NFL Power Rankings 2014: Predicting Post-Week 15 Standings

A number of key Week 15 battles are set to shake up the NFL power rankings in a massive way.

Teams vying for the postseason range all across the rankings due to some very uneven divisions, but the weekend slate should bring at least a glimmer of clarity entering the final two-week stretch. With 11 of the 16 matchups on tap featuring inter-divisional clashes, the contenders and pretenders will soon separate.

It's never too early to take a look forward at those games and see how the outcomes will impact the league's hierarchy down the home stretch. Let's break down a fresh set of power rankings, with Week 15 results in mind.

32. Oakland Raiders

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The Raiders have started to show signs of formidability as the season winds down, knocking off a pair of playoff contenders. They're fresh off a shocking home win over the 49ers but will be unable to repeat success against Kansas City in a Week 15 rematch. 

Some of the diehards may be upset to hear that the 2-11 Raiders are one win away from possibly giving up the No. 1 pick, however, as Fox Sports' Paul Schrager noted:

Losing a few draft spots will matter little if the Raiders are able to build some momentum entering 2015.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville's road woes will continue with a Week 15 defeat to Baltimore. The likely playoff-bound Ravens will trounce Jacksonville in Week 15 to keep the Jaguars competing with Oakland for the league cellar.

30. Tennessee Titans

No team in the NFL is struggling quite like the Titans, who have made a serious case for the league's worst team with a seventh straight defeat. They get a great chance to end the streak at home against New York, but the improved Jets will show their brass by knocking off Tennessee with rookie Zach Mettenberger out for the season.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs will keep pace for the top pick in the draft with a loss to Carolina on Sunday, which they desperately need to target a franchise quarterback of the future. Tampa Bay fans might as well start buying the Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota jerseys now. 

28. New York Jets

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Rex Ryan's Jets showed their resolve by battling into overtime against Minnesota, and their grit will get them a road win against hapless Tennessee in Week 15. Even a few wins down the stretch won't prevent the cleaning-house likely to come in the offseason for New York.

27. Washington Redskins

Whether it's Colt McCoy or Robert Griffin III starting Sunday, the Redskins will stand no chance against Eli Manning and the Giants. Washington is a mess and faces a plethora of questions in the offseason, including whether first-year coach Jay Gruden will be the one getting them out of said mess.

26. Chicago Bears

Speaking of messes, the Bears are among the biggest of them. It's gotten so bad in Chicago that wideout Brandon Marshall—recently sidelined for the season with a rib injury—claimed the Bears' upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Saints shouldn't get the national spotlight, per ESPN.com's Michael C. Wright. 

That spotlight will only amplify the Bears' struggles, as they ring in another embarrassing loss at Soldier Field.

25. New York Giants

The Giants haven't caught many breaks this season, but a recently soft schedule is one of them. After allowing the Jaguars to pull out a comeback win, they drubbed the Titans and now head to Washington intent on beating down a beleaguered Redskins team.

24. Minnesota Vikings

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Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings may be on the outside of the playoff picture, but they are showing some serious formidability as far as building toward 2015. Minnesota pulled out an exhilarating overtime win over the Jets at home and will turn around to compete against the Detroit Lions in a tight Week 15 loss. 

23. Houston Texans

The Texans have been mired in mediocrity all season long, but they have a huge chance to break out of it with a Week 15 contest against the Colts. However, Houston will be unable to take advantage against a playoff-bound Indianapolis squad. A .500 season is this team's fate, and that will become apparent down the stretch.

22. St. Louis Rams

Don't look now, but the Rams haven't allowed a point in two straight games. Jeff Fisher has his defense dominating opponents, which should continue against the Cardinals in Week 15. Jeff Pearlman is one of many who agrees:

They won't be competing for a playoff seed, but the Rams can build some serious momentum into 2015 with a late push.

21. Carolina Panthers

The 4-8-1 Panthers are miraculously in the playoff hunt in a terrible NFC South, but the biggest key to their success down the stretch will be Cam Newton's health. ESPN.com reported Newton suffered two back fractures after a two-car accident Tuesday. 

But few teams have as serviceable a backup as Derek Anderson, who will have no trouble leading the Panthers to a win over the struggling Bucs if need be.

20. Buffalo Bills

Now is not the time for the Bills to hit an impossible stretch of their schedule, with a wild-card playoff seed vanishing from their grasp. But after Sunday's loss to Denver, Buffalo will turn around to get drubbed by a furious Packers team intent on sealing home-field advantage for the postseason.

19. Atlanta Falcons

The 5-8 Falcons are more dangerous than you may think, and they proved that by nearly coming back to beat the Packers on Monday Night Football. Atlanta will suffer another tough defeat on the road at Pittsburgh, but two games against division foes down the stretch will allow them to continue vying for the lowly NFC South. 

18. Cleveland Browns

The Johnny Manziel era has officially begun in Cleveland, with him being named starter for Week 15 against the Bengals. Manziel may give them a better chance to win, but his first victory won't come in a tough starting debut against a stingy Bengals defense.

17. New Orleans Saints

Despite a 5-8 record, the Saints are very much in position for a playoff push in the NFC South. With a favorable matchup against the Bears on Monday night, New Orleans will make a statement on national television and show that a team from the league's worst division may finish with a .500 record after all.

16. Miami Dolphins

Like last year, the Dolphins are set for more late-season struggles that will inevitably doom their chances of making the playoffs. That will continue in Week 15 against New England, as the Patriots will make a statement with a home victory over their division rivals. 

15. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens will get a big boost for their late-season playoff push with Jacksonville coming to visit, and they will easily grab their fourth win in five games. Joe Flacco's aerial assault and a formidable run game behind Justin Forsett and Bernard Pierce will have Baltimore able to keep up for a playoff spot despite a hapless pass defense.

14. San Francisco 49ers

With their playoff hopes fleeting, the 49ers are heading to Seattle at the worst possible time. Colin Kaepernick is undergoing the worst struggles of his career, and it will only continue with a trip to face the Seahawks in Week 15. 

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

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The Steelers aren't going anywhere in the AFC wild-card hunt as well as the AFC North, as told by their 42-21 win in Cincinnati last weekend. They will keep it rolling into Atlanta against a Falcons team that was recently torched by Aaron Rodgers. Don't think Ben Roethlisberger didn't take notice, as he'll be ready to gash the Falcons—who are on a short week. 

12. Kansas City Chiefs

In great position for an AFC wild-card seed a few weeks ago, the Chiefs are now mired in a three-game losing skid. Although it started with a loss to the Raiders, Kansas City will figure out how to end it against that same Oakland team in Week 15, as Jamaal Charles should run wild yet again.

11. San Diego Chargers

After allowing 20 unanswered points in a home loss to the Patriots, the San Diego Chargers will face the reality of losing their favorable playoff positioning with a Week 15 loss to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Philip Rivers and Co. will have to figure it out against stout defenses of the 49ers and Chiefs down the stretch to get back in the postseason hunt.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

Even after falling to Pittsburgh at home last week, the Bengals have won five of their last seven contests and are poised to make it six-of-eight Sunday at the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati will see the importance of grabbing its ninth win of the year, with closeout contests against Denver and Pittsburgh set to decide the Bengals' fate.

9. Dallas Cowboys

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The Cowboys made it official that they will at least finish above .500 this season, but their playoff hopes will take a serious hit with another defeat to the Eagles in Week 15. Dallas will be in a dead-heat with teams like Detroit and Seattle or Arizona for the wild card after conceding the division to Philadelphia. 

8. Arizona Cardinals

Nothing has come easy for the Cardinals since the loss of Carson Palmer, having lost two of three. Arizona got back to its winning ways with a big win over Kansas City on Sunday, but it won't find things as easy against St. Louis as it was at home. The Cardinals will fall to the peaking Rams, which will put the Seahawks in control of the division.

7. Detroit Lions

The Lions have been on a tear over the last few months, with their only losses since Oct. 12 coming against division-leaders Arizona and New England. Calvin Johnson is finally healthy again and making game-changing plays, and Matthew Stafford will remain hot in a Week 15 win over Minnesota to stay firmly in the wild-card race.

6. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck's late heroics spurred the Colts to a crucial win over Cleveland in Week 14, which means Indianapolis can wrap up the AFC South Sunday against the Texans. With the chance to win the division and stay in the hunt for a first-round bye, the Colts will make sure to take care of business.

5. Philadelphia Eagles

With just a few weeks in between meetings, the Cowboys won't figure things out against the Eagles and will fall yet again. Philadelphia will put a stranglehold over the NFC East division with the victory, as Chip Kelly's offense hopes to get injured quarterback Nick Foles back for the postseason.

4. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks' defensive dominance had been lost throughout stretches of 2014, but it has resurfaced down the stretch as Seattle makes a push for the postseason. It's the division and a first-round bye that the Seahawks desperately chase, but the chance to inevitably end the 49ers' season will be extra icing on the cake in Week 15.

3. Denver Broncos

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It remains to be seen whether the Broncos can contend against the league's heavyweights, with losses to Seattle and New England on the slate. Denver will have no trouble notching another win over division-rival San Diego on the road Sunday, but the Broncos will most likely have to go through New England to return to the Super Bowl. 

2. New England Patriots

Only the NFL-best Packers have beaten the Patriots since September. Let that sink in. After withstanding an early surge from the Chargers in Week 14, New England rattled off 20 unanswered to notch a huge victory.

Week 15 presents a big division matchup in which the Patriots can all but wrap up the AFC East, and they won't back down to the challenge, toppling a Dolphins team they are looking for revenge against after a season-opening defeat.

1. Green Bay Packers

The Packers offense is tearing through every team they line up against at a rate that suggests it doesn't really matter that the defense ranks 20th or worse against both the run and the pass. Aaron Rodgers hasn't thrown a regular-season interception away from home since 2012, and if he takes that streak into the postseason, the Packers will be impossible to top.

The beat-up Bills will stand no chance against the Pack in Week 15 as they move closer to home-field advantage.