NFL power rankings Week 15: How high can Cowboys climb after landmark win?

NFL power rankings entering Week 15 of the 2023 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. San Francisco 49ers (1): The first team to clinch a playoff berth this season, they've won 11 straight against their NFC West "competition" − putting them on the brink of consecutive division titles for the first time in 11 years. Certainly helps when you have a quartet (RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle and WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk) that can give you more than 500 yards from scrimmage on any given Sunday.

2. Dallas Cowboys (4): Though they'll still need some help to win the NFC East, particularly during such a tough stretch of the schedule, no doubt at this point that they're playing the best football in the division. And speaking of foot and ball, Brandon Aubrey's remarkable season (perfect on all 30 FG tries) continued in Sunday night's thrashing of the Eagles when he became the first kicker to connect from 59+ yards twice in the same game. Also, HC Mike McCarthy is undefeated without an appendix.

3. Baltimore Ravens (2): They're in a dogfight for the second No. 1 playoff seed in franchise history (2019) … and that will include facing first-place teams (Jacksonville, San Francisco, Miami) each of the next three weeks before the regular-season finale with archrival Pittsburgh.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (3): They're no longer in first place. Their quarterback is giving credence to NFL Network analyst David Carr's suggestion he should sit until he's fully healthy. The wide receivers are fumbling the ball … presuming they're catching it at all. And for the first time in 95 regular-season games, they didn't score an offensive TD. Otherwise, all is well.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (5): Is QB Patrick Mahomes really that mad at the officials? Or are they a convenient outlet to vent for his underperforming receivers? Or the fact he's in the midst of a career-worst six-game string without exceeding 300 passing yards? Or same ball of wax? The franchise's first road playoff game in eight years looks increasingly likely.

6. Miami Dolphins (6): They haven't been the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed since Dan Marino and Co. managed it in 1984. That's likely to continue after Monday night's meltdown against Tennessee, the Fins looking lost without WR Tyreek Hill.

7. Detroit Lions (7): QB Jared Goff has looked awfully ordinary over the past seven games (4-3 record, 10 touchdowns, 10 turnovers). But at this point, the franchise may have little choice aside from making him the long-term answer … which could still be the right answer, price pending.

8. Buffalo Bills (9): Coming off Sunday's win at Kansas City, it seems like the right time to note – despite his flaws – Josh Allen leads the NFL by accounting for 35 TDs (25 passing, 10 rushing). He's just the third quarterback in league history, joining Kyler Murray and Cam Newton, to hit those pass/rush TD totals in one season.

9. Denver Broncos (12): Look who's just one game out of the AFC West lead. The Broncos have gone 6-1 in their past seven games and have surrendered just 16 points per since Week 6.

10. Los Angeles Rams (11): An overtime loss at Baltimore was their first since Week 10 bye. But with the next three against sub-.500 opponents, LA's playoff push seems to be in good shape – especially given QB Matthew Stafford's inspired play of late (992 yards, 11 TDs passing, 2 INTs, 102.2 QB rating over past four games).

11. Cleveland Browns (14): Thanks to Joe Flacco, they became the eighth team in league history with four different starting quarterbacks earning wins in the same season. Thanks to Joe Flacco, they don't plan to need a fifth different passer moving forward.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars (10): Give QB Trevor Lawrence points for toughness after throwing 50 passes just six days after suffering an ankle injury. But that doesn't mask the loss of WR Christian Kirk (core muscle surgery) or a defense that's surrendered 65 points and nearly 900 yards during the Jags' two-game slide.

13. Houston Texans (8): How the NFL script can flip. A week ago, it appeared Jacksonville's quarterback injury would further enable the Texans' quest to capture the AFC South. Now the tables have done a 180 following a very damaging loss to the New York Jets.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (21): QB2 Jake Browning's 79.3% completion rate through his first three starts is a record during the Super Bowl era (since 1966). He and Chad Pennington are the only ones in that span to connect on 70% of their passes and post a QB rating of at least 95.0 through their initial three starts, Browning's rating an astronomical 113.4.

15. Green Bay Packers (13): Are Jordan Love's 2023 Pack going to mimic Aaron Rodgers' 2022 Pack? Good enough to claw out of a deep hole and make a late run … but maybe not much more if the tank hits empty shy of postseason?

16. Indianapolis Colts (15): They're definitely leaking oil in the run game since All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor underwent thumb surgery. Indy has gained 101 rushing yards, total, in the two games Taylor has missed since the operation.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (16): Things have gotten so bad, HC Mike Tomlin – now two wins shy of a 17th consecutive non-losing season – is calling out a talented wide receiver for his lack of maturity … five years after such a stance might've really made a difference.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20): PFF's top-ranked safety in 2023, Antoine Winfield Jr. is having quite the campaign. He's joined Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins (2002) as the only defensive backs since 2000 with at least three sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in a single season.

19. Minnesota Vikings (17): C'mon, Kevin O'Connell, free Nick Mullens – Southern Miss quarterbacks have a glorious history with the Vikes … at least for one season.

20. Atlanta Falcons (18): Yes, they lost control of the NFC South with Sunday's loss to the Bucs. But maybe they finally found something in the passing game, QB Desmond Ridder spreading 18 completions for 283 yards to WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson.

21. New Orleans Saints (25): Congratulations to Mickey Loomis, the ninth NFL general manager credited with 200 victories. But he might need to reach 204 by next month to deem the 2023 season a success.

22. Tennessee Titans (22): All rookie QB Will Levis did Monday night was outduel MVP candidate Tua Tagovailoa as the Titans won on the road for the first time this season – and perhaps ensured the Dolphins won't stay home for the postseason.

23. Seattle Seahawks (19): They've lost four in a row for the first time in HC Pete Carroll's 14 seasons. Seems likely to grow to five with salty Philadelphia headed to the Pacific Northwest next.

24. Chicago Bears (27): They've won thee of four and are just wreaking havoc on projected playoff teams. Per NFL Research, since DL Montez Sweat's acquisition, the defense has ranked among the league's top five.

25. Las Vegas Raiders (24): How good is DE Maxx Crosby? Since 2000, he's one of four players – including Khalil Mack, DeMarcus Ware and J.J. Watt, so fine company – with at least 50 Sacks and 300 tackles in his first five seasons.

26. New York Jets (28): Despite the myriad challenges at quarterback during both of his NFL seasons, WR Garrett Wilson projects to finish with 1,115 receiving yards – 12 more than he had in his 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.

27. New York Giants (29): How is injured milquetoast QB Daniel Jones ever supposed to reclaim his job from Jersey folk hero Tommy DeVito, who's now won three straight while breathing new life into the locker room?

28. Arizona Cardinals (26): Waiting for them on the other side of their bye week? The conference-leading Niners, who have won three straight against the Cards by an average of 24 points.

29. Los Angeles Chargers (23): Did you see JK Scott's 83-yard punt Sunday, tied for the longest league-wide in the past decade? Yeah, it was the only good thing to happen to the Bolts on a day when QB Justin Herbert wrecked his passing hand.

30. Washington Commanders (30): Now owners of the league's worst defense, they've dropped four in a row – losing the past two games by a collective 90-25 score while allowing 837 yards. The Commanders haven't forced a turnover since Week 9.

31. New England Patriots (31): This week's game against the Chiefs was the first ever flexed out of a Monday night time slot. But not to worry. In a Yuletide miracle, the Pats will play on Sunday night at Denver in a Christmas Eve showcase … unless the Grinch intervenes again.

32. Carolina Panthers (32): Can't blame Derrick Brown. He had 10 tackles, a QB hit and an interception in Sunday's loss. He's a defensive tackle, y'all.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL power rankings: Dallas Cowboys rise in Week 15