Dallas Cowboys)
The Eagles have come apart, especially on defense. What once was a juggernaut needs to get its act in gear … quickly.
3. Dallas Cowboys (10-3, defeated Philadelphia Eagles)
The Cowboys are rolling … at home. That’s 15 in a row at AT&T. Let’s see what happens in the next two weeks when they visit the Bills and Dolphins.
2. Baltimore Ravens (10-3, defeated Los Angeles Rams)
The Ravens came up clutch over and over in a game they could have easily lost. Lamar Jackson led a late TD drive, and after the Rams forced OT, Tylan Wallace came up with a brilliant, game-winning punt return for a TD.
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-3, defeated Seattle Seahawks)
Nothing could be finer than to be a 49er heading into Week 15.
