NFL Power Rankings: 49ers, Chiefs, Cowboys climb; Bills, Ravens, Steelers slip for Week 15

Week 14 in the NFL is an exciting mix of big fights and unexpected suspense. While some things in the league’s power structure for the 2021 regular season have not changed. There are still some shake-ups ahead of the final month.

With just four games left for each team in the 17-game marathon, the contenders will be looking to sprint to the knockout stages, while the race teams will also be looking for a quick and intense finish to the challenge. present in 2022.

Here’s Sporting News looking at how all 32 teams played against each other heading into Week 15:

THAN: NFL rankings update, playoff images for Week 14

NFL Power Rankings

1. Arizona Cardinals 10-2 (previous: 1)

The Cardinals entered the big division game on Monday night with the Rams feeling more confident with Kyler Murray returning to play healthy and at a high level to support their still underappreciated strengths in the game. running and defending. They need to keep winning to prove they belong right up there as an NFC title threat to Tampa Bay and Green Bay.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-3 (3)

The Buccaneers had to outlast AFC’s mighty Bills to win once again, but they beat another quality competitor to maintain a perfect Tampa image during their march to add another title. NFC Men’s in Super Bowl 55 last year. Tom Brady is determined to put them in the right place to repeat.

3. Green Bay Packers 10-3 (2)

Aaron Rodgers proved on Sunday night that he still owns the Bears, although it wasn’t easy at first until big attacks came from the back to inspire attack. The Packers are rolling at the right time and getting fitter to improve last year’s playoffs.

4. Kansas City Chiefs 9-4 (5)

The captain is not the number 1 seed in the AFC but everyone can sense they are the team to beat again. They crushed the Raiders at home after taking the Broncos down there hard last week. The defense is turning off the lights, cleaning up its old problems versus running away and also fooling over games. Patrick Mahomes and Offense also decided to get more varied and dangerous in Week 14.

5. New England Patriots 9-4 (4)

The Patriots had a good goodbye week that saw the Bills lose in the division again but not so much with the Chiefs and Titans keeping things tighter in the larger AFC playoff picture. They return to face the well-rested Colts, who are also in the playoffs slightly behind them.

6. Tennessee Titans 9-4 (6)

The Titans weren’t really inspiring with their mighty performance against the Jaguars with few fouls, but their defense imposed its will with pressure and we always supported solid defence. Mike Vrabel doesn’t care about form points as long as he has enough, hoping to keep his team alive until Derrick Henry can return when the games are worth more.

7. Dallas Cowboys 9-4 (9)

The Cowboys used Washington to make up and silence any talk of them losing NFC East again. Dak Prescott and attack are still declining in many aspects, but the defense continues to show that it is a really reliable strength from the beginning of the game.

8. Los Angeles Rams 8-4 (10)

The Rams can show they are still a dangerous element in the chase for the NFC championship with a win at the Cardinals on Monday night. They need to keep running and playing well defensively to do that, because Matthew Stafford’s arm alone cannot cut it.

9. Los Angeles 8-5 (11) Charger

The Chargers are proving they’re the most complete NFL team in LA thanks to Justin Herbert being able to look back at the whole world no matter who his receiver is and the defense is starting to overwhelm while not being able to afford the lane. run.

10. Baltimore Raven 8-5 (7)

The Ravens are on a sudden decline as Lamar Jackson (ankle) becomes the latest mainstay player who cannot avoid injury. Together they have won close matches but the inconsistent harmony between attack and defense is pushing to the average result as expected.

11. Indianapolis Colts 7-6 (14)

The Colts couldn’t have asked for a better goodbye, except that the Titans defeated the Jaguars. But anyway the AFC South title is still a long way off, and it would be nice to get to the playoffs before there’s a big test for Jonathan Taylor against the Patriots’ defense at home.

12. Buffalo Bills 7-6 (8)

The Bills looked dazed and confused, experiencing the Patriots hangover in the first half against the Buccaneers. That was before they got up to speed with Josh Allen leading the charge on emotion and sense of urgency. Unfortunately, he was still overtaken by Brady and also injured himself.

13. San Francisco 49ers 7-6 (16)

The 49ers proved the defeat to the Seahawks in Week 13 was more of a collision of speed involving divisional opponents than a trend from their first half in the second half towards the knockouts. Their attack is rolling with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel making all the fun and the defense is working overtime to make plays at the right times.

14. Cincinnati Bengals 7-6 (12)

The Bengals played an interesting horror game with the 49ers and were unable to earn the necessary points in extra time. Sticking with one of the better NFC groups worldwide is a confidence builder; now they need to use it to win enough AFC matches to reach the knockout round.

15. Cleveland Browns 7-6 (18)

The Browns needed a win over Raven to save their regular season and it can now feel like it will have another happy ending for Myles Garrett and the defense now feels that’s true for Baker Mayfield and offense at the right time.

16. Denver Broncos 7-6 (19)

The Broncos defeated the Lions impressively, methodically by playing defense and running. Beating lousy teams has been Denver’s specialty under Vic Fangio this season. Unfortunately, it added little to better combat teams.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-6-1 (13)

Steel Man’s slow defense cost them dearly compared to the Vikings, because it got them into nasty passing situations and took away from their strengths in passing and coverage. . At least Ben Roethlisberger was playing well again last season that could give them one last chance.

18. Washington football team 6-7 (15)

Washington turned sloppy against the Cowboys again when Taylor Heinicke and the foul hit a wall and pulled in another strong attempt by the reworked defense. That’s disappointing for Ron Rivera, whose team can now only cling to the hopes of wild cards.

19. Philadelphia Eagles 6-7 (20)

The Eagles bid farewell to regroup and make their shot in the open NFC wild card race for two places. The loss to Washington helped a lot, but they needed to show more passing ability with Jalen Hurts to help de-escalate the defense and the games.

20. Minnesota Vikings 6-7 (22)

The Vikings had a major win claim over the Steelers with Dalvin Cook returning to dominate the running game and Kirk Cousins ​​avoiding another overall meltdown in the fourth quarter. They need to avoid the Bears’ lane trap game on Monday night, again on week 15 prime time.

21. Miami Dolphins 6-7 (21)

The Dolphins have bye bye and don’t see their AFC playoff kicks much improved as the Colts, Bills, Browns, Bengals and Broncos look much better positioned to get there behind clearly divided winners. Get the next Jets and take them back all the way back to .500.

22. Las Vegas Raiders 6-7 (17)

The Raiders tried to bring a competitive team together after Jon Gruden was fired, but the loss of key personnel to injury and a nasty identity with Derek Carr led to another great start.

23. Atlanta Falcons 6-7 (24)

The Falcons continued to show fighting for Matt Ryan and Arthur Smith, and a better attack activated the defense against the Panthers. They went overboard to get ahead of the Panthers and even with the Saints behind the Buccaneers.

24. New Orleans Saints 6-7 (25)

The Saints marched away with a much-needed streak-ending win in New York, thanks to the run of Alvin Kamara back and Taysom Hill stomping on the entire Jet Team. They have additional formula once again to help their defence.

25. Seattle Seahawks 5-8 (26)

The Seahawks have left their mid-season carpet for half a chance of finishing another season above..500 with Russell Wilson. Still, winning enough for another hit in the knockout stages will be tough, and with it, possibly a breakup with Wilson.

26. Carolina Panthers 5-8 (23)

The Panthers are not back with Cam Newton. Or PJ Walker. Or Newton. Or Walker. They seemed lifeless and out of place with their defense now also falling apart because of Matt Rhule, which is a coaching rule, not a good sign.

27. Chicago Bears 4-9 (28)

The Bears did their best to stick with the Packers with their share of big plays and bright lights from Justin Fields. But the results weren’t nearly enough, likely, to save Matt Nagy’s job in the end.

28. New York Giants 4-9 (27)

The Giants should also give more thought to Joe Judge’s future as their injury-induced turmoil has done little to deter the Chargers on the road with Mike Glennon starting over. Defensive is something, but it does not mean there is no real offensive behavior.

29. New York Jets 3-10 (29)

Jets tend to start off on high emotions with aggressive defense and a determined attack. But they hit a wall with the limits of their talent around Zach Wilson and their best defensive players, because of the simple fact that they couldn’t stop running or running the ball.

30. Houston Texans 2-11 (30)

The Texans got some sparks from Davis Mills against the Seahawks early on, but their main limitations on defense revealed themselves everywhere compared to energy runs and downfield passes. Will David Culley survive the mess in year 2?

31. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-11 (31)

What is that? Jaguar continues to outdo itself with offensive uselessness with Urban Meyer. They go missing with Trevor Lawrence at the helm. Just start over, all over again.

32. Detroit Lions 1-11-1 (32)

The Lions get their first victory over the Vikings. So they decided to put up with more injuries and do the moves in Denver.