NFL Analysis
Week 16 NFL Power Rankings: Eagles Are NFC’s Top Team
The Detroit Lions held the top spot in the NFL Power Rankings for four weeks. They ranked top among NFC teams in the rankings since the Week 8 NFL Power Rankings. Both streaks ended with this week’s rankings, courtesy of the Lions’ 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Detroit’s loss puts the Kansas City Chiefs atop the rankings once again. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions began the season there and held it through Week 11. They return to the top spot after a four-week hiatus.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to No. 2 in this week’s rankings. Philadelphia began the season 2-2 but has won 10 in a row to improve to 12-2. Last weekend saw them defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13 in the battle of Pennsylvania. Despite some internal disfunction, the Eagles keep winning.
Despite their loss, Detriot only fell two spots and rounds out the top three. Only the Seahawks and Chargers fell more than two spots after losses last week.
The Jets were the biggest movers of the week, going six spots up in the rankings from No. 30 to No. 24. There are not many wins coming out of the lower tier of NFL teams at this point in the season, so a win from any of them causes considerable movement.
Also Read – Kelley: Does Jerod Mayo Keep Clarifying or Backtracking?
A look at Patriots Football Now’s NFL Power Rankings entering Week 16:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 2
Week 15 Result: Beat Cleveland 21-7
A fourth-quarter Patrick Mahomes injury gave the Chiefs their biggest cause for concern on Sunday.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 3
Week 15 Result: Beat Pittsburgh 27-13
Some call them dysfunctional, but everyone calls them 12-2.
3. Detroit Lions (12-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 1
Week 15 Result: Lost to Buffalo 48-42
Jared Goff passed for 494 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and lost.
4. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 4
Week 15 Result: Beat Chicago 30-12
A seventh-straight win has the Vikings enjoying themselves as much as any NFL franchise at the moment.
5. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 5
Week 15 Result: Beat Detroit 48-42
Josh Allen might be the NFL MVP favorite, but 86 points over the past two weeks is concerning.
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 7
Week 15 Result: Beat Seattle 30-13
They are third in the NFC North but still good enough to beat anyone in football.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 6
Week 14 Result: Lost to Philadelphia 27-13
Week 15 was the Steelers first loss by more than five points all season.
8. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 9
Week 15 Result: Beat NY Giants 35-14
Came out of the bye with a win, can they keep the positive momentum going?
9. Denver Broncos (9-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 11
Week 15 Result: Beat Indianapolis 31-13
Sean Payton might not win Coach of the Year and Bo Nix might not win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but both have proven worthy of consideration.
10. Houston Texans (9-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 12
Week 15 Result: Beat Miami 20-12
Slowed down a hot Dolphins team and appear headed to another AFC South title.
11. Washington Commanders (8-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 13
Week 16 Result: Beat New Orleans 20-19
Jayden Daniels needs 150 yards in three games to break Robert Griffin III’s rookie QB rushing record.
12. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 8
Week 15 Result: Lost to Green Bay 30-13
Last week’s second-highest-ranked team to lose, how they rebound will determine if they can reach the postseason.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 10
Week 15 Result: Lost to Tampa Bay 40-17
A blowout loss this late in the season is concerning for the Chargers.
14. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 14
Week 15 Result: Beat San Francisco 12-6
The Rams’ offense slowed down against the 49ers, but the defense did enough to secure another win.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 15
Week 15 Result: Beat LA Chargers 40-17
A dominant performance against the Chargers proves the Buccaneers are not to be taken lightly.
16. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 17
Week 15 Result: Beat New England 30-17
The Cardinals looked good against the Patriots but still haven’t beaten a team with a winning record since Week 7.
17. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 20
Week 15 Result: Beat Las Vegas 15-9
Atlanta looked mediocre while beating the hapless Raiders, but remain just one game out of first place in the NFC South.
18. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 16
Week 15 Result: Lost to Denver 31-13
Mediocre teams cannot afford to commit five turnovers and expect to win, which is exactly what happened to the Colts in Week 15.
19. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 18
Week 15 Result: Lost to Houston 20-12
Had Tua Tagovailoa cut his four turnovers in half, Miami might have beaten Houston and still had more than a longshot hope of playing in the NFL Playoffs.
20. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 19
Week 15 Result: Lost to LA Rams 12-6
They began the season at No. 2 in the Week 1 NFL Power Rankings and now will be lucky to finish above .500.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 22
Week 15 Result: Beat Tennessee 37-27
The NFL is a quarterback league, so how does Joe Burrow lead the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, yet sit at 6-8?
22. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 23
Week 15 Result: Beat Carolina 30-14
Like Cincinnati, it’s too little, too late for Dallas to start winning.
23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 21
Week 15 Result: Lost to Washington 20-19
New Orleans lost the game but had a bright spot in the performance of rookie QB Spencer Rattler.
24. New York Jets (4-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 30
Week 15 Result: Beat Jacksonville 32-25
Davante Adams (9 receptions, 198 yards, 2 TD) enjoyed his best game as a member of the Jets.
25. Chicago Bears (4-10)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 24
Week 14 Result: Lost to Minnesota 30-12
It’s tough to remember that this team was once 4-2.
26. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 25
Week 15 Result: Lost to Kansas City 21-7
The Jameis Winston Era in Cleveland might be over after they turned to Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 26
Week 15 Result: Lost to NY Jets 32-25
Hard to imagine Doug Pederson returns in 2025 at this point.
28. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 27
Week 15 Result: Lost to Cincinnati 37-27
Three of Will Levis’ 12 passes were intercepted in what might be his final start for the Titans.
29. New England Patriots (3-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 28
Week 15 Result: Lost to Arizona 30-17
The Patriots are struggling to win games, but they’ve gotten some Drake Maye highlights at least.
30. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 29
Week 15 Result: Lost to Dallas 30-14
Carolina lost their fourth straight after some solid play but Week 15 was the first time Bryce Young has played poorly since regaining his starting job.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 31
Week 15 Result: Lost to Atlanta 15-9
Las Vegas owns the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, are Raiders fans rooting for wins at this point?
32. New York Giants (2-12)
Last Week’s Ranking: No. 32
Week 15 Result: Lost to Baltimore 35-14
The New York Giants could be looking for a new staff and largely new roster after an uncompetitive season.
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