NFL Week 14 power rankings: Patriots and Bears rise as Chiefs, Rams and Eagles fall
Week 13 brought drama as the Rams, Eagles and Chiefs all lost. So as we crown a new No. 1, we examine the best-case scenario for each team.
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In this NFL season of parity, without many — or any? — teams that look truly great, Week 13 delivered plenty of drama. The Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, all trendy preseason Super Bowl picks, lost.
But it’s the week after Thanksgiving, and this is a time for being thankful. So this week’s power rankings give us an exciting, new No. 1 and delve into the best-case scenario for each team over the final five weeks of the regular season. (We’re saving the pessimism for next week.)
1. New England Patriots (11-2)
Last week: 4Monday: Beat Giants 33-15
Best-case scenario: They fix their red zone offense
This is nitpicking after an easy win, but for New England to make a run in the postseason, the offense has to get more efficient inside the 20. The Pats struggled in that area against the Giants, scoring just one touchdown in five red zone possessions. If they pair their explosive offense with greater success deep inside enemy territory, look out.
Up next: Bye
2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
Last week: 1Sunday: Lost to Panthers 31-28
Best-case scenario: Super Bowl or bust
Despite losing in Week 13, the Rams still look like one of the best teams in the NFL. And in a year where Matthew Stafford looked primed to win the MVP award — perhaps until his two untimely interceptions Sunday — there’s only one best-case scenario for the Rams, and it’s hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Up next: at Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
3. Denver Broncos (10-2)
Last week: 2Sunday: Beat Commanders 27-26 (OT)
Best-case scenario: A first-round bye
It certainly wasn’t pretty (once again) for the Broncos on Sunday night, but they (once again) found a way to win as Bo Nix threw for 321 yards. The drawback for them is that after a matchup in Las Vegas next week, their final four opponents are all at .500 or better.
Up next: at Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
4. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
Last week: 5Sunday: Beat Vikings 26-0
Best-case scenario: Sam Darnold avoids turning into a pumpkin
Darnold is no longer in Minnesota largely because of the way he played in his final two games as a Viking. That’s why he’ll be under a microscope in December. Darnold wasn’t great on Sunday (14-of-26 for 128 yards), but he didn’t have to be against his former team.
Up next: at Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
5. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
Last week: 7Thursday: Beat Lions 31-24
Best-case scenario: The offense hits its stride
There were fair concerns about Green Bay’s offense after Tucker Kraft’s season-ending injury. But after some hiccups, the offense got rolling again on Thanksgiving as Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes.
Up next: vs. Bears, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
6. Chicago Bears (9-3)
Last week: 12Friday: Beat Eagles 24-15
Best-case scenario: A home playoff game
The Bears have won the NFC North just once in the last 14 years. Our playoff simulator gives them only a 37 percent chance of doing it this year — even though they’re the No. 1 seed in the NFC — largely because of a difficult remaining schedule that includes games against the Packers (twice), Lions and 49ers.
Up next: at Packers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
7. Buffalo Bills (8-4)
Last week: 9Sunday: Beat Steelers 26-7
Best-case scenario: The defense is turning things around
It hasn’t been a great year for that side of the ball in Buffalo, but the defense was dominant against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Sure, maybe that says more about the Steelers offense than the Bills defense, but if the Buffalo D can play even average football the rest of the way, this will be a dangerous team come the postseason.
Up next: vs. Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
8. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Last week: 11Sunday: Beat Browns 26-8
Best-case scenario: Their injury luck flips
It can’t get much worse for the 49ers injury-wise, right? Now with a week to get healthy, they will be a scary opponent in December as Robert Saleh has this banged-up defense playing well.
Up next: Bye
9. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
Last week: 3Friday: Lost to Bears 24-15
Best-case scenario: The Bears defense is just OK, yet the Eagles managed only 317 yards of offense and 15 points at home on Black Friday. But we’re looking for positives today, and if this offense can get sorted out — which admittedly feels like a big ask 13 weeks into the season — Philadelphia should be fine.
Up next: at Chargers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
10. Detroit Lions (7-5)
Last week: 8Thursday: Lost to Packers 31-24
Best-case scenario: Amon-Ra St. Brown doesn’t miss time
The Lions offense played pretty well on Thanksgiving Day against a good Packers defense, but St. Brown is what takes that group to a different level. It doesn’t help his prospects that Detroit isn’t on an extended break, with a second straight Thursday game looming.
Up next: vs. Cowboys, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET