We’ve got a new No. 1 and a new No. 32 and neither should be a surprise to anyone as we delve into the NFL Against the Spread Power Rankings for Week 14.
1. Los Angeles Rams (11-1, ATS: 6-6): The Rams now control home field advantage int he NFC, but can’t take a week off unless the Saints stumble again. Last week: 2
2. New England Patriots (9-3, ATS:8-4): Is it time for that annual December loss in Miami? Last week: 3
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 14 Odds
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2, ATS 8-4): To me, the Chiefs look like a team dying to get upset in the playoffs by a squad that can actually play defense. Last week: 4
4. New Orleans Saints (10-2, ATS: 9-3): A loss to the Cowboys knocked the Saints out of first place in the NFC. Now they face off against the Buccaneers, a team that already beat them once. Last week: 1
5. Chicago Bears (9-3, ATS: 8-4): The Bears can prove the belong in the upper echelon of the league by knocking off the Rams at Soldier Field on Sunday. Last week: 5
6. Houston Texans (9-3, ATS: 6-6): That’s now nine in a row for the Texans. Bill O’Brien opened the season on a warm seat and now he’s sitting on a block of ice in an igloo. Last week: 6
7. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3, ATS: 7-5): The Chargers are no longer a secret and, even with the Chiefs’ offense being All-Universe, control their own destiny in the AFC West. Last week: 8
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1, ATS: 6-6): Consecutive losses have the Steelers looking a lot like a team that will play on Wild Card weekend. They are too old and inconsistent for that. Last week: 7
9. Dallas Cowboys (7-5, ATS: 7-5): Speaking of cold coach’s seats, if Jason Garrett keeps beating playoff teams, he’ll need to invest in some fleece-insulated pants. Last week: 13
10. Baltimore Ravens (7-5, ATS: 6-6): Lamar Jackson is now 3-0 as a starting quarterback in the NFL and has done it running an NCAA Division II offense. Last week: 10
12. Seattle Seahawks (7-5, ATS: 7-5): The Seahawks were left for dead a couple of weeks ago. Now they’re looking like a fifth seed in the NFC. They may get another shot at the Rams. Last week: 11
12. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1,ATS: 6-6): The Vikings’ playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread. Luckily for them, the Redskins and Panthers both lost last week too. Last week: 9
13. Indianapolis Colts (6-6, ATS: 5-7): Before last Sunday, Andrew Luck had thrown three or more touchdowns in eight consecutive games. Against the Jags defense, he had zero. Last week: 12
14. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6 ATS: 4-8): There’s still an outside chance the Eagles can make it back to the playoffs, but they need to run the table to make it happen. Last week: 16
15. Denver Broncos (6-6, ATS: 6-6): If the Ravens do stumble in their quest for the sixth seed in the AFC, the Broncos are the team that will likely slide into that spot. Last week: 17
16. Miami Dolphins (6-6, ATS: 7-5): A win over the Patriots in Miami will do a lot to solidify Ryan Tannehill’s future with the team and the Dolphins’ playoff chances in 2018. Last week: 21
17. Washington Redskins (6-6, ATS: 7-5): Another week, another quarterback lost for the season. Last week: 14
18. Carolina Panthers (6-6, ATS: 5-7): That’s quite the late-season swoon for a team that looked like one of the five best in the league a month ago. Last week: 15
19. Tennessee Titans (6-6, ATS: 6-6): Mike Vrabel playing a division game with a Wild Card berth on the table on a short week is an almost guaranteed opportunity to be thoroughly out-coached. Last week: 20
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7, ATS: 5-7): Can Jameis Winston replicate the Fitzmagic that allowed the Bucs to upset the Saints the last time they played? Last week: 28
21. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7, ATS: 5-7): I will write this sentence until it is no longer true — the Bengals have not won a game since they let Hue Jackson back into the facility. Last week: 19
22. Green Bay Packers (4-7-1 ATS: 4-8): Congratulations on firing Mike McCarthy and instantly improving the team. Green Bay hasn’t even hired a coach yet and I’m already picking them to go to the Super Bowl next year. Last week: 22
23. Detroit Lions (4-8, ATS: 6-6): That wasn’t a bad defensive effort against the Rams. This is a team that needs a complete offensive staff overhaul in the offseason. Last week: 18
24. New York Giants (4-8, ATS: 6-6): The Giants won’t make the playoffs, but they could absolutely finish .500 and decide to keep Eli Manning in the building for one final year. Last week: 26
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8,ATS: 4-8): The Cody Kessler era began with a victory, just not a lot of points. Last week: 27
26. Atlanta Falcons (4-8, ATS: 3-9): Somebody want to explain to me how Dan Quinn is safe after presiding over this Falcons disaster? Last week: 23
27. Cleveland Browns (4-7-1, ATS: 7-5): Bruce Arians has publicly stated that the Browns job is the only one he wants in the NFL. Jimmy Haslam should already be working on that contract. Last week: 24
28. Buffalo Bills (4-8, ATS: 5-7): The Bills are the worst team in football, yet over the last few weeks have decided not to play like the worst team in football. Last week: 25
29. Arizona Cardinals (3-9, ATS: 6-6): The 2018 Cardinals are the MVPs of the 2019 Packers Super Bowl season. Last Week: 32
30. New York Jets (3-9, ATS: 3-9): If the Jets decide to move on from Todd Bowles, and they shouldn’t, he’ll be the most sought-after defensive coordinator in the league. Last week: 29
31. San Francisco 49ers (2-10, ATS: 3-9): It was a real battle between the 49ers and Raiders as to who would be on the bottom of the rankings this week. Ultimately, I used their pathetic head-to-head match up as the tie-breaker. Last week: 31
32. Oakland Raiders (2-10, ATS: 3-9): Congratulations, Jon Gruden. You’re back where you belong. Last week: 30
