1. Carolina Panthers
Record: 12-0
Week 14 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 13 MVP: Cam Newton overcame a sloppy first half and threw for 331 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
One thing to know: The Panthers clinched the NFC South before their game even began, when the Falcons lost their Week 13 game.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 10-2
Week 14 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 13 MVP: Rookie David Johnson filled in as the starting running back and totaled 120 yards with a touchdown.
One thing to know: Larry Fitzgerald became the youngest player to reach the 1,000-receptions club on Sunday.
3. New England Patriots
Record: 10-2
Week 14 opponent: at Houston Texans
Week 13 MVP: James White, who got extended minutes against the Eagles thanks to a depleted Patriots offense. The running back was better as a receiver, hauling in 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Two consecutive losses are nothing to be worried about. What’s important for New England is getting Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and Danny Amendola healthy for the playoffs.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 10-2
Week 14 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 13 MVP: Andy Dalton was excellent against the abysmal Browns, completing 14 of 19 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: The Bengals, Patriots, and Broncos are all 10-2 and fighting for a first-round bye in the AFC. For now, the Bengals are the 1-seed, but this will likely come down to an away game in Denver in Week 16.
5. Denver Broncos
Record: 10-2
Week 14 opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 13 MVP: Danny Trevathan had a key 25-yard pick-6 on Philip Rivers on Sunday. This Denver defense continues to look scary, week in and week out.
One thing to know: C.J. Anderson left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and did not return. The Broncos running game had been starting to pick up steam, so losing him could be costly.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 7-5
Week 14 opponent: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 13 MVP: Russell Wilson went 21-27 for 274 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, while adding 51 rushing yards and his first rushing touchdown on the season.
One thing to know: The Seahawks are on fire and now face an easy schedule the next three weeks. The NFL should be scared.
7. Green Bay Packers
Record: 8-4
Week 14 opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 13 MVP: Tight end Richard Rodgers had 146 receiving yards, including the game-winning touchdown.
One thing to know: Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary touchdown distracted from the fact that this team looked dead in the water against the Lions. It'll be interesting to see if the miracle win turns this team around or if they continue to struggle.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 7-5
Week 14 opponent: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 13 MVP: Jeremy Maclin hauled in two touchdown catches on the day as the Chiefs won their sixth straight game.
One thing to know: Could K.C. push this win-streak to 10 games? With the Chargers, Ravens, Browns, and Raiders on deck, it’s certainly possible.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 7-5
Week 14 opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 13 MVP: Antonio Brown, who not only dominated the Colts with two receiving touchdown catches and a 71-yard punt return touchdown, but also had the single best touchdown celebration of the season.
One thing to know: The Jets, Chiefs, and Steelers are all 7-5 and in the hunt for an AFC wild card berth. If the playoffs ended today, the Steelers won’t make it
10. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 8-4
Week 14 opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 13 MVP: Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson returned a kick-off 101 yards for the Vikings' lone score on the day.
One thing to know: The Vikings have now lost to the Packers and the Seahawks in two of the last three weeks. That doesn't scream legitimacy, and things get even tougher in Week 14 against the NFC-leading Cardinals.
11. New York Jets
Record: 7-5
Week 14 opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 13 MVP: Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 50 — 50! — passes against the Giants on Sunday and completed an impressive 39 of them. In all, he threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: Leonard Williams logged his first solo sack on Sunday, which is a good sign for the future of the Jets defensive line. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk writes that as Williams’ role grows, so too will the Jets’ defense.
12. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 6-6
Week 14 opponent: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 13 MVP: D’Qwell Jackson led the game with 11 solo sacks.
One thing to know: Matt Hasselbeck, who left Sunday’s game, is expected to play through minor injuries to his shoulder and ribs this weekend after MRIs showed nothing too serious. Good news for Colts fans: Andrew Luck will be back after next week.
13. Buffalo Bills
Record: 6-6
Week 14 opponent: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13 MVP: Tyrod Taylor, who threw three touchdowns, including a 40-yard pass with 1:53 left in the 4th quarter to lead the Bills past the Texans.
One thing to know: With the Bills traveling to Philadelphia this weekend, expect Rex Ryan to make LeSean McCoy captain.
14. Houston Texans
Record: 6-6
Week 14 opponent: vs New England Patriots
Week 13 MVP: Jadeveon Clowney is quietly starting to make his mark on the NFL. He had a sack on Sunday, and expect him and J.J. Watt to terrorize the Patriots this weekend.
One thing to know: The Texans blew a key opportunity to take the division lead from the Colts, but with three of their remaining four games against AFC South opponents, the Texans are far from eliminated.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 6-6
Week 14 opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 13 MVP: Jameis Winston had 227 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, but made the play of the day by scrambling 20 yards for a first down, setting up the game-winning touchdown.
One thing to know: The Bucs are tied for second place in the NFC South, with the Falcons rapidly fading. The playoffs are still a long-shot, but making it this far is a win for this team.
16. Washington Redskins
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: at Chicago Bears
Week 13 MVP: Washington's defense as a whole was impressive, forcing four turnovers and holding Dallas to just 97 rushing yards.
One thing to know: Washington can thank DeSean Jackson for one of the worst turnovers of the year — a fumble on their own 15 late in the fourth quarter, leading to Dallas' go-ahead touchdown. Washington tied it up after, but if not for the fumble, they could have run the clock out to kick a game-winning field goal.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 6-6
Week 14 opponent: at Carolina Panthers
Week 13 MVP: Devonta Freeman returned from a concussion and totaled 103 yards.
One thing to know: The Falcons' regression has been stunning. They've lost five in a row and six of their last seven, erasing a 6-0 start. A game against the undefeated Panthers doesn't bode well for their playoff hopes.
18. New York Giants
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: at Miami Dolphins
Week 13 MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. continues his stunning play, catching six passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Another fourth-quarter collapse for the Giants, who if they could close out games, would have an easy lead in the NFC East. Instead, they're still in the race in the worst division in football.
19. Oakland Raiders
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 13 MVP: Khalil Mack had a monster day against the Chiefs, recording eight tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hits.
One thing to know: The Raiders have lost three of their last four and now have less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs. Head coach Jack del Rio is still optimistic, though.
20. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 13 MVP: Malcolm Jenkins had a pick-six, seven tackles, and two tackles for losses, helping key an Eagles defense that gave the Patriots problems.
One thing to know: Whoa! An unlikely beatdown of the Patriots has the Eagles tied for first place in the horrible NFC East. We've been fooled by the Eagles before; are they really a playoff threat?
21. Miami Dolphins
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Week 13 MVP: Lamar Miller ran for 113 yards on 20 carries — the most carries he’s had all season.
One thing to know: The Dolphins won on Sunday despite just 86 passing yards from Ryan Tannehill. Is the future Dolphins quarterback on the outs in Miami?
22. Chicago Bears
Record: 5-7
Week 14 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 13 MVP: Matt Forte had a 123 yards and a touchdown, regaining form as Chicago's best running back.
One thing to know: The postseason was always a long-shot for the Bears, but they crushed their chances by laying an egg against San Francisco.
23. Detroit Lions
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: at St. Louis Rams
Week 13 MVP: Matthew Stafford had a quietly efficient game, 23-35 for 220 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
One thing to know: The Lions were on the wrong end of one of the best finishes of the NFL season, but they can only blame themselves for letting Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary even happen.
24. New Orleans Saints
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 13 MVP: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks had six catches for 14 yards and a touchdown in the shootout with the Panthers.
One thing to know: The Saints nearly pulled off the upset and handed the Panthers their first loss of the year, but they crushed themselves with more bad defense.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: vs Indianapolis Colts
Week 13 MVP: Forgive us if we sound like a broken record, but Blake Bortles threw five touchdown passes and no interceptions, but it wasn’t enough to give Jacksonville a win.
One thing to know: Wide receiver Allen Hurns has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play on Sunday against the Colts.
26. Tennessee Titans
Record: 3-9
Week 14 opponent: at New York Jets
Week 13 MVP: Marcus Mariota, who had an 87-yard touchdown run, the longest in the NFL this season.
One thing to know: The Titans win on Sunday was their first home win of the season.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: at Green Bay Packers
Week 13 MVP: Sean Lee was dominant on defense with 13 tackles, a sack, two tackles for losses, and several run stops.
One thing to know: The Cowboys are also, amazingly, still in the NFC East race, after a narrow escape from Washington.
28. San Diego Chargers
Record: 3-9
Week 14 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 13 MVP: No one — this team was absolutely awful on Sunday.
One thing to know: At 3-9, the Chargers are still very much in the hunt for the first overall pick at the draft.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: at Cleveland Browns
Week 13 MVP: Noted franchise quarterback Blaine Gabbert had 196 passing yards with a passing touchdown and 75 rushing yards with a rushing TD.
One thing to know: Genuinely excited to see who wins the No. 1 Draft Pick Bowl between the 49ers and Browns next week.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 13 MVP: Javorious Allen had a nice day receiving, picking up a 107 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Matt Schaub threw his second pick-6 in as many starts as a Raven. Schaub lost his job in Houston two seasons ago when he threw a pick-6 in four consecutive games, and now he’s closing in on doing that again. As the Washington Post noted, the chances of one quarterback throwing four pick-6s in four games on two separate occasions is about 4,000 times less likely than being struck by lightning (12,000-1).
31. St. Louis Rams
Record: 4-8
Week 14 opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 13 MVP: Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who was fired after the 27-3 loss to the Rams and got to leave this rapidly descending team.
One thing to know: It appears Todd Gurley has hit the rookie wall, as he hasn't topped 100 rushing yards in five weeks and has been scoreless the last two. Are the Rams tanking?!
32. Cleveland Browns
Record: 2-10
Week 14 opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 13 MVP: Travis Coons hit a 47-yard field goal to give Cleveland its only points of the day, so we’ll give it to him.
One thing to know: Johnny Manziel’s timeout is over. He’s been named the starter for the remainder of the season.