NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 14?

Week 13 of the NFL season did not disappoint, but it did leave us with massive changes to be made in the weekly power rankings.

A matchup featuring the NFL's two biggest powerhouses—the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers—meant a chance at a new No. 1 team. Add that to divisional games on Thanksgiving and interesting matchups all day Sunday, and it was a week for major shakeups across the board.

Who is the new No. 1 team this week? How about the new No. 32? With the season only four weeks away from completion, here's a look at which clubs stack up as the best of the best.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-10)

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Last Week: 31

This Week: 32

Change: -1

Week 13 brought on more of the same for the Tennessee Titans. The offense struggled, the defense couldn't pressure or stop the Houston Texan offense, and the scoreboard showed a final point total that was lopsided in favor of the Titans' opponent.

With 10 losses, the Titans can start focusing on the draft, but the coaching staff has to concentrate on which young players are worth keeping and developing. Is rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger the guy head coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to build around? His job security will depend on that decision.

The Titans remain one of the league's bottom-feeders, and their ranking reflects that for another week.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10)

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Last Week: 30

This Week: 31

Change: -1

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one point (14-13) and one last-minute drive away from beating the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. But a penalty for having 12 men on the field in the final minute erased a 21-yard gain and took the wind out of their sails late.

And that's why they're ranked No. 31 overall.

Head coach Lovie Smith will likely get at least another year to build this team in his image, but the lack of building blocks on offense should be a concern for Smith and general manager Jason Licht. They must find a quarterback and also build a defense that can compete using the Tampa 2 scheme Smith runs. Neither is an easy fix, no matter how early the team is drafting in each round.

30. Oakland Raiders (1-11)

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Last Week: 28

This Week: 30

Change: -2

The happy feelings died in Oakland thanks to a road trip to meet the St. Louis Rams. With a 52-0 loss, the Raiders move back down the rankings just after they had taken a step forward by beating the hated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. And that in itself really sums up the 2014 NFL season—nothing is predictable.

The Raiders are a team with individual pieces but lack the talent and leadership right now to be a great squad. And make no mistake: Having a few good players doesn't make you a great team. Oakland's next head coach must figure out how to build around quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack—both rookies in 2014 but clearly the most talented players on either side of the ball.

The fight we saw from the Raiders against Kansas City was gone by the time they hit the turf in St. Louis, and that's why they fall down the rankings.

29. New York Jets (2-10)

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Last Week: 29

This Week: 29

Change: 0

The New York Jets played a 1920s version of football on Monday night, and it almost worked. With Geno Smith forced into the starting lineup by the front office so he can be evaluated for the future, head coach Rex Ryan unveiled a gameplan that featured just 13 attempts by Smith. If that's not a middle-finger to management, I'm not sure what is.

The Jets did almost win, but the strategy was ugly throughout. And this isn't a "Suck for the Duck" scheme, as Ryan knows he's not long for this job. This is just Rex setting things on fire to watch them burn while he leaves town.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

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Last Week: 32

This Week: 28

Change: +4

For the second straight week, the team ranked No. 32 overall wins the following week. Congrats, Jacksonville: You're moving up the board.

The improbable comeback win over the New York Giants will quiet doubters and give hope to the fans who know the 2014 season is—and has always been—about building a team in Jacksonville. No one expected the playoffs or really even a winning season. Progress is the key, and beating a veteran New York team is progress.

The Jaguars are talent-deficient at spots, but they also have the youngest offense in the NFL. The lessons learned from a gritty comeback win will do the entire team good.

27. Washington (3-9)

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Last Week: 27

This Week: 27

Change: 0

The quarterback may change, but the result does not in Washington. Loss No. 9 came at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, and it wasn't pretty for Jay Gruden's team.

Four straight losses have Gruden and Co. looking inept, as the constant changing at quarterback has led to zero rhythm and consistency on offense. Not to mention the pass-heavy play-calling Gruden is known for has hurt the team in key spots (like a 4th-and-inches play call for a play-action pass which resulted in a Colt McCoy fumble that was recovered and taken to the house by the Colts). 

McCoy, Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III have all tried—and failed—to lead this team. But it's not just the quarterbacks failing in Washington; it's the entire squad (offense, defense and coaching).

26. New York Giants (3-9)

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Last Week: 24

This Week: 26

Change: -2

The New York Giants have lost seven straight games. The seventh, a loss to the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars, came after the Giants had established a 21-0 lead.

That's not something head coach Tom Coughlin can explain away or rest on his past accomplishments over. Coughlin has been great in New York—the Giants have two Super Bowl rings to show for it—but at what point does the present outweigh the past? You have to think nine losses on the season and seven straight would put his job security in question.

The Giants have four more games—at Tennessee, vs. Washington, at St. Louis and at home against Philadelphia to end the year. Can they win two of those? Even a 5-11 record may not be good enough to keep Coughlin and his staff intact for 2015.

25. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1)

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Last Week: 25

This Week: 25

Change: 0

The Carolina Panthers have been a roller-coaster team in 2014. They started the year as a middle-tier squad in the rankings (No. 14 overall) before shooting up to No. 8 before Week 3. But since that time, they have been on a constant downward spiral, bottoming at No. 25 overall for a second straight week.

Cam Newton is obviously a very good quarterback, but we're seeing that even a unique talent cannot succeed without an offense around him. The O-line in Carolina is terrible, and even the skill position players are below-average as a group.

Head coach Ron Rivera was on the hot seat in 2013 before going on a big run that led to the playoffs and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. But just three wins in 13 weeks is an issue—one that could ultimately cost him his job after the season.

24. Chicago Bears (5-7)

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Last Week: 22

This Week: 24

Change: -2

The Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions doesn't knock the Bears completely out of playoff contention, but in a very tough division and with many teams fighting for two wild-card spots in the NFC, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where they get into the postseason.

The Bears have more talent than their record shows, which is generally an indictment of the coaching staff. The offense has all the pieces to be explosive (and it was in 2013), but the defense has consistently struggled due to personnel issues. 

The Bears were my pick to win the NFC North this year, but right now they look more likely to compete with Minnesota for the last spot in the division.

23. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

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Last Week: 26

This Week: 23

Change: +3

The Minnesota Vikings are flying under the radar, but first-year head coach Mike Zimmer has done a fantastic job with this team.

If you take a look at the offense, you see a rookie quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater on a club that lost its best threat (Adrian Peterson) and has an offensive line full of names and big salaries but also very bad play. Despite those disadvantages, the Vikings are winning ballgames—three of their last five, to be specific. That's definitely a step in the right direction for Zimmer, Bridgwater and the Vikings.

Minnesota gets a move up in this week's rankings thanks to a complete takedown of the Carolina Panthers. And after winning just five games in 2013, the Vikings have already matched that total.

22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)

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Last Week: 23

This Week: 22

Change: +1

It took 13 weeks, but the Atlanta Falcons finally got a win outside the NFC South. And it was a big one, as they took down the previously fourth-ranked Arizona Cardinals.

With wide receiver Roddy White out due to an ankle sprain, the Falcons' game plan was pretty transparent—throw it to Julio Jones early and often. They did, and Jones torched Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson to the tune of 10 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. But they also worked in wideout Harry Douglas, and running back Steven Jackson went over 100 yards for the first time all season.

Balance on offense was the key.

The Falcons end Week 13 tied with the New Orleans Saints at 5-7 but ahead in the division thanks to their unbeaten record there (4-0). The NFC South will come down to December 21 in New Orleans as long as the Falcons can hold on against Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the next two weeks.

21. St. Louis Rams (5-7)

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Last Week: 21

This Week: 21

Change: 0

If the St. Louis Rams were supposed to be afraid of the Oakland Raiders in Week 13, well, someone forgot to tell them.

Running back Tre Mason and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over the day for the Rams. Mason and the offense kept the Raiders defense off balance, while Williams' unit swarmed rookie quarterback Derek Carr. If you want to award game balls, they should go there. 

The Rams might not be a playoff team, but you can bet no one wants to play them right now. And that includes the 9-3 Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. 

20. New Orleans Saints (5-7)

Last Week: 20

This Week: 20

Change: 0

It may be hyperbole to call the Saints' 35-32 Week 13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers a season-saving victory, but it was pretty dang close to that.

Are the Saints getting hot at just the right time? Stephen Nelson and I discuss in the video above.

19. Houston Texans (6-6)

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Last Week: 19

This Week: 19

Change: 0

The Houston Texans were without quarterback Ryan Mallett (pectoral) in Week 13,  but former starter Ryan Fitzpatrick was huge in getting the ball down the field to wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. That led to six passing touchdowns for Fitzpatrick and a crazy 238 yards receiving for Hopkins.

It's easy to forget that the Texans had just two wins in all of 2013. Credit rookie head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff for making major improvements to a team that's seen little production from its first- or third-round draft picks (Jadeveon Clowney, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Louis Nix). 

The playoffs may be another year away, but the Texans are headed in the right direction with a strong foundation in place.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

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Last Week: 15

This Week: 18

Change: -3

The AFC North playoff race remains a dogfight headed into Week 14, and a loss by the Pittsburgh Steelers comes at a terrible time. Now they're 7-5 (tied with the Ravens and Browns) but 1.5 games back from the Cincinnati Bengals in the division with four weeks to play.

The Steelers lost to the New Orleans Saints because of poor protection for Ben Roethlisberger and poor play from the secondary. Drew Brees threw five touchdowns and just eight incomplete passes against a Steelers secondary that looked old and slow. And that's something they'll have to sort out before facing a remaining schedule that features the Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs and then the Bengals again.

The Steelers' season will likely come down to two games: Week 14 and Week 17 against Cincinnati. Win those two, and they can take the AFC North.

17. Cleveland Browns (7-5)

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Last Week: 14

This Week: 17

Change: -3

The Cleveland Browns traveled to Buffalo to take on a Bills team that's quietly one of the hottest in the NFL. It wasn't pretty for head coach Mike Pettine's homecoming.

The Browns trailed early, and even strong play from the Cleveland secondary (especially Joe Haden) wasn't enough to overshadow their offensive issues. The decision to replace starting quarterback Brian Hoyer with rookie first-rounder Johnny Manziel did lead to a touchdown drive, but it only cut the Buffalo lead to 10 points. 

The Browns are still a solid team, but they have to learn to win on the road and will always be a middle-tier squad until the quarterback play and offense are more consistent.

16. Buffalo Bills (7-5)

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Last Week: 18

This Week: 16

Change: +2

All the talk coming out of the Buffalo vs. Cleveland tilt will unfortunately be on rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel's late-game appearance. That means people will overlook or forget the fact that the Buffalo Bills won by 16 points while moving to seven wins and staying very much in the AFC playoff mix.

We won't forget that here, though.

The Bills dominated the Browns on a day when the Cleveland offense wasn't great. But the Bills defense was. Defensive end Jerry Hughes gave Joe Thomas headaches, as he put consistent pressure on the Cleveland backfield. Hughes' defensive touchdown on a strip-sack came right after a Kyle Orton touchdown pass, and that 14-point swing was crucial to the game.

The Bills are defying expectations, and two straight wins are keeping them in the playoff mix.

15. Miami Dolphins (6-5)

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Last Week: 17

This Week: 15

Change: +2

The Miami Dolphins didn't win pretty, but they did win on the road in New York against a gritty Jets team (even if the Jets weren't exactly rolling out their A-game). But that's enough to keep the playoff hopes alive for Miami as we enter Week 14.

There were good and bad takeaways from the Monday nighter, but the biggest positive has to be the adjustment to stop the run and load up the box against a Jets team that was hell-bent on running the football. But make no mistake, this wasn't a game you take many positives from outside of the final score.

In a competitive AFC playoff race, that's good enough, though. 

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5)

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Last Week: 13

This Week: 14

Change: -1

It's a one-place drop in the rankings for the Kansas City Chiefs following a second straight loss in the AFC West. The playoffs are still possible as a wild-card team, but the reality here is that head coach Andy Reid had this team overachieving, and the rest of the league is now catching up to it.

The Chiefs were expected to take a step back this year and reload a bit, but when they hopped out to a 7-3 record and beat the Seattle Seahawks, everyone started talking postseason. That may still happen, but Chiefs fans should weigh this year against the 8-8 type of campaign that was expected. Anything better than that, given the state of the roster and the strength of the AFC West, is a bonus for 2014.

The Chiefs aren't playing like a top-10 team, but with their talent, they are definitely a top-15 team.

13. San Francisco 49ers (7-5)

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Last Week: 11

This Week: 13

Change: -2

The San Francisco 49ers remain one of the NFL's most confusing teams on a weekly basis. Their Thanksgiving night loss to the Seattle Seahawks—at home in a must-win game—may have put an end to a head-scratching playoff run for Jim Harbaugh's men.

The injuries on defense are a definite issue for the 49ers, no matter how well rookie linebacker Chris Borland is playing. But that doesn't explain why the offense is so anemic at times and disjointed at others. There is no rhythm, no identity. And that falls on Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman as much as it does on quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the players.

The 49ers can still manage an 11-win season if they win out, but even that won't guarantee a playoff berth.

12. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

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Last Week: 10

This Week: 12

Change: -2

The top-10 ranking for the Baltimore Ravens ends after a Week 13 loss to the San Diego Chargers. The comeback was impressive by San Diego, but if you're a fan of the Ravens, you have to be worried about the secondary.

That secondary has been the weak link on defense since cornerback Jimmy Smith went down with a season-ending foot injury in late October. The safety Will Hill's play has been encouraging, but he alone cannot take responsibility for four- and five-receiver routes.

And if the pass rush doesn't get home, the Ravens aren't capable of holding up in coverage. That in turn puts pressure on the offense to be great, and we saw in Week 13 that even scoring 33 points wasn't enough.

The Ravens fell to 7-5 and are still alive in the postseason race, but every game after this is incredibly crucial to their postseason hopes.

11. San Diego Chargers (8-4)

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Last Week: 16

This Week: 11

Change: +5

The San Diego Chargers won again, moving to 8-4 and maintaining the top spot in the AFC wild-card race. And even the AFC West is within reach, depending on the next four weeks for them and the Denver Broncos. 

A big comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens—a team ranked No. 10 overall last week—has them moving way up on the rankings this week. And it goes to show that you don't have to win pretty or with a big margin to move up. You just have to win. 

The Chargers have to find better offensive line play, but a healthy Brandon Flowers in the secondary makes a big difference for this team's chances at the playoffs. 

10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1)

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Last Week: 12

This Week: 10

Change: +2

There are style points in the power rankings, but winning ugly isn't always a bad thing—especially in a bit of a trap game against a weaker opponent.

The Cincinnati Bengals didn't play their best in Week 13, but they held on to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and move to 1.5 games up in the AFC North with four weeks left to go in the regular season. With eight wins and just three losses (and one tie), the Bengals are in good shape. 

That's the good news. The bad news is that their last four games of the season are tough. The Bengals host the Steelers, travel to Cleveland before hosting the Broncos and then visiting Pittsburgh to end the year. Those are four contests they need to win, but also four teams very capable of beating the Bengals.

They're atop the AFC North for now, but much could change before the end of the year.

9. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

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Last Week: 6

This Week: 9

Change: -3

Previous editions of the weekly power rankings had the Dallas Cowboys ranked ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles while their records remained the same. That changes this week after the head-to-head matchup showed Dallas to be the lesser team on Thanksgiving.

The Cowboys got behind early by two scores, effectively taking them out of their game. The recipe for Dallas wins is a heavy dose of DeMarco Murray, and that's hard to do when you're trailing 14-0 early and then 23-7 at halftime. And even with 20 carries, Murray was held to 73 yards by an aggressive, gap-filling Philly defense.

The Cowboys fall down a bit in this week's ranking, but with four weeks to go, they can still get back on top of the Eagles here and in the division rankings.

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

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Last Week: 9

This Week: 8

Change: +1

The Seattle Seahawks' demise was overrated…or premature. Either way, they're back in the mix after taking care of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals in back-to-back weeks. And while the Cardinals struggle with Drew Stanton under center, you have to think the Seahawks will find a way to win the NFC West and make another run.

On paper, this team isn't as strong as the Super Bowl-winning version from last year, and it hasn't been as dominant during the regular season. But if the Seahawks get hot to end the year and stay healthy, it's tough to imagine anyone in the NFC being a great bet to beat them. 

We'll find out just how good the Seahawks are very soon. They close the season in Philadelphia, at home against the 49ers, on the road in Arizona and then at home against the Rams in Week 17. All four games are winnable, but all four will be against tough opponents.

7. Detroit Lions (8-4)

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Last Week: 8

This Week: 7

Change: +1

One way to boost your ranking is to win a game against a division rival on a short week. The Detroit Lions did that, embarrassing the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.

The game wasn't perfect for the Lions, but we did see Calvin Johnson's revival as the team's go-to threat after coming back from injury. Even if Megatron wasn't quite at 100 percent against the Bears, he was dominant enough to be the difference in a two-touchdown contest.

The Lions keep winning and are just one game back from the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North standings. But maybe most importantly, they would be a playoff team if the season ended today. 

6. Arizona Cardinals (9-3)

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Last Week: 4

This Week: 6

Change: -2

There is reason for concern in the Cardinals' camp as you read this. Quarterback Drew Stanton replaced Carson Palmer, a veteran signal-caller who had thrown just three interceptions all year before going down with a season-ending ACL tear in early November. And Stanton has turned the ball over at an alarming rate so far. 

Two more interceptions on Sunday brought Stanton's total to five on the season and at least one in his last three games (all starts). The Cardinals won early in the year thanks to an efficient, mistake-free offense. With Stanton asked to push the ball down the field in Bruce Arians' scheme, the turnovers are starting to add up.

Whether or not they can hold on to win the NFC West will come down to Week 16 against Seattle. If both teams win out, the victor of that game is guaranteed a playoff spot.

5. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

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Last Week: 5

This Week: 5

Change: 0

The Indianapolis Colts tried to give this game away to Washington, as quarterback Andrew Luck's early mistakes kept things interesting. But a slow start faded into a red-hot final three quarters, as the Colts scored 42 points in the last 45 minutes of the game.

A victory over a bad Washington team isn't remarkable, but winning another game keeps the Colts high in the rankings for another week. It also keeps them in the hunt for a top seed in the AFC and more than one home playoff game as AFC South champs.

Beating the bad teams comes easy for Indianapolis, but it must prove it can hang with the AFC's big boys. Getting hot and finishing the season strong will go a long way in giving the Colts the momentum needed to do that.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-3)

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Last Week: 7

This Week: 4

Change: +3

Each week leading up to Week 13, I was holding on to the belief that the Dallas Cowboys—with Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray—were a better overall team than the Mark Sanchez-led Philadelphia Eagles. Chip Kelly put that notion to rest with a standout performance on Thanksgiving—a 33-10 Philadelphia victory.

The Eagles may not be perfect on paper, but on the field they are incredibly tough to beat. Kelly's offense puts skill players in space and asks the defense to be perfect as tacklers. That's damn-near impossible in an NFL era that restricts practices in pads and how often players actually hit one another. That offense (and a great offensive line) allows Sanchez to do what he does best: attack underneath coverage and get the ball out of his hands fast.

It's a recipe that works well, and with a definitive win over Dallas, the Eagles make a big move up this week.

3. Denver Broncos (9-3)

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Last Week: 3

This Week: 3

Change: 0

You never want to say winning has come naturally for the Denver Broncos—they have lost three games, after all—but watching them play on Sunday night, they made it look easy. And their opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, were no pushover.

When they're clicking, the Broncos are as dangerous as any team in the NFL. Even their losses—two of them in November—have come against top-tier defenses and teams with the passing game to chip away at their D. You could also correctly point out that this Denver team, and with the run game it now has, isn't the same group that lost to Seattle and St. Louis.

Can the Broncos get past the Patriots? Probably not, but it's a matchup everyone expects in the AFC title game.

2. New England Patriots (9-3)

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Last Week: 1

This Week: 2

Change: -1

A five-point loss on the road to the Green Bay Packers is enough to move the New England Patriots out of the No. 1 spot this week but not enough to place them behind the Denver Broncos. The Patriots head into the final four weeks of the season atop the AFC rankings and still look like the team to beat in the conference.

The Week 12 matchup against Green Bay was a tough one on paper and on the field. Were it in Foxborough instead of Green Bay, the result may have been flipped. But it's obvious the Patriots and Packers are evenly matched and that both are the class of their respective conferences.

The first Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers matchup ever may see a rematch in early February.

1. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

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Last Week: 2

This Week: 1

Change: +1

Welcome to the top, Green Bay.

The Packers move into the No. 1 spot this week thanks to their 26-21 win over the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. In a game that may well have been a preview of the Super Bowl, the home-field advantage was huge for Green Bay. And with a 9-3 record, the Packers are tied for the most wins in the NFL.

Four straight victories and a perfect 6-0 record at home have the Packers looking like the team to beat not just in the NFC, but in the entire NFL. With a potent, explosive offense and a defense that is looking much better each week, the Packers have the balance on both sides of the ball to shut down even the best teams.