Week 14 Power Rankings
Injuries are starting to mount. When we talk about teams going all the way, we talk about teams having very few holes, having good schemes, good coaches, etc. But the thing that always seems to prevail more than most is health. Last season, the Dolphins lost Tua for the playoffs and barely lost to Buffalo. It clearly impacted the game. This year has been a historic year for injuries - the players list of guys that have missed time is enormous, and many guys are done for the year. The NFL season is a marathon; don’t ever let anyone tell you any differently. As we get closer to Christmas, I’m sure each organization wants a healthy team under the tree.
Week 14 Power Rankings (November 30th-December 4th)
The Doctor Clears Most, if not All of You
San Francisco 49ers (+1) When this team is fully healthy, there is no one better. Any doubt was put to rest this weekend with a 42-19 thumping of the Philadelphia Eagles in their building. This team is undefeated when they have their full squad. That three game losing streak back in October? It was when both Trent Williams and Deb Samuel were on the shelf. It seems like the only thing stopping this team is health. It stopped them last year - will it happen again?
Baltimore Ravens (+1) Baltimore jumps up a spot after their bye. They have their own injury - Mark Andrews, who is due back sometime during the playoffs, but Lamar and the offense have done a great job masking his injury. The rookie sensation Zay Flowers has really blossomed in his first year. It seems the Ravens finally hit on a wide receiver. After 13 weeks, the Ravens are the most complete team in the AFC.
Philadelphia Eagles (-2) This loss was eye opening a bit. The Eagles got beat in every which way on Sunday. They have work to do if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. The addition of Shaw Leonard should hopefully help, but all of the sudden the SNF game next in Dallas is now huge. And outside of San Francisco, there may be nobody hotter in the league than the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys (+2) The Cowboys offense put up another 40 spot on the offensive side of the football this past Thursday, winning a close one 41-35 over the desperate Seahawks. Dallas has now put themselves in position to overtake first place in the NFC East with a win on Sunday Night when they host the Eagles. Dak Prescott has never looked better in his career and is now really in the conversation to take home his first MVP award.
You Have A Injury That is Hurting You
5. Detroit Lions (+3) The Lions got back on track Sunday in New Orleans with a 33-28 win, but the defensive woes continued. Right now, the Lions are a step below the NFC elite and I think would struggle containing high octane offenses like San Francisco and Dallas. The injury early in the year to CJ Gardner-Johnson has taken its toll as he was expected to be the vocal leader of the defense. That unit seems to be lacking that at the moment.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (-2) A disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers on SNF showed the flaws of this years version of the Chiefs. The injury to Nick Bolton has really hurt this defense as it has not been itself the past few weeks. Jordan Love torched this defense last weekend, and they have a desperate Bills team coming in now off a bye. Can Patrick Mahomes save this team this season? Its the first time during his career where the Chiefs probably aren’t the favorite in the AFC.
7. Miami Dolphins (-) Miami stands pat this week after crushing another sub-par opponent. Is this team good? Yes. Yes they are. But I will not sit here and sing their praises until they beat a good team. They currently have the worst Strength of Victory (SOV) amongst all qualified playoff teams at .303!!!!! Tua, last week excused, has come down to earth a little bit. The piling of injuries of Terron Armstead worries me when it comes protection against good defensive lines. You saw what the Jets did. Oh, and by the way - Tyreek Hill should win the MVP.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) The Jags missed a golden opportunity on Monday Night to take control of the one seed in the AFC when they lost at home to the Bengals 34-31. That, unfortunately was the back story. This team got killed by injuries on Monday. Christian Kirk suffered a core muscle injury and will likely have surgery that will end his season, unless Jacksonville makes it to the AFCCG or better. Tre Herndon, Walker Little and Andre Cisco all suffered injuries. And then the motherload - Trevor Lawrence suffered a high ankle in a gruesome looking injury where we are all thankful it’s only a high ankle sprain. However much time he misses seriously impacts Jacksonville’s hold on the AFC South.
Try and Keep Your Young Stud Healthy
9. Houston Texans (+1) A thrilling win over the weekend agains the Broncos put the Texans at 7-5 after a heartbreaking loss last week. Houston didn’t come away unscathed though as Tank Dell is out for the season with a fractured fibula. Dell was CJ Stroud’s top target and it will be very interesting to see how this impacts Houston’s offense. This team has not really run the ball well this year, and they have the Jets up next. While the Jets can’t seemingly score…ever, their defense is very good, and it might be CJ Stroud’s biggest test yet. We will see how he responds.
10. Indianapolis Colts (+3) The Colts enter the top 10 for the first time this season. Gardner Minshew has done magnificent work since Anthony Richardson’s injury, and this team answered the bell after learning of the Jonathan Taylor injury. I’ll keep saying it - this team is 7-3 against teams not named the Jaguars. This is a good football team. And they have a playoff-type game coming up this week in a game against the suddenly alive Cincinnati Bengals.
11. Green Bay Packers (+3) The new “hottest” team in the league? Jordan Love is playing out of his mind right now, and he showed out again on the national stage. Love has arguably been the best QB in the NFL the past 3 weeks along with Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawrence. Even with this team missing Aaron Jones and Luke Musgrave, they are putting up numbers. It’s been fun to watch Love grow this season.
You NEED to Keep Your QB Healthy!
12. Denver Broncos (-3) Big loss in Houston - no other way to slice it. Right now, the Broncos are on the outside looking in, but they still have a favorable schedule the last five weeks of the season. Right now, they need to make sure Russell Wilson stays healthy. With the QBs dropping like flies, everyone is wondering whose next.
13. Los Angeles Rams (+2) The Rams were able to beatdown the Browns at home as they seem to now have all their horses on offense. The health of Matthew Stafford is paramount to this team’s playoff chances. The Rams have two tough games left - Baltimore (this week) and San Francisco. If they can find a way to win one of those games, 10-7 is on the table.
14. Buffalo Bills (+3) The Bills are a step above the “mid” teams. They are definitely one of the best 7 teams in the AFC, but now they need to find a way to get in. Their playoffs start this week when they play Kansas City. They also have Miami and Dallas left on the schedule. It will not be an easy road. We will see what the Bills are made of.
The Backup QB Crew…And the Seahawks
15. Cleveland Browns (-3) It seems like the Browns have been ravaged by injury the most this year losing three QBs, Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper amongst a host of others. There is also an argument Joe Flacco looked like their best QB all year last week. Either way, this team is in flux right now. I don’t think you can expect PJ Walker, DTR or Joe Flacco to lead you anywhere - and the Browns are getting a pissed off Jaguars team coming in this Sunday who is undefeated on the road this season. Can the defense pull out a great performance after two sub-par ones in a row?
16. Seattle Seahawks (-) Seattle’s postseason chances are slipping. Now losers of three straight, the Hawks find themselves at 6-6 and out of the playoffs if they started today. What started off as a promising season is now crumbling in front of them. Next up? A second date with the 49ers. Seattle is in danger of falling under .500 for the first time since Week 1.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) I finally started believing in them - and them got smacked in the face as to never not trust my judgement again. If you are a playoff team you do NOT lose to the Arizona Cardinals at home by double digits!!! The Steelers were never in this game. Kenny Pickett got hurt (again) and will be out 2-3 weeks. They have a soft game Thursday against the doormat Patriots. They may get in off their schedule alone, but this team is absolutely no threat.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (+2) Jake Browning? Yes, Jake Browning. What the. Bengals did on Monday Night was great for them and for the sport. Browning has had a career in the NFL of going through it and finally got his shot on the National stage and delivered. He went toe to toe with Trevor Lawrence and was able to get a victory in OT against a good football team. The Bengals are in the hunt - and now have a massive game against the Colts Sunday.
19. Minnesota Vikings (-1) The Vikes were on bye, so nothing to add that wasn’t said last week. It will be interesting to see who starts at QB this week.
You Would Think These Teams Would’ve Had Big Injuries
20. Atlanta Falconsss (-1) Did the Falcons go down a spot after winning a game? Yes. Why you ask? Because their offense is putrid. It’s like watching paint dry. Whoever wins the NFC South is doing a detriment to their long term success.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (+2) Last week, I sat here and said the Bears had the most uninspiring win of the NFL season. Leave it to the Chargers (always) to one up other teams in categories. They beat the Patriots 6-0. Now, yes, the shutout is great by the defense, but it’s not like they played Jake Browning and the Bengals! They played Bailey Zappe and the Patriots, who are the worst team in football. But more than that, 6 points from the offense? SIX - with Justin Herbert! Man, I can’t wait for this team to get a new coach.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-) The Bucs are just one of those teams that make you want to put your head through a wall. Somehow, someway this team controls their own destiny in the NFC South (again) and can be in first place with a win against the Falcons this week. The back to back 8-9 division champs is officially on the table.
23. New Orleans Saints (-2) Fuck this team. They suck. All the weapons, players, etc. It doesn’t matter. Bad teams find ways to lose, and the Saints are a bad team. Dennis Allen should get fired.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (-) If you told me that Jimmy G was not playing in Week 14, I would’ve thought he got injured, but alas, he got benched. For Aiden O’Connell. This team is in shambles. Again.
Injuries Wouldn’t Matter
25. Chicago Bears (-) On bye. Thank Christ.
26. Tennessee Titans (+2) Showed up this week for a change and almost won a football game. Took the Colts to OT where the defense couldn’t contain Gardner Minshew (lol). The Titans are approaching a full rebuild, probably somewhere they should’ve been a couple of years ago.
27. New York Giants (-) Tommy Devito is officially the starter over Tyrod Taylor. Someone needs to do a documentary on what happened to Tyrod in his career, cause it is bizarre. I don’t think anyone actually thinks that Tommy Devito is better than Tyrod Taylor. The Giants are still mathematically in the playoff race.
The Jets Need Their Own Category
28. New York Jets (-2) The Jets suffered the biggest injury of the season (yes, more than Joe Burrow). Aaron Rodgers would’ve probably masked a lot of deficiencies this team had, but it was almost good for the Jets in a way. It showed how far away from contention they really are. This roster is NOT as good as we thought, and it needs to be addressed in the off-season. I, for one, will be really keen to see if they draft a QB in this year’s draft. whispers…they should.
Do You Even Deserve a Category?
29. Arizona Cardinals (+1) They won a game! After an embarrassing performance agains the Rams, this team showed up. I still think of Jonathan Gannon’s first speech and wonder how many guys take the bus to the facility.
30. Washington Commanders (-1) What a fall from grace. Back to back games of giving up 45 points? Sacks galore? This team is actually pitiful. The mass player exodus on this team will be something to watch. Terry McLaurin and Jonathan Allen should be traded in the offseason.
31. Carolina Panthers (+1) The Panthers move up because they didn’t give up. Simple. They are still garbage in every sense of the word.
32. New England Patriots (-1) I mean in every which way possible - I would rather get waterboarded than watch the Patriots play football. This team has given up.
