It was a historic week 14 of the NFL season. With more postseason berths clinched and with more teams staying (barely) alive in the playoff race, the week 15 slate is set to be an enticing encore of football.
Check out last week’s rankings to see where all the teams stacked up as opposed to this week’s edition.
1. Detroit Lions (12-1) ↔
Dan Campbell is consistent at least. The gutsy NFL coach rolled the dice once again on Thursday night to set up a game-winning field goal for the Lions. Detroit survived a strong test against their division foe Green Bay Packers, 34-31, ultimately picking up their 11th win in a row. Tim Patrick surprisingly emerged as a primary receiver on the night, catching six passes for two touchdowns. Jared Goff threw three in the nail-biting victory. The Lions will now face the Buffalo Bills in a potential NFL Super Bowl preview. Get your popcorn ready!
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) ↑1
It wasn’t pretty, but the Eagles narrowly overcame a resilient Carolina Panthers squad to grab their ninth straight win. Down 16-14 going into the fourth quarter, tight end Grant Calcaterra snatched his first-ever touchdown off a four-yard pass by Jalen Hurts to take the lead and win, 22-16. Even with no turnovers, the Eagles’ passing attack is beginning to look mediocre. Hurts has not reached 200 yards passing in three straight NFL games and sits 20th out of all quarterbacks in passing yards. The offense is still Saquon Barkley and Sunday was no different, as he had 124 yards on 20 carries. Eagles host a Pennsylvania battle on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) ↑1
In an identical score and their third straight one-possession game, Matthew Wright made a 31-yard field goal to give the Chiefs the division title for the ninth consecutive season. The 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was the Chiefs 10th one possession game overall and this week’s win came after the Chiefs gave up a 13-0 halftime lead. This vulnerable team manages to squeak out a victory in every way, shape, and form. The offense is not clicking to Chiefs and playoff standards, but the return of Isiah Pacheco, who tallied 55 yards on the ground in his second game back from injury, should give the Chiefs an added element that has been lacking for much of the season. Next, Kansas City travels to Cleveland to face the Browns.
4. Buffalo Bills (10-3) ↓2
In what turned out to be the game of the week, the Bills were edged out by the Los Angeles Rams, 44-42. The high-scoring affair marked a historic day for Josh Allen despite the loss. Allen became the first player in NFL history with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a game. In the words of Rams head coach Sean McVay, “he’s an alien.” The MVP candidate may have raised his stock even further, but at the end of the day, the Bills did lose and snap their seven-game winning streak. The magnificence of Allen though can’t be understated and the offense isn’t to blame whatsoever. We may be in for another offensive explosion when the Bills stay on the road to face the Lions.
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2) ↔
Sam Darnold made a statement on Sunday. A statement that may give him the added boost in getting a big time money contract in the offseason. The well-traveled NFL quarterback was tremendous, tossing five touchdowns with no turnovers for 347 yards. Darnold is now third in the league with 28 passing touchdowns and just outside the top five in yards. Darnold set up shop perfectly for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, who combined for 15 catches, 265 yards, and the aforementioned five receiving touchdowns. Everything the Vikings did on Sunday was perfect football and they remain in lockstep with the Lions for the NFC North division crown.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) ↔
The Steelers enacted some revenge over the Cleveland Browns, defeating them comfortably at home, 27-14. Pittsburgh’s defense suffocated the Browns, forcing three turnovers and taking down Jameis Winston with three sacks. The Steelers running game and early passing attack separated the Steelers from the Browns in a win that now sets them two NFL games ahead of the Ravens. Russell Wilson and the Steelers face in-state foe Eagles in week 15.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-4) ↔
The Packers have nothing to be ashamed of. They’re a good team that just barely got outplayed by the best team in the league. The Packers relied on Josh Jacobs finishing off nearly every drive in the end zone three times. Jacobs has been a great piece all season long and currently ranks in the top five in carries, yards, and touchdowns. Christian Watson also had a productive night on the field, catching four balls for 114 yards. Watson is slowly coming on after what has been a rather disappointing season for the young wideout. The Packers visit Seattle on Sunday night this week.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) ↔
The Chargers are staying put after a valiant effort against the defending back-to-back champion Chiefs. Down 13-0, the Chargers roared back with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Joshua Palmer and Quintin Johnson were the primary receivers Justin Herbert was looking to find all night, accounting for just over half of Herbert’s pass attempts. Johnson scored the touchdown that gave the Chargers their first lead of the game. Herbert and company will look to bounce back against the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-5) ↑2
Seattle went into the desert and once again beat up on the Arizona Cardinals in a 30-18 fashion, to continue their hold atop of the NFC West division. With Kenneth Walker injured and out, Zach Charbonnet stepped in and passed with flying colors in his start, having a career day of 134 yards on 22 carries, alongside two touchdowns. The defense had a great day, forcing two Kyler Murray interceptions. The defense with a balanced offense is the catalyst for the Seahawk’s current four game winning streak.
10. Denver Broncos (8-5) ↓1
The Broncos had the week off in what was the last week of byes in the season. Courtland Sutton’s consistent emergence will continued to be looked at for the rest of the way. The connection between him and rookie quarterback Bo Nix is growing by the week. Denver will look to improve on a three-game winning streak against the Colts at home on Sunday.
11. Baltimore Ravens (8-5) ↓1
Similarly to the Broncos, the Ravens also entered their bye week. Unlike the Broncos, they’re entering with a lot more questions. They’ve lost two of three and all eyes are surprisingly on kicker Justin Tucker. The future Hall of Famer is having the worst season of his career and he has directly cost the team multiple victories. Overall, the Ravens pose a good chance to rebound when they go on the road to take on the New York Giants.
12. Washington Commanders (8-5) ↔
The Commanders will come off their bye week to a week 15 showdown at the New Orleans Saints. Over the break, Washington took in some hard news for their offense, as wideout Noah Brown was announced to be out for (most likely) the rest of the season. This season, Brown is most notable for being on the receiving end of the game-winning Hail Mary in NFL week 8. Brown is third on the time, and second the highest wide receiver, in yards with 453 on the season. It will be interesting to see how the Commander’s passing game evolves with this news. Look for a more elevated role by Terry McLaurin and even Zach Ertz.
13. Houston Texans (8-5) ↔
The Texans’ bye week came off the back of a tight win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston, still comfortably in position to win the AFC South division, now faces a tougher opponent in the Miami Dolphins. The Texans have a challenging last stretch of games and C.J. Stroud’s play will be thoroughly examined as he has had a sophomore slump some may say.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) ↔
Tampa Bay is winning the games it not only has to but should. With their third straight win and the Atlanta Falcons losing once again, the Bucs have magically found themselves in first place in the division and the number four seed if the playoffs ended today. In their 28-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Mayfield battled back from two first-half interceptions to guide the Bucs to victory. He finished with three touchdowns and 295 yards through the air. In some troubling news, Bucky Irving went down with an injury, leaving some concern for the availability of the young back. Thankfully, Richard White is a great replacement to have. He ended the day with 90 yards and one receiving and rushing touchdown.
15. Los Angeles Rams (7-6) ↑1
Week 14 showcased what the potential of a healthy Rams team can be. The Rams not only hanged offensively with a Super Bowl contender in the Bills, but they pulled off the win thanks in large part to the amazing performance from Puka Nacua. Nacua brought in 12 catches off 14 targets for 162 yards and a touchdown both receiving and rushing. He joined elite company on Sunday, joining Jerry Rice and Lance Alworth as the only receivers to have 160+ receiving yards, and a rushing and catching touchdown in the same game. The win over the Bills also made some other history, becoming the first game with both teams scoring over 40 points and having no turnovers. The Rams look to stay in playoff contention in Santa Clara on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
16. Miami Dolphins (6-7) ↑2
The Dolphins won in a back-and-forth contest against the New York Jets, 32-26 in overtime. It was a must-win game for Miami to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Dolphins displayed a pass-heavy offense, with Tua Tagovailoa producing 331 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning pass to Jonnu Smith. Smith is continuing his play as a breakout tight end. Tyreek Hill led the day with 10 catches for 115 yards and a score. It was Hill’s first 100+ yard NFL game since week 1.
17. Indianapolis Colts (6-7) ↔
The Colts enter NFL week 15 off their bye in a precarious situation. They’re still alive in the division and wild card, but a lot of work is to be done, most likely having to win out. The path to that begins in the Mile High City against the Broncos.
18. Arizona Cardinals (6-7) ↓3
It seemed like a special season was perhaps unfolding for the Cardinals. They were on a four-game win streak and were in first place in the division. Flash forward three weeks later, and they’ve gone 0-3 in that span, have a record under .500, and sit tied for third place in the NFC West. Kyler Murray has been struggling, turning the ball over a whopping five times over the past three contests. If the Cardinals want to regroup from their second half of the season woes, Murray must play better and be the version we had grown accustomed to seeing earlier in the year. The Cardinals get a rebound opportunity at home against the New England Patriots.
19. San Francisco 49ers (6-7) ↑1
The 49ers had to win against the Chicago Bears. Losing three NFL games in a row, the disappointing Niners responded with a 38-13 thumping over their home crowd. Brock Purdy played turnover-free football, going 20/25 for 325 yards and two touchdowns. George Kittle exploded for a season-high performance of 151 yards off six catches. And finally, the defense got after Caleb Williams for seven sacks. It was an all-around great team effort and the 49ers will try and build some type of momentum on Thursday against the Rams.
20. Atlanta Falcons (6-7) ↓1
What has happened to the Falcons? Just a month ago, the Falcons were sitting at 6-3 and looked to be on the right track for success. Now, they’re 6-7 and behind the Buccaneers for the division lead. Sunday’s loss to the Vikings was another blowout defeat. In this current four-game losing streak, Atlanta has been outscored 117-57 by their opponents. So they’re not only losing, but they’re losing decisively. A lot of the blame has to be put on Kirk Cousins, who is playing bad football with eight interceptions in that span. He leads the league in turnovers and the questions are continuing to mount over whether rookie Michael Penix Jr should step onto the field. A desperate Falcons squad will now face the Raiders on Monday night.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) ↑1
The Bengals temporarily righted their wrongs on Monday night by beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road, 27-20. It was another close game but at least this time, the Bengals crawled back after being down early in the fourth quarter. Joe Burrow had another great performance, going for another 369-yard passing game for three more touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase also continued his, pace, best season yet, hauling in 14 receptions off 18 targets for 177 yards and two touchdowns. The questions still heavily remain with the Bengals as they are three games under .500 and are hoping for a miracle to get into a wild-card position for the playoffs.
22. New Orleans Saints (5-8) ↑1
Even in a win, the main story revolves around the injury of Derek Carr. He is expected to at least miss this Sunday’s matchup against the Commanders. That puts a damper on their already slim chances of winning the NFC South. As far as their low-scoring 14-11 win over the Giants, Kendre Miller and Juwan Johnson reached the end zone for the Saint’s lone touchdowns on the day.
23. Dallas Cowboys (5-8) ↓2
The Cowboys have played better over the past few weeks. Even in defeat, Rico Dowdle dominated with another strong outing on the ground, rushing for 131 yards, his second NFL game in a row with over 100. CeeDee Lamb also pulled out a solid performance of six catches for just a shy under 100 yards with 93 and a touchdown. On the year, Lamb is third in the league for catches and yards. He has a great chance at reaching 1,000 yards on the season in their upcoming matchup with the Panthers, a milestone he’ll accomplish for the fourth straight year.
24. Cleveland Browns (3-10) ↔
In the polar opposite of their game against the Broncos, the Browns fell hard at Pittsburgh, only putting 14 points on the scoreboard. Winston threw a couple more picks, the running game was nonexistent and the defense failed to pressure Wilson and the Steelers throughout. Cleveland has another tough opponent to face on Sunday versus the Chiefs.
25. Carolina Panthers (3-10) ↑3
In what sounds like a broken record, the Panthers once again played great football for almost all 60 minutes of their game with the Eagles. The defensive line went after Hurts all day long, while the Panthers’ offensive line kept Bryce Young calm throughout. Young had 191 yards passing with one touchdown and interceptions. Chuba Hubbard and Adam Thielen were the primary weapons on offense, with Hubbard having 107 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown, while Thielen had nine catches for 102 yards. Thielen has now accounted for 17 catches off a whopping 21 targets over the past two NFL game weeks.
26. Chicago Bears (4-9) ↓1
In Thomas Brown’s first game as head coach for the Bears, Chicago was embarrassingly blown out by the 49ers. The Bears trailed 24-0 at the half. Two touchdowns by rookie Rome Odunze finally got them on the board. Caleb Williams was suffocated by the 49ers, being taken down seven times. He’s been sacked a league-high 56 times, 15 more than the second-highest person on the list. Chicago will try to end the seven-game skid in primetime against an even opponent in the Vikings.
27. New England Patriots (3-10) ↔
The Patriots had the week off to lick their wounds following a tough 25-24 loss against the Colts. Even though any noteworthy news revolving around the Patriots stems from their former NFL coach Bill Belichick taking a job at UNC in the college ranks, current coach NFL Jerod Mayo will hope to end this predictably struggling season on a high note.
28. New York Jets (3-10) ↑1
Following another close loss, this time to the Dolphins in overtime, the Jets are now officially eliminated from playoff contention. It’s a shame, as it happened to be one of Rodgers’s best games of the season. The former NFL Packers quarterback threw for 339 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. His pair of dynamic wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams also stepped up with over 100 yards each, with Adams adding a touchdown as well. The loss amplifies just how difficult this season has been for Gang Green. The Jets were up 26-23 with 52 seconds left, yet somehow let the Dolphins kick a game-tying field goal. Just another day at the office.
29. Tennessee Titans (3-10) ↓3
In a battle of bad teams, the Titans fell at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6. The Titans were ahead 6-0 going into the fourth quarter, but a Tank Bigsby eight-yard rush propelled the Jaguars to grab their first and final lead of the game. In what was an offensive nightmare to watch, Tony Pollard at least played well, crossing over the 100-yard mark for the third time this season. Next up, the Titans stay at home to face the Bengals.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) ↑2
The Jaguars finally dust themselves off from the bottom of the power rankings and move up a couple of spots. Jacksonville snapped their five-game losing streak off their tough defense, due to some terrible offense. In the first game since Trevor Lawrence announced he was out for the season with injury, Mac Jones made the start and underwhelmed with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Bigsby and an 86-yard day performance by Brian Thomas Jr gave the Jaguars a somewhat motivating win in Nashville. The Jags have a date with the Jets on Sunday.
31. New York Giants (2-11) ↓1
The Giants’ offense is a mess, still. Drew Lock didn’t play well. The offense continuously failed to push the ball downfield, as Lock threw an eye-popping 49 passes, only completing 21 of them. Something you don’t want your backup quarterback to do. As far as what’s up next for the Giants? New York will head into their game against the Ravens with most likely Tommy DeVito under center, as Lock is currently doubtful due to a foot injury.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) ↓1
Las Vegas made it nine straight losses after a trip to Tampa Bay over the NFL game week. In what seems like a routine thing to do, the Raiders once again substituted Aidan O’Connell, this time for Desmond Ridder mid-game. Spoiler, neither of them worked out well or generated any sort of offense. Running back Sincere McCormick generated some gain on the ground though, going for 78 yards. Antonio Pierce’s team will try to rack up at least one more win before the season’s closest, possibly in an attempt to save the first-year head coach’s job.
