NFL Power Rankings: Full Outlook for Every Team Ahead of Week 14

The NFL playoff picture has become slightly more clear after a wild Thanksgiving weekend. 

But with 29 teams still alive for a playoff berth heading into Week 14, there's still plenty of surprises in store for football fans over the final four weeks of the season.

Let's take a look at where all 32 teams rank heading into a pivotal Week 14.

*Scorching-hot teams are italicized.

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-1)

The Seahawks are the clear-cut Super Bowl favorites heading into Week 14. Not only has Seattle won seven in a row, but it's looked dominant in doing so.

Week 13's blowout win over the New Orleans Saints almost ensures that the road to Super Bowl XLVIII in the NFC will go through the Emerald City, where the Seahawks have not lost since 2011. Talk about home-field advantage.

In addition to boasting the league's best record at 11-1, Seattle ranks second in both scoring offense and scoring defense this season, proving to be one of the NFL's few complete teams. 

2. Denver Broncos (10-2)

The Broncos' high-powered offense looked awfully impressive in Week 13's comeback win over the Chiefs in Kansas City. Peyton Manning proved that he can still throw the ball downfield, and as a result, Denver is in the driver's seat in the race to secure home-field advantage in the AFC.

3. Carolina Panthers (9-3)

Carolina's eight-game winning streak is the longest in franchise history and has the Panthers in position to secure a first-round bye in January. The Cardiac Cats will square off against the division-rival Saints twice over the next two weeks. 

Therefore, the surging Panthers control their own destiny in the NFC South.

And there's no reason to believe the Panthers can't win out. So long as Carolina's stout defense is holding opponents to 13 points on average, Cam Newton and the offense will continue to play patiently and without pressure. 

4. New England Patriots (9-3)

Houston gave New England everything it could handle in Week 13, but a win is a win, and at 9-3 the Patriots are on course to earn a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs.

What else is new?

5. New Orleans Saints (9-3)

New Orleans may still earn a home playoff game this year, but its 34-7 loss at Seattle means that the Saints will likely have to win on the road next month if they hope to return to the Super Bowl.

6. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

The Niners have been playing extremely well over the past two weeks but will need a strong finish in order to secure an NFC wild-card berth. Consequently, Sunday's clash with Seattle will carry significant weight for Colin Kaepernick and Co.

7. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3)

Kansas City has dropped three in a row and will now likely have to settle for a wild-card berth. The Chiefs will have a good shot at bouncing back this weekend at Washington but will need some help from Denver if they're to reenter the AFC West title picture.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4)

The Bengals are facing a crucial matchup against the Colts in Week 14. Both teams are 8-4 and leading their respective divisions heading into the final month of the season. But with Baltimore coming on strong, Cincinnati will need a win at home in order to maintain its two-game lead in the AFC North.

Remember, the Bengals still have to go to Pittsburgh in Week 15 and finish the year against Baltimore.

9. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

The Colts are three games up in the AFC South and have all but guaranteed a home playoff game this coming January. A win over the Bengals on the road would lock up the division and provide Indianapolis with key confidence moving forward. 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (7-5)

Philadelphia is firing on all cylinders coming into Week 14. The Eagles have won four straight since the start of November and can keep the pressure on NFC East-leading Dallas with a win over Detroit at home this weekend.

Despite their current streak, the Eagles can't afford to squander any more home games.

After all, Chip Kelly's squad still has to go to Minnesota to face a dangerous Vikings team with nothing to lose in Week 15 and close out the regular season against the Cowboys in Dallas. 

11. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)

The Cowboys are currently leading the NFC East, but with Philadelphia playing lights out, Dallas has very little room for error heading to Chicago to face the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 14. The Cowboys have won three of four overall but are a dismal 2-4 on the road in 2013.

12. Detroit Lions (7-5)

With Chicago and Green Bay both right on Detroit's heels heading into Week 14, the Lions will need to bring their A-game to Philadelphia on Sunday. The Eagles are playing their best football at an ideal time and have finally discovered how to win at home.

13. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

There's no place like home for the defending Super Bowl champions, who are now 5-1 in Charm City in 2013. A fourth consecutive home win in Week 14 will have the Ravens above .500 for the first time since mid-October.

With Baltimore's final three opponents each having won at least seven games, the Ravens can ill afford to slip up against Minnesota this weekend. 

14. Arizona Cardinals (7-5)

Arizona must rebound at home in Week 14 against St. Louis if it's to keep pace in the NFC wild-card race. San Francisco will host surging Seattle on Sunday, so a win over the Rams could be massive for the surprising Cardinals. 

15. Miami Dolphins (6-6)

Miami is still very much alive in the race for the final AFC wild-card spot. But whether the Dolphins qualify at season's end will likely hinge on how they fare at Pittsburgh in a Week 14 showdown with monumental stakes. 

16. Chicago Bears (6-6)

The Bears have lost three of four but are still within striking distance in the NFC North. Therefore, Chicago's Monday night showdown with Dallas will be absolutely critical for both teams.

17. San Diego Chargers (5-7)

Missed opportunities have haunted the Chargers in recent weeks as their past four losses have come by eight points (one possession) or less. If not for a dramatic win in Kansas City in Week 12, San Diego would already be well out of the playoff picture.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)

A tough loss in Baltimore on Thanksgiving Night delivered a big blow to the Steelers' playoff hopes. But with the Miami Dolphins coming to Pittsburgh in Week 14, Big Ben and Co. will have another shot to get right back on track in the AFC wild-card race.

19. Tennessee Titans (5-7)

Tennessee blew a phenomenal chance at Indianapolis in Week 13 and will now face the Denver Broncos in a must-win game this weekend. While the final AFC wild-card spot is still up for grabs, an eighth loss would bury the Titans. 

20. St. Louis Rams (5-7)

The Rams were humbled by the Niners in San Francisco in Week 13 and saw their slim playoff hopes dashed. At 5-7, St. Louis is six games back in the NFC West and three games back of the final wild-card spot. 

With upcoming games against Arizona, New Orleans and Seattle, the Rams will be lucky to finish with seven wins. 

21. Green Bay Packers (5-6-1)

Despite Green Bay's terrible play since Aaron Rodgers went down in Week 9, the Packers are still just one-and-a-half games back of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. If Rodgers can suit up for the Packers' final four games, which are all winnable, Green Bay could potentially steal the division at the last minute. 

22. New York Giants (5-7)

The Giants are 5-1 over their last six, but their disastrous 0-6 start has doomed them. With upcoming matchups at San Diego, vs. Seattle and at Detroit, New York is poised for an early offseason.

23. Buffalo Bills (4-8)

Buffalo squandered a golden opportunity in overtime in Week 13. Had the Bills beaten the Falcons in Toronto, they'd be 5-7 and right in the mix for an AFC wild-card berth. But at 4-8, the Bills are out of the picture and all but a lock to miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season. 

24. Oakland Raiders (4-8)

The Raiders have dropped four of five coming into Week 14's showdown with the Jets. But given New York's struggles, Oakland will have an excellent chance to get back into the win column this weekend. 

25. New York Jets (5-7)

Not only have the Jets lost three in a row, but they've scored a combined six points over their last two games and have turned the ball over 10 times over their last three defeats.

It's safe to say that New York will miss the postseason for the third straight year under Rex Ryan, barring a remarkable turnaround. 

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-9)

Mike Glennon and the Bucs had their three-game winning streak snapped in blowout fashion at Carolina in Week 13. But Tampa Bay can begin a new winning streak in Week 14 when the Bucs host the struggling Buffalo Bills.

27. Minnesota Vikings (3-8-1)

Minnesota is unbeaten in its last two games but will need to turn in a much more impressive performance in Week 14 in order to maintain its positive trend. The Vikings will battle the defending Super Bowl champions in Baltimore this weekend in a game the Ravens desperately need to win.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9)

The Jags are 3-1 since the start of November and will have an excellent shot to improve on that mark on Thursday against the lowly Texans. But keep in mind that Jacksonville has yet to win at home this season. 

29. Cleveland Browns (4-8)

Cleveland has now lost six of its last seven. And you can expect that number to grow with the Browns set to visit the Patriots in New England in Week 14.

30. Atlanta Falcons (3-9)

The Falcons brought an end to their five-game losing streak in Toronto in Week 13 but will likely be back to their losing ways this weekend with a road matchup against Green Bay in Week 14. 

31. Washington Redskins (3-9)

Losers of four straight, the Redskins look absolutely terrible at the moment. Washington was outscored 24-3 by the New York Giants over the final two-and-a-half quarters in Week 13 and is sure to fall to 3-10 this weekend with a desperate Kansas City Chiefs team coming to town. 

32. Houston Texans (2-10)

There's no question about it. Houston is the worst team in football. The Texans have lost 10 in a row and are in danger of being swept by Jacksonville on Thursday Night Football.

The only good news: With the worst record in the NFL, the Texans are on schedule to earn the No. 1 pick in next spring's draft.

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