NFL Power Rankings Week 16 – Pass The Controller

Three weeks left, and we have so much more to sort out in the NFL. A few teams have punched their tickets to the postseason and this week should reveal some more competitors for the playoffs.

The teams teetering on being in or out have given us the most interesting matchups – let’s see if we follow that trend this week.

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-1)
Philadelphia should be considered the favorites, but you can’t run through the playoffs if you shoot yourself in the foot. They have to stay away from turnovers and silly penalties.

 

2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Buffalo has hit their stride at the right time. They’ve pushed their winning streak to five games and they’re in position to have the number one seed in the playoffs.

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
The Chiefs winning the division has seemed like a foregone conclusion since the season started. Can they grab that number one seed in the AFC?

 

4. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
The 49ers sported a record  of 3-4 earlier this season. They’ve been knocking out opponents left and right since then.

 

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
There was a large faction of people ready to write the Vikings off as pretenders right up until halftime of their game versus the Colts.

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)
Cincinnati keeps on rolling and now they’ve taken a hold on the division lead. They’ve won six in a row with a trip to New England looming.

 

7. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
The Cowboys have now qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row. Oddly enough they clinched the spot with no help from themselves.

 

8. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Lamar Jackson hasn’t participated in practice this week and his availability for this week’s game is still in question. The Ravens play Atlanta and Pittsburgh at home the next two weeks.

 

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
The Chargers have won three out of their last four games. They will play three teams with losing records to finish off the season.

 

10. Miami Dolphins (8-6)
It’s kind of funny the Dolphins had their best offensive games in weeks during a snowstorm. Miami can ill-afford to continue this losing streak if they want to keep their playoff spot.

 

11. Detroit Lions (7-7)
Well it wasn’t the offensive onslaught they’ve had the last few weeks, but Detroit has extended their  current winning streak to three games.

 

12. New York Giants (8-5-1)
The Giants won their pseudo playoff game versus the Commanders on Sunday. Now they have a huge test versus the Vikings this week.

 

13. Tennessee Titans (7-7)
The Titans have lost four in a row and their grip on the division lead is slipping away. They go into this week with a one game lead over the Jaguars.

 

14. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Seattle has dropped four out of their last five games. They have turned the ball over eight times during that stretch.

 

15. New England Patriots (7-7)
The Patriots have lost three out of five games and their playoffs hopes are dwindling. Seriously what were they doing at the end of the last game?

 

16. Washington Commanders (7-6-1)
The Commanders snapped a four game undefeated streak. They’ll have two really tough matchups in their last three games and they’ll probably have to win out to make the playoffs.

 

17. New York Jets (7-7)
Seems like the Jets play another team with an outside shot at the playoffs every week. Next up Jacksonville, followed by Seattle.

 

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)
Jacksonville has started to get some things straightened out. The team has won three out of four games and they’ve given themselves an outside chance to make the playoffs.

 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)
Welp, at least Tom Brady is still in first place. That counts for something, even though the division is awful.

 

20. Green Bay Packers (6-8)
The Packers slim playoffs hopes remain after winning their second straight game.

 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8)
The Steelers will most likely have to leapfrog too many teams to make the playoffs, but they are making it very interesting.

 

22. Cleveland Browns (6-8)
Nick Chubb has to be the most consistent running back in football the last few years. He has 1,252 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns so far this season.

 

23. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)
After a hiccup to the Rams, the Raiders got right back their recent winning ways. They’ve now won four out of five games.

 

24. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
After beating the Falcons, the Saints are in a three way tie for second place in a crappy division.

 

25. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
Desmond Ridder didn’t look spectacular by any means, but the Falcons need to know what they have at the quarterback position.

 

26. Carolina Panthers (5-9)
Even with the loss to Pittsburgh, Carolina’s slim playoffs hopes are still intact. They’ll have to overcome a hot Lions team this week.

 

27. Arizona Cardinals (4-10)
The Cardinals have scored an average of 15.5 points per game in their last four games. They’ve lost all four of those games.

 

28. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)
A 33 point loss would’ve been much better than blowing a 33 point lead. They currently sit in the sixth slot in the NFL draft.

 

29. Los Angeles Rams (4-10)
The Baker Mayfield hoopla lasted exactly one week. The Rams have a ton of offseason questions to answer.

 

30. Denver Broncos (4-10)
The Broncos defense has forced six turnovers in the last two weeks. They have forced 19 turnovers this season.

 

31. Chicago Bears (3-11)
Chicago’s losing streak has reached seven games. They’ve allowed at least 25 points in all of those losses.

 

32. Houston Texans (1-12-1)
Houston had their second good game in as many weeks, but still couldn’t snag a win. I really hope they give Lovie Smith another shot at coaching this team next season.