NFL Power Rankings Week 14: Predicting Post-Monday Night Football Standings

The 2014 NFL regular season has been one of the wildest in recent memory, and that is reflected when predicting the post-Monday Night Football Week 14 power rankings.

With a marquee matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots highlighting an entertaining schedule of holiday weekend games, football fans were treated to an interesting slate of battles.

Here is where every team stands entering Week 14.

32. Oakland Raiders (1-11)

The Oakland Raiders lost to the St. Louis Rams 52-0. With a Week 14 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland fans will have to wait for the team’s second win of the season. It’s a bad time to be a Raiders fan.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

The Jacksonville Jaguars were able to pull out a close win over the New York Giants, but the team has still struggled on both sides of the ball and will continue to do so for the remainder of the season. There are positives to build on for the future, but Jacksonville needs a few more years of rebuilding.

30. Tennessee Titans (2-10)

Instead of taking advantage of the Houston Texans turning to backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick Sunday, the Tennessee Titans lost 45-21 and made Fitzpatrick look like Peyton Manning. The lack of depth on both sides of the ball is a legitimate concern.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

29. New York Jets (2-9)

The New York Jets have been awful offensively, and the defense has been the definition of inconsistent. Rex Ryan has done a solid job as head coach of New York during his tenure, but a change of scenery and a new regime is exactly what the coach and the Jets need at this point.

28. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1)

Another loss continues to send the Carolina Panthers spiraling downward, but there is a chance for some redemption in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans has struggled at times this season as well, but with the NFC South divisional crown still up for grabs, this should be an intense matchup.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10)

After losing a 14-13 battle against the Cincinnati Bengals, it is clear that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a good core of players, but they are still a few years away from building a legitimate contender. With Lovie Smith leading the charge, though, Tampa Bay is in good hands.

26. New York Giants (3-9)

The New York Giants have all the tools to be a postseason-caliber team, but the offensive and defensive units play with no cohesiveness, and there is a lack of depth at key positions. New York must show signs of improvement over the final few games, or the Giants must consider a coaching change.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

25. Washington Redskins (3-9)

The move from Robert Griffin III to Colt McCoy was the football equivalent of waving the white flag, and the Washington Redskins will continue to struggle this season. It will be interesting to see how Washington handles Griffin during the offseason.

24. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

A victory over Carolina was big for the Minnesota Vikings, but the team is still offensively challenged. Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater must show he has the ability to be a team leader, or Minnesota will be looking for another quarterback in the coming years.

23. Chicago Bears (5-7)

After being destroyed by the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Chicago Bears host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. If Chicago doesn’t win and continues the downward spiral, there will be major offseason changes for the Bears.

22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)

Somehow, the Atlanta Falcons are leading the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints will not go down without a fight, but for this week, Atlanta can feel important as a divisional leader with a 5-7 record.

21. Cleveland Browns (7-5)

Madness has enveloped the Cleveland Browns, as Johnny Manziel took over the starting job in Week 13, but it remains to be seen if he earned the right to be No. 1 quarterback in Week 14 when the team plays Indianapolis. Either way, Johnny Football mania has begun in Cleveland.

20. St. Louis Rams (5-7)

The St. Louis Rams are one of the most tenacious teams in the NFL. While St. Louis is still losing to subpar teams, a win over Denver and the lopsided beating of Oakland in Week 13 proves the Rams are heading in the right direction.

19. New Orleans Saints (5-7)

A victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was needed, but New Orleans is a shell of the team that has made the postseason annually. Drew Brees proved Sunday he is still elite, but the offensive game plan must remain balanced and the defense must step up in key moments. With more talent on the roster than Atlanta, the NFC South is the Saints' to lose.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

A loss to the Saints is a step back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the team is still very alive in the AFC North playoff hunt. With a clash with Cincinnati on tap, the Steelers have a crucial opportunity to take a big step toward a postseason berth.

17. Miami Dolphins (6-5)

The Miami Dolphins have an offense that has shown glimpses of being elite, but consistency is a major issue. The tough defense gives Miami a chance to win almost every game, but Ryan Tannehill must prove he is an elite player.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

16. Houston Texans (6-6)

The Houston Texans have JJ Watt on the roster. With the ability to be a dominant defender and catch touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball, Watt is making a case to be the most valuable player in the NFL.

15. Buffalo Bills (7-5)

Despite winning ugly, the Buffalo Bills continue to rack up victories. The last time Buffalo made the postseason was 1999, and there is a legitimate shot at accomplishing the feat this season. Unfortunately, the Bills play the Denver Broncos in Week 14.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals are currently leading the AFC North division. With Andy Dalton under center, though, the team will not make a deep postseason run. Not only has Dalton struggled recently, but he also has a history of faltering in the postseason. Dalton’s playoff struggles started early.

13. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5)

A loss to Denver was tough to swallow for Kansas City, but the Chiefs are still a very talented team. Kansas City has a meeting with Arizona in Week 14, and the Cardinals' recent struggles could open the door for a much-needed Chiefs victory.

12. San Francisco 49ers (7-5)

A loss to the Seattle Seahawks should have the San Francisco 49ers concerned, but the team still possesses a dangerous defense. The key during the remainder of the regular season will be getting the offense, led by Colin Kaepernick, on the same page.

11. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

The Super Bowl experience of the Baltimore Ravens will help the team in crunch time, but a loss to San Diego was a tough blow. Fortunately, Baltimore still has an elite defense, and quarterback Joe Flacco is a big-game performer.

10. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

A loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving was a major blow for the Dallas Cowboys. The team still has the offensive line and rushing attack to be a major threat in the playoffs. The key for Dallas will be to make the postseason first, though.

9. Detroit Lions (8-4)

The Detroit Lions dominated Chicago on Thanksgiving despite missing running back Reggie Bush while he recovered from an injury. As the team continues to get healthy, Detroit will be a serious contender for one of the wild-card berths.

8. San Diego Chargers (8-4)

The San Diego Chargers have been a different team since getting starting running back Ryan Mathews back in the lineup. A win over Baltimore was a notch in the team’s belt, but a critical matchup against New England will push the Chargers to their limit.

7. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

Turnovers are a major concern for the Indianapolis Colts, but the team is still pulling out wins thanks in part to the play of Andrew Luck. If the team can make a concerted effort to limit fumbles and interceptions, the Colts will be tough to beat in the AFC.

6. Arizona Cardinals (9-3)

The Arizona Cardinals looked very beatable in Week 13, and a tough matchup against Kansas City this Sunday will expose just how good Arizona is. The Cardinals must bounce back if the team is to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

Many fans are discounting the defending Super Bowl champions. The Seattle Seahawks’ win over San Francisco on Thanksgiving should be the wake-up call NFL fans need. With a Week 14 battle against Philadelphia, the result of that matchup will reveal how the NFC will break down.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-3)

There is no doubt that the Philadelphia Eagles are working out issues on the fly, but the team’s high-powered offense is no joke. If the defense continues to play well in the face of adversity and the offense finds its rhythm, there are few teams in the league that can beat the Eagles.

3. Denver Broncos (9-3)

The Denver Broncos needed a win over Kansas City to reassert themselves as top contenders in the AFC, and Peyton Manning made it clear his team is a Super Bowl threat. New England is higher on the power rankings, but the road to the championship likely has to go through Denver.

Tom Lynn/Associated Press

2. New England Patriots (9-3)

A loss to Green Bay will be tough to deal with for the New England Patriots. The way the team has played recently is still enough to make it a favorite in the AFC. A possible Super Bowl rematch between the Packers and the Patriots would be incredible.

1. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

Beating New England was a major feather in the cap of the Green Bay Packers, and the team has a favorable matchup in Week 14 on Monday Night Football against Atlanta. Green Bay should be able to hold down the No. 1 spot for another week.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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