Week 14 Power Rankings: Good Old Fashioned Football

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images 

Written by Ben Slavin

The story of the year has been the offensive explosion. In a refreshing change of pace, this week had only a few shootouts and a bunch of close, low-scoring games. We’re used to seeing teams total over 500 yards, not struggle to hit 200 as many did this week. And I have to say I like this style of football, where every touchdown feels meaningful, more than the defenseless one. If it’s not your favorite, don’t worry. The NFL will definitely come up with some new rules to hamper defenses after a low-scoring week like this. Without further ado, come find out which teams performed well during this old-timey week. 

Real quick, let’s reiterate. Now that we’re into the season, teams will move up or down a lot based on trades, injuries, or big wins or losses. Who the opponent was, how close of a game it was, and in general how good the team looked will be considered more than just getting the victory.

32. San Francisco 49ers (2-10, Same)

I’d praised the tank job San Francisco and Kyle Shanahan were doing, but Sunday’s 43-16 loss to Seattle are exactly the kind you don’t want. While it counts for draft position, it doesn’t help in building a future winning culture. Getting blown out largely due to your own mistakes can be demoralizing.

31. Oakland Raiders (2-10, Same)

For the second straight week, the Raiders were competitive. They hung in with Kansas City to the end and are showing fight they lacked at the beginning of the year. Even though they aren’t winning, they’ve been competing, so they get avoid the last spot. 

30. Arizona Cardinals (3-9, Up 2)

Beating the Packers at Lambeau has got to be a special feeling. Being the reason your opponent fires their coach has to feel even better. With their late 20-17 win over Green Bay and the ensuing firing of Mike McCarthy, the Cardinals did just that. Any chance of Steve Wilks having his leash cut after one year should be gone now. 

29. New York Jets (3-9, Same)

New York is a classic bad team. Even when they play their best and get an early lead, they find a way to screw it up. The Jets’ ineptitude made quick work of a 16-0 lead en route to a loss in Tennessee. Todd Bowles might not even make it to the end of the season if they keep doing things like this. 

28. Buffalo Bills (4-8, Down 4)

The Bills are back near the bottom, even though they played well, simply because so many other bad teams won. Buffalo really should have beat Miami, too. Josh Allen played well and the Bills had over 200 yards more than their opponents. What kept them from victory was a couple turnovers and a general lack of winning experience. 

27. Detroit Lions (4-8, Down 4)

Detroit is in a similar boat to Buffalo in that they performed admirably, but couldn’t pull out a win like so many other teams around them. Even without their best offensive player (sorry Matt Stafford, but you’ve been bad all season) in Kerryon Johnson, the Lions played the Rams tough. Playing a team tough doesn’t cut it, though. 

26. New York Giants (4-8, Same)

The Giants were close to one of the worst collapses in NFL history Sunday. They somehow messed up an onside kick recovery and then proceeded to extend the Bears game-tying drive with penalty after penalty. Luckily, they were able to salvage a great effort with an overtime win.

25. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7, Down 3)

Jeff Driskel taking over did not prove to be the miracle Bengals fans hoped for. He played about as well as the Red Rifle would have, but was unable to overcome the Bengals porous defense. Denver finished with over 200 rushing yards and controlled the game.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8, Up 4)

That was an unbelievable defensive performance by Jacksonville. They got no help from their offense and snapped the Colts 5 game win streak by themselves. Indianapolis was held under 300 total yards with no points. It’s just unfortunate this was a weekly requirement for the Jaguars if they wanted to fulfill their lofty expectations coming into the year.

22. Atlanta Falcons (4-8, Down 2)

For a 10 point loss, games don’t get much uglier than Atlanta’s Sunday. When offense is the strength of your team, gaining 150 yards is unacceptable. The 16 points they put up is also misleading. Seven came off a defensive touchdown and the other touchdown came when the Ravens had already put the game away.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7, Up 5)

Tampa Bay’s defense has been better since firing Mike Smith. That’s not a very high standard to surpass, though, and the Buccaneers still routinely give up 450 yards like they did to Carolina. At least now the defense is opportunistic with sacks and turnovers. Couple that with the improved decision making shown by Jameis Winston and Tampa’s back to being a solid team.

21. Miami Dolphins (6-6, Up 4)

The Dolphins have definitely been blessed by some higher being this year. They now sit at 6-6, fresh off a sad win over the Bills, and firmly in the playoff hunt. They’re somehow in this position despite arguably being the worse team on the field in the majority of their games. I’d say they were the worse team on the field Sunday, getting outgained by over 200 yards and still pulling out a win.

20. Green Bay Packers (4-7-1, Down 4)

Instead of dwelling on a rough home loss to Arizona and kicking Packers fans while they’re down, let’s celebrate the opportunities that come with Mike McCarthy being fired. Everybody’s going to want to coach Aaron Rodgers, so top candidates like Josh McDaniels in New England and Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma are obtainable. Both of them have offenses that will show just how much Rodgers was wasted.

19. Washington Redskins (6-6, Up 1)

Washington is now down to quarterback number three. Who is it? Everyone’s favorite backup, Mark Sanchez. The infamous creator of the butt-fumble threw a touchdown on his first snap and didn’t do much else. Even with their good defense, Washington is definitely done now. 

18. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6, Up 1)

The Eagles aren’t dead yet. Just really, really battered. Carson Wentz and a great defensive line can’t cover for all the holes on this team. The secondary is full of guys signed off the street while guys who can’t separate populate the receiving core. 

17. Cleveland Browns (4-7-1, Up 1)

Cleveland was on a roll heading into Sunday, but were bounced by the Texans like those Sky Balls we all played with once as kids. Baker Mayfield threw three interceptions and Nick Chubb was bottled up on the ground. The Browns still fought and nearly made this game close at the end. 

16. Tennessee Titans (6-6, Up 1)

Sunday was a scary game for the Titans. They trailed 16-0 right before the half and were still down 9 in the fourth. As a potential playoff team playing the Jets, that’s not a great look. Even if the Titans end up making the playoffs, they’ll be just as unthreatening as last year.

15. Carolina Panthers (6-6, Down 3)

The Panthers are done. Every week they cause themselves to lose. Whether it’s turnovers, penalties, or missed kicks, Carolina is doing everything they can to not be a playoff team. Playoff teams find ways to win even when they aren’t playing their best and the Panthers rightfully sit outside the playoff picture.

14. Indianapolis Colts (6-6, Same)

Indianapolis was the victim of a 2017 Jacksonville sighting. The offensive line that kept him untouched for weeks was run over and Andrew Luck couldn’t keep his magic going. The defense played well even if it was against a quarterback who couldn’t even beat out Blake Bortles. It looks like the Colts really are a year away from the playoffs. 

13. Denver Broncos (6-6, Up 2)

Chris Harris Jr.’s injury really hurts, especially with Aqib Talib traded away and Bradley Roby not emerging the way Denver hoped. Besides that, Denver maintained their position as a darkhorse playoff contender with a win over Cincinnati. Phillip Lindsay is amazing by the way. I don’t know how the Broncos got him as a UDFA, but I know they’re ecstatic. 

12. Baltimore Ravens (7-5, Up 1)

Lost in their 26-16 win in Atlanta was the unbelievable defensive performance by Baltimore. Atlanta was another team that could barely hit 150 yards and got a lot of that when the Ravens were up big in the fourth. The Ravens are a team that’s refused to change with the times — they have a great defense and run game, but poor passing attack.

11. Seattle Seahawks (7-5, Down 1)

Seattle is still yet to really convince me. When their run game isn’t dominating, they struggle to move the chains. The defense is similar in that if they don’t get sacks or turnovers, they don’t get off the field. Sunday’s blowout was aided by a few big plays and a whole lot of 49ers mistakes. To make noise in the playoffs, the Seahawks are definitely going to have to turn it up.

10. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1, Down 1)

Sunday’s ugly loss to the Patriots continued a trend of the Vikings coming up short against the top teams in the league. They’ve lost to the Rams, Saints, Bears, and now the Patriots. The defense performed admirably against an offense as good as the Patriots, but was let down by the offense.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2, Down 6)

This is a tough fall for a team that just won a game, but that’s what happens when you lose one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Chiefs already did not have a great recipe for playoff football with their defense, and now their missing their running back. Even if it doesn’t hurt them during the regular season, I think this will be a big blow to their Super Bowl hopes.

8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5, Up 3)

That was about as good of a win as any team has had all season. The Saints were one of the best teams and offenses in the league and couldn’t even total 150 yards. The offense did just enough to win — which isn’t all that much when your opponent only scores 13 — with Ezekiel Elliott pounding the clock and a few well timed Dak Prescott throws.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1, Down 1)

Pittsburgh dominated the Chargers in the first half and looked to be well on their way to a statement win. Unfortunately, the NFL makes you play two halves and things got ugly from there. Los Angeles scored 23 straight to take the lead and the Steelers were left scrambling. They were able to tie the game up and then killed themselves with penalties on the game winning field goal attempt.

6. Houston Texans (9-3, Up 2)

The Texans have really turned it up the last couple weeks. A Browns team that came in hot left looking like the 0-16 team. The Texans defense had more points than the Browns team for most of the game. While Deshaun Watson and the offense are anything but consistent, the Texans are extremely dangerous.

5. Chicago Bears (8-4, Same)

It appears Chicago needs Mitchell Trubisky more than we realize. The Bears defense and Giants ineptitude did everything they could to move Chicago to 9-3. But Chase Daniels wanted no part of that. In a superhuman effort, Daniels single handedly won the game for the Giants. If he was on the Giants, he’d be celebrated. Unfortunately, he’s not.

4. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3, Up 1)

As Anthony Lynn put, “when you have that kind of heart … nobody can stop you.” Any sort of comeback is hard in the NFL. Doing it against a great team like Pittsburgh on the road warrants that type of praise by your head coach. Wins like these disprove the “same old Chargers” narrative and give L.A. hope of playoff success.

3. Los Angeles Rams (11-1, Down 1)

This was another deceptively close Rams game. They won by 14, but struggled throughout and scored a touchdown with less than 2 minutes left. Even though Todd Gurley was his typically dominant self, Jared Goff was not his best once again. LA might have been a Kerryon Johnson injury away from losing this game.

2. New Orleans Saints (10-2, Down 1)

One hard-fought, Thursday night road loss isn’t enough to lead me to overreact. Dallas is a tough place to play and a very good team that matches up perfectly with the Saints. New Orleans are still firmly in the best team in the league conversation. Drew Brees isn’t going to miss as many throws as he did Thursday night very often and the Saints will be fine.

1. New England Patriots (9-3, Up 2)

With the Chiefs slip up and a dominant win over Minnesota, the Patriots are clearly established as a top 3 team. At worst. Neither the Saints or Rams have the consistent and trustworthy force New England is. Even with Tom Brady not playing his best football, old fashioned ground and pound football have the Patriots back at the forefront of the Super Bowl picture.