Cover photo taken from The San Diego Union-Tribune.
1 – 
Eagles (13-1) 
Sunday’s win in Chicago wasn’t nearly as clean as the Eagles would have liked. Jalen Hurts threw two picks, but it never held the offense back, and they still controlled the game for the most part. They ran the ball effectively and their defense made all the plays when they were called upon. Hurts still ended the game with a great statline especially by pounding the ball on the ground, but that cost him and the team as he now has a sprained shoulder and might miss this week’s pivotal divisional clash in Dallas. I hope Hurts can go, but if it’s Gardner Minshew under center, I still feel like the Birds have a good shot with their run game and defense. With the 1 seed on the line, I feel like they’ll step up and get it done.
2 – 
Bengals (10-4)
Sunday’s comeback win in Tampa emphasized everything I love about the Bengals. They were definitely struggling in the first half, getting stifled offensively and looking lost on defense. But they turned it up in the second half, forcing turnover after turnover and gifting Joe Burrow a bunch of short fields which were easily converted into points to eventually win by double digits after going down 17-0. Burrow was masterful with the ball in his hands outside of a tipped INT, and the offense was firing on all cylinders with four different touchdown scorers. The defense lost Sam Hubbard who could miss the rest of the regular season with a calf issue, which could prove to be extremely detrimental, but the rest of the unit stepped up on Sunday, so perhaps they have it in them to keep it going against some stiff competition as the season winds down.
3 – 
Chiefs (11-3)
The Chiefs are the latest team to learn to not overlook the Houston Texans. They did not play their sharpest ball across the board, which could be seen as a cause for concern. But I am never concerned with this team as long as they have Patrick Mahomes. He was marvelous once again, boasting the highest completion percentage in a game with 40+ attempts in history to go along with 3 total touchdowns to carry his team to victory. The overtime win clinched the AFC West for KC, but it may have also clinched Mahomes the MVP. I still have a lot of reservations about this defense, especially in the secondary, but they have a few weeks to get it figured out before the postseason.
4 – 
49ers (10-4)
The Brock Purdy show keeps on keeping on in the Bay. The rookie keeps on playing some very good ball, and while the 49ers aren’t necessarily winning because of him, he’s definitely a reason why. The offense hasn’t lost a step (in fact, they might be even better), and the defense continues playing at a level that I have rarely seen. If that unit can carry this team to a potential title, they might go down in history as one of the best we’ve ever witnessed. The Niners close out the year with a couple tough matchups, but I simply don’t see them losing any more games with the way they’re clicking across the board. They have no reason to.
5 – 
Bills (11-3) 
1
The Bills are playing some of their best ball as of late, and they’re finally starting to assert themselves as one of the elite contenders in the league. While I don’t think Saturday’s win was one of their best, I really like the way they won. They faced adversity, didn’t back down, made plays on both sides of the ball, and pulled it out late. Josh Allen keeps on carrying this team on his back, and while I still don’t know how long he can keep it up for, it just keeps working. The defense is playing much better than I’ve expected, and it’s paying dividends. The return of Tre White to the secondary has proven to be massive. Buffalo still controls their own destiny in the pursuit of the 1 seed, and while the Bengals might play spoiler in two weeks, these guys have everything they need to get the job done.
6 – 
Cowboys (10-4) 
1
Last week, I said that the Cowboys’ struggles likely weren’t a sign of things to come. I might have been wrong. Dallas got extremely unlucky on Sunday en route to a loss, but they have themselves to blame for a lot of their issues. There’s no excuse to blow a 17-point second half lead. This defense is far too good to allow over 500 yards of offense to any team. Dak Prescott has played well for the most part, and the game-losing pick six was not his fault, but he hasn’t elevated the offense to where they need to be. When the run game struggles like it did on Sunday, the offense lacks that next level to put them over the top. They’re bound to play some great defenses in the playoffs, so I certainly have my reservations about where this team is headed.
7 – 
Vikings (11-3) 1
Major props to the Vikings for making history with their record-setting 33-point comeback win on Saturday. It was awesome to watch unfold. It really epitomized what this team has been all year long. They have the exact opposite luck of the Vikings teams of old, as I’ve been saying for months. That has propelled them to this record and this division title. A lot of people would give them flak for getting down 33-0 in the first place, but it was a disastrous first half with defensive and special teams touchdowns allowed amidst turnovers and complete chaos. When the gameplan called for the Vikes offense to be at their best, they completely turned it up and showed us what they’re capable of. I understand the narrative that this team isn’t all that and won’t be a threat in the playoffs, but perhaps they’re not quite yet out of miracles.
8 – 
Chargers (8-6) 1
No one is benefitting more from the AFC Wild Card race falling apart than the Chargers, who continue to rise to the occasion and now sit as the 6 seed. Since their offense has gotten fully healthy, they’ve played some of their best ball of the year, and with Joey Bosa returning to the defense soon, LA is a team that nobody is going to want to face in the playoffs. Justin Herbert is simply playing lights out, and the shorthanded defense is playing much better than anticipated. The remaining schedule is a relative cakewalk, so a playoff berth is imminent. It’s just a matter of where the Chargers sit as we head into the postseason.
9 – 
Dolphins (8-6) 2
The Dolphins have gotten some tough breaks over the last few weeks, but that’s the nature of this league. You have to win close games, and Miami hasn’t done that. They’ve lost three in a row against three teams in this top 8, which would happen to most teams in the league, and they simply haven’t looked as good as they did earlier in the year. I loved the fight they put up in the frigid conditions on Saturday, but this is a team that needs to win games like that to inspire confidence in them. When they lose, it really hurts that confidence level. Their final three games are going to be tough, so while the Dolphins are almost certainly going to make the playoffs, it might be a rougher road than they could have traveled to get there.
10 – 
Lions (7-7) 2
Look at the Lions man. So inspirational. This team keeps on winning in a plethora of ways to miraculously find their way back at .500 and in the top 10 for the first time ever. On Sunday, it was the late game execution of their offense and their overall defensive performance that got the job done. They were definitely susceptible to a few huge plays by the Jets offense, but they never broke despite being bent, and they made every play they had to in the end to pull out the win. This team just plays inspiring football and I can’t wait to see them continue this playoff push. I hope they get in over the likes of some other NFC Wild Card teams that I won’t mention.
11 – 
Jets (7-7)
I feel bad for the Jets. I really do. Being in a perfect spot to make a playoff push just to have to revert back to starting Zach Wilson is brutal. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemies. They’re now spiraling out of the playoffs and on the outside looking in, and their final three games are certainly going to be lost if Wilson remains the starter. Even with the defense playing how it is and the skill position players on offense doing their thing, nothing will be accomplished with the worst QB in the league under center.
12 – 
Jaguars (6-8) 7
The Jaguars are developing into one of the best stories of the back half of the season. They’ve won back to back massive games and now control their own destiny to win the division and make the playoffs. It’s truly a great story for such a fun, energetic, and genuinely good young team. The receiving corps is finally putting up numbers, the run game is solid, and the defense is a ton of fun. But the story here is obviously Trevor Lawrence, who has been one of the best QBs in the league this year. It took him a year outside of the dysfunction of 2021 to develop into the star we all knew he could be, and now that he’s playing at such a high level, the Jags are a force. I know he has what it takes to carry this team to wins, and perhaps a division title in a few weeks. I can’t wait to see what else this team has in store.
13 – 
Giants (8-5-1) 4
With no due respect, I refuse to talk about this fraudulent, disgusting, and corrupt team for the rest of the season. I will simply place them in the Power Rankings and pick their games with no explanation or further commentary from here on out.
14 – 
Commanders (7-6-1) 4
It was supposed to be different this time. It wasn’t. They were supposed to change the narrative. They didn’t. I don’t know why I ever got my hopes up. It’s utterly embarrassing to go out there and put up that performance at home in primetime in front of one of the best crowds we’ve had in years after two weeks prep against the same team you just played to separate yourself in the Wild Card race. I understand that the officiating is grabbing all the headlines; it was completely inexcusable and those officials need to be held accountable. But the real story of the loss is the fact that this is the same old team that cannot win the big game. They can’t even get prepared for it. Taylor Heinicke is an absolute bum and a complete joke of a player and I cannot wait for the day he no longer plays for this team. The playcalling is just abhorrent. Brian Robinson just gets ignored for no reason. The defense once again could not stop Daniel Jones. It’s just a sad joke. It was one of the most devastating losses I’ve ever seen, and it’s going to be a while before I recover from it considering it practically ended our season. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost out.
15 – 
Ravens (9-5) 2
Thank goodness the Ravens finally lost. I’ve been waiting for this for way too long now. Thank you for opening the door for the Bengals to take this division. The NFL and its fans thank the Browns for their services. This team is so boring and so incompetent offensively that I don’t even want to see them in a playoff game. The defense is still fine, but no one wants to see this 1950s offense in January. Maybe things will change with Lamar gets back, but I seriously doubt it.
16 – 
Raiders (6-8) 2
The never-ending roller coaster that is the Raiders franchise just went for some more drops and loops on Sunday evening. This team almost certainly did not deserve to win that game, being gifted a touchdown to tie the game when Keelan Cole was clearly out of bounds, then being gifted the most ridiculous touchdown at the end of the game to win it. But I won’t rain on the parade. It was hilarious and one of the best game-winning plays I’ve ever seen. It was the type of finish that the Raiders needed if they want to find it in them to make a push for the postseason at this point. They should be .500 or better by all means, and if they play their best ball down the stretch, they might just sneak in. The problem is that their last two games (vs. SF and KC) are as brutal as it gets.
17 – 
Seahawks (7-7) 2
The wheels are officially falling off the Seahawks. It’s kind of sad to watch happen in real time. They just don’t play with the same juice they did in the first half of the season. Geno Smith is losing his precise touch, the defense is becoming very susceptible to big plays, and the run game is disappearing. They’re playing the exact opposite brand of football of the one they excelled at just a few weeks ago. It’s now an uphill climb for Seattle to get back in the playoff picture, and at this point, I just don’t see it happening.
18 – 
Titans (7-7) 1
Speaking of the wheels falling off teams, the Titans look like Lightning McQueen on the last lap of the Piston Cup right now. There are no more wheels. It’s simply over. I have no more faith in the Titans to accomplish anything, and I’m fully committed to the idea that the Jaguars are going to run the table and steal this division from underneath them. I recognize that the defense had themselves a heck of a game on Sunday, but nothing else on this team is working. I have faith in their coaching to steer them in the right direction, but it is simply too late for that.
19 – 
Browns (6-8) 1
The Browns are one of my BFFs this week for beating the Ravens, even though it wasn’t exactly the most convincing win in the world. It was ugly, sloppy, and old-school AFC North football that got the job done. They still don’t look great offensively with Deshaun Watson, but the defense is balling, and I still feel like it won’t be long before the other side of the ball figures it out. It’s too late for this team to make a playoff push, but I have to think they can carry some of this momentum into next season.
20 – 
Packers (6-8) 1
I’ve seen a lot of commotion about the Packers making a potential playoff push. Let’s stop that right now please. They’ve had a few nice games here and there, but anyone can look good against the Rams and Bears. This team still doesn’t have what they once did on either side of the ball, and it wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if they don’t win another game this season. It is nice to see them play well; good football at Lambeau at this stage in the year is simply football heritage. But this isn’t a playoff team. Be real with yourselves.
21 – 
Patriots (7-7) 7
I really just don’t know what to say. I’ve seen an infinite amount of awful plays at every level of football. I’ve seen some ridiculous ways to lose games. That might have been the worst one in the history of the sport. But this is more than the way the Patriots lost on Sunday. It’s the fact that the loss took them out of a playoff spot and likely ended their season. The fact that it may be the reason the team cleans house next year. It’s a season-defining low for a franchise that has never stooped to this point in this century. It feels like a fever dream. And it’s absolutely hilarious.
22 – 
Buccaneers (6-8)
Sunday’s game was a microcosm of this entire season for Tampa Bay. In the first half, the offense was absolutely clicking and the defense was suffocating. In the second half, the offense could not hold onto the football and the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed (albeit in their own half over and over again). From up 17-0 to down 34-17. It epitomized the 2022 Buccaneers. Somehow this team still leads the pitiful NFC South, but who knows what could happen in the next three weeks. Perhaps this is still a team that no one wants to see in the playoffs. But I’m just not scared by these guys anymore. There is nothing to be afraid of.
23 – 
Steelers (6-8) 1
Remind me to never bet a Steelers game ever again. I just can’t a read on these guys. I never have any idea what to make of them. Their defense played very well on Sunday, but it comes one week after being gashed by the Ravens. Their offense had a solid showing as well, which comes after a season’s worth of awful performances. They are consistently inconsistent, and it puts them in no man’s land in my brain. But they deserve this spot considering the teams that are below them.
24 – 
Panthers (5-9) 1
In a completely shocking turn of events, Sam Darnold sucks at football. Who would have thought? Why would I ever bet on that guy? Despite their pitiful QB play and their nonexistent run game, the Panthers somehow sit a game out of first place in this God awful division. I don’t like their chances with a guy like Darnold under center, but anything can happen in this league. Against all odds, they still control their own destiny. If they make something happen, I’ll be shocked.
25 – 
Falcons (5-9)
Desmond Ridder lost his first start with Atlanta in essentially the exact way I expected him to. There’s not much else to it. The Falcons aren’t showing me anything to like, but like all the other teams in this division, they can still somehow win it. It’s truly embarrassing to see the NFC South in a spot like this, but at least it gives me a reason to be invested in these games as the season winds down. I think this team probably has the worst chance of any to sneak up and win the division, but like I said with Carolina, anything can happen in this league.
26 – 
Broncos (4-10) 4
Does anyone think it’s a stretch to say the Broncos are better with Brett Rypien than they are with Russell Wilson? Or was Sunday’s great win a product of playing the Cardinals? Either way, Denver should feel good about themselves with this win. It was nice to see Mile High so alive after a year’s worth of struggles. I honestly don’t see a reason to play Russ again this season, but maybe that’s wishful thinking and me wanting to be averted of seeing his awful play again.
27 – 
Saints (5-9) 4
Are the Saints back? No. Probably not. But Sunday’s win was a nice one that was fairly obvious to predict. They didn’t look great offensively, but they were good enough on a select few plays to put them over the top while the defense held it down for the rest of the game. This team is somehow one game behind in the division, but it’s hard to see them making any sort of “run” for the title with their remaining schedule. But as I said above, at least it gives me a reason to care about their final few games.
28 – 
Cardinals (4-10) 2
QB injuries continue to plague the Cardinals as backup Colt McCoy got hurt on Sunday, leaving Trace McSorley as the guy moving forward in Arizona. What a disaster. The kid from Briarwoods was about as bad as you’d expect in relief of McCoy, throwing no dimes whatsoever, unless they were to the Broncos defensive backs. You’d think having DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown to throw to would help a backup QB, but it simply doesn’t. Things have gone from bad to worse to simply atrocious in the desert, but at least this team has a future to look forward to once they clean house this offseason and move forward with some sense of direction.
29 – 
Colts (4-9-1) 2
New rule: if you go up 33-0 in the first half just to blow the biggest lead in the history of the league in the second half and overtime, I’m not talking about you for that week.
30 – 
Rams (4-10) 2
I tried to tell you guys about Baker. The media was so happy that their beloved QB pulled off an incredible win two weeks ago to get another starting job. He had you all fooled. Anyone with a semblance of knowledge about this game knows how awful he is, and it was on full display in an absolutely shambolic performance on Monday night in Lambeau. Is Bryce Perkins really that worse of an option? It’s honestly crazy to me. I really hope this team doesn’t subject us to watching more of this guy play QB this season. If they do, I certainly will be spending my Christmas elsewhere.
31 – 
Bears (3-11) 2
I’m a broken record when it comes to the Bears at this point, but they keep on doing exactly what they need to do. Justin Fields continues to cook while they continue to cook and inch closer to a top 2 pick. It’s really a beautiful sight.
32 – 
Texans (1-12-1)
Like I said last week, the Texans are back to being the frisky team they were in the first half of the season, pushing great teams like Dallas and Kansas City to the brink. That’s a solid sign for the worst team in the NFL, and it’s definitely a good thing that they continue to lose these games. They’re essentially locked in for a top 2 pick, so a franchise QB is heading to H-Town. We can only hope that they don’t mess it up.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Broncos (7-7) 
Colts (8-6) 
Vikings (7-7) 
Bears (5-9) 
Giants (5-9) 
Raza Talks Sports 