NFL Power Rankings: Initial Post-Sunday Breakdown Ahead of Week 15

The only thing more difficult than figuring out the NFL during the 2014 season may be figuring out the AFC North.

Every time it looks like the Cincinnati Bengals have separated themselves from the pack, they find themselves right back in the middle of it. The division is a microcosm of the parity of the league as a whole, and fans were treated to plenty of head-turning results again in Week 14, including an Oakland Raiders win and a shocking NFC South blowout. 

With that in mind, read on to see how Sunday’s results impacted the power rankings before Week 15.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

The Tennessee Titans' attention may be on next season and beyond after a disappointing start to the 2014 campaign, but Sunday marked a low point for the year. 

An embarrassing 36-7 loss to the New York Giants is one thing, but doing it at home is another. To make matters worse, rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger could be done for the season.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11)

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Tampa Bay was seemingly everyone’s favorite postseason dark horse heading into the season. 

It's safe to say those predictions were off by just a bit. The Buccaneers may land the No. 1 pick in the draft if they continue to lose, so at least they could earn something this season. Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions certainly boosted those chances.

30. Washington (3-10)

Washington is a complete mess, and failing to score at home against the St. Louis Rams in yet another loss did nothing to change that. 

The 2014 season has been a wash for quite some time. Now, Washington has to decide whether it wants quarterback Robert Griffin III around or whether it's time to go in a different direction. Sunday’s performance from Colt McCoy didn't inspire much confidence, and a long-term answer at the position is needed.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)

If there wasn't a pesky thing called the second half in NFL games, the Jacksonville Jaguars would have won Sunday against the Houston Texans. 

Jacksonville held a 13-10 lead at intermission and was looking to stretch its winning streak from one to two until it collapsed in the second half. The fact that the Jaguars had won the previous game and then hung with the playoff-contending Texans is encouraging for a young team that needs growth.

28. New York Jets (2-11)

At least it took the New York Jets until overtime to lose in Week 14, this time to the Minnesota Vikings. 

Quarterback Geno Smith played fairly well, with 254 passing yards, 33 rushing yards and a touchdown, and what the Jets do with the quarterback position will be one of the most interesting subplots of the entire playoffs. Smith has three games remaining in his 2014 campaign to make some type of statement.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-11) 

SI NFL noted that Oakland Raiders fans shouldn't give up on young quarterback Derek Carr:

"

Carr put together most impressive game of rookie season: 22-28, 254 yds, 3 TDs, no picks. Translation: Raiders won't pick a QB in draft

— SI NFL (@si_nfl) December 8, 2014"

The Raiders knocked off the San Francisco 49ers in stunning fashion, and the rookie signal-caller torched a solid San Francisco defense. The game felt like a death sentence for the loser, but Oakland is picking up some momentum as the offseason quickly approaches.

26. New Orleans Saints (5-8)

Good luck deciphering the NFC South this season. 

The New Orleans Saints appeared to be the choice not too long ago, but they have lost four of five and were eviscerated by Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in the Superdome. That is a loss New Orleans simply could not afford, and it let the Panthers right back into the division race.

25. Chicago Bears (5-8)

The Chicago Bears are more hopeless every time they take the field, and Thursday was no different against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Bears could have done a number of playoff contenders a favor by knocking off Dallas, but they floundered again on the national stage. The offense didn't get going until garbage time, and now it will be without top weapon Brandon Marshall moving forward.

24. Carolina Panthers (4-8-1)

Bill Haber/Associated Press

The Carolina Panthers looked like an entirely different team Sunday than fans have seen all season. 

Newton played like an MVP candidate, Jonathan Stewart turned back the clock with a dominant performance, and the team is back in the division race at 4-8-1. If Newton finds a way to continue playing like he did Sunday, the Panthers could rise from the dead and make a late charge.

23. New York Giants (4-9)

The New York Giants looked great Sunday, but that was a product of the ineptitude of the opposing Titans more than anything else. After all, this is the same Giants team that lost to the Jaguars in its previous game.

Look for a return to normalcy in the coming weeks from New York, which means more losses.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)

The Minnesota Vikings thrilled their home fans with an overtime victory Sunday. Sure, it came against the Jets, but at this point in the season, the Vikings are primarily playing for pride anyway. 

The fact that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater topped 300 passing yards Sunday is far more important than the actual result, since he is the future in Minnesota.

21. Atlanta Falcons (5-7) 

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons were likely thrilled when the Saints lost Sunday, and now Matt Ryan and Co. have the opportunity to make a loud statement against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.

20. St. Louis Rams (6-7)

The St. Louis Rams continue to be the hot team no contender wants to play down the stretch. A shutout victory over Washington pushed the Rams' record to 6-7, and a .500 season is not out of the question. 

Now, all the Rams need is a division change.

19. San Francisco 49ers (7-6)

It looked like the San Francisco 49ers had given up on the season in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders.

Colin Kaepernick threw an interception on his first pass of the game, and the rest was history. The 49ers are not going to make the playoffs as long as he struggles to make plays, and opponents can simply add extra defenders in the box to stuff the run with less of a passing threat. 

There is too much talent on this roster for a losing season, but San Francisco could be headed that way.

18. Miami Dolphins (7-6)

Sunday's home loss to the Baltimore Ravens was crippling to the Miami Dolphins' already small playoff chances, but it has been a solid season thus far from the 7-6 squad. 

The Ryan Tannehill and Lamar Miller combination could develop into one of the better offensive punches in the league with another weapon or two on the outside, and the defense has performed well at times. Still, there will likely be no playoffs this season.

17. Cleveland Browns (7-6)

It looked like the Cleveland Browns were going to upset the Indianapolis Colts for 59 minutes Sunday, but the 60th minute was the problem.

The Browns lost in heartbreaking fashion after giving up a touchdown in the final minute and saw their playoff dreams slip further from their hands. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller believes that means one thing:

"

I'm going to get straight to the point: It's time to start Johnny Manziel. Now. Week 15. Do it. 

In their last 29 offensive drives with Brian Hoyer at quarterback, the Browns have one touchdown. Uno. Six points. In 29 drives. That's not going to get it done, folks. And it's why the Browns have fallen from 7-4 to 7-6 and dropped two straight games.

"

16. Houston Texans (7-6)

The Houston Texans struggled to finally put away the Jaguars on Sunday, but they did what was necessary to remain a dark horse in the crowded AFC playoff picture. 

There are superstars in place on this roster with Arian Foster and J.J. Watt, but the key to the rest of the season will be quarterback play. Ryan Fitzpatrick was six touchdown passes short of his recent six-touchdown-pass performance and will need to play better against stronger competition.

15. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

The Buffalo Bills beat the Denver Broncos 14-0 in the fourth quarter to pull within seven points on the road in an impressive loss. Still, wins matter in the playoff race, and Buffalo needs more of those moving forward. 

The Bills play the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots in two of the final three weeks, however, so those wins may have to wait until next year.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

The Kansas City Chiefs lost in Arizona, where the Cardinals are a perfect 7-0 on the season, so it’s hard to punish them too severely. 

However, there are so many 7-6 teams in the AFC chasing a playoff spot (plus some eight-win squads) that it may take 10 wins just to have a chance. The only way that is going to happen for Kansas City is if the offense—and the passing game, in particular—comes to life down the stretch. Sunday’s performance gave no indication that was in the cards.

13. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

Beating the Miami Dolphins could have major playoff implications for the Baltimore Ravens moving forward in the AFC logjam.

The defense contained Tannehill and stuffed Miller, and Joe Flacco made enough plays with his arm that the outcome was never really in doubt. Games against the Jaguars, the Browns and the Texans remain, which are all winnable for the under-the-radar Ravens. 

A division crown is still well within reach.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1)

The Cincinnati Bengals fans usually see only in prime time made an appearance Sunday in a 21-point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was tied at 17 entering the final quarter before the Steelers ripped off 25 unanswered points in the last 15 minutes.

A.J. Green put up monster numbers for fantasy owners, but the Cincinnati defense needs to play much better down the stretch to lock up that AFC North title.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) 

The Bengals' loss is the Steelers' gain, and the rest of the AFC is officially on notice after Week 14.

The problem for Ben Roethlisberger and Co., though, has been the fact that they play to their level of competition. However, the version of Pittsburgh we saw Sunday could compete with anyone in the NFL behind Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and a rapidly improving (in production and health) defense.

10. San Diego Chargers (8-5) 

The San Diego Chargers lost at home to the Patriots on Sunday, but that wasn't their only concern. Their supposed home-field advantage was nonexistent, as Bleacher Report's Miller noted:

The defense did its part against the powerful Patriots attack, but Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews were both bottled up, and the San Diego offense was nonexistent for much of the game. That can’t happen again if the Chargers want to make the playoffs.

9. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

The Indianapolis Colts are a difficult team to figure out.

They have one of the NFL's truly elite quarterbacks and are a threat to score every time they touch the ball as a result. However, the defense and running game have been up and down all season, leading to inconsistent results.

Luck struggled for much of Sunday's win over the Browns thanks to relentless pressure, but he led his team down the field for the game-winning score in the final minute. The victory was all that really mattered.

8. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)

It may seem like weeks ago, but the Dallas Cowboys handled the Bears on Thursday night in what was essentially a must-win game for Tony Romo and Co.

Now, Dallas' attention will turn toward a critical three-game stretch that will ultimately determine its postseason fate. First up is a rematch with the same Philadelphia Eagles team that destroyed Dallas on Thanksgiving before a date with Luck and another shot at Washington. 

The Cowboys will probably need to win at least two of three to reach the playoffs. That's doable, but it will be far from easy.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman had some bad news for Eagles fans if those two teams meet up in the playoffs, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com: "It's all about matchups, and we matched up pretty well with them.” 

Of course, the Seahawks match up pretty well with almost everyone, so the Eagles need to immediately turn their attention toward the game of the year in the NFC East in Week 15 against the Cowboys. Philadelphia’s high-octane offense gave Dallas fits the last time out, and there is no reason to expect anything different at home.

6. Detroit Lions (9-4)

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The Detroit Lions have relied on their stout defense for much of the season, but they looked like the Lions of old Sunday with Matt Stafford slinging the ball all over the field to Calvin Johnson in the win over the lowly Buccaneers. 

Detroit may be the forgotten team in the NFC race, but it has a lockdown defense and a game-changing superstar on offense. It can beat just about anyone if it plays up to its potential on any given day.

5. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)

It feels inevitable that the Seahawks will win the NFC West, but the Cardinals picked up a critical home win over the Chiefs on Sunday. 

The defense fed off the crowd from the opening quarter and carried the squad to victory. Three division games against Seattle, San Francisco and St. Louis are all that stand in the way of an NFC West crown. It's time to go out and earn it.

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-4) 

NFL on ESPN noted that the defending champs are hitting their stride at the right time:

The defense is once again firing on all cylinders, the offense is moving the ball behind Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin, who had a big game Sunday against the Eagles, and the confidence is back. A repeat title could be in the cards for the Legion of Boom and Co.

3. Denver Broncos (10-3)

For the first time in 51 games, Peyton Manning didn't throw a touchdown pass during Sunday’s contest against Buffalo. However, he would be the first to tell you that he doesn't care as long as the Denver Broncos get the win.

That is exactly what happened Sunday thanks to the efforts of the defense and C.J. Anderson, who spearheaded the rushing attack with three score. The Broncos are no longer just about Manning and the dynamic receivers, which makes them even more of a threat to win the Lombardi Trophy this season.

2. New England Patriots (10-3) 

ESPN Stats & Info acknowledged the Patriots' incredible consistency, which NFL fans often take for granted:

The AFC playoffs are going through New England, which is a major problem for Denver and the rest of the league. The Patriots offense didn't exactly continue to hum along in Sunday's win over the Chargers, with only 23 points, but the dominant fourth quarter proved New England can win football games without its best effort. 

That is an important trait before the playoffs begin.

1. Green Bay Packers (9-3) 

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The NFL’s best team plays Monday night against the Falcons, which is a mismatch made in fantasy football heaven. The combination of Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb against Atlanta’s leaky secondary should inspire images of the Lambeau Leap throughout the game.

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