NFL Power Rankings Week 15: 2015 Standings, Reaction for All Teams Post-MNF

Another week is in the books, but the NFL playoff picture remains a jumbled mess.

The teams at the top of the power rankings have remained relatively unchanged throughout the season, and all are in excellent position to advanced to the playoffs. In fact, the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals have already clinched a spot in the postseason.

But outside the top 10, the power rankings get confusing.

Due to the messes that are the NFC East and AFC South, teams as low as the 25th-ranked Jacksonville Jaguars are still alive in the playoff hunt.

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

Notable Teams

7. Seattle Seahawks

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Seahawks' brutal early-season schedule, which featured the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and Panthers within the first six weeks, put them in a hole. But surviving that rough stretch is paying dividends now as Seattle is coasting into the playoffs down the stretch. 

After cruising to an easy win in Baltimore in Week 14, the Seahawks effectively have another bye week on Sunday as they host Johnny Manziel and the Cleveland Browns. 

The most pressing issue for Seattle at this point is figuring out its running back situation. 

Thomas Rawls, who had taken over for the injured Marshawn Lynch, is out for the year with a broken ankle, according to NFL.com.

Seattle has signed Bryce Brown to help replace him, according to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, but will continue to hold out hope that Lynch can return. 

The team announced on Twitter Monday that Lynch was continuing his rehab: 

"

Carroll said RB Marshawn Lynch will continue to rehab off-site. Still no timeline for his return.

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 14, 2015"

With a healthy Lynch the Seahawks are viable contenders in the NFC. But if they're forced to ride Brown into the playoffs, it could be a different story. 

9. Minnesota Vikings

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Vikings currently sit one game behind the Packers in the NFC North, but still control their own destiny in the division race due to a Week 17 matchup in Green Bay. 

Even if the Packers win in Week 15 and 16, the Vikings will win the division if they win out due to the NFL's tiebreaking procedures. 

In that scenario, the Vikings and Packers would each be 11-5 and have a split in the season series. But the Vikings would own a 5-1 record within the division, giving them the advantage over the 3-3 Packers. 

By winning the division, the Vikings would host at least one playoff game, likely as the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

18. New York Giants

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

The Giants kept their playoff hopes alive with a victory over the Miami Dolphins Monday night. 

At 6-7, the Giants are in a three-way tie atop the NFC East, but their remaining schedule puts them at a decided disadvantage. The Giants face the Panthers, Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles in their final three games, which easily qualifies as the most difficult schedule in the division. 

The Giants also own the worst record within the NFC East at 2-3, which could prove to be meaningful if they finish tied for the division lead. 

If either the Washington Redskins or Eagles (both 2-2 in the division) win their remaining NFC East games, the Giants can only win the division if they win outright with a 9-7 record. If both teams lose at least one division game, however, the tiebreaker process becomes more complicated and the Giants would have a shot.