Week 14 NFL Power Rankings: 49ers Cruise to the Top, the Playoff Picture Gets Murkier in Both Conferences
Josh Frey
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If we’re being entirely honest, Week 13 proved to be one of the ugliest weeks of football this season.
There was some bad weather that impacted some of the games, but still, hopefully we can get some more entertaining games in Week 14. Speaking of Week 14, here is the latest NFL power rankings before the action gets started in a couple days.
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 42-19 win @ PHI
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/10 vs. SEA
The 49ers are the best team in football. After their performance against Philly, especially on the road, there is no other team that can be placed above San Francisco. Deebo Samuel backed up his talk from earlier in the week, and the defense had the Eagles offense in shambles.
2. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/10 vs. LAR
Baltimore watched as Miami surpassed them in the AFC standings this weekend, but they are still in the mix as they prepare to host a surging Los Angeles Rams team this week.
3. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 45-15 win @ WSH
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/11 vs. TEN
Tyreek Hill should be in the MVP conversation. Last weekend was his fifth 150+ receiving game of the season, and he has a firm lead in both receiving yardage and receiving TDs across the entire NFL. Miami’s offense is rolling, and Hill is a big reason for that.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 19-42 loss vs. SF
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 12/10 @ DAL
The clear weakness for this Eagles team is at the linebacker spot, and it is becoming a big problem. San Francisco was able to just out-muscle Philadelphia throughout Sunday afternoon, and they racked up yards after the catch. Philly still holds onto the No. 1 seed, but this loss puts their position in jeopardy with a road game against the Cowboys looming.
5. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 41-35 win vs. SEA
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/10 vs. PHI
The Cowboys won’t be able to get away with this type of defensive performance against the Eagles in Week 14, but credit where it’s due, Dak Prescott played a stupendous game on Thursday night. Now, Dallas is all of a sudden one win away from controlling the NFC East.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 19-27 loss @ GB
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/10 vs. BUF
If there’s a switch to flip in Kansas City, it has to happen in a hurry. They are a full game out of the No. 1 seed in the AFC and need to get things back on track both offensively and defensively before they play against the Bills this weekend.
Strong Playoff Teams
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 31-34 loss vs. CIN
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/10 @ CLE
It was insult to injury after both Trevor Lawrence and Walker Little left this game following getting their ankles tangled up during the fourth quarter on Monday night. Bandon McManus was unable to hit a field goal on the ensuing play, and Jacksonville couldn’t get a win against the Bengals with C.J. Beathard replacing Lawrence. The injury to their franchise QB puts them in jeopardy down the stretch with both Houston and Indianapolis looming in the division.
8. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 22-17 win vs. DEN
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/10 @ NYJ
C.J. Stroud continues to put together one of the best rookie QB campaigns in league history and is now leading the NFL in passing yards. The loss of Tank Dell is undeniably a big one, but this group continues to prove that they can persevere in tough situations.
9. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 33-28 win @ NO
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/10 @ CHI
The Lions defense has been disastrous at times this season, and that could lead them to trouble when playoff time rolls around. Still, they are 9-3 and in firm control of the NFC North. Their offense can stand toe-to-toe against any defense as long as Jared Goff takes care of the ball, and that is exactly what he did on Sunday against New Orleans.
10. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 17-22 loss @ HOU
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/10 @ LAC
There was some weird turnover luck that didn’t go Denver’s way on Sunday, so this loss on the road shouldn’t be too much cause for concern yet other than the fact that this now puts them a game behind the Wild Card race with five weeks to go. They needed to be much better in pass coverage as well, but instead, Nico Collins absolutely torched the Broncos secondary all afternoon.
11. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: 27-19 win vs. KC
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 12/11 @ NYG
Christian Watson suffered an injury during Green Bay’s victory over the Chiefs on Sunday night, but he scored a pair of touchdowns before that could happen. Jordan Love is coming into his own at the QB spot, and now, the Packers are a playoff team in the NFC.
12. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 36-19 win vs. CLE
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/11 @ BAL
This was a perfect Matthew Stafford game. He was slinging the ball all over the field, and Puka Nacua played some tough football through an injury. LA is surging towards being a potential contender in the NFC.
The “Swing” Teams
13. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 31-28 win @ TEN
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/10 @ CIN
The Colts won this game because of their special teams. They blocked punts on back-to-back possessions, which allowed them to steal the victory down the stretch. Indy now sits a few wins away from comfortably being in a playoff spot, and they should be able to get one of those victories in Cincinnati this weekend.
14. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/10 @ KC
Buffalo got to lick their wounds during their bye week following a Week 12 loss to the Eagles, and now, they have a road matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs that could go a long way towards getting them back into the playoff picture.
15. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: 19-36 loss @ LAR
- Trending: -6
- This Week: 12/10 vs. JAX
Joe Flacco was at least serviceable at the QB position, but this was one of the worst games that Cleveland’s defense has played all season. Now, they have to get back on track against a tough Jaguars squad.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 34-31 win @ JAX
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/10 vs. IND
Well, the Bengals just won’t go away. After an underwhelming performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12, Jake Browning could do no wrong against the Jaguars defense. Cincinnati was able to steal a win on the road and have a chance to get fully back in the mix if they can beat the Colts at home this weekend.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: 24-10 loss vs. ARI
- Trending: -7
- This Week: 12/7 vs. NE
Kenny Pickett exited with an injury this weekend, and the offense looked much worse with Mitch Trubisky under center. Rain delays played a part in this game, but the Steelers need to improve quickly between now and their Thursday night game against New England.
18. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week: 35-41 loss @ DAL
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/10 @ SF
The Seahawks hung with Dallas a bit better than expected on Thursday night, so they don’t move down the list heading into Week 14. However, the tough stretch doesn’t get any easier with another road game against San Francisco this weekend.
19. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/10 @ LV
The Vikings were reeling going into their bye week, but they could look very different this week with Justin Jefferson coming back from IR while Akayleb Evans could be ready to return defensively.
20. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/10 vs. MIN
Las Vegas suffered two consecutive losses going into their bye week, and now they have a tough matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
21. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 13-8 win @ NYJ
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/10 vs. TB
The only reason Atlanta moves up is because they gained a game in the NFC South lead. They didn’t look very good on offense, and even if they make the playoffs, they’ll likely be heavy underdogs against whoever they play in the Wild Card round. They need a win against Tampa Bay to ensure that they hold that division lead, though.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: 6-0 win @ NE
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/10 vs. DEN
Khalil Mack has been on a tear recently, and the Chargers defense pitched a shutout. That’s about all that can be said of this game in a positive manner.
On the Outside Looking In
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: 21-18 win vs. CAR
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/10 @ ATL
Technically, there is a very real path for Tampa Bay to get into the playoffs, especially if they beat the Falcons on Sunday. However, as was already surmised during Atlanta’s section, it really doesn’t feel like this team is capable of competing with whoever the No. 5 seed is if they make it there.
24. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 28-31 loss vs. IND
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/11 @ MIA
Tennessee had this game in their grasp behind a tremendous effort from Derrick Henry, but they were let down by the special teams. The Titans needed this win to get back in the playoff race, but now, things seem bleak in the Music City.
25. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week: 28-33 loss vs. DET
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/10 vs. CAR
Derek Carr could be out for an extended period of time after suffering a brutal hit last weekend. This Saints team has been riding their defense all season, but that group simply let Detroit have whatever they wanted early on, forcing New Orleans to try and play catch-up all afternoon.
26. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: 24-10 win @ PIT
- Trending: +2
- This Week: Bye
The Cardinals are still a frisky team as long as Kyler Murray is the quarterback. There is very little chance of them making the playoffs, but they could certainly play spoiler down the stretch following their bye week.
27. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/10 vs. DET
Chicago rode into their bye week on a high note after beating the Vikings in Week 12, and now, they can make the NFC North interesting again if they can find a way to beat Detroit on Sunday.
28. New York Giants
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/11 vs. GB
New York also got to rest up on their bye week before this closing stretch, and they are preparing to host a surging Packers squad.
29. New York Jets
- Last Week: 8-13 loss vs. ATL
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/10 vs. HOU
The Jets defense once again showed up in this game, but at the end of the day, they cannot score points. They’ve had exactly two touchdowns during this five-game losing streak.
30. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 0-6 loss vs. LAC
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/7 @ PIT
The Patriots have scored 13 points in the past four weeks. Granted, one of those weeks was a bye, but does that make it any better? They join the 2022 New York Jets as the only teams since 2010 to score seven or fewer points in three consecutive games. At least the defense can hold their own, though.
31. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: 15-45 loss vs. MIA
- Trending: —
- This Week: Bye
For the second consecutive week, the Commanders allowed 45 points and lost by 30+ points. For a team that was once 4-5 and in the midst of a playoff hunt, this has been a massive fall from grace.
32. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 18-21 loss @ TB
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/10 @ NO
On the bright side, the Panthers’ rushing offense was actually pretty decent on Sunday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as Carolina continues to hold the worst record in the league, and they are officially eliminated from the playoff hunt.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.