Pickswise Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

The Saints have taken control in the NFC, while the AFC is positively wild both Kansas City and New England losing in Week 15 as the Chargers and Texans kept winning. After New Orleans, where does that leave everyone in our Week 16 NFL power rankings?

1. New Orleans Saints (12-2)– The offense has been thoroughly unspectacular in recent weeks, but the Saints at least managed to beat Carolina 12-9 on Monday night.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)– Kansas City stays at No. 2 and it still controls its own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but it better not slip up again.

3. Los Angeles Chargers (11-3) – Los Angeles improved to 10-1 in its last 11 games with the most dramatic of fourth-quarter comebacks against AFC West rival K.C.

4. Los Angeles Rams (11-3) – Jared Goff is slumping, Todd Gurley is less than 100 percent, and the Rams’ hopes for the NFC’s top seed are all but toast.

5. Chicago Bears (10-4) – It’s hard to see how this team lost to the Giants a few weeks ago, but Chicago—thanks to its defense—has become a trendy Super Bowl pick.

6. New England Patriots (10-4) – Clearly hung over from their last-play lateral loss to Miami, the Patriots came out on the losing end of another thriller against Pittsburgh.

7. Houston Texans (10-4)– Thanks to New England’s two-game skid and their own 10-1 stretch, the Texans’ control their own destiny for the second seed in the AFC.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)– The Steelers would have been in jeopardy of losing the AFC North and missing the playoffs altogether if they had lost that one.

9. Tennessee Titans (8-6) – Tennessee has surrendered a mere nine total points in its last two outings, tying it for first in the NFL in scoring defense at 18.1 per game.

10. Indianapolis Colts (8-6) – The Colts are 7-1 in their last eight contests with their only loss during this stretch coming against of the league’s worst teams (Jacksonville).

11. Baltimore Ravens (8-6) – Although the Ravens could have used a Pittsburgh loss, they are at least taking care of their own business with a 4-1 record in the last five.

12. Dallas Cowboys (8-6) – Dallas will probably back itself into the NFC East title, but a 23-0 humiliation at Indianapolis is long-term cause for concern.

13. Seattle Seahawks (8-6) – Perhaps no team’s Week 15 performance was as bad as that of the Seahawks, who fell to San Francisco of all opponents.

14.Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) – It could be déjà vu all over again with Nick Foles replacing Carson Wentz, but Philadelphia is still on life support despite its upset of the Rams.

15. Minnesota Vikings (7-6-1)– Minnesota fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and promptly pinned 41 points on Miami last Sunday.

16. Miami Dolphins (7-7)– Giving up 41 to the Vikings did not help the Dolphins’ chances one week after they stunned New England in miraculous fashion.

17. Cleveland Browns (6-7-1) – Fifteen weeks into the season, the Browns are still in mathematical contention for a playoff spot.

18. Carolina Panthers (6-8)– Once 6-2, the Panthers have lost six in a row following their loss to New Orleans and they still have to face the Saints again.

19. Green Bay Packers (5-8-1)– On the heels of a win over lowly Atlanta, Green Bay returned to its losing ways with an eliminating setback at Chicago.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)– The Bengals halted a five-game losing streak with a victory over Oakland, but it’s too little and too late.

21. New York Giants (5-9) – Two weeks after somehow upsetting Chicago, the Giants showed their true selves by scoring zero points against Tennessee.

22. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)– The Falcons officially got eliminated from the postseason picture despite ending a five-game skid at the expense of Arizona.

23. Washington Redskins (7-7) – Washington’s 7-7 record is better than plenty of teams above it on this list, but the Week 14 abomination against the Giants is tough to gloss over.

24. Denver Broncos (6-8) – Whereas the Redskins rebounded from their Week 14 disaster, Denver followed up a loss to San Francisco by losing to Cleveland.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9) – The Buccaneers somehow defeated New Orleans in Week 1 but they do not have a single win over another winning opponent.

26. Detroit Lions (5-9) – Not unlike Tampa Bay, the Lions’ first win came over New England and they do not have another decent victory since that Week 3 upset.

27. Buffalo Bills (5-9) – If nothing else, Buffalo has at least been competitive of late—playing four consecutive games decided by no more than four points (2-2).

28. New York Jets (4-10) – The Jets snagged Sam Darnold with the No. 3 pick in 2018 and they may be in line for something similar with a 1-7 record in their last eight games.

29. San Francisco 49ers (4-10) – In the race for the top pick, San Francisco has probably taken itself out of the running with consecutive wins over Denver and Seattle.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)– The Jaguars are not the worst team in the NFL only because their defense is sixth in the NFL both overall and in scoring.

31. Oakland Raiders (3-11)– Oakland has a head-to-head win over the Cardinals and it somehow upset Pittsburgh, as well, so last place is not happening.

32. Arizona Cardinals (3-11) – Arizona is dead last in the league in total offense by a whopping 50 yards and it is averaging less than two touchdowns per game.