You want some arbitrary NFL Power Rankings? Well, you’ve got them. With three weeks to go in the regular season, the table is getting set for the playoffs with three teams already locking playoff spots. While the rest of the current division leaders could still take a dive, we have a pretty good idea who will be playing come January.
Here’s how everybody stacks up for Week 15.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers – (11-2) We have a new No. 1 for the second week in a row. Hopefully, the Steelers can keep the spot with an AFC-defining match up with the Patriots Sunday. Last week: No. 2
2. Philadelphia Eagles – (11-2) I don’t believe the loss of Carson Wentz will have a huge affect on the Eagles’ final record. I do think it will be a big problem once the playoffs begin… and end far too quickly for Philadelphia. Last week: 4
3. New England Patriots – (10-3) The Patriots, under Bill Belichick, are now 8-10 all time against the Dolphins in Miami. Tom Brady added his own legacy to that losing mark by delivering one of the worst performances of his career. Last week: No. 1
4. Minnesota Vikings – (10-3) Even though the Vikings are currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC, Wentz’s injury opens the door to home field advantage throughout the playoffs and possibly a home field Super Bowl, the first in history. Last week: No. 3
5. Los Angeles Rams – (9-4) The Rams lost the game against the Eagles, but still have their quarterback. You know the Eagles would trade the victory last Sunday for that scenario right now. Last week: No. 5
6. Carolina Panthers – (9-4) Will the victory over the Vikings be enough for people to start paying attention to this Panthers team? What are they going to have to do before we take notice? Win the Super Bowl? Last week: No. 7
7. New Orleans Saints – (9-4) The Saints had a chance to bust open a solid lead in the NFC South with three games to go, but couldn’t get the job done against a suddenly Jason Vorhees-like Falcons squad. Last week: No. 6
8. Seattle Seahawks – (8-5) The Seahawks blew their chance to take over the NFC West with a loss to the Jaguars last week. They get another shot at it when they host the Rams Sunday. Last week: No. 8
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – (9-4) Speaking of the Jags, their victory over the Seahawks last week secured their first winning season since 2007. Last week: No. 10
10. Atlanta Falcons – (8-5) The Falcons are very much like that 1980s be goalie-masked horror movie villain I mentioned above. Every time you think they’re dead, they pop up and chop off another team’s head. Last week: No. 11
11. Tennessee Titans – (8-5) Marcus Mariota blamed himself for the Titans’ recent woes. Meanwhile head coach Mike Mularkey is hiding in the dirty jock basket hoping no one notices. Last week: No. 9
12. Kansas City Chiefs – (7-6) The Chiefs retained their claim on the AFC West with a victory over the Raiders. Now they have to do it again against the Chargers. There’s no room for error now for a team that once looked like the best squad in football. Last week: No.13
13. Dallas Cowboys – (7-6) The Cowboys have to run the table for any chance at making the playoffs. Running will be much easier with the return of Ezekiel Elliott next week. Last week: No. 14
14. Baltimore Ravens – (7-6) The Ravens dropped out of the an AFC Wild Card spot with their loss to the Steelers Sunday night. With the way their offense plays, it’s still a shock they were ever in it. As bad as the AFC is outside of Pittsburgh and New England, Baltimore isn’t dead just yet. Last week: No. 12
15. Buffalo Bills – (7-6) The Bills, by virtue of their snow game win over the Colts, took over that bottom Wild Card spot. They have their work cut out in keeping it if Tyrod Taylor doesn’t get back on the field. Last week: No. 16
16. Green Bay Packers – (7-6) Brett Hundley held down the fort, but now Aaron Rodgers is back. This final three week stretch in the NFC is about to get very interesting. Last week: No. 19
17. Los Angeles Chargers – (7-6) Anthony Lynn, in spite of his own inept coaching, has the Chargers right in the playoff mix. A victory over Kansas City Sunday might just seal the deal. Last week: No. 20
18. Detroit Lions – (7-6) Speaking of inept coaching, it was let slip this week that Jim Caldwell’s contract extension is really only guaranteed for one year. You know, like Jeff Fisher’s was last season. Maybe invest in a U-Haul, Jimmy. Last week: No. 15
19. Miami Dolphins – (6-7) If only the Dolphins could play the Patriots at home every week. Jay Cutler waited until it was exactly too late to matter to look like the QB Adam Gase wanted to sign in the off-season. Last week: No. 25
20. Arizona Cardinals – (6-7) The Cardinals have won two games in a row with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. Maybe Bruce Arians’ faith in the guy isn’t so misguided after all. As long as the Cardinals still draft a QB high in April, everything might be OK in Arizona next year. Last week: No. 23
21. Oakland Raiders – (6-7) The Raiders had one last chance to save their season. Facing that situation again, they did what they’ve done all year; completely blow it. Oakland, are you really going to miss these guys? Last week: No. 18
22. Washington Redskins – (5-8) The Redskins are pretty much the same team they were the last two seasons, just without the breaks and the bad opposition. Jay Gruden’s seat gets hotter by the minute. Last week: No. 21
23. Cincinnati Bengals – (5-8) Speaking of Jay Gruden, how much do you want to bet he ends up in Cincinnati after Marvin Lews “retires?”Mike Brown is an idiot. Last week: No. 22
24. New York Jets – (5-8) Listen, Todd Bowles. Five wins with this group of glorified Fudrucker’s grillmasters is a coaching feat in itself. With your job on the line, you’ve delivered. Now pile up those high draft picks and turn this thing around next year. Last week: No. 24
25. Denver Broncos – (4-9) All the Broncos can do at this point is spoil playoff shots for other teams and spoil your Thursday Night Football plans by showing up on your TV. Last week: No. 27
26. Chicago Bears – (4-9) Speaking of spoilers, the Bears ended any hopes of a freak playoff appearance for Marvin Lewis and the Bengals with a 33-7 beat down Sunday. John Fox may still get fired at the end of the season, but this is a better team than he took over a few years ago. Last week: No. 29
27. Houston Texans – (4-9) Speaking of fired coaches, the fact that Bill O’Brien and his coaching staff put Tom Savage back in the game after he was seen popping and locking on the turf after a hit should wrap up all their coaching careers at the end of this season. Last week: No. 26
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (4-9) Dirk Koetter still has a job? I had to Google it after I was finished typing that sentence to make sure nothing had changed in the last few seconds. Yep Still employed. Crazy. Last week: No. 27
29. San Francisco 49ers – (3-10) Jimmy Garoppolo remains undefeated as a starting quarterback in the NFL with a monstrous 4-0 record. Can the Titans put give Jimmy G his first blemish Sunday? Last week: No. 31
30. Indianapolis Colts – (3-10) You can’t write about coaches who should be fired without mentioning Chuck Pagano’s name at least 1,472 times. Last week: No. 28
31. New York Giants – (2-11) Sometimes a team will respond with a huge victory after their head coach is fired, beating better units and surprising the pundits. The Giants will do none of those things. Last week: No. 30
32. Cleveland Browns – (0-13) You’re three games away from making history, Browns. Do you have to stones to really pull it off? Last week: No. 32
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