NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where Every Team Stands Going Into Week 16
The top three AFC teams in our power rankings all lost to teams in the bottom half of the league in Week 15.
The playoffs are going to be a wonderful crapshoot.
1. Seattle Seahawks (previously 2nd)
Team record: 12-2
Result: 23-0 win over New York Giants
Biggest thing we learned this week: The defense is peaking at the right time. They've given up 8 points per game in their last three.
2. Denver Broncos (previously 1st)
Team record: 11-3
Result: 27-20 loss to San Diego
Biggest thing we learned this week: Thursday games are weird. Peyton Manning is still awesome.
3. San Francisco 49ers (previously 4th)
Team record: 10-4
Result: 33-14 win over Tampa Bay
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're 3-0 since Michael Crabtree came back.
4. New Orleans Saints (previously 3rd)
Team record: 10-4
Result: 27-26 loss to St. Louis
Biggest thing we learned this week: They have kicker issues.
5. Carolina Panthers (previously 5th)
Team record: 10-4
Result: 30-20 win over the New York Jets
Biggest thing we learned this week: Next week's game against New Orleans is a huge momentum-builder going into the playoffs.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (previously 8th)
Team record: 11-3
Result: 56-31 win over Oakland
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're the only top AFC playing well.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (previously 7th)
Team record: 9-5
Result: 30-20 loss to Pittsburgh
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're a much different team away from home.
8. New England Patriots (previously 6th)
Team record: 10-4
Result: 24-20 loss to Miami
Biggest thing we learned this week: The injuries might be too much to overcome.
9. Arizona Cardinals (previously 10th)
Team record: 9-5
Result: 37-34 OT win over Tennessee
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're probably going to miss the playoffs because of the NFL's dumb division format.
10. Baltimore Ravens (previously 11th)
Team record: 8-6
Result: 18-16 win over Detroit
Biggest thing we learned this week: Justin Tucker is way underpaid.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (previously 9th)
Team record: 8-6
Result: 48-30 loss to Minnesota
Biggest thing we learned this week: The secondary is awful.
12. Indianapolis Colts (previously 13th)
Team record: 9-5
Result: 25-3 win over Houston
Biggest thing we learned this week: They played their best game since Reggie Wayne got hurt.
13. Chicago Bears (previously 14th)
Team record: 8-6
Result: 38-31 win over Cleveland
Biggest thing we learned this week: Jay Cutler looked really shaky.
14. Green Bay Packers (previously 16th)
Team record: 7-6-1
Result: 37-36 win over Dallas
Biggest thing we learned this week: They had almost no chance of winning that game.
15. San Diego Chargers (previously 17th)
Team record: 7-7
Result: 27-20 win over Denver
Biggest thing we learned this week: Philip Rivers is having perhaps his best year ever.
16. Miami Dolphins (previously 18th)
Team record: 8-6
Result: 24-20 win over New England
Biggest thing we learned this week: The defense is great, even when they pick guys up off the street and play them in critical spots.
17. Detroit Lions (previously 12th)
Team record: 7-7
Result: 18-16 loss to Baltimore
Biggest thing we learned this week: Somehow they managed to give away the division while Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler were hurt.
18. St. Louis Rams (previously 19th)
Team record: 6-8
Result: 27-16 win over New Orleans
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're the most inconsistent team in the NFL and it's not even close.
19. Dallas Cowboys (previously 15th)
Team record: 7-7
Result: 37-36 loss to Green Bay
Biggest thing we learned this week: It's not Dez Bryant's fault.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (previously 20th)
Team record: 6-8
Result: 30-20 win over Cincinnati
Biggest thing we learned this week: Terence Garvin probably should have gotten flagged for breaking a punter's jaw.
21. Buffalo Bills (previously 23rd)
Team record: 5-9
Result: 27-20 win over Jacksonville
Biggest thing we learned this week: The defense could be really good next year. They forced four turnovers.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previously 21st)
Team record: 4-10
Result: 33-14 loss to San Francisco
Biggest thing we learned this week: Greg Schiano needs a strong finish to save his job.
23. Tennessee Titans (previously 22nd)
Team record: 5-9
Result: 37-34 OT loss to Arizona
Biggest thing we learned this week: They should have gone for two at the end of regulation.
24. Cleveland Browns (previously 25th)
Team record: 4-10
Result: 38-31 loss to Chicago
Biggest thing we learned this week: They could be without Joe Haden, their best player.
25. New York Jets (previously 24th)
Team record: 6-8
Result: 30-20 loss to Carolina
Biggest thing we learned this week: Rex Ryan could be toast.
26. Minnesota Vikings (previously 28th)
Team record: 4-9-1
Result: 48-30 win over Philadelphia
Biggest thing we learned this week: Matt Cassel is the best QB on the roster.
27. Atlanta Falcons (previously 29th)
Team record: 4-10
Result: 27-26 win over Washington
Biggest thing we learned this week: Steven Jackson, still a beast.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (previously 27th)
Team record: 4-10
Result: 27-20 loss to Buffalo
Biggest thing we learned this week: Vegas knew what it was doing when they made Buffalo a surprising two-point favorite.
29. New York Giants (previously 26th)
Team record: 5-9
Result: 23-0 loss to Seattle
Biggest thing we learned this week: Eli Manning is making a run at the INT record.
30. Oakland Raiders (previously 30th)
Team record: 4-10
Result: 56-31 loss to Kansas City
Biggest thing we learned this week: The defense is awful. They've give up 31, 37, and 56 points in their last three games.
31. Houston Texans (previously 31st)
Team record: 2-12
Result: 25-3 loss to Indianapolis
Biggest thing we learned this week: They're the heavy favorite for the No. 1 pick.
32. Washington Redskins (previously 32nd)
Team record: 3-11
Result: 27-26 loss to Atlanta
Biggest thing we learned this week: They may have created a QB controversy out of thin air.