NFL Power Rankings 2015: Predicting Post-Week 14 Standings

With the playoff push in full swing, each week in the final quarter of the season can have big implications for teams moving up and down in the power rankings. 

There are plenty of high-stakes matchups on the docket in Week 14, as the Minnesota Vikings fight to keep their shot at the NFC North title alive against the Arizona Cardinals, while the Houston Texans will attempt to borrow a page from the Philadelphia Eagles' book and upset New England to move into first place in the AFC South.

Plenty of other important matchups will have power rankings rising and falling this week in the NFL. Let's break down where each team is projected to stand after Week 14 action and which teams are expected to help themselves the most this week. 

Rank	Team	Record Prior to Week 14
1	Carolina Panthers	12-0
2	Cincinnati Bengals	10-2
3	Arizona Cardinals	10-2
4	New England Patriots	10-2
5	Seattle Seahawks	7-5
6	Denver Broncos	10-2
7	Pittsburgh Steelers	7-5
8	Green Bay Packers	8-4
9	Minnesota Vikings	8-4
10	Kansas City Chiefs	7-5
11	New York Jets	7-5
12	Washington Redskins	5-7
13	Indianapolis Colts	6-6
14	New York Giants	5-7
15	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6-6
16	Oakland Raiders	5-7
17	Buffalo Bills	6-6
18	Houston Texans	6-6
19	Detroit Lions	4-8
20	Philadelphia Eagles	5-7
21	Miami Dolphins	5-7
22	Atlanta Falcons	6-6
23	Chicago Bears	5-7
24	Tennessee Titans	3-9
25	Dallas Cowboys	4-8
26	New Orleans Saints	4-8
27	Jacksonville Jaguars	4-8
28	St. Louis Rams	4-8
29	San Francisco 49ers	4-8
30	San Diego Chargers	3-9
31	Baltimore Ravens	4-8
32	Cleveland Browns	2-10

Week 14 Key Winners

New England Patriots

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

There's nothing like adversity to light a fire under Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. 

After a surprise upset by the Eagles in Week 13, New England will be raring to go in Week 14 and prove that they're still the cream of the AFC crop. 

On paper, however, the Patriots' matchup against the Houston Texans is more winnable than the Cincinnati Bengals' clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so even assuming both teams win those games, the Patriots remain the No. 2 AFC team in the power rankings behind the Bengals.

This is not a must-win game for New England by any means; at 10-2, they pretty much have the division locked up.

However, after their Week 13 loss to the Eagles, the Patriots would actually be No. 3 in the AFC among the conference's three 10-2 teams if the playoffs were to start in Week 14, behind Cincinnati and Denver. 

If New England wins out, however, it can reclaim its first-round bye, as the Broncos and Bengals have an upcoming matchup. 

The good news for the Patriots? The loss to the Eagles was somewhat of a fluke. Philadelphia scored on three consecutive defensive or special teams plays. 

The Texans always have the option of gaining some points through their defense, but it's hard to believe they'll be able to replicate Philadelphia's game plan. 

Green Bay Packers

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Green Bay Packers haven't strung two wins together since their Week 7 bye, but they have their first real opportunity to do so in Week 14 when they host the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. 

This is a crucial game for the Packers, who hold a tenuous lead atop the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings breathing down their necks. It would improve their conference record and help them get hot heading into the postseason. 

Green Bay did not look like a playoff-caliber team in the first half of its matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 13, as the Lions scored 20 unanswered points before the Packers finally came to play. 

But their last 15 minutes of football was brilliantly played, with Aaron Rodgers returning to elite form and connecting with tight end Richard Rodgers on a perfectly thrown Hail Mary with no time remaining on the clock.

Still, Green Bay cannot rely on improbable, game-changing plays to win for the next four games and will need to improve on offense. That can begin against the Cowboys, who barely beat Washington on Monday, 19-16. Dallas is allowing opponents an average of 23.1 points per game. 

The Packers are certainly capable of scoring 24 or more points in a game, if they can shore up their offense. It starts with the wide receivers limiting their drops, and the Packers will also need to get their run game going.

If they can achieve that balance and play well through all four quarters, they could begin to look like the Packers we're used to again.

Arizona Cardinals

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

The 10-2 Arizona Cardinals appear to have a firm grasp on the NFC West, but this is no time for coasting.

There is still a scenario, albeit a less likely one, in which the surging Seattle Seahawks can catch the Cardinals. The final quarter of the schedule is by no means an easy one for Arizona, which faces the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks in the final four games. 

Of those four teams, three would be in the playoffs if the season ended today—and the Eagles are just one game out of the lead in the NFC East. 

Yikes. 

Needless to say, Arizona needs to keep its foot firmly planted on the gas. This team is incredibly well-built to make a deep playoff run.

Carson Palmer is playing some of his best football, coming off a skillful performance against the St. Louis Rams defense. Palmer threw for 356 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. 

On the ground, rookie David Johnson was one yard shy of 100.

Most importantly, however, Arizona's defense looks stout, despite the fact that everyone expected it to take a step backward in 2015 with the loss of coordinator Todd Bowles. 

Bruce Arians is ready to steer this team to a Super Bowl, and he isn't about to let the Minnesota Vikings stand in his way. Expect this to be one of the most exciting matchups in Week 14, and expect it to end in a crucial win for Arizona.