Here are the NFL Week 15 Power Rankings. The NFC hasn’t changed, but the AFC reshuffled after a tough weekend of football. Here’s how the teams stack up according to my arbitrary ranking system.
1. Carolina Panthers – (13-0) Thirteen down, six to go. Cam Newton and the Panthers face their toughest test of the remainder of the season this week with the Giants, who’ve ruined undefeated seasons before. Last week: No. 1
2. Arizona Cardinals – (11-2) The Cardinals also find themselves in a suddenly interesting game against an NFC East opponent fighting for a playoff spot. They’ll get the best the Eagles have to offer. Last week: No. 2
3. Green Bay Packers – (9-4) This is the highest the Packers have been ranked since their second loss of the season. They earned it the hard way and it won’t get any easier against Oakland Sunday. Last week: No. 5
4. New England Patriots – (11-2) The Pats are back in control of the AFC with a pan of cupcakes courtesy of the Titans on tap this week. Last week: No. 6
5. Denver Broncos – (10-3) Peyton Manning is back at practice this week, but probably won’t suit up Sunday. This is your last week to make the Broncos’ decision an easy one, Brock Osweiler. Last week: 3
6. Cincinnati Bengals – (11-2) All of you Bengals fans in the preseason clammoring for A.J. McCarren get your wish. Congrats. Last week: No. 4
7. Seattle Seahawks – (8-5) For the first time since the Super Bowl last season the Seahawks look like the Seahawks. Just in time to ruin everyone else’s seasons. Last week: No. 7
8. Pittsburgh Steelers – (8-5) The Steelers are right outside the wild card race, but with Andy Dalton out in Cincy, are suddenly in the AFC North race. Last week: No. 8
9. Minnesota Vikings – (8-5) Two straight losses to NFC playoff teams doesn’t give me a lot of confidence on your postseason survival chances. Last week: No. 9
10. Kansas City Chiefs – (8-5) Two months ago the Chiefs looked like a team that would pick in the Top 10 of April’s draft. Now they’re in control of their own destiny in for a playoff spot. Last week: No. 10
11. New York Jets – (8-5) The Jets control their own destiny to make the postseason, they just have to beat the Patriots and Bills to get there. First up is a second bye week with a trip to Dallas. Last week: No. 11
12. New York Giants – (6-7) The Giants found a way to win in the fourth quarter for the first time in a while. The Giants team that played Monday night would be 10-3. Last week: No. 12
13. Washington Redskins – (6-7) Somehow in the face of all reason the Redskins are still alive for a playoff spot in the middle of December. Last week: No. 20
14. Indianapolis Colts – (6-7) There’s a question out there if Andrew Luck will play this season at all. If the Colts lose this week against the Texans, that might answer it. Last week: No. 13
15. Buffalo Bills – (6-7) The Bills are still barely in the AFC race and can’t afford another loss, especially to a Redskins team that has already won twice as many games as they should have. Last week: No. 14
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – (6-7) The Bucs have the Rams on Thursday night this week in the biggest game of the year 15 seasons ago. Last week: No. 15
17. New Orleans Saints – (5-8) The best thing the Sean Payton farewell tour can do is take a few bad coaches out with him as he goes. Jim Caldwell of the Lions is a good start this week. Last week: No. 21
18. Houston Texans – (6-7) The Texans are not only alive for the postseason, even with a bad loss to the Patriots Sunday night, they can take complete control with a win over the Colts this week. They’ll have to do it with T.J. Yates. Last week: No. 16
19. Atlanta Falcons – (6-7) That’s six consecutive losses if you’re keeping track. There’s a good chance the Jaguars will make it seven this week. Last week: No. 17
20. Oakland Raiders – (8-7) The Raiders kept the Broncos out of the end zone this week. Can they do the same to the Packers and stay in this thing? Last week: No. 18
21. Chicago Bears – (5-8) The Bears can’t knock the Vikings out of the playoffs this week, but they can bloody their nose for the third week in a row. Last week: No. 19
22. Miami Dolphins – (5-8) The Dolphins have played better under Dan Campbell since they fired Joe Philbin after the first month of the season. It’s been meaningless, really, but it’s true none the less. Last week: No. 22
23. Philadelphia Eagles – (6-7) Chip Kelly and Sam Bradford have the Eagles on the roll they were supposed to start the season with. Maybe Kelly can cancel that meeting with a real estate agent after all. Last week: No. 23
24. Jacksonville Jaguars – (5-8) The Jaguars beat the Colts like a teenage boy finally standing up to his stepdad. The Jags are still in the hunt and if you bet that in the preseason, I hope you’ve brought an extra suitcase to handle all the money you’ve won. Last week: No. 26
25. Baltimore Ravens – (4-9) The Ravens can only spoil things for other teams now that they’ve secured a losing season. But in spoiling other team’s playoff chances, they spoil their own draft position. Last week: No. 24
26. Dallas Cowboys – (4-9) The Cowboys, like the Ravens, have a great chance to reload this offseason with some high draft picks. Losses now are only a good thing. Last week: No. 25
27. St. Louis Rams – (5-8) Speaking of losses, the Rams need a couple more just to guarantee Jeff Fisher won’t make the trip to Los Angeles with them next year. Last week: No. 29
28. San Francisco 49ers – (4-9) Blain Gabbert looked downright Blain Gabbert-y last week against the Browns. Now here come the Bengals. Last week: No. 27
29. Detroit Lions – (4-9) Two weeks ago the Lions were still talking playoffs. Time to just lay down and die. Where that poaching dentist when you need him? Last week: No. 28
30. Cleveland Browns – (3-10) Johnny Manziel got the job done against the 49ers. I don’t think the Seahawks will be so hospitable.. Last week: No. 32
31. Tennessee Titans – (3-10) An embarrassing performance against the Jets won’t be easy to overcome with a rejuvenated Patriots team on the schedule. I’ve not looked at the line for this one yet, but I’m guessing 14 plus. Last week: No. 30
32. San Diego Chargers – (3-10) The Mike McCoy farewell tour welcomes Dan Campbell and the Dolphins, a group already packing up their desks. These are two staffs that are crashing Linked In’s servers as they all update their profiles at once. Last week: No. 31
