Week 15 NFL Power Rankings: The Cheesiest Power Rankings Yet
Josh Frey
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There were two types of NFL games in Week 14: blowouts and comebacks from blowouts that fell just short. If you look around the slate, there really is no exception to this rule. The week started off with Minnesota nearly blowing a 29-0 lead to Pittsburgh, and that energy just remained throughout the week. Here’s the fresh list of NFL power rankings heading into Week 15.
1. Green Bay Packers
Last Week: 45-27 win vs CHI
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/19 @ BAL
Aaron Rodgers does in fact still own the Chicago Bears. After a wild first half that included multiple Green Bay special teams meltdowns, Rodgers was yet again a stabilizing factor for this Packers team. The Packers can officially clinch another NFC North title in Baltimore this week.
2. New England Patriots
Last Week: Bye
Trending: -1
This Week: 12/18 @ IND
New England rested on their laurels in Week 14, and it’s well earned as they continue to hold the top seed in the AFC. This week they can continue their reign of terror in Indianapolis.
3. Los Angeles Rams
Last Week: 30-23 win @ ARI
Trending: +3
This Week: 12/19 vs SEA
Aaron Donald led the way towards containing Kyler Murray’s air attack with three sacks, but Matthew Stafford also returned to MVP form against the Cardinals. He tossed three touchdown passes, and Cooper Kupp got open at will against Arizona’s secondary.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Week: 48-9 win vs LV
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/16 @ LAC
It may be safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs are back. Their defense is suddenly an elite group, and while Patrick Mahomes is not making the same amount of jaw-dropping throws that we are used to, he is doing enough to get the job done. This makes six wins in a row for KC with a short week in LA next on the table.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week: 33-27 win vs BUF
Trending: -1
This Week: 12/19 vs NO
Tampa looked like they were going to roll through this game after the first half, but that’s why you play the entire game. They jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead before being outscored 24-3 in the second half, but if you give Tom Brady the ball in overtime, there’s a good chance he’ll win the game.
6. Arizona Cardinals
Last Week: 23-30 loss vs LAR
Trending: -3
This Week: 12/19 @ DET
The Cardinals made a last-ditch effort to come back against the Rams, but similar to other comeback attempts, it was too little too late. Arizona’s defense also allowed LA to score on five consecutive drives, and during that stretch Kyler Murray threw a pair of interceptions.
7. Tennessee Titans
Last Week: 20-0 win vs JAX
Trending: –-
This Week: 12/19 @ PIT
After back-to-back losses before their bye, this seemed like the get-right game that Tennessee needed. It’s a common theme for this Jacksonville squad in 2021, but once again, the Titans dominated them on both sides of the ball. The Titans need a similar showing against Pittsburgh to keep pace in the AFC race for the one seed.
8. Indianapolis Colts
Last Week: Bye
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/18 vs NE
Both Indianapolis and New England are coming off their bye before a rare Saturday night showdown. There are currently five 7-6 teams vying for two playoff spots, so the Colts need a win to stay in the hunt.
9. Dallas Cowboys
Last Week: 27-20 win @ WSH
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/19 @ NYG
The Cowboys nearly gave this game away down the stretch, and they may have done so if Taylor Heinicke had been in the game rather than Kyle Allen. However, they held on, extended their NFC East lead, and Micah Parsons continued to make his case for the DPOY award.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
Last Week: 37-21 win vs NYG
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/16 vs KC
Justin Herbert is just ridiculous, man. Once again, he put on a show in this latest Chargers win, highlighted by a 59-yard TD bomb just before halftime. LA cruised to a victory, but now they get a big test that could settle the AFC West this Thursday.
11. Buffalo Bills
Last Week: 27-33 loss @ TB
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 vs CAR
Things looked bleak going into halftime for the Buffalo Bills, but Josh Allen was the catalyst for a massive comeback against Tampa Bay to force overtime. Unfortunately, they couldn’t fully complete the comeback, but the amount of fight this team showed is promising for Buffalo.
12. Baltimore Ravens
Last Week: 22-24 loss @ CLE
Trending: -4
This Week: 12/19 vs GB
Lamar Jackson was carted off the field with an injury, but Tyler Hundley was able to lead the comeback that nearly got Baltimore a win. The Ravens defense held Cleveland scoreless in the second half as well, but in the end, they just couldn’t fully get this one back.
13. San Francisco 49ers
Last Week: 26-23 win vs CIN
Trending: +5
This Week: 12/19 vs ATL
With this victory, the 49ers take sole possession of the sixth seed in the NFC playoff race, and they edge closer to the top two teams in the NFC West. With no Elijah Mitchell, it was a combination of great performances from Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle that led the way.
14. Cleveland Browns
Last Week: 24-22 win vs BAL
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/18 vs LV
It wasn’t pretty, but Cleveland did just enough to get the job done versus Baltimore. The offense still does not look like a unit that is ready to compete for a Super Bowl, but the defense was able to bail them out at times this week, forcing a pair of turnovers.
15. Miami Dolphins
Last Week: Bye
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 vs NYJ
Remember when the Dolphins were 1-7 and seemingly done for the year? Yeah, they could be back to .500 this week if they can just get a home win against the New York Jets. This winning streak has a lot to do with Tua Tagvailoa emerging as the QB we all thought he could be, and one more big game gets Miami back in the playoff hunt.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
Last Week: 23-26 loss @ SF
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 @ DEN
It really is the story of the week; comebacks that just couldn’t quite complete the job. Joe Burrow had a terrific end to this game, but their overtime drive stalled out, and then San Francisco was able to officially put the game away with Brandon Aiyuk’s game-winning touchdown.
17. Denver Broncos
Last Week: 38-10 win vs DET
Trending: +3
This Week: 12/19 vs CIN
The two-headed monster of Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams showed up against Detroit. The RBs led the way for Denver, rushing for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Williams also added a 10-yard receiving touchdown. Denver took care of business against another bad team, but can they do it against the Bengals?
18. Minnesota Vikings
Last Week: 36-28 win vs PIT
Trending: +4
This Week: 12/20 @ CHI
Who needs movies when you can just watch the Minnesota Vikings every week? Even though they jumped out to a 29-0 lead, the Vikings still found a way to make this game come down to the very last snap. They got the win, keeping their playoff hopes alive, and now we get an extended break before yet another primetime game in Chicago.
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19. Washington Football Team
Last Week: 20-27 loss vs DAL
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 @ PHI
Taylor Heinicke suffered a knee injury that doesn’t seem super serious, but it was enough to keep him on the sidelines at the end of this game. Things may have ended up differently if Heinicke had been on the field, but Washington still holds a playoff spot as they head to Philly.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Week: 28-36 @ MIN
Trending: -4
This Week: 12/19 vs TEN
The Steelers fell victim to the Vikings on Thursday night, but not before putting on a show. Pittsburgh nearly put together one of the best comebacks in NFL history, but once again they fall back to .500. They may just be destined to put together an improbable .500 season in a 17-game season.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Last Week: Bye
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 vs WSH
Philly got a chance to gear up for the final month of the season, and they are going to need to play their best brand of football in order to make the playoffs. First up, is division rival Washington in a pivotal game on Sunday.
22. Seattle Seahawks
Last Week: 33-13 win @ HOU
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/19 @ LAR
It got off to a shaky start, but the Seahawks eventually took over against the Houston Texans. Above everything else, Rashaad Penny stood out in the backfield. His pair of rushing touchdowns were crucial in this win.
23. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 30-9 win @ NYJ
Trending: +4
This Week: 12/19 @ TB
Taysom Hill didn’t do a ton through the air, but he and Alvin Kamara as rushers tore apart the Jets defense. On top of that, New Orleans’ own defense continues to be one of the better units in the league. They’re a win in Tampa away from being back on the radar.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Last Week: 29-21 win @ CAR
Trending: +2
This Week: 12/19 @ SF
The Falcons will need some help from other teams to make the playoffs, but this win inched them a little closer to that seventh seed in the NFC. It wasn’t a flashy game from Matt Ryan by any means, but the defense really came to play. Three forced turnovers, including a pick-six, was the difference in this one.
25. Chicago Bears
Last Week: 27-45 loss @ GB
Trending: -2
This Week: 1220 vs MIN
Jakeem Grant had quite a game on Sunday night, and honestly, he was the sole reason this game was competitive for as long as it was. Justin Fields threw a pick-six, and the defense really let the Packers offense get whatever they wanted threw the air or on the ground.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Last Week: 9-48 loss @ KC
Trending: -5
This Week: 12/18 @ CLE
The Raiders’ decision to stand on the Chiefs logo prior to the game backfired pretty quickly. They were completely outmatched from the very beginning of this game, and Las Vegas lost in embarrassing fashion.
27. Carolina Panthers
Last Week: 21-29 loss vs ATL
Trending: -2
This Week: 12/19 @ BUF
Cam Newton was benched again in this game, but he came back out after halftime to finish the game. All in all, it wasn’t a very impressive performance for the MVP. With the loss, Carolina’s fleeting playoff hopes have probably ended.
28. New York Giants
Last Week: 21-37 loss @ LAC
Trending: –
This Week: 12/19 vs DAL
The Giants were just the latest victim of Justin Herbert’s magic. They could do nothing but watch as Herbert whipped bullet after bullet to each of his receivers. We’ll see if they can bounce back this week against Dallas.
29. Detroit Lions
Last Week: 10-38 loss @ DEN
Trending: –
This Week: 12/19 vs ARI
After their improbable win against Minnesota last week, the Lions came out completely flat in Denver. Their run defense was horrible, and the offense did very little with a short-handed group.
30. New York Jets
Last Week: 9-30 loss vs NO
Trending: –
This Week: 12/19 @ MIA
Zach Wilson was under hellacious pressure throughout this game. The offensive line did very little to stop the Saints front, even without Cam Jordan. On top of that, New York’s own defense is not able to stop anybody.
31. Houston Texans
Last Week: 13-33 loss vs SEA
Trending: +1
This Week: 12/19 @ JAX
Davis Mills was leading a pretty effective offense for much of the first half, but the wheels fell off towards the end of the game. It’s a lot to put on a developmental quarterback without a supremely talented roster, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise or disappointment. They could get a win against a Jags though.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last Week: 0-20 loss @ TEN
Trending: -1
This Week: 12/19 vs HOU
The Jaguars are a mess. Urban Meyer clearly doesn’t want to be in Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence is growing frustrated, and the roster just isn’t very talented. Next week we get the Tank Bowl between them and Houston.
