NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Review and Reaction to 2015 League Standings

The Carolina Panthers are still the team atop the NFL power rankings.

After a fourth-quarter collapse, the Panthers needed last-minute heroics from quarterback Cam Newton and kicker Graham Gano to keep their perfect season alive. Newton led the game-winning drive, and Gano nailed a 45-yard field goal to hand the New York Giants a 38-35 loss on Sunday.

The win improved the Panthers' record to 14-0. Per ESPN Stats & Info, this is a path Newton has traveled before:

In Week 16, the Panthers face the 7-7 Atlanta Falcons on the road. On paper, it looks like a game Carolina should win. However, when a team is undefeated this late in the season, it's going to get every opponent's best effort. Also, the Falcons still have thin hopes of making the playoffs after their 23-17 Week 15 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Because of that dynamic and the rivalry between Carolina and Atlanta, expect another close contest as the Panthers look to wrap up home-field advantage and chase history.

Here's a look at the updated power rankings:

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

Steelers Make a Statement

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Even the NFL's best secondary can't slow down the Pittsburgh Steelers' passing game. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns in the Steelers' 34-27 win at home against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Two of Roethlisberger's scoring tosses went to wide receiver Antonio Brown. The NFL's best receiver had 16 receptions for 189 yards. ESPN SportsCenter let us know how special the performance was:

The win puts Pittsburgh in possession of the final wild-card spot for now, as it owns the tiebreaker over the New York Jets. 

It also served as a springboard for the Steel Curtain up these power rankings. I'm not the only one who was impressed by Pittsburgh's latest win. On Sunday during the Fox NFL broadcast, Steelers great Terry Bradshaw picked the Steelers to win the Super Bowl (h/t WPXI.com).

Arizona Is Clearly Elite

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After mauling the Philadelphia Eagles 40-17 on Sunday night, the Arizona Cardinals locked up the NFC West crown. Quarterback Carson Palmer has been spectacular for the Cardinals all season, but it was running back David Johnson who carried the load against Philly.

He rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.

In a Week 16 showdown with the 10-4 Green Bay Packers, the Cardinals can clinch a first-round bye in style. The Packers are the only team still mathematically capable of catching Arizona for the second seed in the NFC.

If the Cardinals can beat the Packers at home, they ensure themselves of at least one home game in the postseason.