NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

Share This Post

Well, shit – we’re a bunch of football writers, so I guess we have to get in on the ‘NFL Power Rankings’ action. So, here we are. Your boy “Big Natural” is a major advocate of the Bill Parcells school of thinking in that ‘you are what your record says you are.’

With that in mind, my power rankings are going to be based on the body of work. I don’t care what you were supposed to do before the season started. Nor do I care what you could do in a potential matchup. I’m placing an emphasis on what teams have actually done.

NFL POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 15

1. New England Patriots – Ohhhh, man – as if the Pats weren’t hated enough, they beat the Steelers on that call. Yikes. I kind of love it. Kiss the ring, bitches. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are back on top.

2. Philadelphia Eagles – No Carson Wentz, no problem. Maybe? I don’t know…I mean, it was the Giants…so we’ll see. But whatever. The Eagles have the best record in the entire NFL through 15 weeks.

3. Los Angeles Rams – I’m buying in on the Rams….all the way….all my chips are down. This team can beat you any way they please. Todd Gurley shoving it down your throat or Jared Goff slingin’ the ball all over the yard. This is the most electric team in the NFL.

4. Minnesota Vikings – The elite defense and safe play of Case Keenum is going to make this Vikings team a real Super Bowl contender. The problem is that the NFC is really good this year. Lot of heavyweights to punch out, and I don’t know that the Vikes have the offense to keep up with some of the other contenders.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers – Fret not, Steelers fans. The AFC sucks this year, so you’ll get your crack at a championship still.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars – The teeth on that Jags defense are razor sharp. I said last week that the AFC was three-horse race, and I stand by it. This Jags team is good enough to win a Super Bowl if they keep playing this way.

7. New Orleans Saints – They struggled against a mediocre-at-best Jets team, but they’ve stockpiled enough wins to remain in the hunt. That NFC South is going to be a gauntlet, but the Saints are in the best spot: on top.

8. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton is clicking, and this Panthers team looks dangerous. Would not want to see them in the playoffs.

9. Atlanta Falcons – It was too close for comfort, sure, but a win is a win, and I still like what the Falcons are doing. After a bit of a slow start, they’re starting to string together some wins at the right time.

10. Kansas City Chiefs – Alex Smith is playing lights out football and if the Chiefs play up to their potential, they could be a legit threat in the AFC playoffs.

11. Seattle Seahawks – That’s a completely demoralizing loss. The Rams absolutely destroyed the Seahawks, and now they find themselves on the wrong side of the playoff race. I’m not sure that this team is good enough to out maneuver the rest of the NFC wild card picture.

12. Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys are on a roll, but it may be too little too late. They’re still alive, but they need some help if they’re going to get into the playoffs.

13. Detroit Lions – I’m still not ready to give up on the Lions, but they’re going to have to play better than they did against Chicago to make any noise.

14. Baltimore Ravens – With games against the Colts and Bengals remaining, the Ravens should finish 10-6 and grab that 5th seed in the AFC playoffs. Whether or not they could go on the road and win a playoff game will come down to how well that defense plays.

15. Buffalo Bills – I think the Chargers are probably one of the six best teams in the AFC, but the Bills have the record to get in. I’m giving ’em credit for that. It’s going to be tough sledding with games on the road against the Pats and Dolphins, but as it stands today, they’re in.

16. Los Angeles Chargers
17. Tennessee Titans
18. Green Bay Packers
19. Oakland Raiders
20. Miami Dolphins
21. Washington Redskins
22. Arizona Cardinals
23. New York Jets
24. San Francisco 49ers
25. Denver Broncos
26. Cincinnati Bengals
27. Houston Texans
28. Chicago Bears
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30. Indianapolis Colts
31. New York Giants
32. Cleveland Browns

WEEK 15 PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS

AFC

1. New England Patriots
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Buffalo Bills

NFC

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Atlanta Falcons

Week 15 Super Bowl Prediction: New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams

Catch y’all next week.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley