NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Latest 2014 Standings and Reaction for All 32 Teams

Now is not the time for playoff-contending teams to flop, but a handful of upsets this week have drastically shaped the future outlook of the 2014-15 NFL season.

With Week 14 in the books, teams have just three more weeks to push for the playoffs. These final three games are crucial for division leaders and cellar-dwellers alike. Top teams can seal a first-round bye. Low-ranked teams can play spoiler. Some lesser teams already have.

There's a good deal of parity in the NFL as things stand now. That makes the playoff picture even foggier than in years past. How did the past week's events shape the power struggle in the league? Continue on to find out.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

The Titans and the New York Giants squared off in Week 14, and Tennessee was on the losing end—to a team who had lost seven games in a row. Granted, now the Titans are on a seven-game streak of their own.

The offense was shut out on Sunday, as the team's only touchdown came on a pick-six by Marqueston Huff:

According to ESPN, Tennessee is now also without Zach Mettenberger for the rest of the season.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11)

The Buccaneers have been laughably bad, but there are a few bright spots. Mike Evans, for one, is a beast of a wide receiver. He has scored multiple touchdowns in three games and has 10 total on the season.

Overall, though, Tampa Bay needs to see major change during the offseason. Luckily for them, Marcus Mariota is a realistic option if their season continues its southward trend.

30. New York Jets (2-11)

The Jets are just as dysfunctional on the field as they are off the field. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported early Sunday morning that general manager John Idzik is in hot water with both the fans and the coaching staff:

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Multiple sources within the organization tell ESPN that Idzik has alienated not just Jets fans, but those in the organization around him in the front office and on the coaching staff. Those sources in the organization said Idzik has not played the game of politics well, internally or externally, and it has cost him support in various areas.

Jets management is aware of the unhappiness being expressed about Idzik and that is expected to be a consideration when Jets owner Woody Johnson decides just how major the changes he makes to the organization will be.

"

Changing the GM is probably the best course of action for this franchise. Idzik did nothing this offseason with the available funds at his disposal. Literally. He did nothing.

It's time for someone to bring legitimacy back to the Jets.

29. Washington Redskins (3-10)

Washington can't commit to a quarterback, can't score points (they were shut out by the St. Louis Rams in Week 14) and their coach is apparently only concerned with what his players are tweeting about:

Sir, you have bigger fish to fry.

The Redskins are a mess from top to bottom. Like the Jets, it's time to blow it all up and start from scratch.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)

Week 13 acted as a statement game for the Jaguars, coming back from 21 down against the Giants and winning in the fourth quarter. Even if Jacksonville is still a two-win team after Week 14, the resiliency they showed in that affair keeps them from the very bottom of this week's power rankings.

Of course, there are still three more weeks left for them to alter their position—for better or for worse.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-11)

The Raiders played spoiler in Week 14, effectively ruining the San Francisco 49ers' chances at making the playoffs. The Niners put their faith in Colin Kaepernick, and it backfired as Oakland was able to record two interceptions and hold their Bay Area rival to 13 points.

Rookie linebacker Khalil Mack was actually surprised at how much faith San Fran put in Kaepernick:

Don't get too excited, though, Raiders fans.

You still have the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos on the schedule. There's a very real chance a 2-14 finish is on the horizon.

26. Chicago Bears (5-8)

The Bears have lost five of their last seven games. Their most recent debacle came at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, who had been playing inconsistently prior to heading to Soldier Field on Thursday Night Football.

Jay Cutler isn't the entire issue, but he has thrown several interceptions at opportune times. His final pick of Week 13 prompted this tweet from SportsNation:

There are holes defensively and on the offensive line which must be addressed for Chicago to be competitive again next season. They have too many potent weapons—Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery—to struggle for long.

25. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

The Falcons had an opportunity to seize control of the putrid NFC South with a win on Monday Night Football. Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers are unstoppable of late.

Atlanta is playing just well enough to stay at the head of the division, but the New Orleans Saints still have weapons and the Carolina Panthers are still just barely out of it. It's now or never for Matt Ryan.

24. New York Giants (4-9)

The Giants haven't won since the first week of October, marking two full months since they celebrated after a game. It was nearly a complete effort. Eli Manning threw the terrible interceptions referenced above, and the secondary allowed 20-plus-yard receptions to Derek Hagan and Nate Washington.

The offense also stalled at times, as Josh Brown attempted five field goals. He made them all.

Big Blue is in the running for a high pick in the upcoming NFL draft because of a rash of injuries and underperformance this season. With smart picks and returning players in 2015, the Giants might surprise.

23. New Orleans Saints (5-8)

Many have the Saints even lower than No. 23 for obvious reasons. Probably the most frustrating team in football, New Orleans wins games it shouldn't (Oct. 26 against the Packers) and loses games it shouldn't (Week 14 against the Panthers).

Drew Brees was horrific. There was no recovering from his nightmarish first half:

It's almost unfair to concede that an 8-8 team can make the playoffs in the strong NFC, but there's a chance that a below-.500 team can sneak in as well. All the Saints have to do is outlast the Falcons and Panthers.

22. Carolina Panthers (4-8-1)

NFL on ESPN's official Twitter account understands the lunacy that is the NFC South:

Carolina was impressive in dismantling the Saints in Week 14. Normally an example of "too little, too late," this win signals that the Panthers still have enough fight in them to make the playoffs. Head coach Ron Rivera knows it:

Week 17's matchup against the Falcons could very well dictate which team represents the division in the playoffs.

21. St. Louis Rams (6-7)

The Rams are the definition of a spoiler.

They've beaten the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, and they're making it difficult for the league's top teams to solidify playoff positions. With games against the Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals remaining, there's still more time for the Rams to mess things up.

What St. Louis is doing is impressive. They've gone through three quarterbacks, dealt with the unexpected regression of Zac Stacy and succeeded without a definitive top wide receiver. Can they solve their big issues in the draft and come back as a contender in 2015?

20. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)

Another spoiler, the Vikings have enjoyed success with Teddy Bridgewater under center.

Bridgewater apparently has ice water in his veins, having led Minnesota to several impressive fourth-quarter comebacks:

Minnesota faces the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions before the season concludes. Each team is looking to make the playoffs. The Vikings can spoil their hopes.

19. San Francisco 49ers (7-6)

San Fran's current record of 7-6 keeps them in the playoff hunt mathematically, but there really isn't much of a chance that this team makes the playoffs. If the Niners miraculously did advance, they'd be bounced early.

The frustrations have proved difficult for players like Kaepernick to deal with. The quarterback was caught showing a CBS Sports photographer while walking off the field after losing to Oakland:

There's change on the horizon. A lot of change.

18. Cleveland Browns (7-6)

The Browns defense blew the game in the waning minutes against the Indianapolis Colts, but quarterback Brian Hoyer didn't help. He finished going 14-of-31 for 140 yards and two interceptions.

After starting 7-4, Cleveland has dropped two in a row, and the playoffs are looking like more of a long shot. Hoyer hasn't gotten the job done. It's time for Johnny Manziel.

Hoyer is still preparing to start next week, reports ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, so Cleveland fans will have to wait.

17. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

The Bills did something that none of the past 51 teams could—hold Peyton Manning to no touchdowns:

Buffalo ultimately lost the game because they couldn't keep C.J. Anderson out of the end zone, however.

Still, the Bills are 7-6 and still alive. Their 4-6 conference record doesn't help them, but they aren't mathematically out of it just yet. Of course, the Packers, Raiders and New England Patriots are the final three teams they'll play.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

Also 7-6, the Chiefs weren't able to hand the Cardinals their fourth loss in a row. Arizona just squeaked by, 17-14.

Kansas City has a good shot at winning out and finishing with 10 wins. They'll play Oakland next week, Pittsburgh in Week 16 and San Diego in Week 17. They beat the Chargers earlier this season, and the Raiders should still be a cupcake game if they don't beat themselves. Pittsburgh is the real test.

Alex Smith is playing pretty well right now. He's the most important member of this team in the final weeks of the campaign.

15. Miami Dolphins (7-6)

The Dolphins were up 10-0 after the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but the offense stalled and the defense couldn't keep up the pressure in the next two quarters. Baltimore outscored Miami 28-3 in the final three quarters.

Miami has been nearly the complete package all season. They dropped crucial games to the Packers, Lions and Broncos, but those three losses came by a combined 10 points.

Ryan Tannehill has quelled the fans with a solid season, posting a career-high completion percentage (66.7) and career-low number of interceptions (nine). With one more offseason to add weapons around him, the Dolphins can come out swinging in 2015.

14. Houston Texans (7-6)

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Houston has won three of their last four after taking care of business against the Jaguars. They are the top 7-6 team in the AFC thanks to their 6-3 in-conference record, and it would be astounding if they made the playoffs considering where this team was a year ago.

The Texans still play the Jaguars once more this year, but the Colts and Ravens are also on the schedule. Those aren't easy wins.

13. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1)

A.J. Green now has three touchdowns in his past four weeks. After an inconsistent start to the season, the wideout is finally re-emerging as a staple of the team's offense. When he plays well, Andy Dalton plays well. And that's something the Bengals must bank on as the the season concludes.

Despite 224 yards from Green, the Bengals still lost in shocking fashion:

Cincy cannot afford such losses moving forward. They have the talent to be a top-10 team, but losing like this warrants a major drop.

12. San Diego Chargers (8-5)

Philip Rivers was beaten by Tom Brady on Sunday night, but Rivers is still 33-7 in December during his career. His success in December bodes well for the Chargers, as an 8-5 record doesn't guarantee San Diego a playoff berth.

They're two games back of the Broncos and one ahead of the Chiefs in the AFC West. Both teams await them in the final three weeks. The Niners are sandwiched between Denver and Kansas City.

San Diego must win two of the last three.

11. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

Not a team generally known for offensive potency, Pro Football Focus' Mike Clay notes that the Ravens offense has excelled this season:

Joe Flacco has built a nice repertoire with Steve Smith, and Torrey Smith has scored seven touchdowns since Week 6. Because each team in the AFC North is over .500, Baltimore needs to win their final three games (Jaguars, Texans, Browns).

They showed resilience by defeating Miami after losing to the Chargers by just one the week before. Their No. 4-ranked rush defense has led the way to a promising outlook.

10. Detroit Lions (9-4)

The Lions are clicking at the right time, and Matthew Stafford is spearheading the resurgence, as mlive.com's Kyle Meinke writes:

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Stafford had completed 75 percent of his passes just three times in his career, and not at all since Sept. 23, 2012. Now he's done it in back to back weeks, after connecting on 26-of-34 passes against Tampa Bay. He had pinpoint control on a 6-yard teardrop to Calvin Johnson in the end zone, zipped a 10-yard score through the teeth of the defense to Joseph Fauria, and made heady plays like scooping up a muffed snap and throwing away the ball.

"

Stafford is the most important player for the Lions right now because of his ability to make plays many other quarterbacks can't. To make the playoffs in the tough NFC, you need strong quarterback play.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)

Pittsburgh dismantled Cincinnati after just hanging with them through three quarters, and the explosiveness of the Steelers offense has been the story for most of this season.

Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger have this offense performing at a high level. They're second in the NFL with 427 yards per game. Bell is an important piece, having joined elite company in the past three weeks:

The Steelers go as Bell and the offense goes. They'll need their stars to maintain consistency in the season's final three games.

8. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)

Thanksgiving was kind to the Cowboys. They were very thankful for their opponent, the Bears, because of a porous defense which allowed Tony Romo to rack up three touchdowns on 80.77 percent passing.

Dallas has avoided their fourth consecutive .500 season, and the dreaded second-half collapse appears a long shot at this point. They face a pivotal matchup in Week 15 against Philadelphia.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

Mark Sanchez finally met his match. The Eagles couldn't stave off the white-hot Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but they must quickly look ahead to Dallas in a game that will decide the leader of the NFC East.

Luckily, this team knows how to bounce back from a loss, as Chris McPherson and Bo Wulf of PhiladelphiaEagles.com write: "For the fourth time this season, the Eagles will have to rebound from a loss. Fortunately, bouncing back is something the 2014 Eagles have done well. The Eagles are 3-0 this season in the games immediately following a loss and have outscored opponents 108-73 in those three games."

Can Philly move to 4-0?

6. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)

One of two NFC teams with 10 wins, the Cardinals bounced back in Week 14 after dropping two games in a row. The Chiefs didn't make it easy, but Arizona prevailed.

Drew Stanton isn't the most dynamic backup quarterback in the NFL. He makes the plays that matter, though, and that's all this team can ask for from the 30-year-old. That said, he does lead the NFL in an interesting category:

Arizona will go as far as Stanton takes them.

5. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

We can interpret the Colts' win over the Browns in two different ways.

We can either commend them for showing resilience and winning the game in the final minutes behind an uncharacteristically poor performance from Andrew Luck.

Or we can fault them for just barely getting past Hoyer's horrible showing. Feel free to think what you like.

Nobody can deny this team's explosiveness, though. T.Y. Hilton is a top receiver in this league, and Donte Moncrief is in a great offense to succeed. Luck has all the weapons he needs to dominate the AFC in the playoffs.

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)

A lot of good teams dropped in the rankings this week because of the meteoric rise of the Seahawks.

They are 6-1 since losing two in a row to the Cowboys and the Rams. Sunday's win over the Eagles was arguably the most impressive of their recent run, holding one of the NFL's most productive offenses to just 14 points and 139 total yards.

Everything is clicking defensively, and teams cannot figure out how to stop Russell Wilson on the bootleg option—even though he carves each defense he faces with the same play. There may be no stopping Seattle.

3. Denver Broncos (10-3)

The three teams with the best shot at beating the Seahawks right now are the Broncos and the remaining two in the rankings.

Denver struggled with their bread and butter against the Bills, as Manning didn't throw a touchdown and only tallied 173 yards. It was his second week in a row with fewer than 200 yards passing.

Should the Broncos be concerned with Manning? He has been noticeably worse since Week 8, having tossed eight interceptions in six games since. Manning has a history of getting worse as the weather gets colder, so this is something to watch in the final three contests.

2. New England Patriots (10-3)

New England was stellar in the second half against San Diego in a game they needed to win to make a statement to the rest of the AFC. The Chargers are one of the top threats to the Patriots in the conference, but Tom Brady was able to pick them apart after a slow start to the game.

This could be New England's year, as Peter Botte of the New York Daily News jokes:

But, seriously. The Patriots are the class of the AFC.

1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)

There's nothing Aaron Rodgers can't do. He and J.J. Watt are obvious favorites for the NFL MVP award as things stand today, but a strong finish to this season by the Packers will propel Rodgers to the top of the voting.

His ability to extend plays by scrambling in the pocket is second to none. He has pinpoint accuracy and is unfazed by pressure. He is the sole reason why this team is as dynamic as it is.

The Packers are an easy Super Bowl pick given Rodgers' play.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn