Analysis | NFL Week 16 power rankings: Chiefs tighten grip on No. 1, Jets make untimely move up from last
1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) | Last week’s rank: 1
Securing the No. 1 seed within the AFC appears all however sure now, with the troublesome highway sport in New Orleans out of the best way. The Chiefs have solely the Falcons and Chargers left on the common season schedule and can do no matter is required to stay forward of the Steelers and Bills. They’ll be lucky if rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire averted a severe harm Sunday.
2. Green Bay Packers (11-3) | Last week’s rank: 2
The second-half offensive efficiency in Saturday evening’s win over the Panthers was fairly dreadful, as Aaron Rodgers stated. But the Packers are on the cusp of wrapping up the NFC’s high seed, which will likely be important if the climate ends up being a think about a late-January matchup at Lambeau Field with the Saints or Buccaneers.
3. Buffalo Bills (11-3) | Last week’s rank: 3
The Bills wrapped up their first AFC East title since 1995 with Saturday’s dominant victory in Denver. QB Josh Allen continued to thrive, and WRs Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley every topped 100 receiving yards. The Bills moved up to the No. 2 seed within the AFC with the Steelers’ loss. They’ve performed much better recently than the Steelers, and so they’re not far from the Chiefs’ degree.
4. New Orleans Saints (10-4) | Last week’s rank: 4
QB Drew Brees accomplished fewer than half his passes in his return to the lineup Sunday. Even so, the Saints managed to stay aggressive with the Chiefs. Things might need been completely different in the event that they’d fallen on that fumble for a TD on the finish of the primary half. The Saints have all however surrendered the NFC’s No. 1 seed to the Packers. It’s troublesome to love their probabilities in the event that they must play the NFC title sport on the highway in Green Bay.
5. Indianapolis Colts (10-4) | Last week’s rank: 7
The Colts held on to beat the Texans, and their duel with the Titans for the AFC South title comes all the way down to the ultimate two weeks of the common season. Sunday’s sport at Pittsburgh will likely be very fascinating.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) | Last week’s rank: 8
Tom Brady engineered an enormous comeback to beat the Falcons. Sound acquainted? This wasn’t of Super Bowl LI significance, clearly. But it was important for the Buccaneers as they attempt to stay within the mixture of reputable NFC contenders. The game-winning TD catch made by WR Antonio Brown offers some justification for the choice to signal him.
7. Tennessee Titans (10-4) | Last week’s rank: 9
Bulldozing RB Derrick Henry knocked one other poor defensive again to the bottom with a stiff-arm maneuver, and the Titans received in predictably stress-free trend towards the Lions. The AFC is loaded with superb groups, and the Titans are proper there with most of them.
8. Seattle Seahawks (10-4) | Last week’s rank: 10
The Seahawks weren’t all that nice towards Washington on Sunday at FedEx Field. But at the least they received. That’s greater than the Rams and Steelers may say.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) | Last week’s rank: 5
The 1972 Dolphins by no means had something to fret about, because it has turned out. The Steelers’ season has utterly unraveled with three straight losses because the 11-0 begin. They’ve fallen to the No. 3 seed within the AFC, and even the division title isn’t sure any longer. They’ve clinched a playoff spot however how on this planet are they going to flee the opening spherical?
10. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) | Last week’s rank: 11
The Ravens overwhelmed the Jaguars on Sunday, as anticipated, and so they’ve totaled 87 factors of their previous two video games. They’re getting issues cranked up on offense and, lastly, are resembling last season’s crew. But they’re nonetheless on the skin of the playoff image wanting in, at the least for now.
11. Cleveland Browns (10-4) | Last week’s rank: 12
QB Baker Mayfield was environment friendly Sunday evening within the Meadowlands, and the Browns have their first 10-victory season since 2007. Suddenly, they’re solely a sport out of first place. They might be a harmful bad-weather crew within the AFC playoffs due to the best way they will run the ball.
12. Miami Dolphins (9-5) | Last week’s rank: 13
The win over the Patriots saved the Dolphins forward of the Ravens for the ultimate wild-card spot within the AFC. There’s most likely no margin for error, given the Ravens’ remaining schedule. But with video games left towards the Raiders and a Bills crew that already has clinched the AFC East, the Dolphins simply may get it executed.
13. Arizona Cardinals (8-6) | Last week’s rank: 14
QB Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense had been again to wanting subsequent to unstoppable within the triumph Sunday over the Eagles. That was encouraging to see after weeks of questioning whether or not Murray’s shoulder harm can be the undoing of a promising season.
14. Los Angeles Rams (9-5) | Last week’s rank: 6
The shock of the Jets really successful a sport and doubtless squandering their likelihood to draft Trevor Lawrence overshadowed a really terrible loss by the Rams. Coach Sean McVay referred to as it “embarrassing” and “humbling” and talked about being “sick to your stomach.” Even that was too type. It was positively revolting for a crew that fancied itself a Super Bowl contender.
15. Chicago Bears (7-7) | Last week’s rank: 16
The Bears are hanging across the NFC wild-card race with two straight wins after the six-game dropping skid. QB Mitchell Trubisky has been taking part in higher. The Jaguars are up subsequent on the schedule, after which there’s a Week 17 matchup with the Packers. It stays to be seen if Green Bay could have something at stake in that sport.
16. Washington Football Team (6-8) | Last week’s rank: 15
Everyone can dial again the speak about what a troublesome playoff opponent Washington may be if it manages to succeed in the postseason. This will likely be a .500 crew, at greatest. And whereas the protection is formidable, the offense stays restricted. Dwayne Haskins merely isn’t able to win a significant sport, as he was requested to do Sunday whereas filling in at QB for Alex Smith.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 23
Justin Herbert was the third QB drafted however he has managed to remain more healthy than Joe Burrow and has outplayed Tua Tagovailoa. He continues to dazzle on a weekly foundation and, for a change, the Chargers turned his exploits right into a victory in an OT thriller Thursday evening in Vegas.
18. Dallas Cowboys (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 24
The Cowboys managed to beat the 49ers with RB Ezekiel Elliott on the game-day inactive record and have two straight wins to move inside a sport of the division lead. Owner Jerry Jones stated in a radio interview it was “ridiculous” to counsel he would hearth Coach Mike McCarthy after one season. So issues are wanting up ever so barely for the Cowboys. But that’s being measured towards a ridiculously lowered normal.
19. Denver Broncos (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 17
There have been occasions Drew Lock has seemed like the answer to the Broncos’ QB points. But that has not been the case constantly, and it stays an open query whether or not the franchise can belief it has its QB of the longer term already within the fold. It will likely be an fascinating offseason choice for high soccer govt John Elway.
20. Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) | Last week’s rank: 18
Marcus Mariota was glorious in his Raiders debut Thursday evening whereas filling in for the injured Derek Carr. But the loss to the Chargers was damaging, and the Raiders’ progress has stalled in Year 3 of Jon Gruden’s return to teaching.
21. New England Patriots (6-8) | Last week’s rank: 19
Can the NFL playoffs even be carried out with out the Patriots in them? It’s nearly unthinkable that they’ve been eradicated from postseason rivalry. From Tom Brady’s departure to the opposite losses in free company to the participant opt-outs to the in-season points with the coronavirus and accidents, the chances had been towards these Patriots all alongside. But even just a few weeks in the past, it appeared as if Coach Bill Belichick nonetheless may discover a technique to pull issues collectively. Not this time.
22. New York Giants (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 20
What is with the NFC East head coaches and their ill-conceived faux area targets and punts this season? First there was the Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy on Thanksgiving Day after which there was the Giants’ Joe Judge on Sunday evening. Judge stated he needed to teach aggressively and referred to as the failed faux area purpose an excellent play. But if it’s such a sound play, how do you finish up together with your punter throwing a go to your heart towards triple protection?
23. (*16*) Eagles (4-9-1) | Last week’s rank: 21
The Eagles misplaced Sunday in Arizona however it positive appeared like they discovered a solution at QB. Jalen Hurts was terrific in his second begin because the benching of Carson Wentz. If Hurts performs effectively for 2 extra video games, it may be time to move on from Wentz within the offseason as a result of the present scenario appears untenable.
24. Minnesota Vikings (6-8) | Last week’s rank: 22
Rookie WR Justin Jefferson yelled a profanity at QB Kirk Cousins after an errant throw, and the Vikings misplaced what amounted to a playoff elimination sport towards the Bears. That qualifies as a really unhealthy day.
25. Detroit Lions (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 25
QB Matthew Stafford’s grittiness and dedication to maintain taking part in by the accidents is admirable. But interim coach Darrell Bevell made the proper choice to take a seat Stafford down, for Stafford’s personal good and safety, late within the lopsided loss to the Titans and may think about extending that merciful strategy by season’s finish.
26. San Francisco 49ers (5-9) | Last week’s rank: 26
The 49ers are taking part in out the string, and their keep in Arizona was prolonged by the tip of the season when the coronavirus-related restrictions in Santa Clara County had been saved in place by early January. This relentlessly harsh season can not conclude quickly sufficient for the Niners.
27. Carolina Panthers (4-10) | Last week’s rank: 27
The 3-2 begin has given technique to a 1-8 downward spiral. That makes it an unpleasant first season for Coach Matt Rhule and QB Teddy Bridgewater. Monday’s firing of Marty Hurney as GM offers Washington a candidate who has labored intently with Ron Rivera if Rivera chooses so as to add to the crew’s entrance workplace. If it occurs, Hurney would come to the crew he as soon as coated as a newspaper beat author.
28. Houston Texans (4-10) | Last week’s rank: 28
Deshaun Watson performed effectively. The Texans misplaced. Sunday’s near-miss defeat in Indianapolis just about encapsulated the season.
29. Cincinnati Bengals (3-10-1) | Last week’s rank: 30
The Bengals get to move up a spot after the triumph Monday evening over the Steelers. But, actually, that surprising consequence was much more about how ineptly the Steelers performed than about something the Bengals did.
30. Atlanta Falcons (4-10) | Last week’s rank: 29
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 7 on Sunday wasn’t fairly as unhealthy as Falcons 28, Patriots 3 on Feb. 5, 2017. But it was nonetheless fairly unhealthy for a come-from-ahead loss. No Falcons’ lead is ever protected, it appears, and notably when Tom Brady is on the opposite facet of the sphere.
31. New York Jets (1-13) | Last week’s rank: 32
That was the true definition of a Jets-ian victory. They will go 1-15 this season as a substitute of 0-16. And Trevor Lawrence, it actually seems, will finish up in Jacksonville.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-13) | Last week’s rank: 31
When is a day that features your thirteenth straight loss an excellent day? When it ends with you being in place to have the No. 1 choose in an NFL draft anticipated to incorporate Trevor Lawrence.
