NFL Power Rankings after Week 16: Commanders clip Eagles, Chiefs getting healthy, Lions roll

Week 16 saw some teams clinch playoff spots, some teams eliminated from playoff contention and left other teams in a mad dash to the finish line. The one seed in the AFC is nearly settled, while the one seed in the NFC might not be decided until the last day of the season. The AFC North is back to being wide open and so is the NFC South. Both divisions have a two way tie at the top and things are going to get awfully interesting over the next couple weeks.

1) Detroit Lions 13-2, last week 3

We knew the Lions were going to bounce back after their loss to the Bills last week. That’s what Dan Campbell teams do. They respond. Detroit wasted no time releasing some of that pent up frustration going up 20-0 nothing in the first 20 minutes of the game. Goff threw for another 3 TDs, Gibbs had 109 yards and a TD to show the run game and the offense is going to be just fine even without David Montgomery. That’s a franchise record 13 wins for the Lions, but they are only interested in breaking one franchise record this season.

2) Philadelphia Eagles 12-3, last week 1

If Jalen Hurts doesn’t get hurt obviously that’s a whole different game in Washington. They were up 7-0 about to make it 14-0 and it was all going the Eagles way. Hurts goes down with a concussion and it seemed like the air got let of of Philly’s sails. The defense that has been so good all season couldn’t get a stop as the offense under Kenny Pickett came to a standstill. Saquon Barkley got wrapped up with no real threat in the passing game and the Eagles 10 game win steak comes to an end, and so too does their bid for home field throughout the playoffs, perhaps.

3) Buffalo Bills 12-3, last week 2

If you expected the Bills to come out and dominate the New England Patriots just a week after beating the Lions, you weren’t alone. But I should have remembered the playing the Lions takes it out of teams. Josh Allen looked like he took a shot to his elbow and was afforded the opportunity to take his superhero cape off for a week and let his defense do the talking. That might be even better to see for Bills fans than watching Allen have another 400 yard game. The defense is going to need to win some games one the playoffs come around, and on Sunday in Orchard Park they showed they can do that. They probably won’t get the one seed, but they know they can beat any team anywhere after beating the Lions in Detroit and the Chiefs in KC.

4) Kansas City Chiefs 14-1, last week 4

A banged up Patrick Mahomes on a bit of a short week, but there were no signs of any soreness. The three time champion showed that on his 15 yard scramble for a TD to start the scoring in Arrowhead on Saturday against the Texans. We got our first glimpse of Hollywood Brown in a Chiefs jersey and that should be even more exciting for KC fans than the the win. Sure keeping the cushion on the rest of the AFC is big, but Mahomes getting another weapon in his arsenal this late in the season is a massive boost. They are a win away from the one seed and that would be the best present they can give to their fans on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh.

5) Minnesota Vikings 13-2, last week 5

Need to hire a choreographer for the amount of celebrating their defense does after their big plays. They come up with a couple a game at least and they did the same thing again in a tough road game from Seattle. Darnold gave us another reason to believe in the QB who was used to be used as a junk yard dog for other NFL teams. His go ahead TD pass to Justin Jefferson in a hostile environment with a game on the line should give Vikings fans the security blanket they need with their QB heading into the playoffs. Speaking of playoffs, the Vikings are now one of two teams in the NFC with only two losses and can we just all agree to hope and pray it comes down to the Week 18 game against the Lions to decide the division and the conference?

6) Green Bay Packers 11-4, last week 6

Matt LaFleur was looking for a dominant game on all three phases and his team gave him on as an early Christmas gift on Monday night from Lambeau. He would have liked to see them do it against a better team than the Saints, but that was a great rehearsal for the tougher times to come. Jordan Love was efficient and effective, the three different running backs got into the end zone and the defense pitched the first shutout of the NFL season. The game got so out of hand LaFleur could take his starters out for most of the final quarter as they set their sights on the Minnesota Vikings next week.

7) Baltimore Ravens 10-5, last week 7

Lamar Jackson can’t win big games. The Steelers have the two time MVP’s number. How many times do you thing the Raven’s QB heard that over the last week? He came out to play like he had something to prove, throwing three TDs, to go to eight TD passes in the last two weeks as Baltimore drew level with Pittsburgh in the division. While he was great, it was Derrick Henry that obliterated the Steelers defense running for 162 yards. We know how he operates, he’s only going to get better as the season goes on. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the AFC especially if the Ravens win the division and get to host at least one game.

8) Los Angeles Rams 9-6, last week 10

It’s not always shootouts and blowouts for the Rams. Sometimes you have to win ugly and the Rams are showing they can win ugly. Last week it was a game of field goals on a windy night from San Fran, this week it was a in a defensive dual on a cold day from the Meadowlands. Stafford barely passed the ball, when he did it usually went to Puka, but it was the LA defense that rose to the occasion in a must win game to stay at the top of the NFC West. If they Rams are going to get to the playoffs they need to keep winning and if they are going go far in the playoffs they need their defense to play like they have in the last two weeks.

9) Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5, last week 8

It’s an all too familiar feeling for the Steelers fans who thought their offensive troubles that have plagued them for so long were gone, but the ghost of Christmas past came to visit them in Baltimore. Just 30 points have been scored in the last two weeks, and that’s not going to cut it in the playoffs. They are now tied with the Ravens at the top of the division, but have a game against the Chiefs on Christmas Day. We knew this gauntlet of a finish would define this team, and right now that definition is not painting a pretty picture.

10) Washington Commanders 10-5, last week 14

If there was any doubt who the NFL’s Rookie of the Year is, there are no more after Jayden Daniels’ unforgettable performance in the biggest game of the season. With their final Wild Card spot on the line, the Commaners had no business winning a game after turning the ball over five times, but Daniels not only showed he is a great quarterback, he showed he is the leader of this team. His game winning drive in which he passed and scrambled his way down the field looked like prime Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes. His poise, his presence and his maturity lifted his team to an improbable victory and Commanders fans will breath a little easier in the nation’s capital knowing their playoff odds just multiplied with this win over their division rivals.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-7, last week 9

After working so hard to get the lead in the NFC South, there was going to be a drop off, the question was can the Bucs sustain it? Watching Michael Penix and the Falcons win earlier in the day should have motivated them to keep their cushion but instead they came out flat and played not to lose instead of playing to win and to keep their lead in the division. Now they are back to a tie at the top of the NFC South and now have to win out and hope that the Falcons and their new rookie QB drop one, or two games to end the season.

12) Denver Broncos 9-6, last week 11

Denver wasn’t messing around in the first half of their game against the Chargers. A team that had ben openly criticized for their lack of a run game grounded and pounded LA in their opening three drives scoring three straight TDs to start the gam, but the Fair Catch Kick right before the half seemed to turn things around. For some reason Denver stopped running the ball, and for some reason the defense couldn’t stop committing penalties like, the late him on Justin Herbert that gave LA 1st and Goal instead of forcing them to settle for a FG.

13) Los Angeles Chargers 9-6, last week 15

Everything that we thought we knew about the Chargers heading into the Thursday night game seemed to work out the opposite. Their defense got toasted for the first half of the game, especially on the ground. Despite not much going right for the Chargers in the first half, you have to give it to Jim Harbaugh. He took what seemed like a meaningless timeout with 8 seconds to go in the half forcing Denver to punt, and that led to something we haven’t seen in half a century. The Fair Catch Kick ignited the team, and Justin Herbert suddenly looked like the Justin Herbert we have been waiting to see all season. If he can keep that up and the Chargers defense can play like we have seen them play for most of this season, this could be a team others want to avoid in the playoffs

14) Houston Texans 9-6, last week 12

It’s tough to see a teammate and brother go down with a devastating injury, especially when it’s the second time in as many years he’s gone through something like this. CJ Stroud was visibly shaken after watching the devastating scene play out, and so was the rest of the team. It showed on the field. The second most unfortunate thing about the Dell injury is it came on a TD play that Dell made. A play that should ave brought momentum to the Texans out of the halftime break, instead they would only muster one field goal the rest of the game.

15) Seattle Seahawks 8-7, last week 13

You can’t say the Seahawks didn’t come out and give it everything they had against the two loss Vikings, and that starts with their quarterback who game into the game an injured knee and still passed for 300 yards. Jason Meyers came about two yards shy of tying the game up with a 60 yard field goal, which would have sent the game to overtime and we all know how dangerous Seattle came be with a chance to win the game late on. Unfortunately those two yards were enough for the Vikings to win the game and could be enough to give the Rams the division title.

16) Miami Dolphins 7-8, last week 17

The Dolphins game against the Niners wasn’t a big game against an injury riddled, under achieving San Francisco team, but it was a must win if they were going to keep their season alive. It was a professional win in which the Dolphins ran the ball effectively with DeVon Achane who had 190 total yards, 120 of them on the ground. The defense was able to to limit the damage and come up with the game winning play late in the game. This is the kind of game the Dolphins should be more accustomed to playing, a well balanced, physical game that takes some of the pressure off Tua and the passing game.

17) Atlanta Falcons 8-7, last week 22

It’s officially the Penix-t generation in Atlanta. Raheem Morris made a gusty move to bench his $180 million quarterback to start a rookie with playoff door closing. Penix didn’t have a great game, but he didn’t have a bad game either. Luckily Bijan Robinson stepped up and carried the offense while the defense came up with two pick sixes to carry the Falcons in a blowout over the Giants. Cousins has to be on the bench wondering where those pick sixes were when he was struggling over the last month.

18) Cincinnati Bengals 7-8, last week 19

Believe it or not wasn’t Joe Burrow who controlled the game and lead the Bengals to the division win. They came up with a fumble on their 1 yard line and then forced three straight three and outs. A couple of second half picks gave Burrow and the offense some breathing room and no one in the league is more dangerous with breathing room than Joe Cool. He threw for 252 yards and three TDs to give the Bengals fans just their second win at home.

19) Indianapolis Colts 7-8, last week 18

Last week I refused to place the blame on Jonathan Taylor for his tragic mistake that cost the Colts the game against the Broncos. Why didn’t I, because Taylor has carried this franchise for the last half decade, and he did so again in a must win game against the Titans. He ran for 218 yards and three TDs as he raised the metaphorical hand to the fan base at Lucas Oil Stadium. He knows how costly that mistake was last week, but Colts fans also know how much he has done for this franchise.

20) Dallas Cowboys 7-8 last week 21

The Cowboys showed up, for once in this season. All it took was them to be officially eliminated for playoff contention earlier in the day, and they came out to play. Had they played with that sense of urgency earlier in the season, maybe there would have been a chance for them to make the playoffs. There were injuries, there were rough patches, there were bumps in the road, but they never looked as free as they did on Sunday night. In the end it was a tight game, because they still aren’t a good team, but they made the plays they needed to make to get their seconds win of the season in front of their home fans.

21) Arizona Cardinals 7-8, last week 16

There are games in a season that teams will look back and point to as the reason they missed the playoffs. The Cardinals game against the Panthers will be that game they know kept them out of the playoffs. Honestly, if you can’t go into Carolina and beat the Panthers with the season on the line, you don’t deserve to play after Week 18.

22) San Francisco 49ers 6-9, last week 20

What an underwhelming game to finish off an underwhelming season. The playoff hopes are gone with the wind in the Bay Area and they will just be hoping that the Super Bowl window hasn’t closed in San Fran. The Brock Purdy haters have been saying that he is the product of a system on a team that has been stacked with talent for the last few years. Unfortunately, this year we have seen what it looks like when he doesn’t have an endless arsenal of weapons and it’s not pretty. He might have had 300 yards in Miami, but they were empty yard that didn’t turn to points and with the game on the line, down five with 2:00 to go in the game, he threw an ill advised pass that put an end to any slim playoff chances they came into the week with.

23) Carolina Panthers 4-11, last week 24

While my severe dislike for their owner will never weaver, I’m starting to fall in love with this Panthers team, and specially the one they call Chubba. After years of playing in the black hole that is Carolina Chubba got his first 1,000 yard season and led his team to the OT win with a game winning 21 yard TD. He is in a contract year, and ending the season strong to make sure he gets paid this offseason. One suggestion Chubba, get the hell out of Carolina.

24) New Orleans Saints 5-10, last week 23

What can you say? Injuries have plagued this team all season, but Monday night was the low point of the season for the Saints who went in to Green Bay with a team that looks like a team that would play in the second half of a preseason game. It was tough to watch as a neutral, I can only imagine Saints fans turned the TV long before the final quarter. There was just no chance the Saints had without Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the offensive end not to mention the players missing on the defensive end. This season just needs to be over for those in New Orleans who have to feel like the voodoo witch has to be out of place to poke

25) New York Jets 4-11, last week 26

A week after we saw Aaron Rodgers and Devante Adams look like the tandem that used to torment the NFL in Green Bay, they went back to looking like the tandem that no one fears in New York. They teamed up for a TD on their opening drive of the game, but only managed three points the rest of the way. When they moved the ball, they did so with long 10+ play drives that either lead to a fumble or a turnover on downs. Those aren’t pretty drives like the Eagles or Chiefs are capable of building. Those are ugly, scrape by and survive drives made even uglier when you don’t turn them into points. We talked about Rodgers return to NY depending on how much fun he had to end the season, but that game against the Rams couldn’t have been fun.

26) Chicago Bears 4-11, last week 25

Nine straight losses for the Bears and Caleb Williams. I know these losses don’t solely fall on the shoulders of the rookie QB, but it’s got to be frustrating, especially when you see the other rookie QBs who were taken in the first round either heading to the playoffs or in the playoff picture. The only thing we can hope is this rut that may not end before the season is done doesn’t have a lasting effect on Williams. We know Chicago is notorious for destroying their QBs, but they need to be gentle with their rookie. They can’t have another decade surrounded with quarterback questions.

27) Cleveland Browns 3-12, last week 27

The Browns started Darius Thompson-Robinson for the first time this year, and did their second year QB no favors. Yes, he threw two picks, but fumbling the opening drive when you are a yard away from taking a touchdown lead to start the game deflates your QB and the rest of the team. The offense sputtered after that getting just one first down for the rest of the first half. DTR came back and opened the half with with a nice drive that cut the lead to 17-6, but his back to back INTs would end the Browns chances. I like DTR and hope he finds his footing in the final couple games of the season.

28) New England Patriots 3-12, last week 28

Not many teams have gone into Orchard Park and given the Bills a fight. Rookie QB Drake May and the Pats did so in a meaningless game that they could have just rolled over for. Maye had better stats than the shoe in for this year’s MVP award, going for 260 yard and two TDs with one pick. Unfortunately he also threw a pick and was strip sacked for a TD in a series of three straight possessions that the Bills came up with turnovers and ran away with the game in Buffalo.

29) Las Vegas Raiders 3-12, last week 30

I don’t think Antonio Pierce is in the business of tanking for any college quarterback, no matter who they are or the pedigree they have. He was the kind of player that played his butt off until the whistle sounded no matte what the score or his record was. That’s the same mentality he has as a coach and that showed on Sunday. That win over the Jags may just end up costing them the No. 1 pick, but Pierce is never going to change who he is and Aiden O’Connell put an end to the Raiders 10 game losing streak to give there fans something to get excited about, or mad about if they were aiming for the one pick.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars 3-12, last week 29

I know they pay me to write these Power Rankings, but these are the games that really make me earn my money. It was a decent game but it was far from an interesting one as the Jags failed to show up in Vegas and the swag Mac Jones had last week suddenly disappeared.

31) Tennessee Titans 3-12, last week 31

The Titans came out hot, shut off, got run over like road kill only to turn on again when it was much too little too late. The QB problems still remain prevalent and the Titans need to address that issue in the offseason. It’s been a miserable season in Tennessee, and the end can’t come soon enough for the Titans.

32) New York Giants 2-13, last week 32

When you throw more touchdowns to the other team than to your team, you aren’t going to win many ball games. I feel bad for Drew Lock, who could be on his last leg. It’s hard to blame him entirely for the Giants struggles at the Caesar Super Dome. No one played well, but the Giants got smoked by a rookie quarterback even though he didn’t throw a TD pass. The good new is they are going to remain the only two loss team in the league, and they currently lead the Shadeur Sanders sweepstakes.