NFL Analysis
Week 15 NFL Power Rankings: Rams Trending Toward Contention

The Buffalo Bills won seven consecutive games to move them up to No. 3 in the Week 14 NFL Power Rankings. However, they ran into a Los Angeles Rams team last week that was attempting to keep alive their playoff hopes. Despite Buffalo mounting a furious fourth-quarter comeback on the road, their efforts fell short. As a result, the Bills slid down a few spots in this week’s rankings.
Meanwhile, the Rams improved to 7-6 on the season, courtesy of their 44-42 win. Los Angeles entered their bye in Week 6 with a 1-4 record. They’ve since gone 6-2, including victories over top-ten teams Minnesota, Seattle, and Buffalo. Once considered sellers at the NFL Trade Deadline, the 2021 Super Bowl Champions are once again looking dangerous and ready to make a push for a spot in the NFL Playoffs.
Buffalo was one of three top-ten teams from last week’s rankings to lose in Week 14. Green Bay (No. 6 last week) and the LA Chargers (No. 8) both fell as well. However, none of these losses caused the team to fall more than two spots in the rankings.
Joining the LA Rams in heading up the charts were the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last week’s lowest-ranked team beat the Tennessee Titans 10-6. The victory improved the Jaguars record to 3-10 on the season and improved their power ranking by six spots in the latest installment of the rankings.
Also Read – Report: Bill Belichick to Become Head Coach at North Carolina
A look at Patriots Football Now’s NFL Power Rankings entering Week 15:
1. Detroit Lions (12-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 1
Week 14 Result: Beat Green Bay 34-31
Detroit completed the season sweep of their NFC North rival and maintained their top spot in this week’s rankings.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 2
Week 14 Result: Beat LA Chargers 19-17
Some are starting to call the Chiefs lucky with all of these close victories but when the wins continue to happen it can’t all be attributed to luck. Kansas City knows how to win.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 4
Week 14 Result: Beat Carolina 22-16
Philadelphia continues to play well and win, but internal strife (A.J. Brown vs. Jalen Hurts) could be the most likely cause of them falling short of their goals this season.
4. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 5
Week 14 Result: Beat Atlanta 42-21
Sam Darnold spoiled Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota and confirmed (once again) the Vikings are for real.
5. Buffalo Bills (10-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 3
Week 14 Result: Lost to LA Rams 44-42
Josh Allen became the first player in NFL history to pass for three touchdowns and rush for three touchdowns in the same game, yet Buffalo lost for the first time since Week 5.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 7
Week 14 Result: Beat Cleveland 27-14
Mike Tomlin’s crew continues to roll, becoming the sixth team to win their tenth game of 2024.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 6
Week 13 Result: Lost to Detroit 34-31
The Packers four losses are to the Lions (twice), Vikings, and Eagles. Zero bad losses, but no signature wins yet either.
8. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 9
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
Baltimore rested up to get ready for what they hope is a deep run into the playoffs.
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 10
Week 14 Result: Beat Arizona 30-18
The Seahawks beat the Cardinals to maintain control of the NFL West. Can they hold off the surging Rams?
10. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 8
Week 14 Result: Lost to Kansas City 19-17
The Chiefs swept the Chargers by a total of nine points in two games. Jim Harbaugh’s team will be a handful for anyone in the postseason.
11. Denver Broncos (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 11
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
Broncos fans hope the bye didn’t stop the momentum of their three-game winning streak.
12. Houston Texans (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 12
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
Houston continues to search for consistency, but they remain dangerous and in control of the AFC South.
13. Washington Commanders (8-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 13
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
Four games remain for the Commanders to earn a playoff spot on fizzle to the middle of the pack after a 7-2 start.
14. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 19
Week 14 Result: Beat Buffalo 44-42
They’ve become a different team with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua getting healthy, now they need to prove they can get some stops.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 16
Week 14 Result: Beat Las Vegas 28-13
Just when injuries and poor play had put Tampa Bay on the ropes, a trio of wins against the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders made them the lone NFC South with a winning record.
16. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 17
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
Whether they can catch Houston or not, Indianapolis needs to see what they have in quarterback Anthony Richardson through the end of the 2024 season.
17. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 14
Week 14 Result: Lost to Seattle 30-18
Arizona has lost three straight, which makes hosting a 3-10 New England team a welcomed sight in Week 15.
18. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 18
Week 14 Result: Beat NY Jets 32-26
The Dolphins are the AFC’s version of the Rams. They looked dead in the water at 2-6 but will be dangerous if they can sneak into the postseason.
19. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 20
Week 14 Result: Beat Chicago 38-13
Their dominance over the Bears might speak more to their opponents’ ineptitude than the 49ers’ resurgence.
20. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 15
Week 14 Result: Lost to Minnesota 42-21
Atlanta is on a four-game losing streak but remains just a game out of the lead in the NFC South.
21. New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 22
Week 14 Result: Beat NY Giants 14-11
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi‘s 3-1 record is likely too late to get into the playoffs, but it might be enough to earn him the full-time gig for 2025 if the Saints keep winning.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 23
Week 14 Result: Beat Dallas 27-20
Too little, too late for a team good enough to be in the postseason.
23. Dallas Cowboys (5-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 23
Week 14 Result: Lost to Cincinnati 27-20
The frustration is boiling over for Cowboys players, but is there anything that can be done about it at this point?
24. Chicago Bears (4-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 24
Week 14 Result: Lost to San Francisco 38-13
Chicago hasn’t won since Week 5, making a season that showed promise another wasted one for the Bears.
25. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 26
Week 14 Result: Lost to Pittsburgh 27-14
Two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is starting to get a warmer seat in Cleveland.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 32
Week 14 Result: Beat Tennessee 10-6
Jacksonville escaped from the bottom spot in the NFL Power Rankings with a win, but it also cost them the top position in the 2025 NFL Draft (at least for now).
27. Tennessee Titans (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 25
Week 14 Result: Lost to Jacksonville 10-6
Quarterback Will Levis might not be the Titans problem but he does not appear to be the answer either.
28. New England Patriots (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 27
Week 14 Result: Bye Week
The Patriots were idle in Week 14 but improved their draft position anyway.
29. Carolina Panthers (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 28
Week 14 Result: Lost to Philadelphia 22-16
Carolina couldn’t pull off the upset over Philadelphia, but it was another impressive showing for a team suddenly trending in the right direction.
30. New York Jets (3-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 29
Week 14 Result: Lost to Miami 32-26
Some “experts” picked the Jets to win the Super Bowl this season but they look as far away from raising a Lombardi Trophy as ever after another loss.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 30
Week 14 Result: Lost to Tampa Bay 28-13
Rookie tight end Brock Bowers has been one of the lone bright spots in another disappointing season for the Raiders.
32. New York Giants (2-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 31
Week 14 Result: Lost to New Orleans 14-11
A blocked field goal prevented at least forcing overtime, proving once again that the bottom tier of NFL teams finds a way to lose.