NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Initial Standings Post Thursday Night Football

The NFL standings don’t necessarily reflect reality.

While it is more important to be atop those standings than any mythical and subjective power rankings, anyone who watched the offensively challenged Arizona Cardinals squeak past the St. Louis Rams with four field goals to the tune of 12-6 would not mistake them for the best team in the NFC.

However, the Cardinals have 11 wins, which is the most in the NFC until/if the Green Bay Packers beat the Buffalo Bills Sunday. 

With that in mind, don’t look at these power rankings in the same way you would the standings page. This is more of a snapshot into which teams are playing the best football heading into Week 15 with the records being used as more of a guideline for context.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

Bob Levey/Getty Images

The Tennessee Titans clinched their spot on the bottom of these power rankings after getting destroyed by the New York Giants, of all teams. Now they get to complete their stretch against the New York teams with a date against the lowly Jets. 

The loser may claim this spot next week.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11)

The Week 15 battle between the Tamps Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers was supposed to have playoff implications at the beginning of the season, but the Buccaneers could not do their part in the weak NFC South. 

Signing Josh McCown was not the final straw to get Tampa Bay into the postseason this season. If only all those experts knew that back in August.

30. Washington (3-10) 

The saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. Well, Washington has three quarterbacks, so what does it have?

Washington must choose between Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy for its battle for last place with the Giants. That’s probably a sentence that fans didn’t want to read this year.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Who is excited for that Thursday night barnburner between the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16?

While the Jaguars play the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, they are looking ahead to the future with quarterback Blake Bortles and a young core of offensive skill players. Fans and commentators may as well do the same. 

This season is a lost cause for Jacksonville, but brighter days could be ahead if Bortles lives up to the high expectations that are still in place.

28. New York Jets (2-11)

Even when the New York Jets are bad, they are at least fascinating. 

Fewer teams in the league will have as many subplots entering the offseason, as Rex Ryan’s future will be at stake and the quarterback position could be up for grabs. It would be in Geno Smith’s best interest to finish the season strong.

27. Oakland Raiders (2-11)  

The Oakland Raiders already beat the Kansas City Chiefs once this season, and now they get another chance in Week 15.

The season may be long over for Oakland, but ending its division rival’s playoff hopes would be a solid consolation prize. Look for Derek Carr and company to play with the appropriate amount of urgency Sunday.

26. New Orleans Saints (5-8) 

Technically, someone has to win the NFC South, and the 5-8 New Orleans Saints have a golden opportunity to seize control of the division with a win in Chicago Monday.

Whether Drew Brees and company can do just that remains to be seen, but the Saints probably don’t deserve to make the playoffs if they can’t beat the Chicago Bears at this point.

25. Chicago Bears (5-8)

The Bears are a complete mess right now, and things likely won’t get much better the rest of this season. 

Brandon Marshall is out with injury, and the defense couldn’t stop a Pop Warner team. Plus, there is tension among the ranks about Jay Cutler’s status as a team leader and whether the front office has buyer’s remorse. The only ones who certainly have buyer’s remorse heading into Week 15 are the ones with tickets for Monday night’s game.

24. Carolina Panthers (4-8-1)

The Carolina Panthers have a chance to play their way back into the division race with just a home win over the Buccaneers Sunday. 

If the vulnerable offensive line gives Derek Anderson enough time to throw and opens up some more lanes for resurgent running back Jonathan Stewart, fans could see just that. If only the defense could live up to the preseason expectations as well, then Carolina would be on to something.

23. New York Giants (4-9)

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

The New York Giants stay relatively high in terms of the 20s in these power rankings on the heels of their blowout win against the Titans. However, this team is far behind those right ahead of it. 

Like their New York counterpart, the Jets, it will be intriguing to see how drastically the Giants approach any changes in store for this offseason.

22. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)

The Minnesota Vikings are only one win away from a .500 record, which is somewhat surprising considering this is a rebuilding year with rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater under center. A Week 15 win in Detroit is unlikely, but credit the team for continuing to fight late into the year. 

The same cannot be said about plenty of other squads with losing records.

21. St. Louis Rams (6-8) 

ESPN Stats and Info noted that the St. Louis Rams have been getting excellent play from their defense:

Unfortunately for St. Louis and those NFC contenders who were hoping the Arizona Cardinals would lose Thursday, there are two sides of the ball. The Rams offense never had a chance against Arizona’s stout defense, which led to a rather ugly and low-scoring Thursday night affair.

20. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

The Atlanta Falcons can put up some points and move the ball, but they aren’t going to do anything this season if they don’t start playing better defense.

They get their chance in a monumentally important Week 15 home date with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Matt Ryan and Julio Jones pick up the win, an NFC South title could be in the cards this season.

19. San Francisco 49ers (7-6)

The San Francisco 49ers are trending in the wrong direction, and now they have to deal with their archrivals, the red-hot Seahawks, in Seattle. 

If losing to the Raiders in Week 14 wasn’t the last straw for the 49ers’ playoff hopes in the 2014 season, then losing against the Legion of Boom and company for the second time this season certainly will be.

18. Miami Dolphins (7-6)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

There is a logjam of seven- and eight-win teams in the AFC that are battling for wild-card positioning, but only the Miami Dolphins have to travel to New England to take on the Patriots in Week 15. 

That is terrible timing for Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the Dolphins, but they will likely be cursing missed opportunities against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions by the end of the season if the standings are still so close.

17. Cleveland Browns (7-6)

Here’s Johnny. 

It’s officially Johnny Manziel time for the Cleveland Browns. The team picked a critical matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals to bust Manziel out, but the Bengals defense is vulnerable. If Manziel makes enough plays to actually win and keep the Browns in the playoff race, expect nonstop coverage until the next game.

16. Houston Texans (7-6)

It seems like the only conversation about the Houston Texans this season has been about how talented J.J. Watt is and if he deserves MVP recognition, but that overlooks the fact that the Texans are right in the chase for a playoff spot. 

Unfortunately for Houston, it has to travel to Indianapolis in Week 15 to play the Colts. However, an upset win there would make the playoff race for both the division and wild card interesting.

15. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

The Buffalo Bills are yet another seven- or eight-win AFC team that has to battle with one of the league’s elite in Week 15. 

Buffalo and its stout defense will face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a game with immense implications for both sides. The Bills narrowly missed beating the Denver Broncos in Week 14 but need to come through against the next superstar quarterback this time around.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6)

Any time a contender plays a home game against the Raiders, it should be considered a must-win, but the Chiefs need to enact some revenge and stay alive in the postseason race in the process. 

Look for a steady dose of Jamaal Charles because the Chiefs passing game has been almost nonexistent recently. If Charles can get his club the early lead, it should be enough for Kansas City to win at home.

13. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

While most of the AFC North focus has been on Manziel, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals’ precarious lead in the division, the Baltimore Ravens have quietly accumulated an 8-5 record. 

Now they get what is almost an assured win at home against the Jaguars in Week 15 and a date at home with the Brows in Week 17. At this point, it would be a surprise not to see the Ravens in the playoffs in some capacity this season.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1)

Every time NFL fans count the Cincinnati Bengals out, they seem to pick up another win. If that logic holds, they should bounce back from the devastating loss to the Steelers and beat Manziel and the Browns. 

The good news is that A.J. Green finally looked like the superstar he is in the last game, but the bad news is the defense is reeling. Sunday’s game will go a long way toward determining Cincinnati’s eventual fate this season.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Le’Veon Bell seemed excited about his team’s postseason chances, according to STATS LLC, via ESPN.com. "We have a great opportunity in front of us, so I'm going to embrace it," Bell said. "This is the part of the year where things get a little tight, they get more exciting. Everybody in the locker room is excited about this last couple of weeks."

There is reason for that excitement after a blowout win over the Bengals, especially since Pittsburgh’s last two games come against fellow AFC playoff contenders Cincinnati (again) and Kansas City. 

The Steelers have a chance to play themselves right into the postseason.

10. San Diego Chargers (8-5)

The San Diego Chargers are fresh off a loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, and now they have to play Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Things are starting to seem unfair for the playoff hopefuls. 

Even if Philip Rivers and company lose to Denver, though, the last two games are against the 49ers and Chiefs, who have lost five of their last six combined games. The opportunity will still be there for a 10-6 record and a potential playoff spot.

9. Arizona Cardinals (11-3) 

ESPN Stats and Info noted the Arizona Cardinals picked up their Thursday night win the hard way:

The defense may be stout, but it is difficult envisioning this team making any noise in the postseason with Ryan Lindley at the quarterbacking helm down the stretch. Beating the Rams is one thing, but are the Cardinals really going to knock off the Seahawks in a must-win game?

8. Indianapolis Colts (9-4)

David Richard/Associated Press

The Indianapolis Colts somehow found a way to win against the Browns in Week 14, and now they have the opportunity to clinch their division at home against the Texans. 

As long as Andrew Luck is under center, this team can play with anyone in the league. However, the defense has to play better down the stretch if Indianapolis wants to contend for a potential Super Bowl spot.

7. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)

This is it for the Dallas Cowboys.

Tony Romo and company will head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in Week 15 with first place in the NFC East on the line. A loss would be difficult to overcome in both the division and crowded wild-card race with only two games remaining in the season after Sunday. 

No pressure or anything.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)

Everything that was just said about the Cowboys applies here for the Philadelphia Eagles, although fans already saw Chip Kelly’s bunch run all over Dallas on Thanksgiving. 

If the Eagles can do that again, Dallas’ division hopes would be nearly gone.

5. Detroit Lions (9-4)

While Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers continue to wow the NFL with high point totals every week, it is worth pointing out that the Detroit Lions still control their own destiny in the NFC North. 

First, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the resurgent defense have to take care of business against the Vikings and Bears, but a showdown with Green Bay awaits in Week 17. Buckle up, because a first-round bye and playoff positioning will likely be on the line.

4. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)

Remember when everyone was wondering what was wrong with the defending champs earlier in the season?

Well, the Seattle Seahawks are playing their best football of the year and are a legitimate threat to challenge the Packers in the NFC. The defense is once again flying around, and the Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch combination is difficult to stop for any defense. 

The opportunity to put the final nail in San Francisco’s coffin likely has the Seahawks fired up about Week 15 as well.

3. Denver Broncos (10-3)

The inevitable showdown between Manning and Brady in the AFC Championship Game will be excellent, but home-field advantage for that clash is still up for grabs.

The Broncos have a difficult showdown with the Chargers in San Diego on tap, although if the amount of New England fans that showed up in Week 14 in Qualcomm Stadium was any indication, the Broncos could have some support on the road.

A win would clinch the AFC West.

2. New England Patriots (10-3)

The Patriots have won with their defense and their offense, which portends good things for the upcoming playoffs. After all, they are bound to face some adversity at some point, and it is encouraging to know they can win in a number of different ways. 

Brady and company are looking for some revenge against the Dolphins in Week 15 and should get it with relative ease. As long as Rob Gronkowski is out there, New England looks unstoppable at times.

1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)  

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller and ESPN’s Adam Schefter had a rather amusing take on the dominance the Green Bay offense has flashed down the stretch this season:

It is almost impossible to stop Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Eddie Lacy, which is why the Packers have the inside track to landing the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If that becomes a reality, good luck winning in Lambeau in January.

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