There aren’t a lot of changes in the week 15 power rankings. Week 14 was full of slow games that didn’t get interesting until the fourth quarter. Ultimately, the teams that won were the teams that everyone expected to win.
The playoffs inch ever closer and with it, the top contenders take shape. What remains a mystery is what teams will be the 6th and 7th seed. The playoff door is still wide open for most teams to be a threat. But what teams stand a chance at doing just that? Let’s take a look at where each team stands going into week 15.
1. New England Patriots
No team has been as dominant the second half of the season as the Patriots have. After 7 straight wins, the Patriots currently hold the top spot in the playoffs. The Patriots face a tough challenge after their bye, with back-to-back games against the Colts and the Bills. Can the Patriots hang on to hold onto the top spot? If their previous record is anything to go off of, absolutely.
Previous Rank: 1
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady still owns the Bills. He was elite in the win, throwing for 363 yards and 2 touchdowns. Leonard Fournette also had a great game, with 113 yards and a touchdown. Mike Evans had 91 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Godwin had 105 yards. The Buccaneers continue to be one of the most dominant teams in the NFL.
Previous Rank: 3
3. Green Bay Packers
Nothing has changed since the last time Green Bay met the Bears. Aaron Rodgers still owns Chicago. Rodgers threw for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns in one of his best performances this season. AJ Dillon was the lead rusher with 71 yards. To no one’s surprise, Davante Adams had a big game with 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers continue to be a dominant force in the NFC and are now in control of the 1st overall spot in the playoffs.
Previous Rank: 4
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals struggled in a Monday night loss to the Rams. Kyler Murray was more effective rushing than passing, with two ill-timed interceptions that cost them the game. AJ Green had 102 yards. One bright spot was James Conner, who is emerging as a reliable receiver for Arizona. Conner had 94 receiving yards, 31 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns. With this loss, the Cardinals fell out of the 1st seed in the playoffs all the way to the 3rd seed. Regaining the 1st seed is likely impossible for the Cardinals, unless they get very lucky.
Previous Rank: 2
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is the heart and soul of this team. He proved that once again in a win over the Giants, finishing with 275 yards and 3 touchdowns. His favorite target without Keenan Allen was Jalen Guyton, who finished with 87 yards and a touchdown. The defense continued to be a liability however. Joey Bosa is the only defensive player who made an impact this game. Going into a game with the Chiefs next week, the Chargers’ defense will need to step it up to win.
Previous Rank: 8
6. Los Angeles Rams
What we saw on Monday night is exactly what we needed to see from the Rams. They looked dominant in a win over the Cardinals, even though the final score was close. Matthew Stafford was excellent in the game, throwing for 3 touchdowns. Cooper Kupp continues a dominant season with 123 yards and 1 touchdown. Odell Beckham Jr. seems to have settled into the offense, with 77 yards and a touchdown. With the playoffs just a month away, this win bodes well for the Rams.
Previous Rank: 6
7. Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor is the driving force of the Colts offense. Coming out of the bye week, he’ll face a tough challenge against a good Patriots’ defense. After that, it’s the Cardinals. This is the Colts’ chance to prove their a top team int he NFL. Will they hold up or crack under the pressure?
Previous Rank: 7
8. Buffalo Bills
There’s a lot to be worried about if you’re a Bills fan. The Bills flew to 7-6 after a loss to the Buccaneers. What’s more troubling is how the Bills played the first half. Josh Allen is the sole reason the Bills were able to tie the game to get into overtime. No Buffalo receiver stood out in this performance. At some point, big names like Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley need to step up to help this team win. There’s a lot of work to be done for this Bills team before the playoffs begin.
Previous Rank: 5
9. Dallas Cowboys
If the Cowboys had played a good team on Sunday, the would have lost. Good thing they played Washington. Dak Prescott threw 2 interceptions in a game where the offense couldn’t get going. Ezekiel Elliott finished with 45 yards. Ceedee Lamb was the leading receiver with 61 yards. Micah Parsons proved once again he’s the defensive rookie of the year with 2 sacks. A game like this is enough to beat weak division rivals. However, it won’t be enough to beat good teams in the playoffs. If the Cowboys continue to play like this, they’ll be eliminated in the wild card round.
Previous Rank: 9
10. Kansas City Chiefs
This game cemented that the Chief’s identity is now their defense. Mike Hughes started the game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The Chiefs’ defensive line devoured Derek Carr and his offensive line. Offensively, no stats jump off the page. Patrick Mahomes threw for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns. Derrick Gore was the lead rusher with 66 yards and a touchdown. Tyreek Hill finished with 76 yards and Josh Gordon caught his first touchdown of the season. Can the Chiefs’ offense finally get it together and return to their high flying offense? With a defense this good, they won’t have to.
Previous Rank: 12
11. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens lost Lamar Jackson in the second quarter and their offense struggled for the rest of the game. Tyler Huntley stepped in for Jackson and was efficient as a backup. He finished with 270 yards and 1 touchdown. Mark Andrews had a stellar game for Baltimore, finishing with 115 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, the biggest takeaway from this game is Jackson’s injury. Injuries continue to pile up for the Ravens. The playoffs are just around the corner and at this point, the AFC North is wide open. With Lamar, the Ravens will struggle to stay on top of their division.
Previous Rank: 10
12. Tennessee Titans
The Titans had a bit of breathing room in a game against the Jaguars. The offense was far from it’s best. Ryan Tannehill only threw for 191 yards and their leading receiver was Geoff Swaim who had 45 yards. The Tennessee defense stifled one of the worst offenses in the league, holding them to zero points. The Titan’s offense can be inefficient against bad teams, but in the playoffs it will get them in trouble. It’s a good thing Derrick Henry will return before then.
Previous Rank: 13
13. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have a chance to take control of their division coming out of the bye week. They face only division opponents for the last 4 games of their season. Winning all 4 would guarantee a playoff spot and possibly the top spot int he NFC East. Can the Eagles pull it off? It’s been a roller coaster of a year, so probably not.
Previous Rank: 14
14. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals need more help to be a playoff threat. Joe Burrow threw for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tee Higgins had 114 yards. Ja’Marr Chase had 77 yards and 2 touchdowns. All of these stats should indicate a Bengals’ win, but their defense wasn’t able to make key stops. An early 49ers’ lead also led to the Bengals abandoning the run game. Considering Joe Mixon’s past performances, this decision was puzzling. The future is bright for Cincinnati, but is Zac Taylor’s coaching the thing holding this team back?
Previous Rank: 11
15. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers almost let the Bengals win. Almost. An overtime touchdown from Jimmy Garoppolo to Brandon Aiyuk ensured the 49ers victory. There’s a lot of positives to take away here. Garoppolo threw for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns. George Kittle once again proved he’s the best receiving tight end with 151 yards and a touchdown. Nick Bosa had his best performance of the season. What’s most important is that the 49ers proved resilient. With the playoffs right around the corner, this kind of win instills confidence in a scrappy team.
Previous Rank: 18
16. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins still hang around the playoff race, at 6-7. The deciding factor might by their last 2 games against the Titans and the Patriots. Losing those games would all but ensure the Dolphins won’t be playing in the playoffs. Considering their early season struggles, it seems unlikely the Dolphins will be able to beat both teams.
Previous Rank: 17
17. Cleveland Browns
The Browns never make it easy. After securing an early lead, the Browns let the Ravens back into the game. The Ravens were also without Lamar Jackson for most of the game, who left in the second quarter. No one on the offense was worth mentioning for this game, as no one on the offense had an excellent game. Myles Garret continued to be heartbeat of the defense with 4 pressures and 1 sack. The Browns did just enough to win and that’s what counts, especially in a week where the rest of the AFC North lost.
Previous Rank: 19
18. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are a team with two identities. One identity is being a dominant offense, capable of beating any team in the league. The other is a poorly coached team with zero enthusiasm. Both were present in a Thursday night win over the Steelers. Dalvin Cook and the offense were dominant in the first half. Dalvin Cook finished the first half with 153 yards. In the second half, Cook would only gain 52 more yards. A pair of Kirk Cousins’ interceptions almost handed the game to the Steelers. Once again for the Vikings, it came down to the final play. Harrison Smith knocked the ball out of Pat Freiermuth’s hands to ensure the win. The Vikings find a way to make it interesting every week, no matter who they play.
Previous Rank: 20
19. Denver Broncos
The Broncos were dominant in a win over the Lions. Teddy Bridgewater had a typical Teddy game, finishing with 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. Melvin Gordon was the true star, with 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. No receiver stood out statistically, but Jerry Jeudy was able to convert key first downs. The Broncos still stand a chance to make the playoffs, mostly due to their 3-0 start. At this point, a deep playoff run might be the only thing that can save Vic Fangio’s job.
Previous Rank: 21
20. Las Vegas Raiders
Not a lot can be said about the Raiders loss on Sunday. After a pregame speech on the Kansas City logo, the Raiders offense hemorrhaged turnovers like an open wound in the first half. The Raiders are on the verge of a complete rebuild at this point.
Previous Rank: 16
21. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks showed signs of life on Sunday. Russell Wilson was efficient, throwing for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rashaad Penny rushed for an astonishing 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tyler Lockett was the standout player however with 142 yards and a touchdown. The Seattle defense had a good game, but they were also playing the worse offense in the league. A game like this was impressive, but the Seahawks need to do this against a good team. They have the chance to do that next week, against the Seahawks.
Previous Rank: 22
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are a team incapable of playing a full game. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 4 times before half time and it affected his play. Chase Claypool seems to have maturity issues, after a puzzling celebration with only 30 seconds left in the game. The defense was awful against the run, allowing Dalvin Cook to run for 205 yards. Despite all of that, it came down to the final play of the game which says more about the Vikings than it does the Steelers. Has Mike Tomlin finally lost touch with his team? Questions have to start being asked about coaching after 3 back-to-back disappointing seasons.
Previous Rank: 23
23. Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team is erratic as their quarterback, Taylor Heinicke. Much like Heinicke, they’ve showed promise only to have games that prove they belong nowhere near the playoffs. Sunday was the latter type of game for Washington. Heinicke struggled and Antonio Gibson couldn’t get the ground game going. The saving grace for Washington is that the 7th seed playoff spot ensures one mediocre team will make the playoffs. If it’s Washington, they’re likely to be eliminated in the wild card round.
Previous Rank: 24
24. New Orleans Saints
The Saints had an impressive outing against a lifeless Jets team. Leading the charge was Alvin Kamara, who finished with 145 total yards and 1 touchdown. Marshon Lattimore also shut down the passing game, but was aided by a struggling Zach Wilson. At 6-7, the Saints still have a chance at the playoffs. The issue is their next game. They face the Buccaneers next week, who will almost certainly score more than 9 points.
Previous Rank: 26
25. Atlanta Falcons
All the Falcons proved on Sunday is that they’re better than the Panthers. Matt Ryan played a clean game with few mistakes. Cordarelle Patterson was the lead rusher with 58 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Pitts continued to be the biggest receiving threat for the Falcons, with 61 yards. At this point, this team still stands a chance at making the playoffs. The Falcons have a lot to prove over the next 4 weeks.
Previous Rank: 28
26. New York Giants
The Giants played better against the Chargers, but are still ultimately a team with no identity. A full rebuild seems to be just around the corner for this New York team.
Previous Rank: 27
27. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers continued mediocre play in a loss to the Falcons. Cam Newton and PJ Walker both showed they’re incapable of leading an offense. The run defense was nonexistent and the defense couldn’t get stops constantly. Matt Rhule might be looking for work after this season.
Previous Rank: 25
28. New York Jets
The Jets remained hapless against a struggling Saints team. Zach Wilson has a long way to go before he’s a star quarterback.
Previous Rank: 28
29. Chicago Bears
The Bears had a dominant first half, only to fall asleep at the wheel after halftime. The true crime here is that the Bears play 2 prime time games in a row, with a Monday night game next week. Why are millions of Americans subjected to watching this consistently awful team play in prime team?
Previous Rank: 29
30. Detroit Lions
The Lions got their one win of the season, so now we’ll most likely wait another year for a Lions’ win.
Previous Rank: 30
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
The big news out of Jacksonville this week was that tensions are starting to boil over in the front office. The Jaguars also played a game on Sunday, in which they scored 0 points.
Previous Rank: 31
32. Houston Texans
The Texans were horrible on Sunday. This team being bad provides the consistency everyone needs in this pandemic.
Previous Rank: 32
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