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- NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where all 32 teams stand going into Week 16
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Where all 32 teams stand going into Week 16
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
31. New York Jets
Record: 4-10
Last week: 27th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Texans, 29-22
Week 16 opponent: vs. Green Bay Packers
One thing to know: The Jets are still a mess and will be big underdogs in both of their final two games of the season, but Sam Darnold’s play over the past few weeks should be a comfort for fans looking forward to next year.
30. Oakland Raiders
Record: 3-11
Last week: 29th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Bengals, 30-16
Week 16 opponent: vs. Denver Broncos
One thing to know: Derek Carr has thrown 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions over the last five games while the team has gone 2-3 (good by Raiders’ standards). Head coach Jon Gruden said Carr has improved since he told him to react and play instead of thinking so much.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 3-11
Last week: 31st
Week 15 result: Lost to the Falcons, 40-14
Week 16 opponent: vs. Los Angeles Rams
One thing to know: There’s always next year. After their loss to the Falcons, Arizona is now in the driver’s seat for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft — as long as they don’t win another game this season.
28. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 4-10
Last week: 30th
Week 15 result: Beat the Seahawks, 26-23
Week 16 opponent: vs. Chicago Bears
One thing to know: Kicker Robbie Gould said Nick Mullens is a true leader and has done a commendable job learning the playbook and working with the offense.
27. Detroit Lions
Record: 5-9
Last week: 24th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Bills, 14-13
Week 16 opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings
One thing to know: Kicker Matt Prater missed a field goal in the fourth quarter that could have made the difference for the Lions on Sunday — it was his first fourth-quarter miss in three seasons.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 5-9
Last week: 23rd
Week 15 result: Lost to the Ravens, 20-12
Week 16 opponent: at Dallas Cowboys
One thing to know: The Bucs' latest loss ensured a second-straight season with a losing record. It's unclear if head coach Dirk Koetter will be brought back next season.
25. Buffalo Bills
Record: 5-9
Last week: 28th
Week 15 result: Beat the Lions, 14-13
Week 16 opponent: at New England Patriots
One thing to know: The Bills have looked remarkably respectable over the past few weeks, winning three of their past five games and keeping things close in their two losses. If their defense can stay elite and Josh Allen can improve on his rookie campaign, they could be a team to watch in 2019.
24. New York Giants
Record: 5-9
Last week: 20th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Titans, 17-0
Week 16 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts
One thing to know: With Odell Beckham Jr out, the Titans sold out to stop Saquon Barkley and were successful, limiting him to just 31 yards, his fewest since Week 2.
23. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 5-9
Last week: 25th
Week 15 result: Beat the Cardinals, 40-14
Week 16 opponent: at Carolina Panthers
One thing to know: With their 40-point performance in a blowout win over the Cardinals, the Falcons finally looked like the team many thought they would be heading into the 2018 season.
22. Green Bay Packers
Record: 5-8-1
Last week: 18th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Bears, 24-17
Week 16 opponent: at New York Jets
One thing to know: Okay, NOW the Packers are officially out of the playoff race. Aaron Rodgers still wants to start the last two games, though.
21. Denver Broncos
Record: 6-8
Last week: 17th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Browns, 17-16
Week 16 opponent: at Oakland Raiders
One thing to know: Just two weeks ago the Broncos looked like a solid sleeper pick to make noise in the AFC playoffs, but after dumbfounding losses to the 49ers and Browns, Denver played themselves out of contention.
20. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 6-8
Last week: 26th
Week 15 result: Beat the Raiders, 30-16
Week 16 opponent: at Cleveland Browns
One thing to know: Two bright spots for the Bengals in a disappointing season have been young offensive players like receiver Tyler Boyd and running back Joe Mixon both gaining 1,000-yards (Mixon is technically five yards away, but will hit it).
19. Carolina Panthers
Record: 6-8
Last week: 19th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Saints, 12-9
Week 16 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons
One thing to know: The Saints sent Cam Newton a broom after sweeping Carolina last season. Newton hung it in his locker leading up to their Week 15 game, but it wasn't enough to help the Panthers end their six-game skid.
18. Miami Dolphins
Record: 6-7
Last week: 14th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Vikings, 41-17
Week 16 opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
One thing to know: The Dolphins’ playoff hopes took a big blow with their loss to the Vikings. They’ll still have a shot, though, as they close the season with the Bills and Jaguars, while teams in front of them have tougher schedules.
17. Cleveland Browns
Record: 6-7-1
Last week: 21st
Week 15 result: Beat the Broncos, 17-16
Week 16 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
One thing to know: The Cleveland Browns have now won four of their past five games and look ready to finally shake off the stink of being the Browns in 2019 — they just need to find the right coach to steer the ship.
16. Washington Redskins
Record: 7-7
Last week: 22nd
Week 15 result: Beat the Jaguars, 16-13
Week 16 opponent: at Tennessee Titans
One thing to know: It took 10 years of bouncing around the NFL, but on Sunday quarterback Josh Johnson recorded his first career win as a starter. If Washington is going to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, he’ll need to find a way to win a second one this week.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 7-7
Last week: 16th
Week 15 result: Beat the Rams, 30-23
Week 16 opponent: vs. Houston Texans
One thing to know: Nick Foles found his magic again to lead the Eagles to their biggest upset win since 1985, taking down the Rams in Los Angeles. Philadelphia still needs some help over the last two weeks if they’re going to make the playoffs, but as Foles has already proven, anything can happen in the NFL.
14. Tennessee Titans
Record: 8-6
Last week: 15th
Week 15 result: Beat the Giants, 17-0
Week 16 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins
One thing to know: Derrick Henry has come on at the right time for the Titans. He has 408 rushing and 6 touchdowns on 50 carries in the last two games.
13. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 7-6-1
Last week: 12th
Week 15 result: Beat the Dolphins, 41-17
Week 16 opponent: at Detroit Lions
One thing to know: The Vikings path to the playoff is simple — win their final two games, and they’ll play meaningful football in January.
12. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 8-6
Last week: 11th
Week 15 result: Beat the Bucs, 20-12
Week 16 opponent: at Los Angeles Chargers
One thing to know: Lamar Jackson has set a record for most rushes by a rookie quarterback in his first five starts.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 8-6
Last week: 9th
Week 15 result: Lost to the 49ers, 26-23
Week 16 opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
One thing to know: The Seahawks appeared to have a tight grip on a playoff spot heading into Week 15, but after an upset loss to the 49ers and with a matchup against the Chiefs looming, their position is now a bit more tenuous.
10. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 8-6
Last week: 7th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Colts, 20-0
Week 16 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One thing to know: According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, some members of the Cowboys actually thought their shocking scoreless loss to the Colts was a good thing, as it sent them a reality check after a five-game winning streak.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 8-6
Last week: 10th
Week 15 result: Beat the Cowboys, 23-0
Week 16 opponent: vs. New York Giants
One thing to know: The Colts defense has now allowed just 27 total points over their past three games. If they can win out and make the playoffs, they’ll be a tough draw in the Wild Card round.
8. New England Patriots
Record: 9-5
Last week: 5th
Week 15 result: Lost to the Steelers, 17-10
Week 16 opponent: vs. Buffalo Bills
One thing to know: After two uncharacteristic losses, the Patriots are at risk of having to play in a wild-card game for the first time since 2009.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 8-5-1
Last week: 13th
Week 15 result: Beat the Patriots, 17-10
Week 16 opponent: at New Orleans Saints
One thing to know: The Steelers win over the Patriots was their first time beating New England since 2011, and had major implications for both teams in terms of the AFC playoff picture. There’s a chance the two teams could meet again quite soon.
6. Houston Texans
Record: 10-4
Last week: 8th
Week 15 result: Beat the New York Jets, 29-22
Week 16 opponent: at Philadelphia Eagles
One thing to know: The Texans have cruised on a fairly easy schedule this year. Going into Philadelphia against an Eagles team trying to claw its way into the playoffs could be a great test for the AFC South leaders.
5. Los Angeles Rams
Record: 11-3
Last week: 3rd
Week 15 result: Lost to the Eagles, 30-23
Week 16 opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
One thing to know: Jared Goff has fallen apart in recent weeks as the Rams have now lost two straight games for the first time in the Sean McVay era.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 11-3
Last week: 1st
Week 15 result: Lost to the Chargers, 29-28
Week 16 opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
One thing to know: Andy Reid's clock management (forever a weakness) came back to bite the Chiefs in Week 15 when he called a timeout late while on defense, allowing a scrambling Chargers team to compose itself.
3. New Orleans Saints
Record: 12-2
Last week: 2nd
Week 15 result: Beat the Panthers, 12-9
Week 16 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
One thing to know: Should we be more concerned that the Saints are only averaging 16.6 points per game over their last three games, or confident that they are finding ways to win, regardless of their offensive woes? Either way, they look far from unbeatable.
2. Chicago Bears
Record: 10-4
Last week: 6th
Week 15 result: Beat the Packers, 24-17
Week 16 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers
One thing to know: With their win over the Packers on Sunday, the Bears officially made it from worst to first, winning their first division title since 2010 after four-straight seasons at the bottom of the NFC North.
1. Los Angeles Chargers
Record: 11-3
Last week: 4th
Week 15 result: Beat the Chiefs, 29-28
Week 16 opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens
One thing to know: After the Saints, Chiefs, and Rams stole headlines all season, it is the Chargers who have emerged as the most balanced team in the NFL. Philip Rivers is having one of the best seasons of his career in his 15th year in the NFL, and their young defense can hang with anyone.
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