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The 2023 NFL season is approaching the finish line. Some of the preseason favorites are continuing to play like Super Bowl contenders, but others are struggling to find their way. Who is ranked No. 1 in our NFL Power Rankings this week?
32. Carolina Panthers
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The Panthers didn’t even need to reach the endzone to secure their second win of the season. Carolina scored just one TD between its two wins this year. Eddy Pineiro chipped in three field goals in this one, including the game-winning kick as time expired. Bryce Young was (mostly) mistake-free while completing 18-of-24 passes for a modest 167 yards. It will be intriguing to see how this team plays over the last three weeks. They have no incentive to lose with their pick going to Chicago, and match up against three teams vying for playoff positions (vs. GB, @ Jac, vs. TB).
31. New England Patriots
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Early on it seemed like the Patriots could be on their way to a second-straight win. Bill Belichick’s team has fared well against Patrick Mahomes in the past, and gave the reigning MVP some issues in the first half of their Week 15 matchup. Mahomes was picked off twice — once thanks to WR Kadarious Toney — and the Pats capitalized by scoring 10 points off of those turnovers. Ultimately, New England came up short yet again, but the defense is still capable of playing well in spurts.
30. Washington Commanders
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Washington may have waited too long to make a QB swap. After a disastrous start to the game from Sam Howell, backup Jacoby Brissett was called upon for the first time this season. Brissett came out firing, completing 8-of-10 passes for two touchdowns to bring the Commanders back within striking distance. Unfortunately, Washington’s porous defense was unable to stop the Rams all day. The Commanders would pick fourth in the upcoming NFL Draft if the season ended today.
29. New York Jets
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Perhaps it would be best for Aaron Rodgers to wait until next year. In a shocking bit of news over the weekend, Rodgers — who suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 — is expected to be medically cleared to return to the field in the near future. Though, it appears the team is unlikely to trot him out on the field in 2023 now that the Jets’ playoff hopes are all but dashed. After a strong performance his last time out, Zach Wilson was knocked out of the Week 15 matchup versus the Dolphins after suffering a head injury. Trevor Siemian was called upon in relief, and the two QBs combined for 80 total passing yards on 37 attempts.
28. Los Angeles Chargers
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An end of an era in Los Angeles. All it took to finally move Brandon Staley off of his post was a 63-point explosion from a Raider team that was held scoreless the week prior. Staley was fired following Thursday night’s debacle, as was GM Tom Telesco. The new regime will be put in an intriguing position. The Chargers boast a franchise QB in Justin Herbert, but the rest of the roster is either aging or overpaid. Certainly a situation to monitor as we enter the offseason.
27. Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals put up a valiant effort, but their defense stood no chance in this one. Brock Purdy tossed the ball all around the field, as Arizona’s secondary was getting mixed up and lost in its assignments all game long. There wasn’t a Cardinal within 20 yards of Christian McCaffrey when he caught and ran for a touchdown in the third quarter. A bright spot for the Cards was TE Trey McBride (10 rec, 102 yards). Since Week 8, McBride leads all TE’s in receptions (51) and is second in yards (542).
26. New York Giants
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New York’s three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end as the team was thoroughly outplayed in New Orleans. Tommy DeVito was sacked seven times as the offensive line searched for answers all afternoon. On the year, the Giants have allowed 76 sacks. DeVito has absorbed 35 of those hits and was knocked out of this game at one point. He’ll try to get back on track in Philly this week.
25. Tennessee Titans
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A bitter ending for a Titans team that has now lost two overtime games to division opponents over the last three weeks. A few weeks ago, Tennessee came up short versus the Colts in OT. This week, the Titans opened up a 13-0 lead versus the shorthanded Texans and appeared to be cruising towards their sixth win of the year. However, Case Keenum would not go down without a fight. The Texans tied the game with three minutes remaining, and kicked the game winning field goal as time expired during the extra frame.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
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At 7-4, the Steelers looked like a team that could sneak into a Wild Card spot despite obvious concerns offensively. Three-straight losses now has Steeler fans looking forward to 2024. After dropping back-to-back games to lowly squads (Cardinals, Patriots), Pittsburgh came out firing in its Week 15 matchup versus the Colts. The Steelers raced out to a 13-0 lead via two touchdowns from Mitch Trubisky (one rush, one pass). It was all Colts from there. Indy scored 30-straight and forced three turnovers over the final three quarters.
23. Atlanta Falcons
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In a year filled with miserable losses for the Falcons, this one takes the cake. In what was essentially a must-win game, Atlanta lost to the worst team in the league without even giving up a touchdown. Three field goals was all it took to basically eliminate the Falcons from NFC South contention. While they are still mathematically alive, the Falcons are now a full game behind both the Saints and Buccaneers. The Falcons’ last three first-round picks (Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson) combined for 75 yards on 13 opportunities.
22. Chicago Bears
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Chicago’s long-shot playoff odds took a major hit on Sunday. While still not technically eliminated from contention, the Bears will now need to win out and receive a ton of help from other teams to make it back into the playoff picture. This game appeared to be in Chicago’s pocket. Entering the fourth, Chicago led 17-7 and had possession of the ball. However, a failed fourth down in Cleveland’s territory ignited a Browns rally. The Browns hung up 13 points in the fourth to take the lead. QB Justin Fields attempted a Hail Mary on the final play, but it bounced off of WR Darnell Mooney’s hands and was corralled by a Cleveland defender for the game-sealing interception.
21. Las Vegas Raiders
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One of the best Raider performances we’ve seen in quite some time. Vegas put the beatdown on the visiting Chargers from the opening whistle. By halftime, the scored was 42-0 — thanks to four Aidan O’Connell passing touchdowns. The Raiders added two defensive touchdowns in the second half and forced five turnovers overall. This group likely won’t make it to the postseason, but they are clearly competing for their interim coach Antonio Pierce.
20. New Orleans Saints
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New Orleans has now won two games in a row and appear to finally be clicking on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Saints put on a clinic versus Tommy DeVito and the Giants — sacking the young QB seven times while not allowing a touchdown for the second-straight week. Derek Carr threw three touchdowns and only five incompletions. Jimmy Graham caught a TD for the third-straight game. The NFC South will likely come down to New Orleans’ final two games (@ TB, vs. ATL), but the Saints could greatly improve their Wild Card odds with a win over the Rams on Thursday.
19. Minnesota Vikings
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What a gutting loss for the Vikings. It seemed like Nick Mullen had led a game-winning drive when he connected with Jordan Addison for a late score in the final frame. However, Minnesota’s defense could not hold up against Jake Browning and Co., as Cincinnati’s backup QB linked up with Tee Higgins for a game-tying touchdown in the final minute of the fourth. In overtime, Minnesota had a chance to secure the win but failed to convert on a fourth-down QB sneak. The Bengals kicked the winning field goal on their ensuing possession.
18. Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay’s defense let the team down once again. Despite having plenty of talent littered throughout the depth chart, the Packers provided zero resistance to a Baker Mayfield-led attack. Green Bay allowed points on six-of-eight drives by Tampa Bay, and surrendered a perfect passer rating to Mayfield. While they are still technically alive in the Wild Card race, the Packers would likely need to win out to secure a playoff spot. That starts with a favorable matchup against the Panthers this week before facing back-to-back division opponents (@ MIN, vs. CHI) to end the year.
17. Seattle Seahawks
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Seattle saved its season with a massive victory over the Eagles on Monday night. The Seahawks began the year 5-2 and appeared to be in great position to reach the postseason. However, the team proceeded to go 1-5 over its next six games and fell out of the seven-team field. Facing a must-win on Monday night, the Seahawks pulled off a stunning last-minute drive to improve to 7-7. Drew Lock led Seattle 92 yards in 1:24 and capped off the drive with a gorgeous 29-yard TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Now, Seattle sports the same record as the final two playoff teams — the Vikings and Rams — with three games to go.
16. Denver Broncos
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Denver’s playoff hopes took a big hit over the weekend. The Broncos were blown out by an inspired group of Lions on Saturday, and a handful of results on Sunday left them in 11th place entering Week 16. Denver’s defense picked a poor time to have a bad showing. The defense was shredded through the air and on the ground — yielding five passing touchdowns to Jared Goff and 185 rushing yards to the duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Now, Denver will need to win out and have some help in order to reach the postseason.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Have the Buccaneers turned a corner? After losing six-of-seven games in the middle of the season, Tampa Bay has won three in a row and now leads the NFC South. Sunday’s win at Lambeau was easily the best win of the streak. Baker Mayfield was sensational as he threw for 381 yards and four scores en route to a perfect passer rating. With his team up one touchdown in the fourth quarter, Mayfield secured the victory with a 52-yard strike to David Moore. In two weeks, Tampa will host New Orleans in a game which will likely determine who wins the division.
14. Cleveland Browns
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The Browns are closing in on a playoff berth. On Sunday, Cleveland overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the visiting Chicago Bears. The team was able to overcome three Joe Flacco interceptions thanks in large part to its defense smothering Chicago’s attack. Overall, the Browns forced three turnovers and held the Bears to one offensive touchdown — that scoring drive started on Cleveland’s one-yard line. Flacco had a strong fourth quarter, as well. The veteran threw for over 200 yards in the final 15 minutes, and found Amari Cooper for a 51-yard TD to tie the game with 3:08 remaining.
13. Los Angeles Rams
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A handful of teams in the NFC are probably hoping Los Angeles fails to reach the postseason. Including Sunday’s victory over Washington, the Rams are 4-1 over their last five games. Matthew Stafford is playing at a high level and the offense has taken off as a result. The Rams have scored 28+ points in four-straight games. Against Washington, Stafford tossed a pair of scores, Cooper Kupp finished with over 100 yards, and Kyren Williams posted another monster game — 152 rushing yards and one TD. The Rams currently hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC and can vastly improve their odds with a win over New Orleans this week.
12. Indianapolis Colts
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The next three teams on this list call the AFC South home. Indianapolis is one of three teams tied atop the South with a 8-6 record. The Colts, despite being behind Jacksonville due to tiebreakers, feel like the team to beat. Gardner Minshew has led the franchise to a 5-1 mark over its last six games. In Saturday’s win over the Steelers, Minshew three touchdown passes. Indianapolis has a very manageable schedule to end the year — @ Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans. Don’t be surprised to see this team either win the South or secure a Wild Card spot.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
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While the Colts are surging, the Jaguars are falling apart. Jacksonville appeared to be a threat to claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed a few weeks ago, but it has now lost three games in a row. Sunday’s loss to Baltimore was particularly frustrating. Brandon McManus missed two field goals, Trevor Lawrence fumbled in the red zone, and the Jaguars failed to put points on the board when they botched the closing moments of the first half. Overall, the Jags only had themselves to blame for Sunday’s loss.
10. Houston Texans
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The third team in the AFC South with a 8-6 record, Houston currently sits behind both Jacksonville and Houston due to tiebreakers. In the AFC playoff race, the Texans are just outside of the seven-team field — trailing the Colts for the No. 7 seed. The overachievers knocked off Tennessee Sunday afternoon without star quarterback C.J. Stroud, as well. Houston overcame a 13-0 deficit and eventually won in overtime. Trailing 16-9 late in the fourth quarter, Case Keenum found Noah Brown for the game-tying score. The Texans need Stroud to take the field this week if they want to topple Cleveland.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
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We may have counted the Bengals out too early. In the aftermath of Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury, the Bengals have won three-of-four and are currently in position to make the playoffs. Jake Browning has led the offense to three high-scoring outputs in a row — 34, 34, and 27. Minnesota held Browning and Co. in check for the first three quarters, but the Bengals scored 24 points in the final frame and overtime to complete the comeback. In the fourth quarter, Browning and Tee Higgins connected for two touchdowns.
8. Detroit Lions
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The Lions needed a performance like the one they had on Saturday night. Detroit had hit a bit of a lull in recent weeks, but everything came together for the offense against Denver. Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes — three of which went to Sam LaPorta — Amon-Ra St. Brown registered 112 receiving yards and found the end zone, and the backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs (100 yards, one TD) and David Montgomery (85 yards) had its way with Denver’s defense. The Lions would clinch the NFC North with a win in Minnesota this week.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs still don’t look like a Super Bowl contender, but they improved to 9-5 with a win over New England. Patrick Mahomes threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but also tossed two interceptions and was visibly frustrated on the sidelines for the second week in a row. The Chiefs trailed, 10-7, late in the first half before going on a 20-0 run to put the Pats away. Kansas City enters Week 16 as the No. 3 seed in the AFC.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
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What’s going on in Philadelphia? The Eagles have now lost three in a row. After being blasted in back-to-back weeks by NFC contenders (San Francisco, Dallas), Philadelphia lost to a Seattle team that had been spiraling in recent weeks. Jalen Hurts and the offense can’t seem to establish a groove. The Eagles are now tied with Dallas atop the NFC East, and could be looking at a Wild Card berth if they don’t get things right for the last three games of the season.
5. Dallas Cowboys
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Well, that was a let down. A week after claiming first-place in the NFC East with an emphatic victory over the rival Eagles, Dallas fell on its face against Buffalo. The Cowboys were thoroughly dominated by the Bills in the loss. Dak Prescott finished the game with 134 passing yards, and the offense failed to crack 200 yards overall. Defensively, Dallas was shredded on the ground to the tune of 266 yards and three scores. A Philadelphia win on Monday night would drop Dallas to the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
4. Buffalo Bills
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The Bills have had a lot of things go right for them the past two weeks. Back-to-back wins and a handful of favorable results around the league have resulted in Buffalo climbing to the No. 9 seed in the AFC — No. 6-9 all sport a 8-6 record. This week, Buffalo should have no trouble defeating a Justin Herbert-less Chargers team. With a home game against New England to follow, the Bills should find themselves at 10-6 entering the final week of the regular season — setting up a massive showdown in Miami against the rival Dolphins.
3. Miami Dolphins
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Miami took care of business on Sunday and cruised to its 10th win of the season. Playing without Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins received a huge game from wideout Jaylen Waddle. Tua Tagovailoa found Waddle for a 60-yard touchdown in the second quarter to extend Miami’s lead to 17 points, and the speedster finished the game with 142 yards. Additionally, Raheem Mostert rushed for two scores and set Miami’s single-season record with 20 total touchdowns. The Dolphins face a gauntlet to end the regular season — vs. Cowboys, @ Ravens, vs. Bills — can they hold onto the AFC East?
2. Baltimore Ravens
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As things currently stand, the AFC playoffs would run through Baltimore. The Ravens defeated Jacksonville Sunday night to win their fourth game in a row and maintain control of the No. 1 seed. The game was closer than the score may suggest as Baltimore benefitted from a pair of missed field goals, a horrid fumble by Trevor Lawrence in the red zone, and a botched drive to end the first half. Still, the Ravens did more than enough in their own right to win the game. Lamar Jackson rushed for 97 yards and led his team to 13 points in the fourth quarter.
1. San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco clinched the NFC West and maintained possession of the No. 1 seed with its win over Arizona. Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy improved their MVP cases, respectively. CMC had a monstrous game — rushing for 115 yards and one TD on 18 carries, and registering 72 receiving yards and two additional touchdowns. Purdy averaged 9.7 yards per completion and connected for four touchdowns (the other two went to Deebo Samuel). The Niners can make another statement this week when they play host to the AFC’s top team, the Baltimore Ravens.
