2023 NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Vikings Stay in the Middle, NFC East Takes a Hit, a Pair Teams Jump into the Top 5
Josh Frey
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If there’s one thing we can always count on in the NFL, it’s strange outcomes.
Week 15 was no exception as multiple presumed contenders suffered some pretty horrific losses this past weekend. Now, as the holidays approach and with just three weeks remaining in the season, the playoff races continue to heat up. Here is a look at the updated NFL power rankings heading into Week 16.
The Super Bowl Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers
- Last Week: 45-29 win @ ARI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/25 vs. BAL
Christian McCaffrey showed up as a star once again and likely eliminated fantasy football playoff hopes for many folks (he sure did for myself). I’ve continuously said all season, as long as the 49ers are healthy and continue winning, they are the Super Bowl favorites. They remain on top of the list.
2. Baltimore Ravens
- Last Week: 23-7 win @ JAX
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/25 @ SF
Lamar Jackson should be firmly in the MVP conversation. The Ravens hold the No. 1 seed, and they’ve been playing some dominant football in recent weeks. Jackson can complete his manifesto this weekend when he takes on the vaunted 49ers defense on Christmas night.
3. Buffalo Bills
- Last Week: 31-10 win vs. DAL
- Trending: +4
- This Week: 12/23 @ LAC
Buffalo made a big statement with their win over the Cowboys. They didn’t need hero ball from Josh Allen to get the job done, and they simply dominated Dallas with their physicality on both sides of the ball. Buffalo has won three of their past four games, and the only loss came on the road in an overtime hiccup against the Eagles.
4. Miami Dolphins
- Last Week: 30-0 win vs. NYJ
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/24 vs. DAL
The Dolphins bounced back in a big way against the Jets on Sunday, and they put together a complete game to avenge their loss to the Titans a week earlier. Now, they have to replicate it against what will be an angry Cowboys team.
5. Detroit Lions
- Last Week: 42-17 win vs. DEN
- Trending: +7
- This Week: 12/24 @ MIN
It was an incredible game from Jared Goff on Saturday that led the Lions to a big win over the Denver Broncos and inched them closer to their first division title since 1993. They can make that NFC North crown official with a win over the Vikings this weekend.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
- Last Week: 27-17 win @ NE
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/25 vs. LV
There are still clear problems in the Chiefs’ receiver room. Kadarius Toney had a bad drop in this game again after costing Kansas City the game last weekend. However, Rashee Rice has taken some big steps forward and could be a reliable piece in that offense. Will it be enough for Kansas City to repeat?
Strong Playoff Teams
7. Dallas Cowboys
- Last Week: 10-31 loss @ BUF
- Trending: -3
- This Week: 12/24 @ MIA
Dallas was outmuscled all afternoon against Buffalo. Once again, they proved that they cannot be the same team on the road that they are at Jerry’s World. Now, they have another tough road game ahead of them against the Dolphins.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
- Last Week: 17-20 loss @ SEA
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/25 @ NYG
Philadelphia’s defense held strong for most of this game, but when it mattered most, the chinks in the armor showed up again as Drew Lock led a 92-yard TD drive to win the game. The offense was lethargic all night as well.
9. Cleveland Browns
- Last Week: 20-17 win vs. CHI
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/24 @ HOU
Joe Flacco did it again. The Bears had Cleveland dead to rights for the majority of this game, but the veteran QB came through with clutch throw after clutch throw in the fourth quarter to lead the comeback.
10. Los Angeles Rams
- Last Week: 28-20 win vs. WSH
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/21 vs. NO
The Rams quietly have been inching their way closer and closer to the playoff hunt, and now, they’ve officially landed in the No. 7 seed following Week 15. Their game against the Commanders was not as close as the score indicates considering they led 28-7 until the halfway mark of the fourth quarter.
11. Denver Broncos
- Last Week: 17-42 loss @ DET
- Trending: -7
- This Week: 12/24 vs. NE
As soon as I start believing in the Broncos again, they find a way to have an embarrassing loss. Their defense has been spectacular over the past two months, but they had no answers for Detroit on Sunday. Luckily, they get to close out the year with three sub-.500 teams utilizing backup QBs, so they should be able to get themselves into the playoffs unless something disastrous happens.
The “Swing” Teams
12. Cincinnati Bengals
- Last Week: 27-24 win vs. MIN
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/23 @ PIT
Jake Browning struggled throughout the first half against a vaunted Vikings defense, but a 21-point fourth quarter and game-winning drive in overtime allowed the Bengals to create the comeback win and leap into the AFC playoff picture.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Last Week: 7-24 loss vs. BAL
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/24 @ TB
This was an ugly game for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense. Between an end of half bungle, and some really lackluster play all evening, there are clear holes in this Jacksonville team.
14. Seattle Seahawks
- Last Week: 20-17 win vs. PHI
- Trending: +5
- This Week: 12/24 @ TEN
Joe Buck mockingly said during the broadcast that analytics don’t factor for Drew Lock, and with the Eagles holding a 93.2% chance of winning (according to ESPN’s metrics) as Seattle began their final drive, the backup QB led a 92-yard drive to win the game. Like a phoenix rising from ashes (or a seahawk from the Pacific?), Seattle’s playoff hopes are alive once again.
15. Houston Texans
- Last Week: 19-16 win @ TEN
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/24 vs. CLE
Houston had absolutely no business winning on Sunday, but Case Keenum did what he does and found a way. This Texans team remains a resilient squad, and now, they can make a big push for the playoffs when they host the Browns on Christmas Eve.
16. Indianapolis Colts
- Last Week: 30-13 win vs. PIT
- Trending: —
- This Week: 12/24 @ ATL
The Indianapolis Colts continue to play some fantastic football at home, and against a Mike Tomlin team, Gardner Minshew played an efficient game while Indy’s running backs dominated in the trenches.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Last Week: 34-20 win @ GB
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/24 vs. JAX
Baker Mayfield showed out at Lambeau Field, throwing for 381 yards and 4 TDs, while Chris Godwin showed no mercy for Green Bay’s secondary. Tampa continues to lead the NFC South and can continue to do so if they find a way to beat Jacksonville at home.
18. Minnesota Vikings
- Last Week: 24-27 loss @ CIN
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/24 vs. DET
Nick Mullens lived up to the gunslinger reputation. There were good throws and plenty of bad throws on Sunday. Ultimately, it came down to a couple strange QB sneaks that led to Minnesota’s demise. Now, they fight for their NFC North lives against the Lions this weekend.
19. Green Bay Packers
- Last Week: 20-34 loss vs. TB
- Trending: -4
- This Week: 12/24 @ CAR
The Packers defense is a problem. Once again, they allowed over 400 yards of offense, and Jordan Love simply was unable to replicate that production against a Buccaneers unit that is continuing to leave its mark on the league.
20. Chicago Bears
- Last Week: 17-20 loss @ CLE
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/24 vs. ARI
Chicago nearly had this game. Had Darnell Mooney come down with a Hail Mary reception, the Bears would be just one game out of the playoff race while staring down a Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Instead, their hopes are nearly extinguished. Still, this is turning into a promising team as they look ahead to 2024.
21. New Orleans Saints
- Last Week: 24-6 win vs. NYG
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/21 @ LAR
The Saints defense showed up at home on Sunday, sacking Tommy DeVito seven times. New Orleans didn’t need a ton out of their offense, but it was another solid game for Alvin Kamara while Derek Carr managed the game well at QB. They need a similar performance against the Rams on Thursday night.
On the Outside Looking In
22. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Last Week: 13-30 loss @ IND
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/23 vs. CIN
This Steelers team is lost right now, and they are making another QB change, pivoting to Mason Rudolph for Week 16. Even at 7-7, it doesn’t feel like they have the juice to make a playoff push.
23. Las Vegas Raiders
- Last Week: 63-21 win vs. LAC
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/25 @ KC
Aidan O’Connell played a flawless first half, and the Raiders dropped 42 points in the first half against the Chargers. It seems like an irreplicable game against a competent Chiefs defense, but they need that win if they want to have any hope of the playoffs.
24. Tennessee Titans
- Last Week: 16-19 loss vs. HOU
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/24 vs. SEA
The Titans wore Oilers jerseys against the Texans. This is a game that they could not lose for that sole reason, but they lost it and are officially eliminated from the playoffs.
25. Atlanta Falcons
- Last Week: 7-9 loss @ CAR
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/24 vs. IND
A rain game felt like the perfect time for Atlanta to just let their running backs cook, but Bijan Robinson touched the ball only eight times in this game. Tyler Allgeier was unable to get anything going on the ground either while Chuba Hubbard ran laps around Atlanta’s defense.
26. New England Patriots
- Last Week: 17-27 loss vs. KC
- Trending: +3
- This Week: 12/24 @ DEN
The Patriots defense continues to play some strong football, and New England at least had some hope for a good chunk of this game. In the end, Bailey Zappe continues to be unable to close games, though.
27. New York Giants
- Last Week: 6-24 loss @ NO
- Trending: -2
- This Week: 12/25 @ PHI
New York’s offensive line had no answers for the Saints defense, and just as Tommy DeVito was beginning to rejuvenate some hope for this team, their playoff chances are just about gone as they head on the road to Philadelphia.
28. Arizona Cardinals
- Last Week: 29-45 loss vs. SF
- Trending: +2
- This Week: 12/24 @ CHI
Arizona didn’t win this game, nor even come all that close, but they did a few nice things on offense and certainly aren’t the worst team in the league. They will need to utilize the draft and free agency to get better weapons on offense and a few defensive playmakers for next year.
29. New York Jets
- Last Week: 0-30 loss vs. MIA
- Trending: -1
- This Week: 12/24 vs. WSH
Zach Wilson had to leave this game with an injury, but it was very clear early on that New York’s offensive line could not handle Miami’s defensive front. Tyreek Hill didn’t even play, and Miami still totaled 30 points on the Jets defense.
30. Washington Commanders
- Last Week: 20-28 loss @ LAR
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/24 @ NYJ
Again, Washington really had no chance in this game no matter what the score says. Still, at least they looked a bit better than the other two teams below them.
31. Carolina Panthers
- Last Week: 9-7 win vs. ATL
- Trending: +1
- This Week: 12/24 vs. GB
I said last week that it would take something very fluky for Carolina to get another win, and they got that this week as torrential downpours plagued Charlotte on Sunday. Neither offense could get much of anything going, and the Panthers managed to pull one out.
32. Los Angeles Chargers
- Last Week: 21-63 loss @ LV
- Trending: -5
- This Week: 12/23 vs. LAC
The Chargers flat out gave up on Thursday night, and it led to the firing of head coach Brandon Staley as well as GM Tom Telesco.
The 2023 NFL Standings Heading into Week 16
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.