NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Initial Standings Post-Thursday Night Football

NFL fans had to wait until Week 16 to finally get the much-anticipated Thursday night showdown between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans that everyone has been waiting for all year.

Sarcasm aside, the playoff picture is sure to look completely different after a critical slate of Week 16 games. The power rankings will also look different considering there are 12 teams in the eight-to-10 win range that are fighting for their playoff lives and positioning.

With that in mind, here is a look at the power rankings following Jacksonville’s Thursday night win before the rest of a crucial Week 16.

32. Tennessee Titans (2-13) 

Good news, Titans fans. As NFL on ESPN pointed out, you were the real winner Thursday night despite Jacksonville outscoring your team, 21-13:

It truly is all about draft positioning for the Titans now, especially since young quarterback Zach Mettenberger is not on the field because of injury and missing out on critical development time. Alas, there’s always next year.

31. Oakland Raiders (2-12) 

The Oakland Raiders are also in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in the draft, but they are looking to play the role of spoiler against the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos in the final two weeks. Win or lose, the most important thing for the Raiders is the continued development of Derek Carr at quarterback.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could really use a certain Heisman Trophy winner from Oregon next season, but they have to play out the rest of this season’s schedule first.

This is not the way it was supposed to go for Lovie Smith and the Bucs. They were a dark-horse playoff contender in many people’s minds before the season started, but life has been much more difficult for quarterback Josh McCown without Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery to throw to on a consistent basis.

29. Washington (3-11)

This season has been an unmitigated disaster for Washington. 

It has struggled through injuries and a lack of production at the quarterback spot and now only has one gleaming ray of light at the end of the 2014 tunnel—the chance to play spoiler to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

28. New York Jets (3-11)

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Much like Washington, the New York Jets have shuffled quarterbacks with similar results this season. Whether it was Geno Smith or Michael Vick under center, the Jets have looked miserable on offense and vulnerable in the secondary almost every game. 

That is not a winning combination.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

Give the Jacksonville Jaguars some credit. They have scraped together three wins on the season and at least seem to put up a fight every single week. 

Jacksonville is incredibly young, especially at the quarterback and wide receiver positions with Blake Bortles and company, and should improve moving forward within the next couple of seasons. Another favorable draft pick this season should help the cause.

26. New York Giants (5-9)

The New York Giants have gotten a breakout season from Odell Beckham Jr. but are still a disappointing 5-9. 

The defense cannot stop the run, and Eli Manning made too many early mistakes when the games still meant something to New York’s postseason chances. That has ultimately proved too much to overcome.

25. Chicago Bears (5-9) 

Think Jay Cutler’s play on the field makes Chicago Bears fans wince? Look at this money-related stat from ESPN Stats & Info:

While it may be surprising that he was benched, given Cutler’s contract, ESPN Stats & Info also noted why it shouldn’t have been that shocking:

On paper, this Chicago team should at least be fighting for a playoff spot. The offense has some of the most dangerous weapons in the entire league anchoring the unit, yet the Bears have gotten crushed in so many games at this point it is hard to keep track. 

Given the high preseason expectations and the abysmal way in which Chicago responded, the argument can be made that the Bears are the league’s most disappointing team this season.

24. Carolina Panthers (5-8-1)

Of course, if the Bears were in the NFC South like the Carolina Panthers, they would be right in the thick of the playoff hunt. 

The Panthers may get Cam Newton back for their critical Week 16 showdown with the Cleveland Browns. While that will help, the real key is how Carolina’s defense responds against Johnny Manziel, who is likely down on his confidence after a poor showing in his first career start. A win here would keep Carolina very much alive in the race for a division crown.

23. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Another NFC South team with a losing record that is right in the race is the Atlanta Falcons. 

The Falcons play in the Superdome against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 in what could be the most important game of the season in this division. The winner will have the inside track to a division crown, while the loser will likely be watching the playoffs from home like the rest of us come January.

22. St. Louis Rams (6-8)

The St. Louis Rams have too much talent on the defensive side to be 6-8, but a lack of health and production on the offensive side was ultimately their undoing. 

St. Louis boasts an intimidating front seven that no contender wants to play right now because of the trap-game possibility. The Rams will look to play spoiler in Seattle in Week 17, but first have to beat the Giants to keep the hopes of a .500 season alive.

21. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The Minnesota Vikings could have easily punted this season when they lost Adrian Peterson, but they used it as a springboard to Teddy Bridgewater’s career. The result has been a respectable 6-8 start with some reminders of both Bridgewater’s talent and the surrounding question marks. 

The Vikings' last chance to play spoiler this season comes in Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins because they play the traveling circus that is the Chicago Bears to finish the season.

20. New Orleans Saints (6-8)

Sunday’s showdown with Atlanta is incredibly important for the New Orleans Saints, regardless of what the records indicate.

If the Saints can take care of business at home, they will be in a golden spot for a run at the division crown—and could even clinch it depending on Carolina’s results. There should be plenty of points as Drew Brees and Matt Ryan duel it out against two leaky secondaries.

19. Cleveland Browns (7-7) 

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noted that it’s not all bad news for Manziel and the Cleveland Browns offense. After all, these points of reference worked out alright:

The Browns are technically still alive for a postseason spot, but an unrealistic number of things and scenarios would have to happen. Still, sitting at .500 with only two games remaining likely feels good for some Browns fans who are used to more significant struggles.

18. Miami Dolphins (7-7)

Although the playoffs aren’t going to happen this season for the Miami Dolphins, they are two wins over the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets away from finishing 9-7. There is plenty of reason for optimism for the Dolphins moving forward even if they will likely fall short of their goals this season.

17. San Francisco 49ers (7-7)

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers have been a lock to reach the conference championship in years past, but this season has completely gone off the rails. 

At this point, the team may be looking for a new coach in a few weeks. Whoever is the lead man for the 49ers next season, he will have to find a way to get Colin Kaepernick to play like his old self.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (8-6)

It wasn’t that long ago that the Kansas City Chiefs were in great position for a postseason spot, but three losses in a row in late November and early December have proved tough to overcome. 

Wins over Pittsburgh and San Diego to finish the season could be enough to clinch a postseason spot, but the only team the Chiefs have actually beaten since Nov. 16 is the lowly Raiders. Jamaal Charles can only do so much.

15. Houston Texans (7-7) 

Adam Schefter of ESPN noted just how snakebitten the quarterback spot for the Houston Texans has been this season:

J.J. Watt may be in the MVP discussion from the defensive side of the ball, but it will be difficult for the Houston Texans to actually win with so many health concerns. However, if Houston can find a way to beat the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, it will still be very much alive for a postseason spot.

14. San Diego Chargers (8-6)

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

The San Diego Chargers have to hit the road in their last two games, but the Week 16 showdown with the San Francisco 49ers looks much more manageable than it did at the start of the season. 

The Chargers may be treading water in the playoff race, but they are loaded with talent, especially on offense. If they manage to find a way into the postseason field, the AFC’s best teams need to be on full upset alert.

13. Baltimore Ravens (9-5) 

The Baltimore Ravens have won four of their last five games and have played their way into the AFC North and AFC wild-card races with only two games remaining.

The Ravens have to play the Texans—and whoever they go with at quarterback—and then Manziel and the Browns. Two victories in those very winnable games would almost certainly set the Ravens up for a potential playoff run.

12. Buffalo Bills (8-6) 

Schefter of ESPN noted that the Buffalo Bills could have reinforcements on the way:

The Bills picked up one of the most impressive wins of the season in Week 15 when they knocked off Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, and they should be able to follow that with a win over the Raiders in Week 16. Buffalo’s defense is fifth in the league against the pass and ninth against the run and could be a problem for the higher seeds if the Bills reach the postseason.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Everything was right in front of the Philadelphia Eagles and they blew it. 

Rather than seize control of the race for the NFC East crown with a Week 15 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles lost at home and now find themselves on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture. All Philadelphia can do now is beat Washington and hope that Andrew Luck destroys a vulnerable Dallas secondary.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1)

Uh oh, Cincinnati Bengals fans. Another prime-time game is on tap for Week 16. 

The Bengals play the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Week 16 and may need the win to stay in first place with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ravens nipping at their heels. Before Cincinnati worries about the division standings though, it will need to find a way to slow down Peyton Manning and the Broncos attack.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)

If the Pittsburgh Steelers can manage to string together two wins against fellow playoff contenders in the Chiefs and Bengals to finish the season, it will set them up nicely for a chance at postseason glory. 

Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games and features the second-best passing offense in the entire league in terms of yards per game. If Ben Roethlisberger can keep the offense rolling down the stretch, the Steelers will be a tough out for the rest of the AFC.

8. Indianapolis Colts (10-4)

The Colts may be 10-4 with four straight wins, but they have looked rather pedestrian the last two times out. They edged out Cleveland by a single point and then only managed 17 points in a 17-10 win over the Houston Texans in Week 15. 

Now comes a cross-conference showdown with Dallas. Two wins to finish the season would still keep Indianapolis’s faint hopes for a first-round bye alive depending on what the Broncos and New England Patriots do in Week 16.

7. Arizona Cardinals (11-3)

The Arizona Cardinals may have plenty of injuries at the quarterback spot, but they have one of the league’s best defenses that has to carry them the rest of the way. 

The good news for Arizona heading into Week 16 is that it is undefeated at home this season. The bad news is the red-hot Seattle Seahawks are the next opponent. It will take one of Arizona’s best efforts of the season to beat the Seahawks and maintain that narrow grip on the NFC West.

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-4) 

Rapoport of NFL.com passed along a quote from Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett regarding the health of running back DeMarco Murray heading into the showdown with Indianapolis:

The Cowboys are a much more dangerous offensive unit with their workhorse at running back, and they have a chance to flip the usual Dallas December script this year after stunning the Eagles. While that win was likely incredibly satisfying for the Cowboys and their fans, it won’t mean much without a follow-up win over the Colts.

5. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

On paper, the Green Bay Packers may be better than the fifth-best team in the league, but until they prove that they can beat the Detroit Lions head-to-head, that is where Rodgers and company stand. 

Green Bay is fresh off a stunning loss to Buffalo, which means it will likely take out all its frustrations on the miserable Buccaneers in Week 16.

4. Detroit Lions (10-4)

Those Lions are in first place in the NFC North by virtue of the head-to-head win they have over the Packers from earlier in the season, but they have to go to Lambeau Field to finish the year. 

A win there will be much more difficult to come by, but the Detroit defense has been excellent all season. Combine that with Calvin Johnson on the offensive side, and it is no wonder that Detroit is making a charge in 2014.

3. Seattle Seahawks (10-4)

All the Seahawks have done is win four in a row and seven out of eight to throw themselves firmly in the middle of any Super Bowl discussions that are being held before the playoffs begin. 

Seattle has stuck to the same defense and ball-control formula that got it the Super Bowl title a season ago and is first in the league in rushing yards, first against the pass and fifth against the run. Those are potential championship numbers if they keep up throughout January.

2. Denver Broncos (11-3)

The Denver Broncos remain in the No. 2 spot before a critical showdown in Cincinnati between two AFC division leaders. 

The emergence of running back C.J. Anderson has made the Broncos all the more dangerous on offense, and it is especially concerning for the rest of the league because of how difficult it is to throw when the weather gets poor in the playoffs. Anderson’s presence means Manning and the aerial assault of Denver has some support in the running game.

1. New England Patriots (11-3)

The New England Patriots will have home-field advantage all the way to the Super Bowl if they win out thanks to the head-to-head win over the Broncos from earlier in the season.

Considering both the Patriots and Broncos are undefeated at home, that is absolutely critical on the brink of the playoffs. The Patriots have what should be an easy win against the Jets and then a showdown with playoff contender Buffalo to finish the season. 

As long as Tom Brady and company continue to dominate, those games and the No. 1 seed should be no problem for the Patriots.

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