The fall of the Patriots does not only help the Bills. The Broncos are now alone at the top of the AFC conference and logically climb to first place in this power ranking. The Texans and Jaguars will fight to the end for the AFC South while the Colts now seem out of the race. Once again defeated, the Chiefs are already eliminated.
In the NFC, the Rams and the Seahawks, who face each other this Thursday, are not letting go. The Bears regain the advantage in the NFC North and the Eagles reassure themselves, taking advantage of the Cowboys’ defeat. The National Conference South Division remains completely undecided with the Buccaneers on the decline and the Panthers on AC.
As a reminder, this hierarchy is not only based on the number of successes, but also on current form. If two teams are close and haven’t played each other recently, one wonders which one would win if the match were played today. Beating the strongest is not going to propel you to the top in the blink of an eye. Losing to one of the dunces won’t plunge you into the abyss either. One can win and tumble, bow and climb. This is the merciless law of Power Ranking…
1. Denver Broncos (12-2) +1
Eleventh victory in a row for the Broncos who take sole lead of the AFC. We’ll have to hang on to beat them in Denver this winter.
Week 16: Jaguars reception
2. Los Angeles Rams (11-3) +1
In a tense match against a formidable opponent, the Rams were able to count on the solid hands of Colby Parkinson to take the lead in the NFC.
Week 16: trip to the Seahawks
3. New England Patriots (11-3) -2
Despite a good lead at the break, the Patriots ended up cracking against the Bills. Drake Maye reminded everyone that he is still a young quarterback.
Week 16: trip to the Ravens
4. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
Sam Darnold’s latest outings are a little less convincing than at the start of the season. Be careful that the ghosts of the past do not come to haunt the former Vikings quarterback.
Week 16: Rams reception
5. San Francisco 49ers (10-4) +1
Quietly, the 49ers continue taking advantage of a slow schedule. By hosting the Bears and the Seahawks during the last two days, San Francisco can even dream of clinching first place in the NFC.
Week 16: trip to the Colts
6. Chicago Bears (10-4) +2
Victory without trembling for the Bears who regain the lead of the division. The Packers’ reception next Sunday already looks like a match point for the NFC North.
Week 16: Packers reception
7. Buffalo Bills (10-4) +2
Much more convincing after the break, Josh Allen and the Bills take their revenge on New England and revive the AFC East.
Week 16: trip to the Browns
8. Houston Texans (9-5) +1
Buoyed by their defense since the start of the season, the Texans performed well offensively against the Cardinals. If CJ Stroud and the Houston offense maintain this level of performance, this team will have a card to play in these playoffs.
Week 16: Raiders reception
9. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) -4
The sky fell on the heads of the Packers. Without Micah Parsons, Green Bay will have to go for one or two more victories to ensure its place in the playoffs.
Week 16: trip to the Bears
10. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) +1
2 out of 2 for the Chargers against the Chiefs, visibly delighted to send Kansas City on vacation, much earlier than expected.
Week 16: trip to the Cowboys
11. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) +1
The Eagles needed to get some confidence back, and the Raiders were the sparring-partner ideal for this.
Week 16: trip to the Commanders
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) +1
Trevor Lawrence was exceptional and the most discreet 10-win team in the league can calmly prepare for its playoff campaign.
Week 16: trip to the Broncos
13. Detroit Lions (8-6) -6
The Lions limited to 70 yards rushing, with an average of 3.5 yards per carry, that doesn’t happen every weekend. Dan Campbell’s men are as inconsistent as ever this season and that could cost them dearly when it comes time to do the math in early January.
Week 16: Steelers reception
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) +1
Well helped by a very precise Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers won without trembling and maintained their margin over the Ravens.
Week 16: trip to the Lions
15. Baltimore Ravens (7-7) +3
The Ravens definitively remove the Bengals from the race for the AFC North, notably with one of the actions of the year by Kyle Van Noy.
Week 16: Patriots reception
16. Indianapolis Colts (8-6) -2
A 44-year-old quarterback, who had not played since 2020, did not allow the Colts to win against one of the best teams in the league. Who could have predicted?
Week 16: 49ers reception
17. Carolina Panthers (7-7) -1
Obviously no one wants to go to the playoffs in this NFC South. The league was well advised to schedule the two Panthers-Buccaneers duels in weeks 15 and 17.
Week 16: reception of the Buccaneers
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) -1
The return of Mike Evans did not solve all the problems. The Buccaneers will wonder for a long time how they managed to lose this match, which will be very costly in their remote duel with the Panthers
Week 16: trip to the Panthers
19. Minnesota Vikings (6-8) +3
JJ McCarthy takes inspiration from the best. The Vikings are officially out of the race, but the young quarterback has a second solid performance and finally gives the impression of moving in the right direction.
Week 16: trip to the Giants
20. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) -1
Brandon Aubrey missed as many field goals (2) in one game as he did in the rest of the season. With this defeat at home against the Vikings, the Cowboys validated their ticket to Cancun in the first week of January.
Week 16: Chargers reception
21. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) -1
It’s now official, the Chiefs will not play in the playoffs, a first since they recovered Patrick Mahomes. A misfortune never comes alone, Kansas City will have to finish the season without its quarterback who could even miss the start of the next one.
Week 16: trip to the Titans
22. Miami Dolphins (6-8) -1
End of series and end of hopes for the Dolphins, soundly beaten in Pittsburgh. Will Miami now be able to look to the future, with or without Tagovailoa?
Week 16: Bengals reception
23. Atlanta Falcons (5-9) +1
It was the week or never to have Kyle Pitts starting in his fantasy league. The tight end was exceptional in the Falcons’ victory at Tampa Bay.
Week 16: trip to the Cardinals
24. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) -1
Joe Burrow admitted it himselfhis performance against the Ravens ruined all chances for the Bengals.
Week 16: trip to the Dolphins
25. New Orleans Saints (4-10) +1
After the Buccaneers last week, it’s the Panthers’ turn to fall against the Saints. New Orleans will have seriously played its role as referee in this NFC South.
Week 16: Jets reception
26. Washington Commanders (4-10) +1
The series of defeats therefore ends at 8 for the Commanders, who are already preparing for next season by officially announcing that Jayden Daniels will not play again this year.
Week 16: Eagles reception
27. Arizona Cardinals (3-11) -2
Tenth touchdown of the season for Trey McBride, one of the rare satisfactions of the season for the Cardinals.
Week 16: reception of the Falcons
28. New York Jets (3-11)
Taking 48 points against the Jaguars was the last straw for Aaron Glenn. The fuse and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks paid the price.
Week 16: trip to the Saints
29. New York Giants (2-12)
Since the start of his NFL career, Jaxson Dart has had to be evaluated for a potential concussion in half of the games he has played. Tua Tagovailoa now has a formidable competitor.
Week 16: Vikings reception
30. Tennessee Titans (2-12)
Good news for European Titans fans. Once again, they won’t have to stay up very late to see their team in the draft.
Week 16: reception of the Chiefs
31. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
The only interest at the end of the season for the Browns is to help Myles Garrett get the record for sacks in a season.
Week 16: Receiving the Bills
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
The only team with fewer than 200 points this season, the Raiders have an average of 14 points scored per game this season. The Geno Smith bet is a total failure for Las Vegas.
Week 16: trip to the Texans
