NFL Power Rankings: Early Look at Week 16 Rankings

Week 15 forced many of the top teams to prove their position in the NFL’s balance of power, and a few teams will carry confidence into Week 16 while others are filled with doubt.

With just two more weeks before the playoff picture is complete, the pressure is on for several franchises with hopes of playing in January.

Here is an early look at how things have shifted after this weekend’s games.

1. San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1)

While San Francisco may not have the best record in the NFL, no team has a better chance to win a championship.

The team is coming off of a thrilling victory over the New England Patriots this past Sunday, and the Niners performance has earned them the top spot in this week’s rankings. 

Even though San Francisco’s defense looked vulnerable for at times in the contest and allowed New England to erase a 28-point deficit, the end result was a win on the road against one the league’s hottest offenses.

Colin Kaepernick showed remarkable poise to overcome mistakes and come through with a clutch drive late in this game, and now the 49ers have a complete team ready for a lengthy playoff run.

2. Denver Broncos (11-3)

If Peyton Manning and Von Miller have strong performances in the final two games of the season, Denver may end up with the MVP leading its offense and the Defensive Player of the Year starring on the other side of the ball.

Manning has clearly settled into the Broncos offense and grown comfortable with his receivers, and the team’s offense has been effective and efficient. 

With six forced fumbles this season, Miller has continued his ascension towards superstardom, and the playoffs could prove to be his arrival as one the NFL’s very best defensive players.

The Broncos are one of the most complete and consistent teams in the league, and their recent victory over the Baltimore Ravens affirmed this. 

3. Houston Texans (12-2) 

The enthusiasm surround the Texans completely disappeared after a 42-14 loss to the Patriots, but Houston still has the necessary components to make a run towards the Super Bowl. 

J.J. Watt was nonexistent against New England, but he responded with a monster performance against the Indianapolis Colts. He had 10 total tackles—six of which were for a loss—and three sacks to help lead a victory this past Sunday.

Arian Foster also came back with an impressive day and rushed for 165 yards on 27 carries.

With Watt leading the defense and Foster providing both balance and explosiveness on offense, Houston will be an extremely difficult team to take down in the postseason.

4. New England Patriots (10-4)

Scoring four consecutive touchdowns against 49ers defense is an impressive accomplishment, but it ultimately counts for nothing after the Patriots lost the interconference showdown. Still, New England has talent on both sides of the ball, and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick gives the team a major advantage in the playoffs.

5. Green Bay Packers (10-4) 

Despite injuries to several key players, the Packers are 8-1 in their last nine games thanks to Aaron Rodgers’ leadership. Now that Green Bay is getting healthy at the right time, it is threatening to peak right before the postseason, and this will make the team extremely dangerous in January. 

6. Atlanta Falcons (12-2)

The Falcons are coming off an extremely impressive win over the New York Giants, but Atlanta has still looked all too vulnerable this season. While the team has improved from over the past three seasons, it still seems destined for another disappointing loss in the playoffs.

7. Washington Redskins (8-6)

Winning without Robert Griffin III will give this team a massive confidence boost, and the players who have been in RGIII’s shadow will start to perform better at an ideal time. When the rookie standout returns, Washington will be ready for surprising success in the postseason.

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

The Seahawks passing game was a concern earlier this season, but Russell Wilson has looked more impressive each week, and the rookie quarterback is capable of leading this team to a victory in January. While the Seahawks will be a tough out, and lengthy run is likely out of reach this team.  

9. New York Giants (8-6)

The Giants team that dismantled the Packers would challenge for No. 1 on this list, but the New York squad that was destroyed by the Falcons would rank around No. 20. Given that, No. 9 seems fair.

10. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

The Ravens have an exceptionally talented group of players, but every NFL team’s goal is to get hot at the end of the season, and Baltimore is moving in the opposite direction. If the team is unable to build momentum in the final weeks, its playoff run will not last longer than 60 minutes.

11. Chicago Bears (8-6)

It’s worth noting that all six of Chicago’s losses have to come teams that have either clinched a playoff berth or are still in the hunt. This gives some perspective to the Bears’ woes, but still does not bode well for their chances at winning a postseason game.

12. Indianapolis Colts (9-5)

Andrew Luck and the Colts have an extremely bright future, but there are still plenty of weaknesses on the roster. Houston showed exactly what will happen when Indianapolis goes up against an elite team in January.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

An overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys gives Pittsburgh no room for error moving forward. But when the chips are down, there a few quarterbacks who are more clutch than Ben Roethlisberger. It will be completely unsurprising if the Steelers sneak into the playoffs.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

When the chips are down, there are many quarterbacks more clutch than Tony Romo. The Cowboys have found ways to blow their chances at making the playoffs in recent seasons, and both the New Orleans Saints and the Redskins are capable of punishing Dallas’ mistakes.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

A Week 16 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers will bring the playoff picture into much clearer focus, and the Bengals will need to prove that it can go toe-to-toe with the traditional powers in the AFC North.

16. Minnesota Vikings (8-6)

Adrian Peterson’s season has been so impressive partially because of how little help he has on offense. While his superhuman effort will ensure that his 2012 campaign will never be forgotten, the Vikings as a team are unlikely to do anything memorable this year.

17. St. Louis Rams (6-7-1) 

A win and a tie against the 49ers this season will give the Rams something to build on this offseason, but this team will not be able to take advantage of its slim chance to reach the playoffs.

18. New Orleans Saints (6-8)

Drew Brees skills are clearly not declining. Sean Payton’s return and a few key additions on defense will have the Saints back in contention for a playoff spot and possibly even a Super Bowl next year.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

The Bucs’ collapse was completed when they failed to score against an awful Saints defense in a 41-0 blowout. Tampa Bay will prove that it is better than it showed this past week, but the season will ultimately end in disappointment.

20. New York Jets (6-7)

The news that the Jets are still in playoff contention has been largely met by shock and confusion. That speaks to how flawed this team is, and if it does somehow sneak into the postseason, it will suffer an embarrassing loss.

21. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

The Dolphins went far beyond the expectations for this season, but that is only because the team was expected to be terrible this year. Joe Philbin will continue helping this team grow, and the playoffs may be within reach in the near future for Miami.

22. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Cam Newton still has unlimited potential, and the Panthers have won three of their last four games. A strong finish will help build momentum heading into next season.

23. San Diego Chargers (5-9)

The Chargers’ surprising victory over the Steelers brought of glimmer of hope to San Diego, but the team followed up that performance by getting blown out against the Panthers. It is difficult to see how Norv Turner keeps his job after this season.

24. Cleveland Browns (5-9)

The Browns have started to come alive in recent weeks. While it is too late to save this season from disappointment, there is enough talent in Cleveland to put together a decent campaign next year.

25. Detroit Lions (4-10) 

With the talent level on the Lions, there are no adequate excuses for the team’s string of lackluster performances. With the Falcons and the Bears remaining on the schedule, the situation in Detroit could get even uglier.

26. Buffalo Bills (5-9) 

The Bills face the unpleasant prospect of going through a rebuilding period the year after making a splash in free agency, and the team will need to make bold and smart decisions this offseason in order to achieve success next year.

27. Philadelphia Eagles (4-10)

The Eagles’ final two games are against the Redskins and the Giants, and these contests will show exactly how far behind its NFC East rivals Philadelphia has fallen. The team’s performances in these last two games also may be the final straw for Andy Reid.

28. Tennessee Titans (4-9) 

After losing to each team in its division in consecutive weeks, the Titans need a win badly on Monday Night Football. Regardless of what happens, Tennessee’s season is already doomed to be disappointing.

29. Arizona Cardinals (5-9)

The Cardinals were shockingly awful throughout their nine-game losing streak, and if not for a victory over the Lions, this team would have challenged for the bottom spot in the rankings.

30. Oakland Raiders (4-10)

Darren McFadden topped 100 yards this past week, but the Raiders were playing the Kansas City Chiefs. Oakland can still finish its season on a high note with games against Carolina and San Diego.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

The race for the No. 1 pick is on, and Jacksonville’s game against New England next week will likely put the team one step closer towards being the league’s worst team.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (2-12) 

The Chiefs have the inside track on getting the top prospect in next year’s draft as they will finish the year against Indianapolis and Denver, nearly ensuring that the team will not get to three wins.