NFL Power Rankings: Week 14 Expert Consensus from Around the Web

It's taken 13 weeks, but there is finally a consensus building with analysts around the NFL about the elite teams and everyone else. There haven't been any playoff berths clinched so far, though December will put those pieces into place. 

Until that moment arrives, the top analysts from around the Internet have offered their opinion on how each team stands moving into the final month of the season. Green Bay seems to be the top dog after defeating New England in a great clash at Lambeau Field on Sunday. 

No team is rising faster than Seattle, which has decimated its two division rivals in the last two weeks and has a showdown with Philadelphia on Sunday. Power rankings are always fluid, so keep in mind that these are a snapshot of where the league is as of December 2. 

Note: USA Today Power Rankings can be found here. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco's Power Rankings can be found here. Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab's Power Rankings can be found here. 

Rank	USA Today	Pete Prisco, CBS Sports	Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports
1	Packers	Packers	Patriots
2	Patriots	Patriots	Packers
3	Broncos	Broncos	Broncos
4	Seahawks	Cardinals	Eagles
5	Eagles	Eagles	Seahawks
6	Colts	Cowboys	Colts
7	Cardinals	Bengals	Cardinals
8	Cowboys	Seahawks	Cowboys
9	Lions	Colts	Lions
10	Bengals	Lions	Dolphins
11	Chargers	Chargers	Bengals
12	49ers	49ers	Chiefs
13	Dolphins	Dolphins	Chargers
14	Ravens	Chiefs	Ravens
15	Chiefs	Steelers	49ers
16	Steelers	Ravens	Bills
17	Bills	Bills	Browns
18	Browns	Browns	Texans
19	Texans	Texans	Steelers
20	Saints	Falcons	Rams
21	Rams	Saints	Saints
22	Falcons	Rams	Falcons
23	Bears	Bears	Vikings
24	Vikings	Vikings	Bears
25	Panthers	Giants	Panthers
26	Giants	Panthers	Washington
27	Buccaneers	Jets	Giants
28	Washington	Titans	Jets
29	Titans	Buccaneers	Titans
30	Jets	Jaguars	Buccaneers
31	Jaguars	Washington	Jaguars
32	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders

Adam Wells' Week 14 NFL Power Rankings

No. 32 New York Jets (2-10)

Even though there was a team with a worse record that got blown out on the road in Week 13, the New York Jets take the bottom spot by virtue of having no hope with this current roster, at least offensively. Geno Smith threw 13 passes on Monday night and completed seven of them. 

Rex Ryan's defense is still playing hard, but there's only so much you can do with an offense that has less than 50 net passing yards in a game. 

No. 31 Oakland Raiders (1-11)

There is nothing good to be said about a 52-0 loss like the Raiders had in St. Louis. The results don't show this year, but at least Oakland has had enough solid moments with rookies Derek Carr and Khalil Mack to provide hope for the future. 

No. 30 Washington (3-9)

The good news is Washington's offense looked a lot better with Colt McCoy under center, putting up 27 points against Indianapolis. The bad news is the Colts scored 49 points while having just one red-zone drive against Jay Gruden's defense. 

Speaking of Gruden, despite being in his first year as head coach, the whispers of his job security are getting louder. Mike Wise of The Washington Post wondered if the coach's honesty with the media hurts his standing with the front office:

"

He’s going to coach this team his way, whether his employers like it or not.

The only hope here is that he doesn’t hit the point Shanahan and other coaches over the years have hit, the moment they realize they are better off fired or coaching somewhere else because the man upstairs just doesn’t understand boundaries when it comes to giving people freedom to do their jobs.

"

Gruden deserves better than that, especially since he wasn't given a great palette to play with, but who knows what's going through Dan Snyder's head right now. 

No. 29 Tennessee Titans (2-10)

If your defense is making Ryan Fitzpatrick look like a star quarterback, there are problems. The Titans have had a lot of issues this year, but it seems like the team is going through the motions after allowing 88 points the last two weeks. 

No. 28 New York Giants (3-9)

The Giants have stood by Tom Coughlin during a lot of mediocre seasons, likely out of respect because of the two Super Bowls he's coached them to in his tenure. 

Credit Coughlin for not making any excuses or campaigning for his job, as this quote from Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News illustrates:

At some point, though, there's no way to justify keeping this particular coach. Looking back on everything that's gone wrong in 2014 for the Giants, blowing a 21-0 lead against Jacksonville could end up being the final nail in the coffin. 

No. 27 Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

While there's blame to put on New York for blowing a 21-0 lead, let's also give credit to the Jaguars for not panicking and fighting back to win their second game of the year in Week 14. This is still a team very much building toward the future, but a win like that is a nice stepping stone. 

Another positive sign is that Blake Bortles didn't thrown an interception for the first time in 10 games. These are small steps, but you have to start somewhere. 

No. 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10)

Looking back to previous years, the same problems that plagued the Buccaneers under Greg Schiano are still an issue under Lovie Smith. There may not be as much turmoil in the locker room, but this team can't get over the hump in close games. 

Last year, for example, the Bucs lost five games decided by eight points or less. This year, they have lost seven games decided by eight points or less. It just feels like Tampa Bay is stuck in neutral instead of moving forward or backward. That's bad when you have been losing for four years. 

No. 25 Carolina Panthers (3-8-1)

Of the many hilarious things about the NFC South in 2014, perhaps the biggest laugh comes from the fact that Carolina still has a real chance to win the division by virtue of having three division games over the last four weeks. 

Cam Newton has been impossible to figure out in his career up to this point. He's been beat up by an inconsistent offensive line this season, but even that doesn't entirely explain how the former No. 1 overall pick has regressed this much. 

It's gotten to the point were Ron Rivera actually had to address the topic of Newton's future as the Panthers' starting quarterback. While we should call this year an outlier because of all the changes Carolina went through in the offseason, as well as Newton's injuries in the preseason, he will have a lot to prove in 2015. 

No. 24 Chicago Bears (5-7)

There's plenty of criticism to go around Chicago right now, but let's focus on the defense. The Bears are defined by what happens on that side of the ball, so having the 30th-ranked pass defense and being tied for 30th in scoring defense is as big of a problem as what's going on with Jay Cutler. 

No. 23 Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

For all the problems Minnesota has had this season, it's still floating around the .500 mark and has been able to develop a rookie quarterback. The next step in the process will be getting Teddy Bridgewater useful weapons on the outside to help him grow. 

The Vikings also have a chance to play spoiler down the stretch with games against Miami and Detroit remaining on the schedule. 

No. 22 New Orleans Saints (5-7)

Any illusions about the Saints taking off and becoming one of the sleeper teams in the NFC are gone, especially because the defense is so bad. But a performance like the one we saw against Pittsburgh, in which Drew Brees had five touchdown passes, does suggest this team can catch fire. 

Considering the Saints end the year with Carolina, Chicago, Atlanta and Tampa Bay, it would be a surprise if they didn't win the NFC South. 

No. 21 Atlanta Falcons (5-7)

The Falcons may be tied with the Saints, but in today's NFL you have to ask which quarterback you trust more. Brees has certainly had his faults in 2014 with 11 interceptions.

Matt Ryan has also been prone to making mistakes with 10 interceptions, including a bad throw against Arizona that was returned for a touchdown. The Falcons were able to prevail in that game because Drew Stanton has come back to earth as teams get more of a look at him. 

The Falcons are also at a disadvantage down the stretch because their schedule is brutal. Their next three games are at Green Bay, against Pittsburgh and at New Orleans. 

No. 20 St. Louis Rams (5-7)

No team has done a better job of spoiling playoff dreams, either getting in or seeding, than the Rams. They have already defeated Seattle, San Francisco and Denver with one more game against the Seahawks still on the schedule. 

Unfortunately, the Rams waited too long to hit their stride, and it won't help their playoff chances. With games against Washington, Arizona and New York in the next three weeks, a .500 record isn't out of the question. Imagine what Jeff Fisher's team can do when it gets a real quarterback. 

No. 19 Houston Texans (6-6)

The Texans have played virtually all year without Jadeveon Clowney and have had to rely on Fitzpatrick more than a team is comfortable with, yet here they are at .500 with a better point differential than Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland and San Diego. 

That won't be enough to make the playoffs, as seemingly every team in the AFC is 7-5, but at least Houston is going in the right direction. A big reason for that is J.J. Watt, who has a very real case to be made as MVP and is seemingly setting a new record every week, via NFL on ESPN:

Watt probably won't win the MVP award because it's a quarterback honor at this stage, and Aaron Rodgers has been pretty good this year, but imagine where Houston would be without its star defensive lineman. 

No. 18 Cleveland Browns (7-5)

The wheels are starting to come off for Cleveland's playoff pursuit. The Browns got lucky two weeks ago in Atlanta, overcoming three Brian Hoyer interceptions to get a last-second win. 

They weren't so lucky against Buffalo, leading to Johnny Manziel taking over at quarterback in the fourth quarter. While you shouldn't put a lot of stock in what happens during the fourth quarter of a 20-3 game, Peter King of TheMMQB.com makes a compelling argument for Manziel to be the starter moving forward:

"

Just give them the sixth seed, and the 2014 season would be a raging success. But to make the playoffs—to go 3-1 or better against Indy, Cincinnati, Carolina and Baltimore—would be a tremendous feat for a team as shaky as Cleveland. And can you really see Hoyer leading them to three wins in the last four? I don’t know if Manziel can, but I feel much better about his chances to do so after seeing a lot of Hoyer the last couple of weeks.

It’s about more than the next month, though. It’s about 2015, and beyond.

"

Manziel may not be the one who leads the Browns to the playoffs this year, because that schedule down the stretch is rough, but why not see what you have in the kid going into next season? Hoyer hasn't been good for a long time, completing 56.2 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 

Whether Manziel is going to be better or not, the Browns invested a first-round pick in him and need to see what they have at some point. Their playoffs odds are long anyway because of how many teams are 7-5, so take a shot and at least build something for 2015. 

No. 17 Kansas City Chiefs (7-5)

Are the Chiefs a good team? Their record says yes, but they are so one-dimensional on offense that Andy Reid might as well play quarterback himself. Alex Smith doesn't throw many interceptions, yet he also offers nothing when Kansas City gets behind. The last two games have proven that. 

The Chiefs will probably find a way to win 10 games, yet it's not going to be something that anyone will brag about. Smith may not have receivers who make big plays, but how much of the blame falls on them for his inability to throw the ball 10 yards down the field with any consistency?

No. 16 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

There's always a team every year that plays up or down to the competition. Pittsburgh takes that crown this year. How else do you explain wins over Indianapolis and Baltimore and losses to Tampa Bay and New York?

Despite the Steelers' inconsistencies, their schedule sets up nicely with two of their last four games against Cincinnati. They control their destiny in the AFC North over the last four weeks. 

No. 15 San Francisco 49ers (7-5)

The story has been the same for San Francisco all year: inconsistencies on offense and questions about Jim Harbaugh's future as head coach. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Raiders and Jets are likely to come calling about the 49ers head coach in a possible trade:

Meanwhile, the 49ers aren't dead in the playoff race. Their road is steep, especially with another game against Seattle in two weeks. While we thought their defense would be a problem because of the injuries and Aldon Smith's suspension in the preseason, that unit has been fine. 

Offensively, San Francisco has changed for the worse. Colin Kaepernick is trying to be more of a pure pocket passer, which isn't working and limits what made him so effective the previous two years. It's understandable because taking fewer hits preserves him for the future, but it's coming at the expense of his athleticism. 

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee notes that one big problem may be having too many cooks—now you are humming the song—in the offensive kitchen:

Whatever the case may be, the 49ers don't have time left to figure things out. They need to be on point over the last four weeks to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year. 

No. 14 Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

If the Ravens miss the playoffs, that game against San Diego will be the one that haunts them. The schedule sets up nicely, with a game against fellow wild-card contender Miami this week and games against Jacksonville, Houston and Cleveland after that. 

No. 13 Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

While it's unlikely the Cowboys are going to finish 8-8 with Chicago and Washington still on the schedule, two games against Philadelphia and Indianapolis sandwiched in there makes Thursday's clash with the Bears critical. 

The Eagles showed on Thanksgiving that when you force Tony Romo to beat you, bad things happen to the Cowboys. Their defense is also starting to play at the level most of us expected when the season started, allowing 61 points and 881 yards the last two weeks. 

No. 12 Miami Dolphins (7-5)

The Dolphins squeaked out a win against the Jets on Monday to stay in the playoff race. The next two weeks will prove whether this team sinks or swims, as they host the Ravens and go to New England. Miami likely needs at least one win during that stretch to make the postseason, as 9-7 isn't likely to be good enough. 

No. 11 Buffalo Bills (7-5)

Speaking of brutal schedules for a playoff contender down the stretch, someone doesn't like Buffalo very much. The Bills play at Denver, against Green Bay and at New England over the next four weeks. They do get a break with Oakland in Week 16, but that only puts you at eight wins. 

The Bills do have an outstanding defense, ranking first in sacks and second in points allowed, but the offense has to score enough to win games. Do you trust Kyle Orton in a big spot against Rodgers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?

No. 10 San Diego Chargers (8-4)

There's no team that runs as hot and cold as the Chargers. Over the last 11 games, they've had a five-game winning streak, three-game losing streak and three-game winning streak. If you want to figure out how the end of the year will go, San Diego concludes with New England, Denver, San Francisco and Kansas City. 

Looking at the body of work, San Diego also doesn't pass the smell test. The Chargers' Week 2 win over Seattle looks good now, but their only other win against a team with a winning record is against Buffalo. They've lost to Arizona, Kansas City, Denver and Miami. 

No. 9 Detroit Lions (8-4)

Even though Green Bay is on fire right now, Detroit controls its destiny in the NFC North. If the Lions win out, they would take the division by virtue of two wins over the Packers.

It seems likely Jim Caldwell's team will at least enter that Week 17 battle at Lambeau Field with 11 wins, as their next three games are against Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Chicago.

Seeing more consistency from Matthew Stafford and some semblance of a running game would be nice, but as long as that defensive line continues to hold the opposition at bay, the Lions don't need to score a lot of points to win. 

No. 8 Arizona Cardinals (9-3)

The sky is falling in Arizona, which was to be expected with Stanton at quarterback. He had success early in the season, but there's a reason he's been a career backup in the NFL. 

If you want to find positives for the Cardinals moving forward, they have two home games left against Kansas City and Seattle. Stanton has been much better at University of Phoenix Stadium, per Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910:

It's a small sample size but provides some hope for Arizona to at least stay in the playoffs, even though Seattle looks like the best team in the NFC West right now and controls its destiny in the division. 

No. 7 Cincinnati Bengals (8-3-1)

By no statistical measure should the Bengals be 8-3-1 and leading a division. They are 18th in scoring, 24th in total offense, 10th in scoring defense and 21st in total defense. Their plus-13 point differential is third-best in their own division. Andy Dalton throws three interceptions in a win against a bad Tampa Bay defense. 

Yet you look up, the Bengals are in contention for a first-round bye with a head-to-head game against Denver in three weeks that could prove to be the difference between the No. 2 and 3 seed in the AFC. 

No. 6 Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

These Colts being led by Andrew Luck feel a lot like the teams Manning had in the early 2000s before winning a Super Bowl. They are good enough to compete with the top teams in the AFC but lack that physicality to get over the hump. 

That's been proven the past two years in the playoffs, as well as this season with losses against New England, Denver and Philadelphia. The Pittsburgh loss can just be chalked up to one of those bad weeks, though it did highlight how rough Chuck Pagano's defense is against a good quarterback. 

No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (9-3)

This is the most important week of Philadelphia's season. Its three losses have come against San Francisco, Arizona and Green Bay. Those three times, while boasting varying degrees of success this season, have complex defensive schemes that have given Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez problems. 

If the Eagles are going to take that next step, there's no better way to prove it than by beating Seattle's defense. Whether you trust Sanchez to do that in this spot is another story entirely. A loss in this spot doesn't ruin their season, especially with a home game against Dallas in Week 15. 

No. 4 Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

Richard Sherman may do all the talking for Seattle's defense, but is there any doubt that Kam Chancellor makes the secondary go? Earl Thomas is fantastic as well, but there's no other safety in the league who can match Chancellor's combination of size and speed. 

Since Chancellor returned to the lineup three weeks ago, opposing quarterbacks have completed 41 of 71 attempts for 378 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. 

That toughness on defense is back, which makes Seattle very dangerous down the stretch. As long as Russell Wilson is making the kinds of plays he did against San Francisco, keeping plays alive with his feet, and Marshawn Lynch keeps running like the monster he is, the offense will be good enough to win. 

No. 3 Denver Broncos (9-3)

It took the Broncos a long time, but they finally figured out their running back situation. C.J. Anderson has been a man possessed with 335 rushing yards the last two weeks. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Anderson did something against Kansas City that hasn't been done in a long time:

"

Denver's C.J. Anderson ran for career-high 168 yards, including 90 after contact; 90 after contact are most by Broncos RB in past 9 seasons.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2014"

Denver may need that running game down the stretch and into the playoffs. Manning, while still capable of a great performance like he had against Miami, has been more pedestrian of late. He completed 50 percent of his passes for 179 yards against Kansas City. 

The Chiefs have a good pass defense, but Manning burned them for three touchdowns and 242 yards in Week 2. It will be interesting to see what the reigning MVP does against a ferocious Buffalo defensive line on Sunday. 

No. 2 New England Patriots (9-3)

The top two teams aren't separated by much, even though the Packers have a head-to-head victory over New England. If that game in Week 13 was played in New England, does anyone think the Patriots don't win? 

Speaking of home-field advantage, Bill Belichick's team wins all the tiebreakers thanks to head-to-head wins over Denver, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. That's critical because the Patriots are 6-0 at Gillette Stadium and have scored 128 points in their last three home games. 

Don't get overly concerned about Rodgers having his way with New England's secondary in Week 13 because he's done that to everyone since the opening week loss against Seattle. 

No. 1 Green Bay Packers (9-3)

It's gotten overplayed to the point of being annoying, but Rodgers telling the world to relax when Green Bay was 1-2 shows how quick everyone is to overreact in the NFL.

With eight wins in the last nine games, including four straight, the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC looks like it will run through Lambeau Field, which is bad news for everyone else, via NFL on ESPN:

The Packers must remain on their toes because Detroit can steal the NFC North out from under them, but it's hard to bet against a team when their quarterback is playing as well as Rodgers is. 

Stats via ESPN.com

If you want to talk sports, hit me up on Twitter. 

Follow @adamwells1985