Last week in the NFL brought more interesting results with several contending teams playing big games each other. That was helpful to provide a little more clarity on how to stack the teams against each other going into Week 15.
The top of the league experienced a few changes, but the upper middle is where most of the shake-up lies. Behind the surefire playoff entrants, there are some teams with greater postseason hopes while others are fading fast.
MORE: NFL playoff picture | Updated draft order
Without further ado, here’s the latest look at how Sporting News sees the current NFL power structure, from No. 1 through No. 32.
NFL power rankings
1. Baltimore Ravens, 11-2 (previous ranking: 1)
The Ravens grinded away with more steady than spectacular offense to take down the Bills on the road, showing the gritty side of Lamar Jackson and just how much their defensive resurgence has meant to their recent domination. They become the stronger AFC team to beat each week.
2. San Francisco 49ers, 11-2 (2)
The 49ers’ decision to practice in Florida before going to New Orleans paid off, as they outlasted the Saints on a tough road trip. They proved again they have the explosive offense to compensate when their defense runs into a polished, balanced scoring machine. They reestablished themselves as NFC favorites.
3. Green Bay Packers, 10-3 (6)
The Packers are getting the job done in different ways each week, but they're mostly doing it with solid overall defense despite some vulnerability against the run. Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones are taking turns making the offense score enough points.
4. New Orleans Saints, 10-3 (3)
The Saints march downward because of their crazy shootout loss to the 49ers. Their defense is starting to spring more leaks, and the complementary football is a little off at the moment, more reliant on the pass with Drew Brees than the run.
5. Seattle Seahawks, 10-3 (4)
The Seahawks were due to cool off, and things caught up to them against the Rams with Russell Wilson not able to provide the necessary comeback magic. They should go back to cruise control until the 49ers game in Week 17.
6. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-4 (9)
The Chiefs threw their helmets back in the ring for the AFC championship by solving the Patriots riddle on the road. Keep in mind they were also able to beat the Ravens earlier in the season. Their once-fading Super Bowl hopes are alive again because, of all things, defense.
7. New England Patriots, 10-3 (5)
The Patriots lost their second consecutive game, and we can tell their offensive struggle is real because the trend goes against what we usually expect from Tom Brady and Bill Belichick this time of year. They have time before the playoffs to figure it out, but there are no easy answers.
8. Minnesota Vikings, 9-4 (7)
The Vikings didn't get many style points for their win against the overmatched Lions. They are going out with the same balanced, explosive offense every week, and their defense needed a get-well game. They can’t afford to look past the Chargers as the Packers and Bears rematches loom.
9. Buffalo Bills, 9-4 (10)
The Bills move up because of their strong effort against the Ravens. Their defense contained Lamar Jackson, and unfortunately, Josh Allen couldn’t lift their offense enough in a tough matchup. They should have more confidence now, though, in their own chances to steal the division from the Patriots.
10. Tennessee Titans, 8-5 (12)
The Titans steamrolled yet another opponent, the Raiders, with Derrick Henry’s running setting up Ryan Tannehill’s fearless downfield throwing. That energy on offense is carrying over to more inspired and aggressive defense. They will be a dangerous AFC playoff team if they continue their late surge, still with two shots against the Texans.
11. Los Angeles Rams, 8-5 (13)
The Rams stayed alive in the wild-card race by getting their season split against the Seahawks. They are finding their new identity is more about the power running game with Todd Gurley and the defense at the right time.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-5 (11)
The Steelers are on a remarkable run after starting 0-4 given they’re missing Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Rookie Devlin Hodges was the right choice to handle their offense, as he’s fearless in getting the ball to their young receivers. That has allowed their defense to be more aggressive.
13. Houston Texans, 8-5 (8)
The Texans blew all the equity they earned by beating the Patriots with their defense going into the tank against the Broncos. Deshaun Watson has been a magician to mask their major defensive issues, which could end up costing them the division and/or a playoff berth.
14. Chicago Bears, 7-6 (17)
The Bears are seeing the Mitchell Trubisky they expected to see earlier in the season, and much of it is the product of a more favorable schedule. They have him running again, which in turn has him passing with more confidence. Don’t sleep on the QB leading them back to the playoffs.
15. Cleveland Browns, 6-7 (18)
The Browns found a way to bring up more dysfunction after a victory over the Bengals with the Baker Mayfield-Odell Beckham Jr. controversy. Their goal now is trying to finish with a couple more wins and much-needed positive vibes for 2020 after such a disappointing season.
16. Dallas Cowboys, 6-7 (14)
The Cowboys’ defense is falling apart, and their offense hasn’t been clean, efficient or explosive enough to compensate. Dak Prescott is in a mini-slump, and they haven't been able to stick with Ezekiel Elliott on the ground late in games. Jason Garrett has three games left to extend his coaching time in Dallas.
17. Oakland Raiders, 6-7 (15)
The Raiders are flushing away all the positives from earlier in the season, thanks mostly to Derek Carr’s poor play with key players around him getting hurt. The defense had been holding up against the run with a good pass rush, but now it’s falling apart.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-7 (21)
The Bucs should have their answer on Jameis Winston. Although his turnovers are issues, he also is making a ton of big plays. He gutted through a hand injury to finish a comeback against the Colts. What would help is a better running game and defense to take pressure off the QB.
19. Indianapolis Colts, 6-7 (16)
The Colts can’t seem to get everything right at the same time. When their defense is rocking, their offense can't do much. Now with their offense getting hot again, the defense is giving up more big plays than it is making.
20. Philadelphia Eagles, 6-7 (19)
The Eagles can erase all their frustrations from a limited offense and mostly bad pass defense by playing well in the final three games of the season to rip the division away from the Cowboys, who are trying their best to hand it to them.
21. Denver Broncos, 5-8 (22)
Drew Lock has given the offense a much-needed spark, which makes one wonder how the season might have played out had he been healthy earlier. The rookie has three more games to prove he, not a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, should be the franchise QB.
22. Los Angeles Chargers, 5-8 (25)
The Chargers finally clicked on all cylinders, but their blowout win in Jacksonville came too late for a playoff return. Anthony Lynn should be safe as coach to see them through to his fourth year.
23. New York Jets, 5-8 (23)
The Jets have had a weird first season under Adam Gase, with a few highs of late to balance out some lows early in the season. They’re staring at a bad finish, however, against the Ravens, Steelers and Bills to close the season.
24. Carolina Panthers, 5-8 (20)
The Panthers didn’t find new life with Ron Rivera fired and Perry Fewell taking over as interim coach. They seemed more out of whack in Atlanta in getting doubled up badly. Even the great Christian McCaffrey can’t make them look good anymore.
25. Atlanta Falcons, 4-9 (30)
The Falcons are playing their hardest to keep Dan Quinn around, and their record is probably closer in line with their talent than they would like to admit. Next week against the 49ers and former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan won't be fun, but they will close with the Jaguars and Buccaneers, two more big chances to save Quinn.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4-9 (24)
The Jaguars have dropped five consecutive games in ugly fashion. The team simply is not responding to Doug Marrone and the rest of the coaching staff. The energy that existed earlier in the season is gone, to the point where the return of “Minshew Mania” has kept them manic.
27. Arizona Cardinals, 3-9-1 (26)
The Cardinals have seen plenty of good things from Kyler Murray, but their running game issues and total defensive void make it tough for a rookie QB to play comfortably. They need more young skill-player and blocking pop around him for Year 2.
28. Detroit Lions, 3-9-1 (26)
The Lions don’t have a chance with their third-string, undrafted rookie quarterback, sputtering running game and listless defense. Matt Patricia might get a reprieve because of the injuries, but he has a lot to fix.
29. Miami Dolphins, 3-10 (29)
Brian Flores and Ryan Fitzpatrick were the right leaders to give this team fight through a trying season of talent limitations. Just wait until the Dolphins load up on first-rounders in 2020.
30. Washington Redskins, 3-10 (28)
To their credit, the Redskins are running hard and fighting defensively for Bill Callahan, even with some injuries mounting. There are some nice positives with which their new coach can work.
31. New York Giants, 2-11 (31)
The Giants have lost nine consecutive games, and now it’s down to Eli Manning to get them a win and help save Pat Shurmur’s job. They need to at least compete hard against the Dolphins with all their veteran offensive talent back.
32. Cincinnati Bengals, 1-12 (32)
The Bengals had multiple opportunities to take down the Browns but kept missing them. Coach Zac Taylor still has a lot to learn about consistently putting his players and team as a whole in the right situations to succeed, even when things are stacked against them.
