I'm throwing records out of the window when it comes to these Power Rankings and I'm leaning heavier on my own eyes and on some of the injury news surrounding some of the league's best teams. As a result, I just don't see a team in better shape than the Buffalo Bills as we enter the final three weeks of the regular season.
- Buffalo Bills +1
As has been the case throughout the NFL's modern era, elite quarterbacks can be the driving force in a championship run. And the Bills have the best in the game at the moment in Josh Allen, who seems to be very close to unstoppable. He alone is the reason for their top ranking.
- Philadelphia Eagles +1
The Eagles have won 10 games in a row and Sunday's relatively-comfortable 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was impressive because there was actually less reliance on Saquon Barkley for one week. Jalen Hurts and his receivers took centre stage and shone.
- Detroit Lions -2
The Lions went into Sunday's game against Buffalo with 21 players on injured reserve. Then they lost defensive tackle Alim McNeill, cornerback Carlton Davis and running back David Montgomery to season-ending knee injuries. I fear a Cinderella season could rip apart at the seams.
- Minnesota Vikings +1
The Vikings never had to get out of second gear to defeat the Bears on Monday Night Football and that moved them to 12 wins on the season. There is a chance that Minnesota could end the regular season with a 15-2 record and still only occupy one of the wild card spots.
- Kansas City Chiefs -1
The Chiefs didn't need to eke out a close win in Cleveland on Sunday, but they may have some figuring out to do in the coming days if Patrick Mahomes is sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Will he be out there against Houston (December 21) and/or Pittsburgh (Christmas Day)?
- Green Bay Packers --
The Packers once again showed their class with a one-sided win in Seattle and they are a contender to go deep into January as the NFC playoffs approach. Jordan Love has tidied up his game at quarterback, his receivers are making plays and Josh Jacobs is running hard.
- Baltimore Ravens +1
It was only against the Giants – the consensus worst team in the league – but I thought Lamar Jackson was excellent last Sunday. He remains Baltimore's best chance of winning football games, but cranking Derrick Henry into top gear would be useful. Was he over-used early?
- Pittsburgh Steelers -1
I was disappointed that the Steelers didn't put up more of a fight in Philadelphia in Week 15. But they have a chance to rebound and impress against some of the league's best teams, taking on the Ravens on Saturday and the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.
- Denver Broncos --
The Broncos, who have won four straight, got off to a slow start on Sunday but how they bounced back against Indianapolis was impressive. Bo Nix had made some early mistakes, but the rookie quarterback overcame three interceptions with three touchdown passes.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3
The Buccaneers have won four in a row to take control of the NFC South with three weeks of the regular season remaining. And it was a nice mix of experience (Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans) and youth (rookie running back Bucky Irving) that got them across the line in LA.
- Houston Texans +4
The AFC South champion Texans still have some offensive issues as C.J. Stroud was sacked four times and threw for just 131 yards on Sunday. But DeMeco Ryans dials up good defensive schemes and his secondary is opportunistic, as Miami discovered to their detriment.
- Washington Commanders -1
Jayden Daniels completed more than 80 percent of his passes for the fourth time this season and the rookie threw a couple of wonderful touchdown strikes to Terry McLaurin. That's the positive. But that was far too close for comfort at the end. Disaster was narrowly avoided.
- Los Angeles Rams +1
What the Rams did against the Buffalo Bills (scoring 44 points) and the San Francisco 49ers (mustering just 12 points) is typical of their season. They can hit the headiest of highs but also get bogged down far too often. But they are winning regularly and now top the NFC West.
- Los Angeles Chargers -4
It's been a rough month for the Chargers as they have lost three of their last four games. Their issues cannot really be fixed until the offseason. They have a premier talent at quarterback in Justin Herbert, but they're existing with B- and C-level players at the skill positions.
- Seattle Seahawks -3
Seattle's bubble was burst in emphatic fashion at home against Green Bay on Sunday Night Football and while Geno Smith's knee injury may not be as bad as first feared, there is much work to be done. The offensive rhythm was just not there against the Packers and it showed.
- Cincinnati Bengals +3
The Bengals may have won against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday but don't expect Joe Burrow to be happy about it. He has higher standards than winning a game that featured 26 penalties and 10 turnovers, with four of those giveaways coming from his team. Painful.
- Arizona Cardinals +3
The Cardinals snapped their three-game losing streak last week in a "get right" game against the New England Patriots. Kyler Murray was still careless with the ball, but one silly interception was wiped by a roughing the passer penalty. The run game is vital in Arizona.
- San Francisco 49ers -1
With a miserable 2024 campaign drawing to a close, here's a question for 2025. 49ers owner Jed York stated in the preseason that Brock Purdy was "going to ask for something we've not seen before." That would put his new contract north of $60 million per year. Is he worth it?
- Atlanta Falcons +3
Kirk Cousins is heading to the bench and the Falcons are going to seek a late-season boost with Michael Penix Jr. at QB. This reminds me of Colin Kaepernick replacing Alex Smith in 2012, powering San Francisco to the Super Bowl. Although, I'm not expecting the same this time.
- Miami Dolphins -4
Miami's playoff dream is likely over and I'm fascinated to see what kind of player comes through their door in the upcoming offseason. Will Mike McDaniel demand more toughness – mentally and physically – in order to stop his team coming up short in big spots?
- Dallas Cowboys --
A late-season win against the Carolina Panthers doesn't exactly set the pulses racing, but what else do the Cowboys have left? They're playing for pride and futures at the moment and not much beyond that. What would a late run do for the future of head coach Mike McCarthy?
- Indianapolis Colts -4
The Colts committed five giveaways against Denver, but none was as costly as Jonathan Taylor's deliberate drop of the football short of the goal line. After that self-inflicted wound, the Colts conceded 24 unanswered points and now find their playoff hopes in the balance.
- New Orleans Saints --
The Saints are cooked at 5-9 and, on reflection, they've never re-found the offensive spark that dazzled the NFL in the first two weeks of the year. Since their Week 12 bye, New Orleans have scored 14, 14 and 19 points. Quarterback injuries and turbulence has not helped.
- New York Jets +3
As they look to build their brand in the UK, the Jets offer me a player to chat with every week. And each of them continues to tell me that they will fight until the very end of this difficult season. I believe them. It was only against Jacksonville, but the Jets were scrapping on Sunday.
- Carolina Panthers -1
After five encouraging games – of which they won two of them – the Panthers reverted to their previous struggles in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. Bryce Young had a season-high four giveaways in the game and is not out of the woods yet when it comes to his future in Carolina.
- Chicago Bears -1
There is great frustration in Chicago, but Caleb Williams has to do a better job of hiding his feelings on and off the field. Passion is great, but public shows of frustration and annoyance; less so. It's hard to believe these Bears have not won since their October visit to London.
- Cleveland Browns -1
Jameis Winston saw complex coverages on Sunday as his receivers struggled to get open, often covered by multiple Kansas City defenders. Jameis threw it anyway and got intercepted three times. That's one reason we're about to see Dorian Thompson-Robinson at QB.
- Jacksonville Jaguars --
There has not been too much to get excited about in Jacksonville this season, but they do seem well set at wide receiver following the emergence of rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. He has 64 catches for 956 yards and a club rookie record eight receiving touchdowns in 2024.
- New England Patriots --
The Patriots have won just three times in what has obviously been a difficult season. The lack of game-breaking talent around rookie quarterback Drake Maye has been a concern, but so has the way first-year head coach Jerod Mayo has handled himself during times of adversity.
- Tennessee Titans --
Barring a late-season injury to Mason Rudolph, I would imagine Will Levis has played his last game with the Titans. He was benched in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati after throwing three picks. Until Tennessee finds themselves a QB to build around, they are in a holding pattern.
- Las Vegas Raiders --
The Raiders' latest outing – a Monday Night Football loss to Atlanta – featured a fumble, a blocked punt, two Desmond Ridder interceptions and just nine points scored. In short, the Silver and Black looked like exactly what they are – one of the league's very worst teams.
- New York Giants --
No Tim Boyle sighting can be good news for the team in question. Last year, he played some emergency quarterback in a depressing season for the New York Jets. He featured for Miami earlier this year in their darkest moments and now he's playing for the two-win Giants. Ouch!
