Here’s a look at where each team stands in NESN.com’s NFL power rankings as we head into Week 15. (To see our Week 14 rankings, click here.)
1. New England Patriots (11-2; last week: 2): The Pats are back on top after hanging 496 yards on a Ravens defense that’s widely regarded as one of the league’s best.
2. Dallas Cowboys (11-2; 1): The Cowboys’ 11-game win streak came to an end Sunday night, and the winds of quarterback controversy are beginning to swirl in Big D after Dak Prescott’s subpar showing.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3, 5): Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs outslugged the Raiders in a pivotal Thursday night showdown, winning 21-13 despite losing the turnover battle 3-0.
4. Oakland Raiders (10-3; 3): A busted pinky finger, the frigid conditions at Arrowhead and nearly half a dozen dropped passes by Oakland receivers all were factors in one of the worst games of Derek Carr’s career.
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-4-1; 4): In their first game without Earl Thomas, the Seahawks allowed 38 points in a humiliating loss to the late-surging Packers. Russell Wilson also did not help matters, throwing five interceptions in what coach Pete Carroll called “a terrible night.”
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5; 8): Le’Veon Bell ran wild in the Buffalo snow, and Pittsburgh is back in the driver’s seat in the AFC North.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ipVnAAF0rw
7. Atlanta Falcons (8-5; 9): The Falcons faced little resistance in a 42-14 beatdown of the Rams.
8. Detroit Lions (9-4; 10): Detroit pulled off yet another fourth-quarter comeback in a win over Chicago, but can they survive with injured QB Matthew Stafford operating at less than 100 percent?
9. New York Giants (9-4; 11): Eli Manning & Co. won ugly Sunday night, and they’re now 2-0 against a Cowboys team that’s 11-o against everyone else.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5; 12): Jameis Winston’s troops won their fifth a row to maintain their grip on a wild-card spot.
11. Denver Broncos (8-5; 6): This Sunday’s showdown with the Patriots will be tremendously important for the Broncos after their 13-10 loss to the Titans.
12. Green Bay Packers (7-6; 14): The Packers might not catch the Lions, but they’re hitting their stride at the right time.
13. Miami Dolphins (8-5; 16): The Dolphins are staying within striking distance of a wild-card berth, but Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury could derail any playoff hopes they’re still harboring.
14. Baltimore Ravens (7-6; 7): The Ravens fell flat Monday night in Foxboro, allowing 30 points and nearly 500 yards of offense in a loss to the rival Pats.
15. Washington Redskins (7-5-1; 12): The Redskins’ defense allowed just three second-half points in a win over the Eagles.
16. Tennessee Titans (7-6; 20): Tennessee is tied for first place in the wide-open AFC South.
17. Houston Texans (7-6; 19): A 2-yard touchdown run and five Nick Novak field goals were enough to get Houston past Indianapolis in a pivotal AFC South tilt.
18. Minnesota Vikings (7-6; 23): The Vikings are back above .500 after edging the Jaguars, and they sit just one game back of a wild-card spot.
19. Indianapolis Colts (6-7; 18): Indy suddenly finds itself in third place in the AFC South.
20. Buffalo Bills (6-7; 14): Rex Ryan’s Bills tenure could be nearing its end.
21. New Orleans Saints (6-7; 17): The Saints are 1-4 in their last five games, with that lone win coming over the Rams.
22. Carolina Panthers (5-8; 26): The Panthers forced five Philip Rivers turnovers in an easy win over the Chargers.
23. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1; 25): Cincinnati led 20-0 early in the second quarter and never looked back in a beatdown of the winless Browns.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8; 22): The Eagles were forced to use three(!) different long snappers in their five-point loss to the Redskins.
25. San Diego Chargers (5-8; 21): The Bolts are the black sheep in the otherwise competitive AFC West.
26. Arizona Cardinals (5-7-1; 24): An overtime loss to the Dolphins nailed the Cardinals’ coffin shut.
27. New York Jets (4-9; 27): The least watchable game of this NFL season actually featured a thrilling finish, with the Jets rallying late to knock off the atrocious 49ers in overtime.
28. Chicago Bears (3-10; 29): The Bears became the latest victim of one of the Lions’ signature fourth-quarter comebacks.
29. Los Angeles Rams (4-8; 27): Everyone wave goodbye to Jeff Fisher, whose team was outscored 117-45 over his final three games as head coach.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11; 30): If you like boring, tedious football, you must have loved the first three quarters of Jags-Vikings.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-12; 31): What’s worse than a loss to the Jets? A loss to the Jets during which you blow a 14-point third-quarter lead.
32. Cleveland Browns (0-13; 32): Adam Jones could have been describing the entire Browns organization when he called Terrelle Pryor “garbage.”
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
