Week 14 certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of drama, heart-pounding finishes, and bizarre endings. The playoff races are tightening up, and the race for the first overall pick is still wide-open.
With that said, let’s dive into our Week 14 edition of the 2024 NFL power rankings.
Which teams are at the top of the NFL rankings after week 14?
32. New York Giants (32)
Honestly, is losing to the New Orleans Saints in a sloppy yawn-fester the worst thing? Each Giants loss pushes them closer to a top-two pick, meaning they’d be assured one of Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter.
And hey, Sunday’s loss was forgotten about within hours. The Mets won the Juan Soto sweepstakes, so the sporting vibes are good in the Big Apple! Even if their two football teams are atrocious.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (30)
One week after nearly upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs on the road, the Raiders laid an egg in a disappointing 28-13 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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While Antonio Pierce’s defense failed to show up as usual, the offense mustered just 286 yards of offense on 64 plays. Have we mentioned this team could use a quarterback? Shedeur Sanders, anybody?
30. Tennessee Titans (27)
In case you needed a reminder that Will Levis isn’t the solution…
Levis faced one of the league’s worst secondaries and still couldn’t get the Titans into the end zone, dropping a mistake-filled 10-6 contest to the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Titans mustered just two field goals, and awful play-calling in the red zone by Brian Callahan proved costly. In today’s NFL, losing is never acceptable when you hold your opponent to 10 points.
This season can’t end soon enough for Titans fans.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (31)
In what turned out to be a pretty darn exciting game between two of football’s worst teams in recent memory, it was Mac Jones and the Jags who emerged victorious over the Tennesee Titans.
Tank Bigsby and Brian Thomas Jr. led the way offensively, while the Jags D did its part in bottling up Tennessee’s big weapons to squeak out a 10-6 victory.
Hey, someone had to win. And with the Jags’ final four games taking place against teams who sit below .500, a reasonable 7-and-10 finish suddenly isn’t out of the question…
28. New York Jets (28)
That’s the 2024 Jets for you. Murphy’s Law.
Aaron Rodgers had a vintage performance with 339 yards, one touchdown, and no picks. The Jets put up 26 points against a solid Miami defense…and STILL LOSE.
Not that the Jets are playing for much, but a 32-26 overtime loss to a division rival is just the latest gut punch in a miserable season. What next, they’ll put up 50 in Jacksonville on Sunday and somehow come up short?!
27. New England Patriots (29)
By virtue of other teams losing while they were on the bye, the Pats move up two spots. Happy holidays, New England!
Drake Maye and company went into their Week 14 bye with a three-game losing skid. The playoffs aren’t happening, but they can play spoiler with their final four games taking place against teams in the playoff race – starting with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams After Week 13 Games
26. Cleveland Browns (26)
Six days after nearly dropping a 500-yard burger against a stingy Denver defense, Jameis Winston reverted to bad habits and threw to interceptions in a 27-14 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That’s the full Winston experience for you. If Jameis wants the chance to be a full-time starter again in 2025, he better cut back on these mind-numbing turnovers. Good luck with the Chiefs next on the schedule!
25. Chicago Bears (25)
The nightmarish Bears’ 2024 season just can’t end soon enough. Letting go of Matt Eberflus yielded no results in Sunday’s 38-13 beatdown at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bears have completely collapsed since Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary, a sign that more than coaching is needed to fix this team. The culture needs a reset, with some mentally tough leaders who can show this young NFL team what it takes to be a winner.
24. Carolina Panthers (24)
For the second straight week, Bryce Young and the Panthers narrowly upset a playoff team. But they fell just short against a superior Philadelphia Eagles team, with Xavier Legette dropping a potential game-winning TD in the waning seconds.
But let’s remember where Carolina was just a few weeks ago. Young has shown tremendous improvement and nearly beat the NFC’s second-best team on their turf. There’s a lot to be pleased with entering the final four games.
23. Dallas Cowboys (21)
How much lower can the Cowboys go? A blocked punt to set your team up in field goal range for a prime-time win? Only to inexcusably touch and fumble the football, allowing the Bengals to steal victory from under your noses?
We know the Cowboys were out of NFL playoff contention anyway, but only the 2024 Cowboys could lose a game like that. At least it wasn’t a playoff game?
22. New Orleans Saints (23)
The Saints’ defense held off a late Giants’ rally to squeak out a 14-11 victory. Unfortunately, their minimal hopes of potentially stealing the NFC South all but ended when Derek Carr suffered a fractured hand.
At 5-8, the Saints are playing for pride and spoiler. Nice to see more life under interim coach Darren Rizzi, but they should be happy to finish with seven wins at this stage.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (22)
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were on fire again this week, leading the Bengals to a thrilling Monday night victory over Dallas thanks to the Cowboys’ mind-numbing special teams blunder.
For once, Lou Anarumo’s D stepped up and made big-time plays to ensure a victory here. The playoffs aren’t happening, but Cincy can play spoiler in their final two games against Denver and Pittsburgh. For now, a likely blowout win over Tennessee in Music City awaits…
20. Atlanta Falcons (17)
The Falcons no-showed their humiliating 42-21 loss against Kirk Cousins’ old NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings. The $180 million now has zero touchdowns and eight interceptions during a four-game losing skid. Yikes.
And with the Buccaneers rolling, Atlanta suddenly needs help to win the NFC South that was in their laps just a few weeks ago. At this state, shouldn’t the Falcons just give Michael Penix Jr. a look?
19. Arizona Cardinals (14)
The Cardinals sure look like the Kliff Kingsbury-led Cardinals. That is a team that can’t stop unraveling in the second game.
Arizona was humiliated in every aspect by the visiting Seattle Seahawks, falling 30-18 in a decision that extends their losing streak to three. With the ‘Hawks sweeping the season series, the Cardinals can basically kiss their playoff hopes goodbye.
The 6-and-4 start was fun while it lasted, huh?
18. San Francisco 49ers (20)
Playing with desperation, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers man-handled the visiting Bears to keep their slim NFC West division hopes alive.
San Fran is two games behind Seattle with four games to go. The ‘Hawks tough schedule means the path is there for San Fran to take the crown, but they certainly have to win out to have a shot. That starts with a Thursday nighter against the Los Angeles Rams.
17. Miami Dolphins (19)
Tua Tagovailoa outdueled Aaron Rodgers in a South Beach overtime thriller, also keeping their very small playoff hopes alive.
Miami has now won four of its last five, reminding everyone what they’re capable of when Tua is healthy. Winning out isn’t out of the question, with the banged-up Texans next on the schedule, followed by the 49ers, Browns, and Jets.
But even if they win out, Miami needs one of the three AFC wild-card holders to slip if they’re to sneak into the postseason.
16. Indianapolis Colts (18)
Coming out of their bye week, the 6-and-7 Colts still have a slim shot at the postseason. They gotta win out, though, and that starts with a road contest this Sunday against the Denver Broncos, who just so happen to hold the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16)
Life comes at ya fast in the NFL. Remember when the Bucs lost Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to injury, fell to 4-and-6, and seemed totally done for?
Well, a resilient Baker Mayfield has willed Tampa to three straight wins. Coupled with the Falcons’ four-game losing skid, the Bucs now control their own destiny for the NFC South.
If they can beat the Chargers on Sunday, the Bucs will inch closer to locking the crown up. They have the Cowboys, Panthers, and Derek Carr-less Saints on their schedule to close out the year.
14. Los Angeles Rams (15)
The Rams somehow outdueled the Bills despite Josh Allen’s six-touchdown performance. That’s a statement win if we’ve seen one.
Suddenly, the 7-and-6 Rams have a real shot here of winning the division. Remember, they host the Seahawks in Week 18 and won the first meeting in Seattle. But first thing’s first: Sean McVay’s surging squad faces a must-win in San Francisco on Thursday.
13. Houston Texans (13)
At 8-and-5, the Texans got a much-appreciated late-season bye week before their home clash with the Dolphins.
It’s not officially official, but the Texans are a good bet to finish with the No. 4 seed in the AFC. So, the sooner they can take care of business and wrap up the AFC South, the better.
12. Washington Commanders (11)
The Commanders come out of the bye week sitting comfortably in a playoff spot at 8-and-5. It’ll take a historic collapse to miss out, especially with the Saints, unraveling Falcons and Dak Prescott-less Cowboys making up three of their final four games.
A win over New Orleans in the Superdome on Sunday also clinches Washington its first winning NFL season since 2016. Giddy up.
11. Seattle Seahawks (12)
Don’t look now, but the Seahawks have now won four in a row and control their own destiny for the NFC West. A total shellacking of Kyler Murray’s Cardinals in The Desert improved Seattle to 8-and-5 with four games to go.
But the real games begin with the Packers and Vikings, two NFC heavyweights, next on the schedule. Let’s see if Geno Smith can outduel Jordan Love under the bright Sunday Night Football lights.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (8)
The Chargers kept it real close against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, but Matthew Wright’s closer-than-it-should-have-been field goal went through the uprights to seal the deal for KC.
The Bolts have little to be ashamed of. They join the long list of teams that were close to upsetting the Chiefs this season, but the bounces simply didn’t go LA’s way.
With a playoff berth still firmly in their grasp, the Bolts must refocus and take care of Baker Mayfield’s Bucs on Sunday.
9. Baltimore Ravens (10)
The bye came at a good time for the hot-and-cold Ravens, who probably have to settle for a wild-card berth now after watching Pittsburgh in again on Sunday to extend their lead on the AFC North.
There’s a ton at stake, though. Finishing as the top wild-card team means playing a vulnerable Houston team. Finishing 6th or 7th likely means facing Pittsburgh or Buffalo, two teams that have had Lamar Jackson’s number.
First thing’s first: Get back on track with the hapless Giants next on the schedule.
8. Denver Broncos (9)
The Broncos were also on a bye week ahead of their looming clash with the Colts. A victory on Sunday pushes Bo Nix and company one step closer to ending the franchise’s nine-year NFL playoff drought.
A loss makes things a little more tense, though. The Broncos have to visit the Los Angeles Chargers and Joe Burrow’s Bengals before wrapping up against Kansas City in Week 18. So yes, a win over Indy would be a wonderful early holiday gift for Bronco Nation.
7. Green Bay Packers (7)
Not gonna fault the Packers for losing a last-second thriller to the NFC-leading Lions on the road — especially without defensive studs Jaire Alexander and Edgerrin Cooper.
The Pack won’t be winning the NFC North, but they showed that they’re more than capable of defeating the Lions if they meet again in January. Right now, we’d take Green Bay over a potential division winner like Seattle or Tampa in the wild-card round.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)
Two weeks after a sloppy loss to Cleveland in the snow, the Steelers returned the favor by defeating the Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Two picks by Jameis Winston and a two-TD day from Russell Wilson paced the Steelers to win No. 10.
AND a step closer to the AFC North division title.
5. Buffalo Bills (2)
Sunday’s road loss in LA is a tough one to swallow, and not just because it wasted Josh Allen’s record-setting performance. The loss also likely ended any hopes of beating out Kansas City for the AFC’s top seed, meaning the Bills are looking at a strong likelihood of needing to win at Arrowhead to reach the Super Bowl.
The Bills were probably due for a loss anyway, but we’ll see if this NFL squad can rebound and hold off the Steelers in their pursuit of the second seed.
4. Minnesota Vikings (5)
The Vikings showed no mercy to old friend Kirk Cousins, annihilating the man and his Falcons by three touchdowns. At 11-and-2, the Vikings kept pace with the NFC North-leading Lions — and let’s remind you they meet again in Week 18.
Up next is a Monday night clash at home with the rival Beas.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
Sunday’s win over Carolina was eventful. It took a late stand by the defense to hold off Bryce Young and the Panthers, and Philly still wasn’t happy despite a ninth straight win.
AJ Brown openly criticized Jalen Hurts and the passing game, which is reasonable considering the latter has been held to under 200 yards passing in three straight games. But should they worry that much? Saquon Barkley is having an MVP season, and Vic Fangio’s defense just keeps shutting opponents down.
Now, if Philly could just get Detroit to drop a game…
2. Kansas City Chiefs (3)
Death, taxes, and the Chiefs winning another one-score game. Did you expect anything else?
Matthew Wright’s game-winning field goal attempt hit the left upright and bounced through the goalposts to defeat the Chargers and secure another AFC West division crown. They now have 15 straight wins in one-score games, extending their NFL record.
With the Bills losing, it looks like the AFC will again run through Arrowhead. Ho hum.
1. Detroit Lions (1)
Dan Campbell’s Lions squeaked out a thrilling victory over the NFC North rival Packers to sweep the season series and maintain their hold on the top seed.
Now at 12-1, the Lions are undoubtedly the team to beat in the NFC. But can they hold onto that division and top seed with a tough final four-week stretch? Vs. Buffalo, at Chicago, at San Francisco, and vs. Minnesota.
One game at a time. Starting with Buffalo in a potential Super Bowl 59 preview.
