Here we go, folks. We’ve got three regular-season weeks remaining. Four wide-open division title battles, some tight wild-card races, and a mess of a top-10 draft order that could look a LOT different in three weeks’ time.
Buckle up and enjoy the chaos as we dive into our Week 15 edition of the 2024 NFL power rankings.
Which teams are at the top of the NFL rankings after week 15?
32. New York Giants (32)
Was anyone really shocked by a blowout loss to Baltimore? Course not.
We know Big Blue fans are sick of hearing this, but let us repeat one more time: Every loss pushes you closer to the first-overall pick. And believe us, you guys really need Shedeur Sanders.
31. Las Vegas Raiders (31)
The Raiders kept it close against a slumping Atlanta Falcons team on Monday Night, but the visitors did just a little more on offense to squeak out a 15-9 victory.
Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders are still in a position to guarantee themselves one of Shedeur Sanders or Travis Hunter. Either would be a good consolation prize in this forgettable season!!!
30. Tennessee Titans (30)
The Titans’ defense kept it close against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, but four back-breaking turnovers by Will Levis were too much to overcome. Tennessee put Mason Rudolph in for the unraveling Levis, but it was too little too late.
The 3-and-11 Titans will definitely have a new QB next year, so the good news is this loss puts them closer to a top-three NFL draft pick. Honestly, what else is there to celebrate about this stale team?
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (29)
Mac Jones kept pace with Aaron Rodgers for most of the game, but it was the four-time MVP who made those pivotal extra few plays to help the New York Jets escape with a win in a battle of two bottom-feeders.
Though they’ve lost six of their last seven, five of those games were decided by a single score. At least there’s a bit of pride, something the Giants and Raiders could sure learn.
28. New England Patriots (27)
The lack of game-changing talent in New England was obvious in a 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. At the end of the day, Drake Maye just doesn’t have game-breakers like the weapons Kyler Murray has.
It’s encouraging that Maye looks like a franchise QB. But man, can they please go get this guy some playmakers in the offseason?
27. Cleveland Browns (26)
Two weeks after a 497-day outing in a near upset of the Broncos, Jameis Winston throws two picks against Pittsburgh and three in an uninspiring 21-7 home loss to the defending champion Chiefs.
To make matters worse, star running back Nick Chubb suffered a broken foot in the loss. A pending free sent, Chubb likely played his last snap in Cleveland — and it wasn’t exactly the best way to send him off.
26. Chicago Bears (25)
Death, taxes, and another uninspiring effort by the Bears.
May as well have forfeited Monday’s game in Minnesota instead of letting the Vikings outclass them from start to finish. Caleb Williams was held back by inept play-calling, and the Chicago defense made Sam Darnold look like Josh Allen in a 30-12 blowout.
Congrats to the Bears on clinching a fourth straight season of double-digit losses! At least they’re consistent?
25. Carolina Panthers (24)
Bryce Young reverted to bad habits in a sloppy 30-14 home loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. He had just 219 yards passing, one touchdown, and two picks. Not encouraging, considering they faced a woeful Cowboy defense that lost Micah Parsons for the year….
Anyway, the Panthers finish the 2024 NFL season against three mediocre defensive units in Arizona, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta. Good opportunities here for Young to finish strong.
24. New York Jets (28)
Make no mistake, this season has been a disaster in Gotham. But it had to feel good for vintage Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to return, and to finally pick up win No. 4 this year.
Adams had nine catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers had 289 yards, and three TD passes with no picks. We know the Jags aren’t world-beaters, but in a season full of lows, the Jets will take a W when they can get ‘em.
With the Rams next on the schedule, there’s a chance to play spoiler and shake up the playoff picture…
23. New Orleans Saints (22)
The Saints have no shame in losing to a superior Washington team by one point…considering they went with second-stringer Jake Haener before benching him in favor of unproven rookie Spencer Rattler.
Darren Rizzi’s boys came to play. They only lost by a single point after a failed two-point conversion on the game’s final play. Believe us, these guys are ready to play spoiler against the Packers and Bucs, their Week 16 and 18 opponents, respectively.
22. Dallas Cowboys (23)
Strange but true: The Cowboys have a better record with Cooper Rush — 3-and-3 — than they did with Dak Prescott at 3-and-5. That’s not 10 touchdowns and three picks this year for Rush, so is it crazy to suggest that other QB-needy NFL teams would be wise to give Jerry Jones a call in the offseason?
Or if Rush finishes the season strong — with three playoff teams on the schedule, no less — does Dallas consider moving on from Dak Prescott? Honest question!
21. San Francisco 49ers (18)
If you still had faith in the 49ers, now’s a good time to give up.
They showed little fight on offense in a disappointing 12-6 home loss to the Rams on Thursday night. Now, at 6-and-8, it’s all but over for Kyle Shanahan’s group. May as well rest some of your banged-up starters and focus on next year.
20. Miami Dolphins (17)
The Dolphins put up a stinker in Houston, falling 20-12 thanks to another inexplicably quiet day from Tyreek Hill and another awful day for Tua Tagovailoa against a playoff team.
So that’s it for the Dolphins. At 6-and-8, they’re not getting into the playoffs. This forgettable and wasted season really can’t end soon enough. And Mike McDaniel may need a strong finish to save his job.
19. Indianapolis Colts (16)
Jonathan Taylor is pulling a DeSean Jackson. A pick-six on a double-pass play thrown by wideout Adonai Mitchell? Man, the 2024 Colts have been hard to watch at their lowest.
Sunday in Denver was a must-win for Indy. They gave the game away on a silver platter with five turnovers and eight stupid penalties. Considering that Indy was better with Gardner Minshew last year than Anthony Richardson this year, is it safe to say that this NFL team may want to re-evaluate the quarterback position?
18. Cincinnati Bengals (21)
Give Joe Burrow’s boss credit. They’re not going away quietly.
A 37-burger against Tennessee was enough to keep the Bengals’ slim playoff chances alive. Hey, it counts for something.
Cincy must win out and have Denver lose out to make the playoffs. Highly unlikely, but at least they haven’t quit on Zac Taylor. That bodes well for his chances to return in 2025…
17. Atlanta Falcons (20)
Not at all pretty. The Falcons barely beat the AFC’s worst team despite fielding far more talent on both sides of the ball. But considering Atlanta had lost four in a row, does it really matter how they win?
The Falcons own the tiebreaker on the Bucs, but they’re still one game behind the division. Atlanta basically has to win out and hope Tampa loses to either Dallas, Carolina, or New Orleans to claim the NFC South. NOT impossible, but help is needed…
16. Arizona Cardinals (19)
Kyler Murray’s Cardinals made easy work of the visiting Patriots, saving their NFL season in the process and moving back to .500.
Arizona has to win out to have any hope at the NFC West division crown. Seattle also has to lose two of their final three since they own the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Cardinals.
Never say never. Crazier things have happened!
15. Seattle Seahawks (11)
Life comes at you fast in the NFL. The ‘Hawks were once atop the NFC West as winners of four straight. Now, their playoff hopes are borderline on life support.
The Hawks were outclassed on all sides of the ball by Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers in an ugly 30-13 prime-time loss at home. Even before Geno Smith left with an injury, the Hawks never really stood a chance since their defense slept through most of the game.
Now the Rams are atop the NFC West. They have an easier remaining schedule than the Seahawks, and the two teams meet again in Week 18. Seattle realistically has to win out to win that division now. Good luck.
14. Los Angeles Chargers (10)
Not sure if any team was more disappointing to watch in Week 15 than the Bolts. They’re supposed to have the league’s best defense, but they failed to even stop a nosebleed in a 40-17 beatdown defeat at the hands of the visiting Bucs.
With Denver and Baltimore also losing, the Bolts fall down to the No. 7 seed in the AFC. That likely means visiting Buffalo in the wild-card round instead of a more favorable matchup like Pittsburgh or Houston.
Oh, but it’d totally be a Chargers thing to lose out and miss the NFL playoffs. Show us what your team is made of, Jim Harbaugh!
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)
Remember when the Bucs were dead? Chris Godwin was done for the year, and Mike Evans was out multiple weeks? Good times.
Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, and Evans just won’t be stopped. The Bucs annihilated a lights-out Chargers defense in Week 15’s blowout win — their fourth straight outing with 26-plus points.
Dallas, Carolina, and New Orleans are Tampa’s final three games on the schedule. Just gotta beat those three below-500 NFL teams, and the division is theirs!
12. Los Angeles Rams (14)
What a week for the Rams. They took down the rival 49ers in a must-win Thursday nighter for both teams — only to watch the Seahawks get crushed by the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
So, the division is now in the Rams’ hands. A Week 18 win over Seattle clinches the season series sweep and tiebreaker. So the Rams just need to beat the Jets OR Cardinals and then Seattle in Week 18 to win the division.
Shouldn’t be too hard, right….?
11. Houston Texans (13)
Sunday’s sloppy but somewhat eventful win over the Dolphins clinched a second straight division crown for the Texans. Who saw them locking it up by Week 15? The luxury of playing in the AFC South, we suppose.
Odds are that Houston will finish as the No. 4 seed, though they have a slim shot of beating out the AFC North winner for the third seed. Either way, Houston fans can mostly relax until CJ Stroud and company host their Wild Card Game in three weeks.
10. Washington Commanders (12)
The Commanders barely avoided a stunning upset at the hands of the Saints, making a potential season-saving stop on the two-point conversion attempt to seal the 20-19 victory.
Seattle’s loss has Washington one game clear of the NFC’s last wild-card spot with three weeks to go. With the red-hot Eagles coming to town on Sunday, Jayden Daniels and company must bring their A-Game. The type of effort we saw in New Orleans will not be enough against Nick Sirianni’s group.
9. Baltimore Ravens (9)
The Ravens cake-walked their way to victory over the Giants to officially clinch a third straight winning season. All they need now is one victory over their final three weeks to clinch an NFL playoff spot.
With Pittsburgh losing on Sunday, the Ravens are just one game out of first in the AFC North. Beat the Steelers at home this week, and we’ve got a two-way tie with two weeks to go! Giddy up!
8. Denver Broncos (8)
One of the two painful streaks is finally over. After beating the Colts on Sunday, the Broncos clinched their first winning season since 2016.
Like Baltimore, the Broncos need just one more win to clinch a playoff berth that would end a nine-year drought. And trust us, nobody wants to play Bo Nix or that stingy Denver D in that postseason.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)
The Steelers didn’t have much of a chance against a deeper and healthier Eagles team on Sunday. Not without George Pickens against this Philly secondary.
Still, Sunday’s 14-point loss to Philadelphia was still tough to swallow. Now the pressure’s really on, with a road game in Baltimore next on the schedule.
On the bright side, welcome back to the NFL playoffs, Pittsburgh.
6. Green Bay Packers (7)
A phenomenal all-around performance by Jordan Love’s Packers in Emerald City on Sunday night. The Packers manhandled the Seahawks in a tough environment to clinch, surprisingly, their first season of double-digit wins since 2021.
The NFC North isn’t in reach, but there’s nobody these guys can’t beat. You think a division winner like the Rams or Bucs wants to face these guys in January? No chance.
5. Buffalo Bills (5)
Is there a more fun team right now than the Bills? One week after a 45-42 road loss to the Rams, they came into Motor City and beat the Detroit Lions 48-42. It’s like playing backyard football where anything goes.
Josh Allen put another stamp on his MVP case with 362 passing yards and four total touchdowns against the NFC’s best team. With the Patriots times two and the Jets remaining on the Bills’ schedule, Allen has a clear-cut path to his first MVP award.
4. Minnesota Vikings (4)
As expected, the Vikings made easy work of the NFC North rival Bears on Monday night to pick up their seventh straight win. And with the Lions losing to Buffalo, Minny is now tied for the division lead and top record in the conference.
REMEMBER…Minny and Detroit square off in Motor City in Week 18. Think there might be something at take, then?
3. Detroit Lions (1)
The Lions suddenly look vulnerable. With injuries mounting on defense, it was only a matter of time until they suffered their second loss of the NFL season. This time, the Buffalo Bills sliced up a piece of humble pie.
Most of us can agree that Detroit’s the team to beat in the NFC at full strength. But with a bunch of injured bodies on defense, a trip to the Super Bowl doesn’t feel as strong compared to a couple of weeks ago.
It’s back to the drawing board and ensuring they don’t lose their hold on the NFC North, nor the conference’s top seed.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (3)
Hey, look! Another masterclass by the league’s hottest team, now winners of 10 straight.
Philly’s defense was lights-out in the battle of Pennsylvania, limiting Russell Wilson’s group to 13 points. That’s now six straight games of Vic Fangio’s defense, allowing 20 or fewer points, by the way.
Saquon Barkley had a pedestrian day, and the Eagles still won by double-digits. With the Lions losing, it was a practically perfect week for Nick Sirianni’s group. Three weeks left in the 2024 NFL season, but only one first-round bye in the NFC. Suppose the Eagles get it; good luck to the rest of the NFC.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The defending champs regain the top spot by virtue of being the only team with a single loss.
It wasn’t exactly pretty, but the Chiefs snuck past the Browns 21-7 on the road to inch closer to the AFC’s top seed. Patrick Mahomes avoided the worst-case scenario with an ankle sprain, but if he misses multiple weeks, the race for the No. 1 seed becomes interesting.
But as long as Mahomes is healthy come the postseason, Kansas City remains the team to beat in the AFC.
