Man. This league truly never disappoints. Week 14 brought even more craziness to the wildest season in recent memory (maybe ever?). Some teams continue to separate themselves from the rest and prove to be real contenders, while the rest of the league continues to shuffle amongst itself. After a week filled with that very shuffling, let’s stack up the teams 1-32:
1 – 
Chiefs (12-1) 
You know the drill by now. Yes, this team struggled to bookend their game in Miami on Sunday, but they won, and they looked spectacular in the middle quarters. People are getting so hung up on the fact that they only win games by one possession, but are forgetting that garbage time is most certainly a thing. Also, it’s not like they’re playing bad teams close like the Steelers did earlier in the year. They are still the league’s most dominant team and the best team by a million miles. Do not overthink the room.
2 – 
Packers (10-3) 
1
This is another one that shouldn’t require much explanation. Week in and week out, the Packers are absolutely dominating teams through the air, and their defense is putting this team in positions to win in every game. QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Davante Adams cannot be stopped in any capacity right now, and it’s hard to see them slowing down anytime soon. Thanks to a Saints loss, they are now the 1 seed in the NFC, and it looks like that won’t change. This team is destined for great things in January.
3 – 
Bills (10-3) 1
The Buffalo Bills are a very good team. Very, very good. If it wasn’t for a miracle Hail Mary in Arizona, this team would be on a 7-game win streak. Even with that one blemish, this team has looked incredible in their last 7 games. This aerial attack is spectacular, with QB Josh Allen throwing dimes all over the field and WR Stefon Diggs being an elite threat in every aspect of the passing game. Their defense is now stepping up in huge moments, which was evident against a reeling Steelers team on Sunday night. This team is on fire, and en route to their first division title since 1995, and I can’t wait to see how much damage they can do this January.
4 – 
Rams (9-4) 1
LA is doing what they do best: getting hot when it matters most. Both the offense and defense of the Rams are clicking now more than ever, and opponents are starting to feel it. They absolutely suffocated the Patriots for 60 minutes on Thursday night, and even when New England threatened to score, the Rams defense shut things down in a hurry. That defense, which is easily the best in football, is giving up the least points in the NFL, and allowing their offense to do their job stress-free. It’s a winning formula that will help this team in the playoffs.
5 – 
Saints (10-3) 
3
I didn’t want to punish this team too much for losing for the first time since Week 3 in very predictable fashion. I thought the Saints would win, but struggle, so them losing by 3 to a rookie QB in his first start with no tape to go off of while still starting a gadget player at QB does not shock me, nor does it make me think any less of them. I’m only bumping them down because of how much the teams above them impressed me this week. Their defense did look a bit concerning, giving up 100 yards rushing to 2 separate players, but they hadn’t even given up 100 yards rushing to a single player in over 3 years. It was an anomaly, and they’ll be fine. This team is likely getting QB Drew Brees back this Sunday for their imperative matchup with the Chiefs, much to the appeal of all NFL fans’ eyes. Thank goodness the Taysom Hill stint is over.
6 – 
Titans (9-4) 2
Tennessee rode their star RB Derrick Henry to another huge victory against a very poor Jags team on Sunday. They looked very impressive in every aspect, but I have to take it with a grain of salt given the nature of their opponent. Still, I won’t take anything away from Henry, who had an incredible 215 yards and 2 scores on 26 carries. I really like this team and I love the way they play, but I find it so hard to have faith in them when they fold in so many big moments. They’ll likely get the chance to prove me wrong in January, and I honestly hope they do.
7 – 
Colts (9-4) 2
Indy continues to dominate thanks to incredible play from their defense, which has really woken up since their blowout loss to the Titans. They are back to playing like one of the best units in football, and it is paying off in big ways. Their offense is also clicking and playing great football led by their very impressive committee of running backs. As I’ve said so many times this season, the Colts have a formula that can win them plenty of games, it’s just a matter of how efficiently they can apply that formula. In the last couple of weeks, it has worked to perfection.
8 – 
Steelers (11-2) 2
HahahahahahahAHAHAHAHAHA. This team is falling apart at the seams. And it is a beautiful sight. They cannot run the football. Hell, they’re having a hard enough time throwing the football without turning the ball over. Their once-vaunted defense is now getting torn apart by WRs and RBs alike. They cannot win games because they are no longer built to win games. They’d much rather make TikToks at midfield or in the locker room than show up on Sundays. They are getting what has been coming to them. And it is glorious.
9 – 
Ravens (8-5) 2
Baltimore overcame extremely poor defensive play and the cramps/bowel movements of QB Lamar Jackson to win a thriller in arguably the best game of the year in Cleveland on Monday night. It was another virtuoso on the ground for the Ravens, but once again, their passing offense is a massive question mark and is still holding them back from being an elite team. I’m not even sure if they’re better than the Browns are for that very reason. I’ll keep them above Cleveland for now, but I’m not sure how much longer that’ll stick.
10 – 
Browns (9-4) 3
Cleveland finally had their winning streak snapped at the hands of the rival Ravens because they unfortunately didn’t have the ball last. They still played a great game offensively, as the run game did its thing (as it always done), and QB Baker Mayfield had himself a very nice night. However, Baker’s lone INT ended up being the difference. This team is still built to do big things, but they need to perform better in big moments, especially defensively. I think they should be fine, but only if they can step up on D.
11 – 
Buccaneers (8-5) 1
It has been 14 weeks and I still don’t really know what to make of the Bucs. They are loaded with talent all over the field, and it still feels like there’s no chemistry, especially offensively. They kind of just get by on the fact that they have all that talent. It’s working out for them, but I don’t know if this team has what it takes to win any games in the playoffs. If they figure things out, then they could be elite. I just don’t see that happening.
12 – 
Seahawks (9-4)
This team is just so… meh. What, am I supposed to be impressed because they beat up on the mighty New York Jets? Or them losing games consistently in the 2nd half of the season? No. Almost nothing about this team impresses me. Their offense is great, for sure, but they get shut down by elite defenses. I’m very excited to see how this team fares against a Washington team on Sunday that has picked up steam in a huge way defensively. It could easily be another case of domination leading to another Seattle loss.
13 – 
Dolphins (8-5)
As I mentioned earlier when discussing the Chiefs, the Dolphins played very well to bookend their game on Sunday. Their complete lack of desire to play football in the 2nd and 3rd quarters is what lost them the game. I was still fairly impressed with how they played, as their defense picked off Patrick Mahomes 3 times and their offense was able to do a decent amount of work. Miami is a team that certainly has what it takes to win a playoff game, but they haven’t really shown it to me in recent weeks. I’m not entirely sure what to make of them as of right now, but out of respect, I’ll keep them right where they are this week.
14 – 
Cardinals (7-6) 3
Arizona was finally able to snap a 3-game skid on Sunday in East Rutherford thanks to an absolutely insane day from their defense, led by LB Haason Reddick, who had a franchise record 5 sacks to go along with 3 forced fumbles. They suffocated the Giants all game long, and their offense was finally back to doing big things against a defense that is no joke at all. It was a very impressive look for a team that has been desperate for a big win to get their season back on track. They’re now back in the 7 seed spot in the NFC and control their destiny to keep it. If they keep playing like they did on Sunday, then I don’t see any reason for them to slip out of the playoff race.
15 – 
Washington (6-7) 4
For the first time in 2020, the Washington Football Team is in the top half of the Power Rankings. Thanks to a Giants loss and this team’s very impressive win against the 49ers on Sunday, the WFT now sits alone atop the NFC East and is poised to make a playoff push. Their defense has been playing absolutely insane football, forcing 3 turnovers on Sunday and returning 2 of them for touchdowns, including an incredible fumble return by star rookie DE Chase Young. It’s a unit that’s playing like one of the best in football, as they haven’t given up more than 17 points in over a month. However, the offense has been incredibly suspect, and didn’t even score a touchdown on Sunday. QB Alex Smith had to leave the game with muscle soreness on his previously-injured leg, and Dwayne Haskins did not look very inspiring in relief. The temporary loss of RB Antonio Gibson is hurting this offense in a big way. But, if the defense keeps playing like this, then who needs offense?
16 – 
Vikings (6-7) 2
I feel bad for Minnesota. They got jobbed several times on Sunday in Tampa, and should have had a shot to win the game. It doesn’t help that every kicking attempt by K Dan Bailey landed in the Gulf of Mexico, but the point still stands. Thanks to the loss and an Arizona win, this team has now slipped back down to the 8 seed and out of the playoff picture. I still believe in this team, but they no longer control their own destiny. They need all the help they can get, especially with an upcoming schedule that is fairly difficult.
17 – 
Raiders (7-6) 2
I mean… what? What? What is happening to this team? Just a few weeks ago, they almost swept the Chiefs, and even in the loss, looked like a truly great team. Since then, they got blown out by Atlanta, eeked by the Jets on a deliberate Hail Mary, and now have gotten completely wiped by the Colts. They are falling apart with every passing week, and have dropped all the way down to the AFC’s 9 seed. I don’t think this team will make the playoffs anymore, and for good reason. They don’t deserve it anymore considering the way they’ve been playing. The best thing they can try to do in these final 3 weeks is salvage the mess.
18 – 
Patriots (6-7) 2
New England’s offense has been a bit suspect all season long, and Thursday night in LA was their piece de resistance of mediocrity. They only racked up 220 yards and scored just 3 points (which is quite poetic if you ask me). Their defense is also letting teams gash them with ease, as the Rams ran circles around them. The Patriots’ playoff hopes are now all but kaput, and it’s onto next season. It’ll be interesting to see what happens this offseason in Foxboro.
19 – 
Giants (5-8) 1
The Giants’ 4-game winning streak finally came to an end thanks to a complete domination by the Cardinals. It was a very sad day on both sides of the ball for a team that had been so consistent heading into this game. Now, the Giants are on the outside looking in sitting at 2nd place in the NFC East, and have an uphill climb to get back into the playoff picture. The rest of their schedule is a bit tough, but more than anything, they no longer control their own destiny to make the playoffs. They better hope for someone to knock of the WFT, and they need to play better than they did in Week 14.
20 – 
Bears (6-7) 1
Chicago finally ended their infamous losing streak of 6 games in very impressive fashion as they destroyed the Texans on Sunday. It was a much needed performance from a team that has seemingly lost their identity on both sides of the ball. The Bears now find themselves just 1 game back of a wild card spot somehow, and if they can string together performances like last week’s, then perhaps they can sneak in. I doubt it, but it’s something to watch.
21 – 
49ers (5-8) 1
Well, that was not pretty. San Francisco was overwhelmed and completely pushed around by a dominant WFT defense seemingly all game long on Sunday, and QB Nick Mullens had a very forgettable performance. Turnovers plagued the 49ers, who almost came back to win it. Their defense did its job, locking up Washington’s thin offense, but they couldn’t make up for the shortcomings on the other side of the ball. This team has been a struggle bus all season long, and I can imagine that they cannot wait for it to be over.
22 – 
Broncos (5-8) 4
Denver picked up a very nice, deserved win against the Panthers on Sunday thanks to a career day from QB Drew Lock, who is trending upwards right now. He seems to enjoy playing in Decembers, dating back to last year. Rookie WR K.J. Hamler also burst onto the scene with two huge touchdown catches. If the speedster can develop into a legitimate deep threat, with fellow rookie WR Jerry Jeudy dominating CBs on the outside, then this team can be fairly dangerous offensively.
23 – 
Chargers (4-9) 4
The Chargers emerged victorious in the Choke Bowl against Atlanta thanks to some great play by QB Justin Herbert. The rookie had a perplexing statline of just 243 yards on 36 completions, but he did what he needed to do to put his team in a position to win it. It was a nice win for a reeling team, but it did hurt their draft positioning a bit, which could come back to bite them. Regardless, it’s nice to see Herbert winning games. He deserves it.
24 – 
Falcons (4-9) 2
I mean… whatever. This team is bad. They have been all year long. They can’t step up in a big moment to win a game. I don’t really have anything else to say about them. At least Sunday’s loss helped their draft positioning a bit. They could really use it.
25 – 
Panthers (4-9) 1
It has been 5 years, and Carolina still cannot overcome the hump that is the Denver Broncos. For much of the game on Sunday, the Panthers looked lifeless on both sides of the football. It was an uninspiring game from a team that has played uninspiring football all season long. There is no doubt that the future is bright in Carolina, but this season has been a very unfortunate sham.
26 – 
Texans (4-9) 1
The story of Sunday’s game in Chicago played out much like so many Texans games this season; Deshaun Watson tries to do what he can with absolutely nothing, and it is all for nothing. For the millionth time, you can’t help but feel bad for him. Houston wasn’t even competitive against the Bears, which is perplexing if you think about how poorly Chicago has been in the last 2 months. But, it’s the Texans, which means that no matter what, things will always end poorly.
27 – 
Lions (5-8) 2
I feel like Detroit is at the point where there isn’t a way to overcome mediocrity. They’re talented enough to win games, but not necessarily good enough to beat good teams. They can play good teams closely, but they can’t win. But, they can beat bad teams enough to not have a good enough draft pick, and the cycle goes on and on and on. You just got to hope that this team makes the right offseason hire at HC to get this franchise on track.
28 – 
Eagles (4-8-1) 1
Rookie QB Jalen Hurts made his first career start in a very difficult situation, and made the absolute most of the opportunity, leading his team to a massive upset win of the Saints. Hurts played quite nicely, amassing 273 total yards (167 passing, 106 rushing) and throwing for a touchdown. The Eagles run game was on fire all game long, and it helped propel them to their first win since November 1st. Good for them, and even better for Jalen Hurts. I’m not sure how much success he’ll find in the NFL, but perhaps this is a step in the right direction for him and for the franchise as a whole.
29 – 
Cowboys (4-9) 1
Dallas picked up a win against an absolutely horrid Bengals team in QB Andy Dalton’s return to Cincinnati. And nobody cares. Nobody is impressed, and nobody should be. This team is quite bad and still deservedly in last place. They have a very interesting offseason coming up that will have a huge impact on the future of the franchise, but for now, I’ll bask in their terrible play.
30 – 
Bengals (2-10-1)
The bottom 3 no longer deserves any explanation. You know the drill with these teams. They’re the clear cut 3 worst teams in football, and we all know where they’re going to go in April when they are on the clock. You just got to hope they don’t screw it up.
31 – 
Jaguars (1-12)
Is Justin Fields a Jaguar yet? No? Thank God.
32 – 
Jets (0-13)
The Jets are oh so close to winning the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™. They are clearly trying their absolute hardest, and are ready to win the race for good. At least they’ll win something in 2020.
All stats taken from ESPN.
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