Ricky Dimon
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There’s a change at the top of both the NFC and these power rankings, with the Rams now controlling their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the conference thanks to New Orleans’ Week 13 loss. Meanwhile, what will Kansas City’s new world be like without Kareem Hunt? Here is the official NFL Power Rankings.
1. Los Angeles Rams (11-1)– The Rams are rolling again and—on paper—they have only one more tough game (at Chicago this week) in their attempt to maintain the NFC’s top spot.
2. New Orleans Saints (10-2) – Where did that come from? The Saints had won 10 in a row and had scored at least 30 points in eight of their last nine but suddenly lost to Dallas 13-10.
3. New England Patriots (9-3) – Tom Brady reaching 1,000 rushing yards just isn’t a big deal. What is a big deal? Last Sunday’s win over Minnesota and Week 15’s date with Pittsburgh.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)– Hunt is gone and Kansas City underwhelmed throughout a 40-33 defeat of Oakland. But a win’s a win in a bid for the AFC’s top seed.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)– No team picked up a bigger victory in Week 13 than the Chargers, who stormed back from a 23-deficit to stun host Pittsburgh 33-30.
6. Houston Texans (9-3)– Not one, not two, not three, not four…not seven, not eight…. No, Houston has now won nine in a row and only one difficult game (at Philadelphia) remains.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)– Back-to-back setbacks against Denver and the Chargers are an unmitigated disaster, especially with New England and New Orleans still on the schedule.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)– Break up the Cowboys! Once 3-5, Dallas currently owns an NFC-best four-game winning streak. Jason Garrett for Coach of the Year? Haha.
9. Chicago Bears (8-4)– Good news for the Bears: everyone else in the NFC North is stumbling and bumbling their way out of contention. Bad news: they just lost to the Giants.
10. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)– Russell Wilson has led Seattle to 100 points during a current three-game winning streak. That puts the Seahawks in position for the NFC’s first wild card right now.
11. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)– The bottom line is that this team just isn’t very good. It beats whoever it’s supposed to beat and loses to whoever it’s supposed to lose to (NE last week).
12. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)– Baltimore leads the NFL in total defense and scoring defense. It was up to its usual tricks against the Falcons, who finished with a grand total of 131 yards.
13. Denver Broncos (6-6) – Since what appeared to be a season-ending 1-5 stretch, Denver has reeled off consecutive wins over the Chargers, Steelers, and Bengals. What?!?!
14.Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) – It will take a lot more than beating NYR and WAS to prove these are the same Super Bowl champs. Upcoming games vs. DAL, LAR, and HOU will tell all.
15. Tennessee Titans (6-6)– The Titans’ closing stretch of five games is incredibly soft. It started with a win this past week—albeit an unspectacular 26-22 result against the Jets.
16. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)– A five-game winning streak came to an end in the worst possible fashion, with an embarrassing 6-0 setback against a reeling Jacksonville squad.
17. Carolina Panthers (6-6)– Cam Newton has thrown interceptions in four straight outings, including a ridiculous four during last Sunday’s 24-17 loss at Tampa Bay.
18. Miami Dolphins (6-6)– This team is kind of like fellow 6-6 wild-card contender Tennessee. It is by no means great, but it also isn’t terrible. It just is….
19. Washington Redskins (6-6)– Alex Smith was already out of the season and now Colt McCoy is out for the season. It’s Mark Sanchez time in Washington!
20. Green Bay Packers (4-7-1)– The Packers are going to miss the playoffs and head coach Mike McCarthy won’t be around to see it. He got the boot following a horrific loss to Arizona.
21. Cleveland Browns (4-7-1)– Cleveland can kiss any playoff (playoffs?!?!) hopes goodbye with a 29-13 loss at Houston. Still, 4-7-1 is a smashing success for this franchise.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)– Cincinnati won’t be winning a playoff game this season, nor will it even be participating in the playoffs. This has to be the end for Marvin Lewis, right?
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)– The Bucs have stayed mathematically afloat with consecutive defeats of San Francisco and Carolina. The Saints should finish them on Sunday.
24. New York Giants (4-8) – The Giants have thrown away their shot at the No. 1 draft pick with three wins in their last four. Eli Manning hasn’t been great, but Saquon Barkley has.
25. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)– Atlanta’s roller-coaster took it to 1-4 at the beginning of the season, 4-4 soon thereafter, and now 4-8. An anemic performance vs. Baltimore was the death blow.
26. Detroit Lions (4-8) – Speaking of the death blow, Detroit is also 4-8 following recent setbacks against Chicago and the Rams. The schedule now gets easier, but it’s too late.
27. Buffalo Bills (4-8) – Buffalo released Nathan Peterman last month and it has won two of its last three. Both of those things are great, but they won’t translate into another playoff berth.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)– The Jaguars’ defense of old showed up with a shutout of Indianapolis. They probably shouldn’t have waited 13 weeks to start playing.
29. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)– Following their upset of Green Bay, the Cardinals have another winnable game at home against Detroit. It’s probably the last one they can win in 2018.
30. New York Jets (3-9)– Once 3-3, the Jets are now 3-9. That’s six losses in a row for anyone who needs some help in mathematics. Sam Darnold is returning, for whatever it’s worth.
31. Oakland Raiders (2-10)– Week 13 went about as well for the Raiders as possible. They fared well against Kansas City but also didn’t hurt their draft position by actually winning.
32. San Francisco 49ers (2-10)– The 49ers at least managed to be competitive in early-season games. Now, though, they are successfully losing by a ton in their bid for the worst record.
