1. Carolina Panthers (12-0; Last Week- No. 1)
It looked like the Panthers were finally headed for a loss, until Cam Newton threw his fifth touchdown of the game with just over a minute left to beat the Saints.
This team has been incredible, and need to just put together four more weeks of what they’ve been doing to complete an undefeated regular season.
Oh, and Luke Kuechly is just as impressive off the field as he is on it.
2. Arizona Cardinals (10-2; Last Week- No. 4)
Arizona’s ranks:
Yards per game (offense)- 419.5; 1st in NFL
Points per game (offense)- 31.8; 1st in NFL
Yards per game (defense)- 316.8; 4th in NFL
Points per game (defnese)- 19.3; 4th in NFL
Point differential- +150; 1st in NFL
The Cardinals are a complete team built to play with anyone in January, and Carson Palmer is currently a prime NFL MVP candidate.
3. Denver Broncos (10-2; Last Week- No. 3)
The Broncos are now 3-0 with Brock Osweiler as their starting quarterback.
Week 16 against the Bengals in Denver could decide home field advantage in the AFC. Right now the Bengals are the No. 1 seed with the Broncos No. 2. Also keep in that the Broncos would hold the tiebreaker over the Patriots (No. 3 seed), since Denver beat New England in Week 12.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (10-2; Last Week- No. 5)
The Bengals can wrap up the AFC North on Sunday with a win over the Steelers, but as we alluded to above, their main focus to trying to keep that No. 1 seed and make the AFC playoffs go through Cincinnati.
5. New England Patriots (10-2; Last Week- No. 2)
Injuries have of course had a massive impact on these two consecutive losses, but there were still far too many mistakes that can’t happen in the 35-28 loss to the Eagles.
So, it’s been a rough couple of weeks and we’ve dropped the Patriots to No. 5 on this list as a result.
But, if they can get healthier in the next few weeks (the return of Gronk, especially), they are still the team to beat in the AFC. And even if they rolled out the active roster they have right now, it would still be hard to pick Brock Osweiler or Andy Dalton to beat Tom Brady in a playoff game (and even harder to pick 2015 Peyton Manning).
6. Seattle Seahawks (7-5; Last Week- No. 7)
It took longer into the season than expected, but here come the Seahawks.
Russell Wilson has been ridiculous over the last three weeks: 11 touchdown passes, no interceptions, and a QB rating of at least 138.5 in all three games.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5; Last Week- No. 8)
The Pittsburgh offense is such a blast to watch, and that’s even with star running back Le’Veon Bell being out for the season. The Steelers have averaged 35.8 points over their last four games.
But the defense is going to need to be on top of their game in order to come away with a win in Cincinnati this week.
8. Green Bay Packers (8-4; Last Week- No. 9)
The terms “season-changing” and “season-saving” can be thrown around too loosely in sports, but the Aaron Rodgers hail mary pass could very well be those things for the Packers.
If not for the miracle, Green Bay would be in second place in the NFC North at 7-5, and would’ve lost five of their last six games after starting the season 6-0. It would feel like a full-on collapse in the works.
Instead, they’re 8-4 and tied for first place in the NFC North with the Vikings, and ride into Week 14 with happy thoughts after one of the most amazing finishes in NFL history.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5; Last Week- No. 11)
The Chiefs now have six straight wins after five straight losses. This team perfectly demonstrates what a wacky NFL season it’s been.
10. Minnesota Vikings (8-4; Last Week- No. 6)
Time for some concern in Minnesota. Over the Vikings’ last two home games (Packers in Week 11 and Seahawks in Week 13), they were outscored 68-20.
Now they have to play the Cardinals in Arizona on Thursday Night Football, and have already ruled out four defensive starters for the game.
11. New York Jets (7-5; Last Week- No. 14)
After the season appeared to be going downhill for the Jets, they responded with a couple of nice performances in wins over the Dolphins and Giants. They have a great shot for a four-game winning streak with games against the Titans and Cowboys up next. They’re essentially must-win games for New York’s Wild Card chances.
12. Buffalo Bills (6-6; Last Week- No. 15)
The Bills have a big game for AFC Wild Card purposes against the Texans this week. This is a talented team that looks like they are as good as anyone at times, but have just been too inconsistent.
13. Houston Texans (6-6; Last Week- No. 12)
A chance for the Texans to make a statement this week against the Patriots on Monday Night Football. It’s a game they may actually may need to win, because…
14. Indianapolis Colts (6-6; Last Week- No. 10)
The AFC South seems like pretty much a coin flip between the Texans and Colts at this point, and the teams play each other in Indianapolis in Week 15. If the Colts win that, they will hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, and the rest of the schedule is fairly favorable: at Jacksonville, at Miami, vs Tennessee.
The hope is that Andrew Luck will be able to go for at least a couple of the remaining games too.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6: Last Week- No. 21)
Jameis Winston is having an impressive rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick has thrown 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and has a solid 85.6 QB rating. Over the eight games, he’s thrown 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He’s making noticeable strides and we always knew he has a massive ceiling. It appears to be coming together quicker than most evaluators expected.
16. Chicago Bears (5-7; Last Week- No. 13)
A bad loss by the Bears at home to the 49ers. They would’ve gotten a win had Robbie Gould not missed a chip-shot field goal to end regulation, but they played poorly across the board and would’ve lost badly to a good team. The Bears seem to play to the level of the competition.
17. Washington Redskins (5-7; Last Week- No. 16)
Washington had a great chance to get first place all to themselves in the NFC East, and lost at home to a Cowboys team that was 0-8 in games Tony Romo didn’t finish.
18. New York Giants (5-7; Last Week- No. 17)
Three straight losses, and a tough remaining schedule.
Odell Beckham Jr. is having an amazing sophomore campaign though: 78 receptions, 1,154 yards receiving, 10 touchdowns.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7; Last Week- No. 30; Biggest Riser)
After looking like a train wreck for a month, the Eagles went into New England and stunned the Patriots. And they’re now tied for first place in the NFC East.
20. Oakland Raiders (5-7; Last Week- No. 18)
This talented young team looks great in spurts, but has really struggled late in games (and that’s no surprise, because, again, they’re a young team). With a solid offseason the Raiders should be very dangerous next season, though.
21. Detroit Lions (4-8; Last Week- No. 19)
That was rough.
22. Atlanta Falcons (6-6; Last Week- No. 20)
Five straight losses for the Falcons, after starting 5-0. Things may just get worse for Atlanta, as they have to play the Panthers twice over the next three weeks.
23. Miami Dolphins (5-7; Last Week- No. 23)
Avoided a three-game losing streak, but not exactly in inspiring fashion with a 15-13 win over a Ravens team playing an offense full of backups (like Matt Schaub at quarterback).
24. Dallas Cowboys (4-8; Last Week- No. 29)
The Tony Romo injuries derailed their chances to be anywhere close to the team they were capable of being, but getting that win in DC on Monday Night Football had to feel great.
And hey, the Cowboys are just one game out in a division that may feature a sub-.500 winner.
25. San Francisco 49ers (4-8; Last Week- No. 28)
That was a terrific win by the 49ers in Chicago.
Blaine Gabbert really looks like a different quarterback than the one we viewed as a massive bust in Jacksonville. And he’s still just 26. San Francisco may have something there.
26. St. Louis Rams (4-8; Last Week- No. 22)
Well, at least they’re making progress on keeping the team in St. Louis.
27. New Orleans Saints (4-8; Last Week- No. 25)
The Saints almost had it vs the Panthers. Their defense is just too awful.
28. Tennessee Titans (3-9; Last Week- No. 31)
Marcus Mariota’s 87-yard touchdown run was awesome.
Mariota keeps getting it done as a passer as well in his rookie season: 19 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, a 63.4 completion percentage, and a 95.1 QB rating which ranks 12th in the NFL.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8; Last Week- No. 27)
The offense is really full of fun young talent, but the defense remains a huge problem. Don’t be surprised if Jacksonville makes a big jump next season though if they can make some improvements on defense.
30. San Diego Chargers (3-9; Last Week- No. 30)
The Chargers have been outscored 50-6 over their last two home games. Just too many injuries.
31. Baltimore Ravens (4-8; Last Week- No. 26; Biggest Faller)
Basically a mirror image of the Chargers with a solid roster being destroyed by injuries. This week’s game against the Seahawks could be very, very ugly.
32. Cleveland Browns (2-10; Last Week- No. 32)
Back to Johnny Manziel as the starter for the final four games! And then likely another full-on reboot for the Browns in the offseason.
