{"id":24539,"date":"2023-12-07T17:37:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T22:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=24539"},"modified":"2023-12-07T17:37:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T22:37:58","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-week-14-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/nfl-power-rankings-week-14-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 14"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re in the final five weeks of the season and have a complete upheaval at the top of the<\/a> Power Rankings. It\u2019s almost as if these regular season games matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only are the Dolphins the current top seed in the AFC, more importantly, they are atop the NFL Power Rankings. Congratulations, guys. Now, maybe try to beat a team with a winning record. Last week:<\/strong> No. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ravens had a bye to prepare for a suddenly hot Los Angeles Rams team, while also watching the Kansas City Chiefs take a nosedive in the AFC playoff rankings. Baltimore\u2019s path to the Super Bowl just got that much clearer, regardless of what happens Sunday.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is probably the lowest you\u2019ll see the 49ers ranked this week after their dominating win over the Philadelphia Eagles. What that one terrific victory didn\u2019t do is erase the three straight they lost just a month ago. Let\u2019s not crown them just yet.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. DALLAS COWBOYS (9-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s something fun. With their win over the Seattle Seahawks last week, the 2023 Cowboys can officially claim a victory over a winning team. Of course, the Seahawks are no longer a winning team after that game and will likely not have a winning record the rest of the season. Still, Dallas, here\u2019s that ever-elusive kudo. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. DETROIT LIONS (9-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lions had a real scare against the New Orleans Saints last weekend, holding on for a five-point win. While the Lions have officially crossed the 9-victory threshold, have secured a winning season and are likely headed towards an NFC North title, they are far from a team a Wild Card squad dreads to see in the playoffs. At this point, the fifth and sixth seeds are ideal positions in the NFC. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles let the 49ers railroad them last Sunday and should be ashamed. What would be worse? How about letting the Dallas Cowboys repeat that this coming weekend? Last week:<\/strong> No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know Taylor Swift and her dad rooted for the Philadelphia Eagles, but I feel this particular lip reading, which you\u2019ll have to decipher for yourself<\/a>, shows how real her fandom for the Chiefs, and her man Travis Kelce, has become.. Last week:<\/strong> No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only did the Jags take a rough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night, they might have lost quarterback Trevor Lawrence for at least a week with a high ankle sprain. Luckily for Jacksonville, CJ Beathard isn\u2019t a complete disaster of a backup QB. Last week:<\/strong> No. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. HOUSTON TEXANS (7-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After opening the year 0-2, the Texans have lost three games since and all three were by a single score. Specifically, 2-3 points. This is a team with a first-year head coach and rookie quarterback that could realistically be 10-2 right now. Coming up on the schedule? The New York Jets, two games against the Tennessee Titans, the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns with whatever quarterback they can field who has the night off from Fudrucker\u2019s. Last week:<\/strong> No. 11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of the Colts, months after we all wrote them off, they are not only in the AFC playoff hunt, they currently hold the seventh seed and control their own destiny. This is what happens when you let Gardner Minshew show up to games in double denim. People want to joke about Zach Wilson making a move on your mom. He\u2019ll have to wake her up out of the back of Minshew\u2019s El Camino, first. Last week:<\/strong> No. 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a couple of things you need to know about Jordan Love. First, Brett Favre went 8-5 as a starter in his first season with the Packers. Aaron Rodgers was 6-10. Love is right on track to be the next guy except he has a better head coach, Matt LaFleur, calling the plays than Favre (Mike Holmgren) and Rodgers (Mike McCarthy). As of this past weekend, LaFleur is 16-0 in December.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. LOS ANGELES RAMS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rams have battled their way back into playoff contention with three straight wins coming out of their bye. The big problem that could cost them? Their kicker, which they addressed in all the worst ways so far this season. Wednesday, they added former Packers kicker Mason Crosby to the practice squad, but don\u2019t be surprised to see him sending balls through the uprights come Sunday. Also, Puka Nacua is just the second receiver drafted out of the Top 100 to record a 1,000-yard season in NFL history. He\u2019s only played in 12 games.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of injured quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett could miss the next four weeks with an ankle injury of his own. Right as the Steelers saved their season by firing Matt Canada, they lose it again thanks to the butter-covered hands of Mitchell Trubisky. Last week:<\/strong> No. 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Flacco looked a lot like the old Joe Flacco in the game against the Rams. Which tells me the twilight of his career might have looked very differently if he hadn\u2019t played on teams with some of the worst offensive coordinators in history. Last week:<\/strong> No. 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. ATLANTA FALCONS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, Atlanta is atop the NFC South by all of a single game and Arthur Smith might be the only coach in that division to survive the cull at the end of the year, but is it really \u201cwinning\u201d if you have to remain the head coach of the Falcons? Last week:<\/strong> No. 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just like that, the Bengals are back to life in the playoff race. From what I can find, Jake Browning had never played in an NFL game until he took over for Joe Burrow two weeks ago. Monday night, he unleashed one of the best QB performances of the season. We can\u2019t be fooled too much, as we\u2019ve seen that glass slipper shatter to pieces before. Last week:<\/strong> No. 21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. DENVER BRONCOS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just when the Broncos\u2019 fumbled the bag against the Texans, they get the Los Angeles Chargers are showing up on the schedule to save the day. Last week:<\/strong> No. 13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18. BUFFALO BILLS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a weird off week for the Bills, who appeared to be losing edge rusher Von Miller to an arrest, but the next thing you know, all that\u2019s over, he\u2019s back with the team and Buffalo can continue its playoff push. What happened? You\u2019ll have to Google it. My particular sports writing job allows me to not comment on certain darker things and I take that opportunity whenever I can. Last week:<\/strong> No. 16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a week off due to the bye and still holding onto an NFC playoff spot, the Vikings have decided to stick with Joshua Dobbs, hoping he returns to form as \u201cThe Pass-tronaut\u201d instead of \u201cThe Ass-tronaut\u201d he\u2019s been in his last couple of starts.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope you enjoyed having a winning record while you could, Seahawks. You won\u2019t see one again in 2023. Last week:<\/strong> No. 19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brandon Staley head coaching career deathwatch reaches a critical juncture this week when the Chargers host the Broncos. Denver is coming off a tough loss after being one of the hottest teams in the league. The Chargers are coached by Brandon Staley. It\u2019s not looking good for Ole Brandon\u2019s job prospects. Last week:<\/strong> No. 27<\/p>\n\n\n\n

22. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to remember that, as bad as the Bucs have been this year, they were just as bad last season with Tom Brady at quarterback. Last week:<\/strong> No. 29<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is that Jameis Winston\u2019s music? You can tell because of all the armpit fart sounds. Last week:<\/strong> No. 20<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24. CHICAGO BEARS (4-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to make a point that the Bears have played this late into December (as in the very beginning of the month) without securing a losing record for the year, but that just shows my own recency bias. From 2018-2020 the Bears were never worse than 8-8 and made the playoffs twice. So, yeah, Matt Eberflus has been bad and should be fired very soon. Last week:<\/strong> No. 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. NEW YORK GIANTS (4-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor can finally return, but the Giants have decided to remain with the hot hand in Tommy DeVito, frustrating for me because I\u2019ve yet to figure out how to make a Danny DeVito joke about this. I feel like I\u2019m letting myself, and America, down. Either way, Taylor is a little perturbed by it, but considering he\u2019s been Tyrod Taylor his entire career, he should be used to it by now. Last week:<\/strong> No. 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After starting his interim head coaching tenure 2-0, Antonio Pierce has dropped two straight. Does that mean he\u2019s not head coaching material or that the Chiefs and Dolphins are significantly better than the New York Giants and New York Jets? Hmm. Anyway, Pierce might rediscover his mojo this weekend when the team hosts the Joshua Dobbs-led Vikings. Last week:<\/strong> No. 25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

27. ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Kyler Murray is auditioning for other teams, they all got a solid look of what he could do last week against a decent Steelers defense. The Cards currently pick No. 3 overall and both the teams ahead of them, the Bears and New England Patriots, are taking QBs. If Arizona wants to move on from Murray, they better be in love with at least three of the guys coming out. Last week:<\/strong>  No. 30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28. TENNESSEE TITANS (4-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of the NFL Draft, the Titans would pick at No. 7 if it was held today and, considering the QBs that will be going early, that\u2019s a solid spot to land some real talent in 2024. It\u2019s difficult to tank in the NFL, and Mike Vrabel\u2019s not a guy that would do that, but let\u2019s not rend our garments over losing any of these next five games, Tennessee. Last week:<\/strong> No. 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. NEW YORK JETS (4-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t hear about Robert Saleh\u2019s seat being especially hot, but I\u2019ve learned plenty about the guy from how he\u2019s handled the season. From capitulating to ownership on starting Zach Wilson to now crawling back to Wilson after benching him, supposedly, for good. Add that to the preseason Hard Knocks<\/em> episode where he calls out the offense and points out how great the defense he\u2019s built is, in spite of being the head coach of the entire team, doesn\u2019t make me feel great about his long-term success. He certainly doesn\u2019t seem like a leader of men. But, hey, Aaron Rodgers likes him and that\u2019s probably enough to keep him employed for another season. Last week:<\/strong> No. 28<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are only three teams in the NFC that have secured a losing record. Of course, that will change this week, but the fact it took the tanking Commanders this long to reach that mark, shows exactly how tough it is to lose on purpose in the NFL. This is a franchise that wanted to land Caleb Williams and the top overall pick. With four wins and the horrid states of the teams in front of them, there\u2019s no chance they\u2019ll get there. Last week:<\/strong> No. 24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-11)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Saints, probably quarterbacked by Jameis Winston, showing up on the schedule this week the Panthers are in real danger of losing the No. 1 overall pick that belongs to the Bears. Last week:<\/strong> No. 31<\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all want the Patriots to lose. None of us want to see them land the top pick in April\u2019s draft and select Caleb Williams. Luckily, Mitch Trubisky showed up on the schedule Thursday night to keep that from happening.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 32<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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