NFL Power Rankings 2015: Predicting Final Regular-Season Standings

Ten of the 12 NFL playoff positions have been decided, with just four AFC teams alive for the final two spots. 

Naturally, the top of the power rankings are filled with the playoff contenders, as each of the top 13 teams in the rankings below have either cliched or are still alive in the race. 

But with multiple teams still alive in the AFC, at least one would-be contender will be left out. As of right now, the Steelers, ranked No. 10 below, are on the outside looking in at the postseason. 

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

Notable Teams

1. Arizona Cardinals

Norm Hall/Getty Images

While the Carolina Panthers control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals are looking like the team to beat.

Arizona has rattled off nine straight victories, including four against playoff-bound teams (Seattle, Minnesota, Green Bay and Cincinnati)—that's more than Carolina has defeated all season. 

Even if the Cardinals wind up as the No. 2 seed and have to play at Carolina in the NFC Championship Game, they might still be the favorite. With Carson Palmer as their starting quarterback, the Cardinals have won 11 of their last 12 road games dating back to the 2013 season.  

11. Washington Redskins

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

For much of the season it has been easy to write off the Washington Redskins as simply the best team in a terrible division, but suddenly they're playing like a legitimate playoff contender. 

The swing in momentum has primarily been due to Kirk Cousins, who has made significant strides over the past two months. 

Games	Yds/Att	TD-Int	Avg. Total QBR
Weeks 1-9	6.3	10-9	52.2
Weeks 10-16	9.3	16-2	73.6

Cousins has caught fire over the past three weeks in particular, posting a Total QBR over 80 in each game, according to ESPN, while throwing for nine touchdowns with just one interception. 

The lingering question for the Redskins is can they compete with other contenders?

Washington is 0-3 against teams still alive in the playoff race (New York Jets, New England Patriots, Panthers).

12. New York Jets

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The New York Jets control their own destiny for a playoff berth, but it's difficult to consider them a serious contender. 

According to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News, the Jets can only earn the fifth or sixth seed and will have to play on the road, where they have struggled this season: 

"

Jets are No. 5 seed with a win + DEN loss OR KC loss. Otherwise, if they make playoffs, they are No. 6 seed.

— Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) December 29, 2015"

While the Jets do have a 4-3 record in road games this season, none of their victories came against teams with winning records. 

In fact, the Jets haven't won a road game against a team that finished the season with a winning record since the 2010 season, when Mark Sanchez led them to an upset of the Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs.