There is finally some continuity in the Power Rankings as I make just a single change in the top five and there are only subtle differences to the lower half of the top 10. And that means Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions remain the class of the NFL as we move into the final four weeks of the regular season.
- Detroit Lions --
It doesn’t matter who gets injured on their side or how well the opposition plays, these Detroit Lions do not even blink and they have proven themselves to have a winning mentality. One week they will lean on the passing game, the next it will be the ground attack. Just win, baby!
- Buffalo Bills --
I’m not going to hit the Bills too hard, even though their defense badly let down Josh Allen last Sunday. The superstar quarterback accounted for 424 yards and six touchdowns in a 44-42 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. He strengthened his own MVP case in a losing cause.
- Philadelphia Eagles --
The Eagles could not shake too far free of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, even though a ninth straight win should be applauded. I’m monitoring the locker room vibes after receiver A.J. Brown was critical of the passing game and raised questions of a rift with Jalen Hurts.
- Kansas City Chiefs --
The Chiefs have an NFL-best 12-1 record and continue to win close games that it appears they are going to lose. That’s all well and good and it could carry them all the way to a third straight Super Bowl crown. But only if Patrick Mahomes leads the way. He is getting hit far too often.
- Minnesota Vikings +2
The best part of Minnesota’s 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons was the re-emergence of superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who shone bright alongside fellow wideout Jordan Addison. The pair combined for 265 receiving yards and five touchdowns in Week 14.
- Green Bay Packers -1
The Packers are a really good team, but they cannot yet be considered one of the very best in the league. Their four losses have come to Philadelphia, Minnesota and Detroit (twice). All quality opponents but Green Bay need to win that type of game to become a true contender.
- Pittsburgh Steelers -1
The Steelers appear to be built to last deep into January. Every time we wonder if they are going to fade away, they stack another win on top of the last. They’re up to 10 victories now and this team is proving itself to be physically tough and balanced. Mike Tomlin, take a bow!
- Baltimore Ravens --
As the Ravens come out of their bye, I don’t know if they can chase down the Steelers and take the AFC North. But they will play Pittsburgh on December 21 and that is crucial. Either way, this will be a dangerous team. Baltimore’s five losses have come by a total of 22 points.
- Denver Broncos +1
If Denver are to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015, they’re going to have to work for it. They have one of the league's toughest finishes at home to Indianapolis, at the LA Chargers, at Cincinnati and home to Kansas City. But that last one could see KC rest some stars.
- Los Angeles Chargers -1
The Chargers are wounded but will fight on, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. I believe him! He has instilled a toughness in this team and they almost took down the Chiefs on Sunday night. As and when the Chargers make the playoffs, this season will be deemed a success.
- Washington Commanders --
The Commanders ended their three-game losing streak before heading into a Week 14 bye and their push to the playoffs should begin with a successful outing in New Orleans on Sunday. That will be a Louisiana homecoming of sorts for Jayden Daniels, who remains the key man.
- Seattle Seahawks +1
The Seahawks have won four games in a row to move into first place in the NFC West, but they will be severely tested on Sunday as they host the Green Bay Packers. Seattle have looked balanced on offense and more secure defensively during their winning run.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1
The Bucs are eyeing a fourth straight NFC South crown after their three consecutive victories have moved them into first place in the division. And they remain powered by offense. Tampa is averaging 28 points (fifth in the NFL) and 379 yards (third in the NFL) per game.
- Los Angeles Rams +3
The key for the remaining four weeks of the regular season is for the Rams to find some offensive consistency. They showed how high their highs can be in a 44-42 win over Buffalo on Sunday. But at other times this season, that same scoring machine has been easily silenced.
- Houston Texans -3
Why has C.J. Stroud not hit the heights of his rookie campaign? Look at the number of times he has been sacked. Stroud has already been dropped 41 times compared to 38 in all of 2023. He and Houston will get tested in an 11-day spell against Miami, Kansas City and Baltimore.
- Miami Dolphins --
Miami have no room for error and will likely have to win out against Houston, San Francisco, Cleveland and the New York Jets to have any shot at making the playoffs. The Dolphins have played better in recent weeks, but I still don’t see them featuring in the post-season.
- San Francisco 49ers +4
The 49ers got up off the mat last week, albeit against the fast-falling Chicago Bears. But did that really change anything? I know we normally give the benefit of the doubt to teams with proven pedigree, but it feels like injuries and low morale have taken the shine off this club.
- Indianapolis Colts --
This weekend sees the Colts play a huge game at Denver. Win that against a fellow playoff-chaser and they could be in great shape to sneak into the AFC playoffs. Indianapolis end with games against Tennessee, the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. All very winnable.
- Cincinnati Bengals +3
More Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase magic and just enough stops on defense – plus a bit of luck on special teams – was enough to see Cincinnati past Dallas. Will playing the spoiler role be enough motivation down the stretch or will the Bengals drift towards the offseason?
- Arizona Cardinals -5
The magic has gone from Arizona’s offense and it has not been helped by Kyler Murray throwing five interceptions in three weeks (third-most in the NFL in that span). Arizona averaged 26 points per game before their bye and just 15 per outing in three losses since.
- Dallas Cowboys -1
Monday’s loss to Cincinnati was painful in that it could have been avoided. It drops Dallas to 5-8 and pretty much knocks them out of the NFC playoff picture. Owner and GM Jerry Jones is not showing his hand, but surely we’re reaching the end of the road for Mike McCarthy?
- Atlanta Falcons -3
The Falcons have doubled down on their commitment to Kirk Cousins, but he must be trying their patience with eight interceptions and no touchdowns over the past four games – all losses. That said, Atlanta’s offensive failings are team-wide and not just on the quarterback.
- New Orleans Saints +1
The Saints are technically still alive in the NFC playoff race at 5-8 and the difference between them and Dallas is that New Orleans play in a winnable division. But they are a very different team without Derek Carr at QB and he could be missing with a hand injury suffered on Sunday.
- Carolina Panthers +2
This is going to sound fanciful and outlandish, but with a bounce or two of the football in their favour; the Carolina Panthers could be riding high on a five-game winning streak that included victories over Kansas City and Philadelphia. Forget the record, progress is being made here.
- Chicago Bears -2
How did you feel about the Bears at the end of their game in London against Jacksonville on October 13? I was excited by Caleb Williams and felt they were a playoff team. They have not won since (seven straight losses) and have fired their head coach and offensive coordinator!
- Cleveland Browns -1
As I watch the fun and frustrating (in equal measure) roller coaster that is Jameis Winston, I have this lingering thought in the back of my mind, and it must be the same for Browns’ management. What are they going to do with Deshaun Watson and his huge contract in 2025?
- New York Jets +2
The Jets played very well for three quarters against Miami in Week 14 but somehow conspired to conjure up enough plays to lose a very winnable game. That prompted wide receiver Garrett Wilson to suggest that his team has “a losing gene.” That is hard to argue against.
- Jacksonville Jaguars +2
We’re not going to get much out of a Mac Jones-led attack in Jacksonville the rest of the way. The defense will have to lead the charge having played very well in last week’s win over Tennessee. No matter how the final four weeks play out, this has been a wasted campaign.
- New England Patriots -1
The Patriots have kind of drip-fed Drake Maye to the rest of the NFL. With just three wins to their name and four games to play, they might as well go for it! Let him sling it all over the yard for the final month and see if some momentum can be taken into the offseason.
- Tennessee Titans -3
Will Levis has played better of late, but I now believe that the Titans – who are currently slated to pick seventh in the 2025 NFL Draft – would roll the dice on a new quarterback if one were available at that spot. There are other areas of concern, but Levis has not done enough.
- Las Vegas Raiders --
Only those in the building will know his true impact and value, but Antonio Pierce could be one and done as the Raiders’ full-time head coach. That could be unfair given what he has had to work with at quarterback. Maybe he gets one more year to work with a rookie in 2025?
- New York Giants --
One of the league’s proudest and most successful franchises is on its knees. Just a couple of hours after a plane flew over MetLife Stadium declaring the Giants to be a dumpster fire, New York defenders were being dragged into the end zone while conceding an embarrassing TD to New Orleans. It was a day that summed up a miserable year.