Don’t call it recency bias: We’re about to endure the most thrilling final four-week-stretch of any NFL regular season in league history.
Think about it: Only 10 teams are essentially out of the playoff race. Four division races are going down to the wire. Both conference’s top seeds are up for grabs, too. Oh, and every team has now completed its bye week.
Fasten your seatbelts for four more weeks of utter chaos as we dive into our Week 15 edition of the 2023 NFL power rankings.
32. Carolina Panthers (32)
Are the Panthers auditioning for a future reboot of “Groundhog Day”, or are they just this bad at football? Sadly, it’s the latter.
Bryce Young had no pass protection. His receivers didn’t get open. The ground game was non-existent. The result? A predictable 28-6 road loss to the New Orleans Saints. Consider this a new low for Carolina, as it was somehow the first time they were held to single-digit points all season long.
31. New England Patriots (31)
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It’s been an awful year in Foxborough no doubt, but what a fun little W that was in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. The Patriots handed one of their longtime rivals a stunning loss on their own turf and put a giant dent in their postseason hopes.
Another defensive masterclass put together by Bill Belichick. And a reminder to the rest of the NFL: These Pats promise to be a pain for other playoff hopefuls over the final stretch of the season.
30. Washington Commanders (30)
Contrary to what many expected, the Commanders did not make a head coaching change during their bye week. Yep, it looks like they really wanna finish out the year with Ron Rivera.
Like the many bottom feeders in their company, Washington has a tough remaining schedule that features games with the Rams, 49ers and Cowboys. If there’s any way to semi-salvage another wasted year, it’d be to play a helping hand in shaking up the NFC playoff race.
29. Arizona Cardinals (27)
The Redbirds were on their bye week following a surprise victory of their own in Pittsburgh one week earlier.
The 49ers, Eagles and Seahawks make up three of Arizona’s final four games. Perfect opportunity for Kyler Murray and company to play spoiler in what has been a mostly forgettable year in The Desert.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (25)
So uh…the honeymoon phase of Antonio Pierce as the interim HC has expired, huh?
Sunday’s ugly and chaotic 3-0 home loss — no that’s not a hockey score — marked the Raiders’ third straight defeat. The offense is no better without Josh McDaniels, and that says a lot about the state of this team right now.
27. New York Jets (29)
The Jets FINALLY ended their five-game losing skid with a stunning 30-6 upset win of CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans at home. Finally, the offensive explosion the Jets had waited for.
Yes, it’s too little too late. They’re not going to make the postseason at 5-and-8 with four games to go. But we were once again reminded of how dangerous this team can be when they’re clicking on all fronts. Aaron Rodgers’ return next year can’t come soon enough.
26. Los Angeles Chargers (21)
Well, there it is. Sunday’s loss to the Broncos ended any remaining postseason hope the Chargers were clinging onto — and Justin Herbert’s fractured finger essentially closes the door on this wasted season.
The good news? With the Bills, Broncos and Chiefs making up their final three games, the Chargers can tank and potentially finish with a top-five pick. And boy, do they need it.
25. Tennessee Titans (28)
Upset of the season?! Wow what a comeback by Mike Vrabel’s Titans — who scored 15 points in the final 2:40 to erase a two-TD deficit against Tua Tagovailoa and the powerhouse Dolphins.
That’s a big-time win for a Titans team that’s well out of playoff contention. Mike Vrabel can still coach. Will Levis has mega potential. DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry are still mega game-changers!
Take a bow, Tennessee. That comeback was truly something else.
24. Chicago Bears (26)
The Bears may have the first overall pick essentially locked up thanks to Carolina…but do they really need a QB there? Maybe just trade it for more picks OR take Marvin Harrison Jr. first overall, no?
Justin Fields is really coming along, getting more and more dangerous with DJ Moore each week.
Chicago dropped 28 points on the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, and the D made life miserable for Jared Goff and their potent offense en route to a 28-13 win.
Chicago still has Cleveland, Atlanta and Green Bay on its schedule. Matt Eberflus’ group has a golden opportunity to play spoiler over the final stretch.
23. New York Giants (25)
Tommy DeVito, ladies and gentlemen! AND WE ARE NOT talking about Joe Pesci’s character from “Goodfellas”.
Devito — AKA the man, the myth, the legend — led New York to a third straight W on Monday night. He was 17-of-21 without a sack or interception — pacing Big Blue to a stunning home win over the surging Packers.
Yep, Brian Daboll’s group is sure to play spoiler over the final weeks. Watch out this Sunday, Saints.
22. Seattle Seahawks (20)
Woof, did this once-promising season come crashing down quickly for Seattle.
Seattle has now dropped four in a row — capped off by an emotional 28-16 road loss to the 49ers. The good news for Seattle? They get a slumping Eagles team at home next week, followed by games against Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Arizona.
Get past Philly, and a 10-and-7 finish isn’t out of the question. But it is now-or-never in EmeralD City.
21. New Orleans Saints (23)
The Saints did what they should have done: Blow out the NFL’s-worst Panthers at home. A 28-6 victory suffices, alright!
To make things even sweeter, the NFC South-leading Falcons lost at home to the Buccaneers. So we now have a three-way tie for first. Like Tampa and Atlanta, New Orleans controls their own destiny. Win the final four, and you’re in.
Easier said than done, of course, with Derek Carr still struggling to find his game…
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22)
Baker Mayfield put together, perhaps, the drive of his career up to this point on Sunday — leading the Bucs to a stunning last-minute win over the Falcons to keep their slim NFC South hopes alive.
Mayfield found Cade Otton for the game-winning score in the waning seconds to lead the Bucs to a season-saving win. Now, let’s see if they can keep the momentum going against a red-hot Packers team this Sunday.
19. Atlanta Falcons (14)
A miserable opportunity missed by the Falcons on Sunday. A win over Tampa would have kept them in sole possession of first place in the division. Instead, the Falcons now have to hold off both the Bucs and Saints if they’re to end a six-year playoff drought.
The good news for Atlanta? They have the easiest remaining schedule among the remaining NFC South clubs. Arthur Smith’s group still controls its own destiny here.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (13)
From 7-and-4 two weeks ago to…making the wrong kind of NFL history:
The banged-up Steelers are free-falling at the worst possible time. How do you lose to the hapless Cardinals and Patriots in a span of four days? At home?
The one saving grace for Pittsburgh: Thanks to losses by the Colts and Texans, they still hold a playoff spot entering Week 15. The playoff-hopeful Colts and Bengals are next on the Steelers’ schedule, so Mike Tomlin’s group still be in a good spot if they can somehow take both those games.
17. Los Angeles Rams (15)
The Rams kept it closer than many expected against the AFC-leading Ravens — taking Lamar Jackson and company all the way to overtime.
But Tylan Wallace’s electrifying punt return TD in overtime sealed the deal for Baltimore and dropped the Rams to 6-and-7. Their playoff hopes are far from over, though, with their next three opponents all boasting losing records.
Time for Sean McVay’s group to buckle down and get rolling with just weeks to go.
16. Green Bay Packers (11)
What a horrible time for the Packers to suffer their first December loss under Matt LaFleur: Against the Giants in the midst of an awfully tight playoff race.
If the Pack miss the playoffs, consider Monday’s loss to Danny DeVito’s Giants the season turning point. Will this team find ANY consistency on either side of the ball before it’s too late?
15. Minnesota Vikings (17)
If there was a Mount Rushmore of “ugly wins in Minnesota Vikings history”, Sunday’s 3-0 win over the helpless Raiders would make that list.
My goodness, Murphy. Justin Jefferson left the game with a chest injury and did not return. Nick Mullens replaced a struggling Josh Dobbs and just barely led the desperate Vikings to three points that was somehow enough to snag the victory.
14. Houston Texans (9)
How do you lose to Zach Wilson and the New York Jets?! How do you lose to them by 24 points in a must-win contest?!
Houston blew a golden opportunity with the AFC South-leading Jaguars dropping their second in a row.
At this point, the Texans likely have to win out just to make the postseason, and that’s easier said than done considering they just lost to arguably the NFL’s worst starting quarterback…
13. Indianapolis Colts (8)
Like Houston, Indianapolis botched a monumental chance to close in on Jacksonville for the AFC South. Gardner Minshew and company no-showed Sunday’s crucial Week 14 showdown in Cincinnati, losing to the Jake Browning-led Bengals 34-14.
Indy is clinging to the final AFC playoff berth by a finger, so they still control their own destiny.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (10)
The Colts, Texans and Jaguars all lost on Sunday! If a picture is worth a thousand words, then allow us to present one of our favorite memes to sum up the AFC South after Week 14.
Now, the good news for Jacksonville fans: After the Jaguars host the Ravens on Sunday, they finish against three teams who hold losing records. Going 3-and-1 should be enough to win the AFC South.
11. Cincinnati Bengals (19)
What a story Jake Browning has become in Cincinnati. In six days, he led his Bengals to wins over Trevor Lawrence’s Jaguars and the playoff-contending Colts.
Just like that, the Bengals are 7-6 and very much alive in the AFC postseason race, thank you very much. But with each of their final four games coming against teams above .500, the Bengals have little time to celebrate. It’s onto Week 15 against Minnesota.
10. Buffalo Bills (18)
THAT is how you come out of the bye week, ladies and gentlemen: By going into Arrowhead Stadium and outdueling Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Take a bow, Sean McDermott and company. The Bills picked up, remarkably, a third straight regular season win at Arrowhead. And this might be the most pivotal one yet, with the hot-and-cold Bills keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Up next, a can’t-miss game against Dak Prescott and the red-hot Cowboys.
9. Denver Broncos (12)
The Broncos made easy work of the Chargers on Sunday to move to 7-6 — keeping themselves in the mix for the AFC’s three wild card spots.
Losses for the Colts, Texans and Steelers certainly helped matters for the Broncos. And keep in mind they hold the head-to-head tiebreakers on the Browns and Bills. Win out, and Denver should be in. They’ll be in a great spot if they can upset the Lions on Saturday.
8. Cleveland Browns (12)
Just as we all predicted a month ago, Joe Flacco is rolling and saving the Browns’ postseason hopes here in December. What a world!
565 yards, five touchdowns and two picks in two games as the Browns’ starter. Dare we say that Flacco looks better than Deshaun Watson ever has with Cleveland? If the Super Bowl 47 MVP keeps up this unexpected success, the Browns will be back in the postseason.
7. Miami Dolphins (5)
No clue what that was by Miami. They had Will Levis and the mostly-helpless Titans on the ropes in the fourth quarter before sleeping over the last four minutes.
Goodness gracious that was ugly — and they may have just handed the Ravens the AFC’s top seed. Just a miserable letdown for a team that hasn’t done much wrong this year.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (7)
The receivers just can’t get out of their own way — as evidenced by KAdarius Toney’s costly offside penalty that took his go-ahead TD against Buffalo off the board.
We all saw Patrick Mahomes lose it on the officials following the game. But you also can’t help but wonder if the frustration is also building up from his receivers? At 8-5, the Chiefs certainly won’t be the AFC’s top seed — and there’s a real chance Mahomes will have to play his first road playoff game come January.
5. Detroit Lions (6)
Ugh. These Lions, we tell you.
Sure they’re 9-and-4 and in position to lock up the NFC North soon. But that’s two ugly divisional game losses in three weeks now….and they were lucky to beat Chicago and New Orleans in Weeks 11 and 13, respectively.
Denver, Minnesota, Dallas and Minny again make up Detroit’s final four games. It’s time for Dan Campbell and the Lions’ veteran players to really step up and clean up this messy play.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2)
Yeah, it’s totally panic time in Philly now. After suffering a brutal beatdown at home against the 49ers, they came into Dallas and suffered another ugly loss to the rival Cowboys on Sunday night.
Nothing went right for Philly in its 33-13 loss to Dallas. And now we’ve got a 3-way tie for tops in the NFC with four games to go. Is it just a minor slump for Nick Sirianni’s squad, or are they truly fraudulent? The next four weeks will give us an answer.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4)
It wasn’t pretty, but damn was it exciting! The Ravens just barely held off a resilient Rams team in overtime to squeak out a 37-31 victory that pushed them to 10-and-3.
The AFC North isn’t quite locked up yet. Not with the Jaguars, 49ers, Dolphins and Steelers rounding out their final four games. But the Ravens are easily the AFC’s most balanced team — and they’re the club every other AFC team should wish to avoid come January.
2. Dallas Cowboys (3)
You can hate on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys all you want. But America’s Team is playing like a bonafide Super Bowl contender with no real flaws. Their beatdown of the Eagles on prime time cemented Dallas’ case as the NFC’s second-best team.
We know, we know. The Cowboys are regular season darlings and tend to choke in the playoffs. We aren’t fully buying the hype yet, but Dak is playing like an MVP — and a team with a top-four scoring offense and scoring defense is nothing to scott at.
1. San Francisco 49ers (1)
The Eagles’ loss to Dallas, couple with the 49ers’ easy win over Seattle, once again emphasized who the best team in football is.
Brock Purdy carved up the Seahawks’ D with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle all making big-time plays. When these guys are healthy, how can you beat ‘em?
We’re starting to enter “It’d be a shock if the 49ers didn’t reach the Super Bowl” territory. Just sayin’.
What changes would you make to our Week 14 power rankings?
