NFL Power Rankings: Week 15 Expert Consensus from Around the Web

With just three weeks to go in the 2014 NFL regular season, the power rankings picture has cleared up quite a bit.

We know which teams are bottom feeders prepping for the 2015 draft, the also-rans looking to find emerging talent and the squads capable of making a playoff push.

What's still yet to be determined is the majority of the league's division races and, by extension, the playoff picture. Only the New England Patriots appear to have a truly ironclad grip on their division title with a three-game lead over the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills and just three games remaining. The rest is still up in the air, which means plenty of exciting, hard-fought contests are in store for NFL fans as the season comes to a close.

Here is a look at a few of the experts' power rankings from around the web, followed by my own take on how each of the league's 32 teams stack up in the midst of the playoff push.

Rank	Matt Miller, Bleacher Report	Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports	USA Today
1	Green Bay Packers	New England Patriots	Green Bay Packers
2	New England Patriots	Green Bay Packers	New England Patriots
3	Seattle Seahawks	Seattle Seahawks	Seattle Seahawks
4	Denver Broncos	Denver Broncos	Denver Broncos
5	Indianapolis Colts	Indianapolis Colts	Indianapolis Colts
6	Philadelphia Eagles	Arizona Cardinals	Philadelphia Eagles
7	Arizona Cardinals	Philadelphia Eagles	Arizona Cardinals
8	Detroit Lions	Dallas Cowboys	Dallas Cowboys
9	Dallas Cowboys	Detroit Lions	Detroit Lions
10	Baltimore Ravens	Baltimore Ravens	Pittsburgh Steelers
11	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh Steelers	San Diego Chargers
12	San Diego Chargers	Miami Dolphins	Baltimore Ravens
13	Cincinnati Bengals	Kansas City Chiefs	Cincinnati Bengals
14	Kansas City Chiefs	San Diego Chargers	San Francisco 49ers
15	Miami Dolphins	Cincinnati Bengals	Miami Dolphins
16	Houston Texans	Buffalo Bills	Kansas City Chiefs
17	San Francisco 49ers	Houston Texans	Houston Texans
18	Cleveland Browns	San Francisco 49ers	Buffalo Bills
19	Buffalo Bills	Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Browns
20	St. Louis Rams	St. Louis Rams	St. Louis Rams
21	Minnesota Vikings	Minnesota Vikings	Minnesota Vikings
22	Atlanta Falcons	New Orleans Saints	Atlanta Falcons
23	Carolina Panthers	Atlanta Falcons	Chicago Bears
24	New Orleans Saints	Carolina Panthers	New Orleans Saints
25	New York Giants	Chicago Bears	Carolina Panthers
26	Chicago Bears	New York Giants	New York Giants
27	Oakland Raiders	Washington Redskins	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28	Washington Redskins	Oakland Raiders	Washington Redskins
29	Jacksonville Jaguars	New York Jets	New York Jets
30	New York Jets	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tennessee Titans
31	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tennessee Titans	Oakland Raiders
32	Tennessee Titans	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jacksonville Jaguars

Note: Matt Miller's power rankings can be found here. Frank Schwab's power rankings can be found at Yahoo Sports. USA Today's power rankings can be found here.

Nate Loop's Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

32. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

Giving up 131 rushing yards to the New York Giants' Andre Williams is not a good look for a team that hasn't won a game since they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 12. Jake Locker came off the bench and managed to complete nine of 11 passes, but one of those incompletions was a pick, and he made very little impact on the game.

It's hard to see this team improving much next season with either Locker or Zach Mettenberger in charge. Quarterback is the position to watch, especially since we know what head coach Ken Whisenhunt can do with a competent signal-caller after his year coaching up Philip Rivers in San Diego.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)

Another week, another Jaguars loss. The offense could do very little against J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans in a 27-13 defeat. Running back Denard Robinson has slowed down considerably as of late, putting up just 99 yards on 35 carries in the Jags' last three games.

30. Oakland Raiders (2-11)

The Raiders managed to pull off a win over the San Francisco 49ers and make it look fairly convincing. However, losing 52-0 in Week 13 to the St. Louis Rams prevents them from moving up to the top of the 2-11 teams. People don't forget.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11)

It's a shame how poorly the Buccaneers played against the Detroit Lions in Week 14, considering they were still in the playoff hunt. Alas, NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano was the bearer of some bad news after the game:

There's always next year for Tampa Bay. Hopefully wide receiver Mike Evans can avoid a sophomore slump.

28. New York Jets (2-11)

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Geno Smith actually looked fairly good in the Jets' 30-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, completing 18 of 29 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Still, occasional bouts of competency shouldn't be considered signs of hope.

The Jets need to address the quarterback concerns next season, as well as the shoddy pass defense, as Gang Green has let opposing signal-callers put up a collective 107.3 rating this season, per ESPN.com.

27. Washington Redskins (3-10)

The Redskins are beyond dysfunctional at this point. The Rams shut them out in Week 14, and it's become increasingly clear that the pairing of head coach Jay Gruden and quarterback Robert Griffin III just isn't meant to be. It could be a very interesting offseason in our nation's capital.

26. New York Giants (4-9)

The Giants got a rare win over the hapless Titans on Sunday, but the record isn't really important for this team right now.

Watching a Giants game is about tracking just how quickly Odell Beckham Jr. can improve his game as a rookie wideout. He put up 11 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown against the Titans and even managed to chuck the ball 60 yards with relative ease. Simply put, his mammoth mitts were made for football.

25. Carolina Panthers (4-8-1)

It took a pass-friendly dome and the New Orleans Saints' woeful pass defense to ignite the Carolina Panthers' struggling offense. Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes in Carolina's 41-10 road win—the first time he's hit that mark all season long. Sure, the Panthers have just four wins, but they are totally in the playoff discussion with games against the Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons coming up.

24. New Orleans Saints (5-8)

The Saints' inability to score at home is perplexing. Drew Brees lighting up the scoreboard at the Superdome has been one of the league's most bankable occurrences over the past few seasons, but they struggled to string drives together in Week 14, converting just five of 14 third-down opportunities. Head coach Sean Payton is taking everything into consideration as his squad tries to hang on for a playoff spot.

"We've got to look closely at everything -- preparation, who we're asking to do it," Payton said after the game, via The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "We're not that good. That's painfully obvious."

23. Chicago Bears (5-8)

The Chicago Bears have dealt with plenty of injuries on the defensive side of the ball this season, but it was an offensive star who went down in Week 14. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is out for the season after breaking his ribs in a 41-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. It's been a trying season in the Windy City, and the final three weeks could be very tough to watch with one of the team's best players sidelined.

22. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

The Falcons just might be the best team in the NFC South. Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, with Julio Jones and Roddy White reeling in one each. The defense is quite obviously a mess, but the Falcons have a fair amount of control over their own destiny considering they play the Panthers and Saints to close out the season.

21. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner is apparently taking his time molding Teddy Bridgewater, and Grantland's Robert Mays noted it was nice to see the rookie signal-caller perform well when given a chance to make big throws against the Jets:

"

Norv Turner let Bridgewater loose yesterday against the Jets. He threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns on just 27 attempts, and he would’ve had a third touchdown had Minnesota not fumbled at the goal line (and recovered in the end zone). It was his best game since his debut start against the Falcons in Week 4.

The Vikings likely decided to give Bridgewater some leeway because they were playing the Jets secondary. Deep passes are harder to pull off when you’re scrambling for your life, after all, but it was nice to see a rookie quarterback respond after being told he could finally take the car for a spin on the highway.

"

Maybe Cordarrelle Patterson will have his own day in the sun sometime soon.

20. St. Louis Rams (6-7)

The Rams have outscored their opponents 76-0 the past two weeks. Granted, those two teams happened to be the lowly Raiders and Redskins, but that is an incredibly impressive achievement for any NFL team.

Rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald has seven sacks on the season, but that's not his only trick. ESPN producer Ben Fennell noted his ability to play the pass as well:

Somebody get this team a good quarterback. 2015 should be a very interesting season for master agitator Jeff Fisher and his young squad.

19. San Francisco 49ers (7-6)

San Francisco just can't strike the right balance on offense.

The Niners unwillingness to utilize Frank Gore this season has been particularly disappointing. He's topped the 20-carry mark just twice this season and yet is averaging a perfectly fine four yards per carry.

Sure, the team is chock full of talented wideouts, but they're of little use if Colin Kaepernick can't complete a throw downfield. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out the signal-caller's recent struggles in this aspect of his game:

Don't expect this team to have any impact on the NFC playoff push.

18. Cleveland Browns (7-6)

The Browns couldn't get the job done against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14 and will need a ton of help if they are to make the playoffs. Cleveland's vaunted secondary managed to pick off Andrew Luck twice, but the secondary fell off in the second half and couldn't hold on for a late victory.

It will be interesting to see if the team opts to start Johnny Manziel over Brian Hoyer in the last few weeks of the season, as the latter threw for just 140 yards and tossed two picks against the Colts.

17. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Once again, the Buffalo Bills appear to be an AFC also-ran after losing to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24-17 on Sunday. There is hope for this team's future, as the defense has been a fairly cohesive unit this season. A normally potent pass rush couldn't get to Peyton Manning on Sunday, but Corey Graham and Sean Gilmore came up with interceptions and the team held the legendary quarterback without a passing touchdown.

16. Houston Texans (7-6)

Watt had yet another superlative performance in Week 14, notching three sacks and five quarterback hits in the Texans' 27-13 win over the Jaguars. Watt could very well win the MVP award if the Texans make the playoffs; he might even deserve it just for giving this team a chance at finishing above .500.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

The Chiefs wideouts are still without a touchdown reception on the season and the offense is clearly unable to stretch opposing defenses with Alex Smith at quarterback. The lack of potency in the passing attack means this team will likely miss the playoffs, especially with tough matchups against the Steelers and Chargers to close out the season.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1)

The Bengals better have A.J. Green bubble-wrapped Monday through Saturday for the rest of the season. The star wideout had 224 yards in the Bengals' loss to the rival Steelers on Sunday and could very well be the key to keeping Andy Dalton from imploding down the stretch.

13. Miami Dolphins (7-6) 

The Miami Dolphins appear to be a long shot to make the AFC playoffs after their loss to the Ravens on Sunday. After beating the Chargers 37-0 on Nov. 2, the Fins have gone 2-3 and have scored more than one touchdown in a game just once in that span.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)

The Steelers' convincing win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday bodes well for their playoff chances, as the division crown could come down to a Week 17 matchup against the very same team. Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant could very well be the best young wide receiver duo in the league (Brown is 26, not quite in his prime years yet).

Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar noted Bryant's numbers this season projected out to a full season are staggering:

With Bryant, Brown and Le'Veon Bell in the fold, there's little wonder as to why the 32-year-old Ben Roethlisberger is showing few signs of slowing down.

11. San Diego Chargers (8-5)

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Of all the players putting in fine performances for the Bolts this season, wide receiver Malcom Floyd's might be the most remarkable. Floyd missed nearly all of last season with a career-threatening neck injury and has come back to reel in 42 catches for 743 yards and five touchdowns this year.

He also pulled in a stunning touchdown catch against the Patriots on Sunday, diving on a fade route for a 15-yard score. Floyd could very well be in contention for Comeback Player of the Year.

10. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

The AFC North battle is going to be great fun to watch over the last three weeks. The Browns are the most likely to be the odd team out, while the Ravens could very well have the easiest schedule to end the season. They play the Jaguars, Texans and Browns to close out the year, all three of which are very winnable games.

9. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)

Tony Romo was nearly perfect against the Chicago Bears defense in Week 14, completing 21 of 26 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. SportsNation noted he benefited from some excellent protection at times:

With the invaluable DeMarco Murray still eviscerating NFL defenses, this is one offense that doesn't appear to be in any danger of running out of steam anytime soon. It's up to the Boys' own defense to hold up its end of the bargain, as the team has given up 28 points or more in four of the team's last five games.

8. Detroit Lions (9-4)

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

If the current version of Matthew Stafford is the one that straps on the helmet every Sunday from now on, the rest of the league better watch out.

After putting up anemic numbers for much of the season, Stafford has come alive in the past two games, albeit against very poor defenses. He's thrown for five touchdowns and 701 yards the past two weeks, renewing his brilliant connection with wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Still, it should be a confidence boost for Stafford, which can't hurt as they gear up for the stretch run and try to hold on to an NFC wild-card spot.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

It's tough to imagine any quarterback faring well against the Seattle Seahawks defense the way it's playing. Of course, it had to be Mark Sanchez who ran into the buzzsaw. He finished with just 96 yards passing, two touchdowns and one interception and drew a scathing review from Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, per NFL on CBS:

The Eagles are in for quite a fight for the NFC East crown with the uncertainty at the quarterback position.

6. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton proved he just might be one of the league's best receivers after shredding Joe Haden and the Browns' suffocating secondary. His game-winning touchdown catch was made all the more impressive by this little nugget, per The Big Lead's Jason La Canfora:

Andrew Luck struggled working against Cleveland's pass coverage for at least the first half, but his ability to make plays with his feet is something most elite pocket passers don't possess. This could be a very dangerous team in the AFC playoffs.

5. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)

It's tough to see the Cardinals navigating the gauntlet of the NFC playoffs with so many more efficient offenses around them. Coach Bruce Arians has managed to keep things rolling with Drew Stanton at quarterback, which is a remarkable achievement. The Cardinals have a tough end to the regular season, facing the surging Rams, Seattle Seahawks and 49ers—in that order.

4. Denver Broncos (10-3)

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Somehow, the Bills managed to hold Peyton Manning without a touchdown pass on Sunday, ending his streak of consecutive games with a TD pass at 51. It's a good sign that the Broncos were able to remain fairly in control of the game throughout.

Running back C.J. Anderson is a monster down near the goal line—he had touchdown runs of one, three and six yards on Sunday—and the Broncos' corps of tailbacks just might be the deepest in the league, considering both Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball had the starting roles before Anderson took over.

3. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)

The Seattle Seahawks are going to mighty dangerous in the playoffs if they keep up their current level of play over the final three weeks of the regular season. The wide receiver corps is still suspect, but that doesn't appear to be slowing down Russell Wilson, who's thrown six touchdown in the last four games and hasn't tossed a pick since Nov. 9 against the Giants. 

The NFL also needs a new stat to quantify Marshawn Lynch's rugged running style. He would probably lead the league in average number of defenders helplessly dragged downfield per game if people kept track of such things.

2. Green Bay Packers (10-3)

Aaron Rodgers once again made the brilliant look routine on Monday night against the Falcons, throwing for 327 yards and three touchdowns without a pick. His deep touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty and it's tough to see any defense slowing down this offensive juggernaut, except for perhaps one.

Fox Sports' Erin Andrews knows which team she can't wait for the Packers to meet in the playoffs:

That would be an ideal clash for neutral football fans, as the Seahawks just might be the only team in the NFC with the defensive talent and mentality to slow down Rodgers and company.

1. New England Patriots (10-3)

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

The Pats survived a rough start to beat a surging Chargers team in Week 14. Rob Ninkovich is an animal on defense, Rob Gronkowski is pretty much untouchable at this point and Tom Brady is nowhere close to being finished.

The Patriots might have the AFC East all but wrapped up, but don't expect them to coast to the finish line. Capturing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage could be very important in these playoffs. ESPN Stats & Info points out why:

The Patriots and Broncos are clearly the class of the AFC, with the former looking like the class the entire league.