2023 NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: A New Team Enters the Top 5, Vikings Take a Small Jump Despite Lackluster Showing
Josh Frey
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There were a few wild games throughout Week 14, including two matchups that went into halftime tied 0-0.
For the Week 15 NFL power rankings, we see the slimmest tier of Super Bowl contenders of the season, and outside of the top four teams, nothing really seems settled in this league yet with just four weeks remaining in the regular season. As we head into the final month, here are the updated rankings of all 32 teams.
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 28-16 win vs. SEA
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/17 @ ARI
San Francisco continues to just roll through opponents, and Brock Purdy is playing some strong football at the QB position, which cannot be said for a lot of teams in the NFL right now. Until they run into another hiccup, the 49ers should be the Super Bowl favorites.
2. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 33-13 win vs. PHI
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/17 @ BUF
Dak Prescott said after the game that Dallas should have scored 50 points on Sunday night, and he isn’t necessarily wrong. The Cowboys dominated this game, but they still left plenty of points on the board. They kicked four field goals in this game, but Brandon Aubrey cashed in on all of them, including three from 50+ yards.
3. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: 37-31 win vs. LAR
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/17 @ JAX
Baltimore managed to beat Los Angeles because of a miraculous 76-yard punt return TD from Tylan Wallace. The defense did not match up well against all of Los Angeles’ weapons, but Lamar Jackson turned in a very strong game to keep the Ravens alive in this one.
4. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 24-7 win @ LAC
- Trending: +7
- This Week: 12/16 @ DET
Look, I really don’t know what to do with the rest of the teams from four through about 25 right now. Denver was at No. 10 last week, and just about every team between themselves and Miami lost in ugly fashion last weekend. Denver got a quality road win against a divisional opponent, have won six of their last seven games, and are in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt, so they move into the top five, I guess. Hopefully Freezing Cold Takes doesn’t see this.
5. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 27-28 loss vs. TEN
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/17 vs. NYJ
The Dolphins had this game all but sealed up, taking a 14-point lead with four and a half minutes to go. Instead, they allowed the Titans to get back in the game, and Tennessee actually took the lead with enough time left for Miami to have the ball one more time. Injuries are piling up for this roster right now too, which doesn’t make things any easier.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 13-33 loss @ DAL
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/18 @ SEA
The fall of Philadelphia’s defense this season has been drastic. Dallas got whatever they wanted on Sunday night, and the Eagles couldn’t move the ball themselves. Their only touchdown of the night came on a 42-yard fumble recovery by Jalen Carter. They’ve officially lost their once commanding lead in the NFC East and need to figure things out heading into the final four weeks.
Strong Playoff Teams
7. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: 20-17 win @ KC
- Trending: +7
- This Week: 12/17 vs. DAL
It wasn’t necessarily a terrific game for the Bills, but they managed to defeat the defending champs on the road, and their defense stepped up when it needed to make plays. Refs ended up being a topic of discussion in the aftermath of this game, but it was ultimately the right call and shouldn’t take anything away from a great win for the Bills.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 17-20 loss vs. BUF
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/17 @ NE
The youth at wide receiver reared its ugly head for the Chiefs on Sunday. Rashee Rice had a costly fumble, and then Kadarius Toney lining up offsides ultimately finished Kansas City’s hopes of winning. The Chiefs are a good team, but they continue to prove that they are beatable.
9. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: 31-27 win vs. JAX
- Trending: +6
- This Week: 12/17 vs. CHI
Joe Flacco had a few bad throws on Sunday, but overall, it seems that he has a really strong grasp of this Browns offense. Cleveland has been in desperate need of strong QB play this season, and while it would be nice to see their defense play like it had been earlier in the year, hopefully a blend of offense and defense can make this team a contender in January.
10. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 31-37 loss @ BAL
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/17 vs. WSH
Despite the loss, it’s hard not to come out of this weekend feeling good about the Rams and their potential to make a playoff push. If they sneak into that No. 7 spot, they won’t be an easy out in the playoffs either considering all their weapons on offense.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 27-31 loss @ CLE
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/17 vs. BAL
Trevor Lawrence did suit up for the Jaguars on Sunday, but Jacksonville’s defense once again let the team down by allowing over 30 points for the second consecutive week. This team will more than likely make the playoffs, but how far can they go with a porous defensive unit?
12. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 13-28 loss @ CHI
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 12/16 vs. DEN
This is the second loss in three weeks for Detroit, and their lead in the NFC North has started to dwindle again. Chicago’s defense had this Lions offense in a cage all afternoon, and they weren’t able to score a single point in the second half.
The “Swing” Teams
13. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 34-14 win vs. IND
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/16 vs. MIN
Jake Browning’s redemption arc has happened quickly after his lackluster showing in Week 12 against the Steelers. Since then, Cincinnati has scored 34 points in each of their past two games and continue to move up the AFC standings.
14. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 6-30 loss @ NYJ
- Trending: -6
- This Week: 12/17 @ TEN
Bad games should be expected from rookie QBs, but after the season that C.J. Stroud has put together, we have to expect more out of the Texans QB. Houston’s offense had no answers for the Jets defense on Sunday, and they missed out on an opportunity to move into a tie for the AFC South lead.
15. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: 22-24 loss @ NYG
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/17 vs. TB
The Packers did, in fact, have their letdown game after a couple big wins over the past two weeks. Jordan Love struggled in the passing game, and without Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon simply wasn’t able to carry this offense as a runner.
16. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 14-34 loss @ CIN
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 12/16 vs. PIT
The Minshew Magic didn’t travel to Cincinnati this weekend, and Jonathan Taylor’s absence proved to be a big loss in the running game. Compile those two things with the fact that this defense simply isn’t all that great, and you have a Colts team that could not keep up with the rejuvenated Bengals.
17. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: 3-0 win @ LV
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/16 @ CIN
The Vikings had to make a QB change down the stretch of this game, and it seems that Nick Mullens will be the guy moving forward. Maybe that leads to a bit more offense, but the Vikings suffered a couple big injuries in this game too, including Justin Jefferson, which could impact them in Cincinnati.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: 29-25 win @ ATL
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 12/17 @ GB
In a classic NFC South battle, both offenses looked pretty horrendous for much of this game before exploding down the stretch. The Buccaneers and Falcons combined for 32 points in the second half, and Baker Mayfield made just enough plays to get the job done.
19. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week: 16-28 loss @ SF
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/18 vs. PHI
The Seahawks are beginning to flounder during this tough stretch of their schedule, and it doesn’t get any easier this weekend as they host an Eagles team looking to avenge their blowout loss to the Cowboys.
20. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 28-27 win @ MIA
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 12/17 vs. HOU
Will Levis dragged a kicking and screaming Titans team to this win in the fourth quarter. Tennessee again struggled to move the ball on the ground, but Levis put on the Super Man cape and led a pair of touchdown drives in the final minutes to capture a huge road win over the Dolphins.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: 18-21 loss vs. NE
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/16 @ IND
The Steelers are not moving the ball very well with Mitch Trubisky at QB, and T.J. Watt’s concussion lingers over this team as they head into a road matchup against the Colts.
22. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: 28-13 win vs. DET
- Trending: +6
- This Week: 12/17 @ CLE
Well, well, well, look who’s begun climbing out of the depths of the NFL. The Bears have had back-to-back very impressive wins against NFC North opponents, and Chicago’s defense is really rounding into form. They probably are too far out of the playoff picture to make a real push, but this team has to be taken seriously right now.
23. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 25-29 loss vs. TB
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/17 @ CAR
The Falcons are now 4-6 in games where Bijan Robinson has fewer than 20 touches while being 2-1 when he surpasses that mark. It seemed like they were figuring out that he should be an integral part of the offense, but they didn’t get him the ball enough on Sunday.
24. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week: 28-6 win vs. CAR
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/17 vs. NYG
This wasn’t a very good game for the Saints, but it was enough to get them a win and move into a three-way tie for the NFC South lead. They will need to play a lot better in order to beat the Giants this weekend.
On the Outside Looking In
25. New York Giants
- Last Week: 24-22 win vs. GB
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 12/17 @ NO
Tommy DeVito did it again. The QB totaled just 158 yards through the air, but he didn’t make mistakes and added 71 yards with his legs. The Giants had over 200 yards rushing in this game, and that success on the ground makes them a tough team to play right now.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: 0-3 loss vs. MIN
- Trending: -5
- This Week: 12/14 vs. LAC
Las Vegas did everything they could on defense, but in the end, their offense and especially the offensive line could not hold up against Minnesota. Aidan O’Connell was sacked four times, and the Raiders couldn’t establish any type of rushing attack.
27. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: 7-24 loss vs. DEN
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/14 @ LV
Justin Herbert is out for Thursday night with a fractured finger, and that does not bode well for LA’s Thursday night game against the Raiders. This offense has been atrocious even with Herbert on the field, and now they have to navigate a stout Raiders defense.
28. New York Jets
- Last Week: 30-6 win vs. HOU
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/17 vs. MIA
It was a strange weather game at MetLife on Sunday with downpours throughout the afternoon, but still, this was an impressive game from Zach Wilson. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft outplayed the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to get New York back in the win column.
29. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 21-18 win @ PIT
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/18 vs. KC
Bailey Zappe lived up to his name on Thursday night by zapping the Steelers defense with three TDs in the first half. This isn’t a great offense, but the Patriots defense is absolutely tremendous and could keep them competitive in games.
30. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/17 vs. SF
The Cardinals got to enjoy some warm Arizona weather on their bye week, but now, things get started again as they play host to the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.
31. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: Bye
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/17 @ LAR
The Commanders won their bye week with all three of Chicago, New England, and the New York Jets winning actual games this weekend. Their attention should turn towards draft positioning for the remaining four weeks.
32. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 6-28 loss @ NO
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/17 vs. ATL
There’s a pretty wide gap between the Panthers and the rest of the NFL right now. Derek Carr played an objectively bad game for the Saints on Sunday, and still, Carolina found a way to let New Orleans score 28 points.
Vikings Snap Counts for Week 14 at Las Vegas
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.