NFL Power Rankings | Week 15

NFL Power rankings: Broncos set a new high for the 2023 season, while Cowboys crack the top three.

Surprises abound in this week’s NFL power rankings.There will be a double-digit winner in the NFC East who will have to travel for the postseason. Three teams from the NFC South, all sitting at 6-7, are fighting for a home playoff game.

This is the actuality of the divisional structure, which awards all division leaders postseason berths and does not reseed the teams, instead awarding the top four slots (along with a home playoff game) to the division champions. That’s why Sunday night’s Eagles defeat to the Cowboys seemed like such a huge deal.

How many teams do we currently have a genuine sense of trust in? Even though some of their opponents were fairly decent, our Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 teams from the previous NFL Power Rankings all lost in Week 14—a startling late-season setback for the league’s purported heavyweights.

Because of this, there are still several close division races and many issues in the NFL’s middle and upper middle classes to resolve; as of right now, only the 49ers are assured a postseason spot. As a football fan, that is all you can hope for: mayhem for as long as possible until the first week of January, when everything settles down.

Rank 1 San Fransisco 49ers (10-3)

What’s hilarious about the Eagles’ double-digit victory against the rival Seahawks on Sunday? In reality, San Francisco’s offense was hot and cold, appearing lifeless at times until—BOOM! After someone makes a huge play, everything in the 49ers’ universe seems perfect. Everything was held together by Brock Purdy. Brandon Aiyuk, who also fumbled later, might be held accountable for his interception, even if the talented wide receiver still managed 126 receiving yards. All of the Niners’ best playmakers actually produced impressive stats, and Purdy’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel should put an end to the ridiculous stories about the quarterback’s ability to pass downfield. If there was one concern following the match, it was the defensive line’s composition. Only LBs Dre Greenlaw (hip) and Oren Burks (knee), DT Javon Hargrave (hamstring), and CB Charvarius Ward (groin) returned to the game. With Baltimore coming up in two weeks, San Francisco was already operating without DT Arik Armstead, so if you’re searching for a weakness in this offensive machine, this could be it.

Rank 2 Baltimore Ravens (10-3)

After his heroic performance against the Rams, which included a thrilling touchdown drive (with rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers receiving the winning pass) and a successful two-point conversion (also to Flowers) to give the Ravens a late lead, Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign isn’t hurting. In overtime, Tylan Wallace’s pinch-hit punt-return touchdown sealed the victory. Even though Sunday wasn’t easy, Baltimore now holds the AFC’s top overall seed and leads the AFC North by two games as a result of the victory and Miami’s loss on Monday night. As the 37-31 victory in the end proves, that was likely the most pressure this Ravens defense has been under all season. Still, there were enough huge plays on that side to keep things from getting too worked up about a team that has played a lot more well than poorly. And when Jackson plays as he did in Week 14, repeatedly stinging the Rams with his legs and arm, he helps extend the margin for error. We desperately need a Joe Flacco vs. Lamar Jackson matchup in the playoffs, one way or another. The NFL screenwriters will see to it that this occurs if they are decent people.

Rank 3 Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

Mike McCarthy, who had been on the operating table a few days earlier, appeared rather well when he loped over to signal a timeout before Dallas’ touchdown that gave them a 24-6 lead over rival Philadelphia at halftime. In that first half of the game on Sunday night, McCarthy made all the right decisions. He converted a 60-yard field goal in the first quarter and pulled off the uncommon TD-notching challenge at the goal line in the second. After that, things calmed down, but in the end, the Cowboys made a strong statement by indicating that they are a real threat to win the NFC East and the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs. Dallas needed this kind of quality win, but the work is yet to be done, especially with the Eagles’ remaining schedule being much more favorable. The next two games are at Buffalo and Miami.

Rank 4 Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)

During a period of the last two games, Philadelphia’s defense gave up scores on 10 straight drives (nine touchdowns and one field goal), with the exception of San Francisco’s game-ending kneeldown in Week 13. In the third quarter of their Sunday night game against the Cowboys, the Eagles handed themselves a lifeline when they forced a fumble by Dak Prescott and recovered it for a touchdown. However, Dallas also made three key acquisitions, removing Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith—the Eagles’ three top offensive playmakers. The Eagles fumbled three times in their first game against the Cowboys, but they recovered each time, letting Philly win 28–23. But after being thoroughly humiliated over the last two weeks, the Eagles now face the risk of losing the division and the top spot to another team. The playoffs were approaching and the Eagles were playing their best ball a year ago. Right now, their only goal is to make it through the team’s demanding schedule and advance to the competition. They would have to go to a southern city for the opening round of the playoffs as things currently stand.

Rank 5 Miami Dolphins (9-4)

We’ve been arguing for months about the Dolphins failing to defeat any good teams. We may now hold them accountable for their shocking home defeat to the Titans, who came into Monday with a 0–6 road record. Miami also lost C Connor Williams to a knee injury, and Tyreek Hill missed a significant portion of the game due to an ankle ailment. However, losing to Tennessee with three minutes remaining at home despite having a 14-point lead is unacceptable. The much of the game, the Dolphins’ offense was simply off, which contributed to the two touchdowns the Titans gifted them through a turnover and a mishandled punt. The Dolphins went 2-for-5 in the red zone that night thanks to a Miami turnover, two field goals, and another field goal that was blocked. Then, after playing flawlessly the entire game, the Fins’ defense gave way on the last two drives, letting Will Levis lead the Titans to victories of 75 and 64 yards, respectively, outscoring Miami 15-0 in the final 160 seconds. It was just an extremely disappointing setback that severely hurt the Dolphins’ prospects of winning the first seed.

Rank 6 Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)

When was the last time, following a defeat like the one on Sunday, that you heard Andy Reid or Patrick Mahomes contest an official’s (right) call? It was odd to hear two of the top NFL competitors argue that Reid should have been warned by the referee that Kadarius Toney was lining up offside when, in reality, Toney should have checked with the line judge on that one. Do you want to complain that there was no late call against the Packers? Please come see me. Go ahead and do it. But for a team that has been the best organization in the league for the last five years, Sunday’s complaint felt petty and desperate. The fact remains that Kansas City’s issues extend far beyond an occasional bad judgment. A promising march was ended by Mahomes’ opening-drive pick, and the defending MVP isn’t playing well at the moment. The defense that has supported this team for the majority of the season is neither. Given the current trajectory, Mahomes could be looking at his first away playoff game.

Rank 7 Detroit Lions (9-4)

The Lions gave us much to be concerned about, even at 8-2. From Jared Goff’s turnovers to the injuries to the offensive line and general defensive problems, none of those things have improved in the three games since. Dan Campbell’s club is virtually guaranteed a playoffs spot at 9-4, but the likelihood of Detroit winning its first postseason since January 1992 is dwindling. There are still reasons to be optimistic, as the Lions would have home-field advantage for at least one game if they won the division. Though they have struggled terribly this season with mobile quarterbacks, they have given up 26 or more points in five straight games and six of the previous seven. This is certainly a problem when you look at the likely NFC playoff field. The Lions must quickly come up with solutions for the late-season. Detroit doesn’t resemble the city from earlier in the year.

Rank 8 Cleveland Browns (8-5)

Joe Flacco’s record versus the Browns was 18-3. He is now 1-1 for the Browns after a hard loss that was much closer than the score indicates. And after the 38-year-old led four touchdown drives—one in each quarter—and the decisive field goal march to cap off a huge victory over Jacksonville, Cleveland is going to ride him until the wheels fall off. This season, the Browns have far too frequently ignored a playbook chapter that has been opened by his arm strength and deftness on downfield passes. Amari Cooper also fumbled the ball, and Flacco did turn the ball over twice while leading his team by 14 points, perhaps losing his team points on both possessions. However, the Browns forced four errors from the Jaguars, scoring touchdowns with the final two in the second half. Cleveland’s secondary came through even without standout wide receiver Denzel Ward, forcing three interceptions (two by Martin Emerson Jr.) and 22 missed passes, with Browns defenders snagging ten of those passes. Though all four of the remaining opponents will be difficult to beat and will continue to play hard, the playoffs appear extremely plausible.

Rank 9 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)

After allowing backup quarterbacks to pick them apart for the past two weeks, the Jaguars’ defense is in disarray. After Joe Flacco had his way with Mike Caldwell’s defense, it was Jake Browning’s turn. Jacksonville’s pass rush, which pressured quarterback Joe Flacco 12 times and hit him three times on 45 dropbacks, was unimpressive on Sunday aside from the strip sack. Regretfully, the tackling and coverage could have been worse. Even though Trevor Lawrence bravely persevered through Week 14 with an ankle injury that many of us thought would keep him out for several weeks, the offense is undoubtedly somewhat to blame for the four turnovers. However, the squad suffered from the quarterback’s lack of connection with Zay Jones (five receptions on 14 targets) and Calvin Ridley (four catches on 13 targets), as well as from Doug Pederson’s too aggressive late-game game management. Even with the Colts and Texans also losing on Sunday, the Jaguars’ postseason outlook has drastically shifted in only two weeks, as is the case with many other AFC clubs.

Rank 10 Buffalo Bills (7-6)

The Bills are still a legitimate postseason contender at 7-6, even though they now sit 11th in the AFC playoff standings and must pass four teams ahead of them. Yes, Buffalo still has to play the Patriots and Dolphins, who defeated the Bills in their first encounter, as well as the scorching Dallas team this coming Sunday. Buffalo also still has to travel twice more. Even though Stefon Diggs had a below-average performance (four receptions, 24 yards), and the defense managed to close out the game—something it hasn’t done much this season—the Bills managed to win at Arrowhead, even though a penalty was needed to negate a Chiefs touchdown in the last minute and a half. While there are many things to be unhappy about, James Cook put up a great effort leading the offense, and Josh Allen made some huge throws. Cook needs 20 touches every game; fifteen is insufficient for a second-year back. Though they are far from perfect the Bills are still a threat.

Rank 11 Denver Broncos (7-6)

The Chiefs are now ahead of the Broncos in the AFC West by just one game, which means that this Saturday’s road game in Detroit may not be as difficult as it appeared a few weeks ago. Denver’s defense had a slight regression in the Texans’ Week 13 loss, but they made a big statement against the Chargers in Week 14. Justin Herbert was taken out of the game, the Bolts turned the ball over twice, were stopped five times on fourth downs, and went 0 for 12 on third downs. Despite a pick on Russell Wilson’s opening pass of the game (which was actually Marvin Mims’ mistake), the offense overcame several obstacles. This season, that was the Broncos’ first real turnover during a first-quarter drive. They’ve been incredibly good for the most part, so it’s confusing how they struggled in the first drive of the second half. Other than that, though, this team has been quietly dangerous for some time—even if many people aren’t ready to acknowledge it.

Rank 12 Houston Texans (7-6)

Following a 30-6 loss against the Jets on Sunday, the Texans suffered injuries to QB C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins. They also started the game without WR Tank Dell, TE Dalton Schultz, and OT Tytus Howard. For a squad that has mostly avoided those throughout the season, it was a terrible day all around. Houston’s path to the playoffs is made more difficult by having lost two of its previous three games. The only bright spot was that both Jacksonville and Indianapolis lost. However, the Texans’ injury problem makes this Sunday’s game in Nashville uncertain. From an offensive standpoint, this was the worst Houston has looked all season, or at least since Week 1. The Texans’ defense hasn’t always been at its best, but after a terrific performance against the Broncos in Week 13, they ought to have performed better against the Jets, whose offense hasn’t been particularly effective in recent months. Although Houston has made significant progress this year, the young club may now miss the playoffs.

Rank 13 Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

Even after a bad pick-six that gave the Colts life right before halftime, Jake Browning was outstanding overall as the Bengals dominated a game against a playoff contender. Even Joe Burrow hasn’t been able to lead Cincinnati to two straight 30-point performances this season, but Browning has. Tee Higgins’s comeback has undoubtedly been beneficial, but on Sunday, he and Ja’Marr Chase only managed five receptions between them. Browning completed eighteen throws to nine different pass receivers as the Bengals used a great screen game and kept tight end Tanner Hudson involved. A dismal Cincy defense, which could have had its best performance since October, also had a decent day. That unit held the Colts to just two gains of more than 16 yards on Sunday, despite coming into the game 32nd in yards allowed per game.

Rank 14  Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

According to NFL Research, the Steelers created history on Thursday Night Football when they ended a two-game homestand of losses versus clubs with ten or more losses. They were rewarded on Sunday by being moved back into the playoffs, at least temporarily. The Steelers are now ranked seventh in the AFC, but those three teams make up just half of the league’s six 7-6 clubs. The Colts and Texans’ losses moved them down to the bottom seven. If there is any bright spot in the overall picture, it is that at least three of those clubs no longer have their starting quarterback from when they started. The degree of urgency is evident in Mitch Trubisky’s poor performance against New England, which spurred Steelers supporters to call for a prompt return of Kenny Pickett. The outcome of Pittsburgh’s next two games, against the Colts and Bengals, will probably determine whether they make the playoffs.

Rank 15 Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

As they pursued their postseason run, the Colts anticipated a very favorable matchup against a Bengals squad that had struggled to stop the run and pass protect. However, Indianapolis’ run game and pass rush were nonexistent in Cincinnati, and the Colts made numerous careless mistakes during the crushing defeat. Joe Mixon and Chase Brown, two Bengals running backs, were largely hidden by Indianapolis, but they both put on incredible long screens. The Colts also lost because of special teams errors, such as a mishandled punt that resulted in a field goal by Cincinnati and failed field goal and extra point attempts. When the playoffs roll around, this is precisely the kind of careless ball that will send you home. Nevertheless, Indianapolis has a fairly favorable schedule, and the return of injured players will strengthen the roster. Will it suffice?

Rank 16 Green Bay Packers (6-7)

The Packers rolled back the clock on Monday night, reliving the kind of Jordan Love performance that had fans tearing their hair out before his recent hot streak. This was after all the highs of the previous three weeks. After playing three straight games without committing a turnover, Green Bay conceded three times going into the game, with Love misfiring and tossing a pick in back-to-back possessions. For the most part of the game, the quarterback was just off his game. He made several bad choices, missed throws, and left a lot of points on the field. The Giants scored a touchdown in the third quarter when Keisean Nixon mishandled the punt, forcing the Packers to pursue. With fewer than two minutes remaining, Love answered with two outstanding passes to Malik Heath to take the lead, but the Packers’ defense was unable to stop the Giants. It’s a mystery how Green Bay didn’t bench Tommy DeVito once; in the four prior games, Big Blue allowed seven points per contest on average.

Rank 17 Minnesota Vikings (7-6)

Although Kevin O’Connell decided to sit Joshua Dobbs in favor of Nick Mullens during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Raiders, he did not use the bye week to make a quarterback move. And it sort of worked. In the final moments, Mullens was a more effective thrower, and Minnesota won 3-0 with just a field goal. KOC is now faced with an intriguing choice: should they try Mullens or return to Dobbs? They’re “a week-to-week offense at this point,” which is especially true with Justin Jefferson out again, but like any good coach, he left his options open. But this Vikings defense is determined to make a statement. Following their Week 5 loss to the Chiefs, Brian Flores’ team has performed incredibly well. Shutouts are extremely uncommon; just four occurred in 2022, and Minnesota’s was just the fifth of the NFL this season. That’s why, faults and all, the Vikings continue to be fascinating.

Rank 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

The daring Buccaneers have now won two games in a row, according to their moniker. Despite their tendency to make things difficult, Tampa Bay manages to stay in the running for a home playoff game. Before the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield had less than 100 passing yards. However, he led three scoring drives in the second half and tossed two touchdowns to help the Bucs win the game in the closing minutes. Mayfield, who forced a near pick-six and two failed field goals in the first half and recorded a safety, owed the defense and special teams a debt of gratitude for keeping Tampa in the game. Despite a few coverage blunders, the defense produced enough big plays to defeat Atlanta and save the season. A loss would have drastically reduced the Bucs’ prospects of winning the division. It was a crucial step, but there was still plenty to do.

Rank 19 Seattle Seahawks (6-7)

With the Eagles visiting this week and two more road games remaining, they will have an uphill climb to qualify for the playoffs after losing four straight in 2023 and five straight to the 49ers. In an attempt to give Geno Smith an opportunity to start against Philadelphia, Seattle kept him out of this game; nonetheless, groin issues can be problematic. Against the 49ers, Drew Lock had moments of decent play—that is, until the fourth quarter. Although Kenneth Walker III made a spectacular 27-yard catch-and-run upon his return, the Hawks only allowed him 12 touches. Seattle’s defense, which lost starting cornerback Devon Witherspoon to injury, was destroyed once more despite a few huge plays; they gave up 527 yards and eight plays of at least 25 yards. Perhaps Geno can turn things around for the Seahawks against Philly, but as things are, this squad is headed from a 6-3 record in Week 10 to elimination from the postseason.

Rank 20 Los Angeles Rams (6-7)

The Rams will be inconsolable over their heartbreaking overtime defeat to Baltimore because they were unable to stop Lamar Jackson’s game-winning touchdown pass on third-and-17 or the two-point conversion attempt. Overall, the secondary had a difficult day, giving up two touchdowns with busted coverage in the first half. Cooper Kupp had the best game of his career and the Rams offense was excellent overall, but Los Angeles was unable to take control despite four consecutive punts in the second half. After the Baltimore safety, Matthew Stafford took a third-down sack that put the Rams out of field goal range, something they clearly regretted. This seemed like a lost chance to steal one against a top opponent, but L.A. can still make the playoffs and has a manageable remaining slate.

Rank 21 Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

With a victory, the Falcons would have gone 4-0 in the division and gained a game’s advantage, but that is already history. They trailed by a point at the half after two failed field goals and a safety. Desmond Ridder had some great throws (mostly to Drake London) and some bad ones, such an interception deep in Falcons territory that resulted in a touchdown for the Bucs and a pass that was missed for a touchdown by Bijan Robinson on a layup that forced Atlanta to settle for a field goal. Thank goodness, Atlanta is still swimming because the NFC South is still a mess. However, how much longer can the Falcons stumble in this direction? They attempted a QB switch, but it was unsuccessful. Despite Sunday’s late collapses, they have generally played strong defense this season. However, their losses all seem to be the same—drives left untapped and chances passed up. We have an easy time pointing out the reason if they miss out in the playoffs.

Rank 22 New Orleans Saints (6-7)

The Saints’ victory over poor Carolina on Sunday snapped a three-game losing streak and gave them a serious shot at capturing the NFL’s worst division this year. However, the atmosphere surrounding this squad has been somewhat depressing for some time, as evidenced by the Superdome audience, which was able to control its excitement even as the Saints found it difficult to defeat the Panthers. It’s New Orleans here. There is an issue with this. However, it’s difficult to boost the anticipation because Derek Carr’s presence hasn’t inspired the offense. The team captains, Carr and Erik McCoy, were observed sulking at one another. We are aware that there hasn’t been much agreement between Carr and his receivers. Oh, and the run defense performed poorly once more.

Rank 23 Chicago Bears (5-8)

One of the other dads at a summer barbecue asked me how many games I thought the Bears would win this year. “Seven to nine” seemed realistic, I said. We both laughed when, of course, I ran into the same guy right after the 0–4 start. I’m hoping to see him once more soon. The Bears have now gone 5-4, including 2-2 when Tyson Bagent was on the team, and they have drastically altered the season’s trajectory. It’s crazy to say out loud, but the Bears stand a good chance of qualifying for the postseason if they win their last four games. The defense closed it out late on Sunday, doing what it was unable to do against the Lions in Detroit. Against a struggling Lions defense, Justin Fields shown his superstar potential at times. He scored an exciting touchdown on fourth-and-13 by hitting D.J. Moore, who also had a rushing touchdown, to extend the lead in the fourth quarter. The victory, I assume, also increased the likelihood that Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus, and Fields will return for a squad that is suddenly gaining significant momentum the next season.

Rank 24 Tennessee Titans (5-8)

“When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose,” as Bob Dylan once sung. With a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, following two horrible turnovers that seemed to have given the Dolphins the advantage, the Titans rallied for a swift touchdown, and Mike Vrabel successfully went for two to delight analytics enthusiasts worldwide. Following a rapid three-and-out by Miami, Tennessee marched 64 yards in four plays to score the game-winning touchdown and thwart Miami’s final-minute effort. Even though Will Levis scored 14 points for the Dolphins directly as a result of Vrabel’s two fumbles on Monday night, the rookie still made some huge plays that contributed to the incredible comeback victory. In the fourth quarter, Levis’ lone touchdown pass (138 yards) came during his 327 yards of passing. In addition, he made a few scrambles and maintained his cool under pressure. This was a Grade A spoiler job by Vrabel during his most miserable season in Nashville, but there weren’t many style points for the Titans. Given the late deficit, this has to be the most unlikely win of the whole regular season. It’s also a good comeback after the Week 13 overtime loss at home.

Rank 25 New York Jets (5-8)

It’s amazing to think that Zach Wilson had what may have been his finest NFL start at the end of the week, after his coach had dismissed a rumor that he was reluctant to take back the starting job. After halftime, Wilson navigated the wet circumstances to throw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, but that was about the only unfortunate error he made. Up 14-0, Wilson fumbled the ball, giving the Texans a brief lead back in the game. Garrett Wilson was the only wide receiver with multiple receptions on Sunday, but Wilson still led three touchdown drives in the second half. It begs the question, could the Jets have gotten Wilson to play at this level sooner? Was he appropriately motivated by the benching? What does Wilson’s future hold as a result of this? Now that the Jets are probably going to miss the playoffs, these are legitimate considerations.

Rank 26 Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)

Everything was mishandled. Sunday: I truly mean it this time, even though I’ve said it in this spot before. The Chargers lost 24-7 against Denver, a game they never truly threatened to win. The offensive line was worn down (six sacks allowed), Justin Herbert was substituted due to a finger injury, and the crazed fans repeatedly yelled “Fire Staley.” Another season that seemed so full of promise is about to collapse under its own weight. We are aware that there will be personnel changes since Austin Ekeler will be entering free agency once more and there will be costly veteran decisions to be made. It appears that everyone who isn’t Herbert must be feeling at least a little uncomfortable about their role as we approach the offseason. With their talent, they are unable to keep running things back.

Update: Following surgery to fix his broken index finger on his throwing hand, Justin Herbert will miss the remainder of the season, according to reports from Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo on Tuesday. https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1734624166945370460?s=20

Rank 27 New York Giants (5-8)

Tommy DeVito, an undrafted rookie, has gained overnight notoriety due to his compelling story and the general public’s fondness for hometown heroes. “Tommy Cutlets” performed nearly as well with his legs (71 running yards) through three quarters as he did with his arm (99 passing yards), leaving a little meat on the bone early on Monday. One play after DeVito’s 26-yard rush to the Green Bay 1-yard line, which caused his entire family to burst into kisses, the Giants took their first lead of the game. The Giants led eight points late in the third quarter after DeVito found Isaiah Hodgins with a spectacular touchdown pass; but, Green Bay came storming back to regain the lead in the fourth. However, Wan’Dale Robinson, who had a fantastic night, was set up for the game-winning kick by DeVito’s 32-yard pass. From the Saquon Barkley blunder to the Malik Heath dropped touchdown and finally to the Heath touchdown itself, this game might be used as an instructional video. The last five or so minutes were just one bizarre play after another. However, an otherwise difficult season has been brightened by DeVito’s heroics and the Giants’ third straight victory.

Rank 28 Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

The Raiders were the side that fell in one of the most heartbreaking offensive games in recent memory. It is rarely advisable to make mistakes in the red zone. It turns out that five three-and-outs hurt just as much as a late-game interception. You felt bad for the Raiders defense, which was exhausting itself at the end and giving the Vikings a lot of trouble (five sacks for a shocking minus-47 yards). Though it’s reasonable to question whether Maxx Crosby should even be in the game at this point, he provided a ton of pressure and had two of those sacks. Sadly, Aidan O’Connell has not lived up to expectations, and the offensive line struggled on Sunday as well. All in all, it was a depressing display for a club vying for its interim coach. It appears to be a bad day.

Rank 29 Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

The Cardinals had, one would think, a good bye week. After defeating the Steelers on the road, they could relax and watch the Patriots and Jets triumph, which could have an impact on their draft position in 2024. Arizona and Houston each have two first-round selections. Houston’s prospects of qualifying for the postseason were hurt by the Texans’ loss to the Jets; if Houston fails to qualify, the Cardinals will get a pick in the top-18. Both the Patriots and the Cardinals enter the final stretch with 3-10 records; while the Pats currently own the second overall pick, that might change in the next month. To be sure, Jonathan Gannon has led the Cards with a winning mentality, so it will be interesting to watch how competitive they are in these last games.

Rank 30 New England Patriots (3-10)

After their first victory since Week 7, it’s simple to argue that the Patriots ought to have turned to Bailey Zappe sooner. The first reasonable opportunity they had to (or ought to have) made a change would have been as early as the Saints’ shutout loss in Week 5. However, Mac Jones and Zappe are equal for the season’s most home shutouts (1-1). All of that is now just a series of hypothetical scenarios. Perhaps the what-might-be is more intriguing. For Patriots Nation’s tea-leaf readers, the ESPN College GameDay coverage from Foxborough was a godsend, dissecting Pat McAfee’s exact words and the statements of Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft. For those who enjoy that kind of thing, it was fantastic theater. Furthermore, it may ultimately signify little or nothing, but it serves as another reminder that a few late victories may not be enough to change the coach and owner’s trajectory in a losing season.

Rank 31 Washington Commanders (4-9)

Following the trades of pass rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat, no one could have reasonably expected the defense to improve, but the unit underperformed before that as well, and after the Thanksgiving blowout loss to the Cowboys, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer were fired. The Commanders have given up eight more touchdowns on vertical routes this season than any other team, with 19 allowed, according to Next Gen Stats. That is astounding coming from a team that had realistic expectations going into the season to produce a top-half defense that may finish in the top 10. The Commanders gained talent this offseason and concluded the 2022 season with vigor, but the defense drastically declined. That hurt Washington’s season more than anything else, even though the offensive errors usually garner more media attention.

Rank 32 Carolina Panthers (1-12)

Following Carolina’s sixth straight loss, its second such run this season, interim coach Chris Tabor lost his cool, and Bryce Young declared he was “sick and tired” of the team’s constant defeats. Everyone is. The Panthers aren’t even all that creative in their defeats, as the majority of them have recurring themes. Play close. Excellent defense. had a possibility. And so on. However, it is accurate! For the first fifty-five minutes of Sunday’s game, the defense may have played its finest defensive game of the year. The defense has truly lived up to expectations the most of the time. Although Young had maybe the worst game opening of the season, the run game was rather effective (204 rush yards), as he was unable to get anything going beyond the fast, short passes. If you’ve heard that before, stop me.