NFL Power Rankings

Putting Seattle at No. 1 feels uncomfortable, and honestly, that’s part of the point. A team that just gave up nearly 600 yards and lost the turnover battle doesn’t usually end up here — yet the Seahawks did enough to survive, and survival matters in December. Sam Darnold deserves credit for shaking off a rough prime-time start and settling back in, and this group continues to show real toughness when games get chaotic. That said, this isn’t a coronation. Injuries in the secondary are stacking up, the NFC West isn’t settled, and nothing feels guaranteed yet. Two more wins would make everything official, but dates with Carolina and San Francisco won’t be freebies. Seattle is good — maybe even great — but they still make you hold your breath.

This felt like the kind of win that changes how a season is remembered. Down double digits late, banged up, and playing away from home, New England simply refused to fold. Drake Maye caught absolute fire in the fourth quarter, and once Rhamondre Stevenson broke through for the go-ahead score, the Patriots never looked back. The comeback locked up a playoff spot and put the AFC East well within reach. Health is the only real concern right now — losing TreVeyon Henderson even briefly matters, and the roster is thin up front. The good news is reinforcements are coming. Regardless, this team has already exceeded expectations, and the way they’re winning suggests they won’t be an easy out come January.

Buffalo escaped Cleveland with a win, even if it wasn’t pretty. The defense bent far too often, but when the game demanded stops in the fourth quarter, they delivered. That’s been the theme all year: uncomfortable moments followed by resilience. Josh Allen and James Cook continue to shoulder most of the load, and Buffalo will need more help around them moving forward. Still, this is now six straight seasons with at least 11 wins — consistency that deserves respect. The Bills are mentally tough, battle-tested, and still dangerous, even if the path to another division title just got steeper.

This was one of those losses that lingers. Denver’s defense, usually its backbone, missed too many tackles and couldn’t fully contain Jacksonville’s pressure. Offensively, the late-game magic never showed up, and that absence was glaring. Trevor Lawrence punished blitzes, and a late injury to Dre Greenlaw only added to the frustration. With the AFC’s top seed in play, this was a missed opportunity — and suddenly the division isn’t a lock either. The immediate schedule lightens, but the looming matchup with the Chargers in Week 18 is starting to feel massive.

Jacksonville just keeps raising its own ceiling. Winning in Denver felt different than the earlier statement games — tougher, more complete, more convincing. Trevor Lawrence is playing at an elite level right now, stacking touchdowns and controlling games during a six-win surge. The defense quietly made its presence felt as well, tightening up late and disrupting Denver when it mattered most. For a team in its first year under Liam Coen, the Jaguars don’t look like they’re learning on the fly anymore — they look like they belong in the conversation. And in this AFC? Anything’s possible.

Chicago might be the most stressful good team in football. Six of their wins have come after trailing inside the final two minutes, and Saturday’s overtime escape against Green Bay was another example of both their resilience and their self-inflicted chaos. Still, the results count. The Bears are playoff-bound, heavily favored to take the NFC North, and technically still alive for the top seed. The coaching staff knows the truth, though — this team has to clean things up. If they do, Chicago’s ceiling gets very interesting, very fast.

When the 49ers offense hits its stride, it overwhelms people. Brock Purdy was sensational on Monday night, tossing five touchdown passes and carving up coverage with confidence and touch. San Francisco hasn’t needed its punter in weeks, which tells you everything about their rhythm. The concern comes on the other side of the ball, where the defense gave up too many clean looks before finally sealing things late. The pieces are there, and the path to stealing the division still exists. If the Niners tighten the screws defensively, they’ll climb again — fast.

One game completely reshaped the Rams’ outlook. Blowing a massive lead at home, despite piling up yards and protecting the ball, was shocking — and the fallout was immediate. Special teams mistakes piled up, eventually costing a coordinator his job in December, which almost never happens to a contender. Matthew Stafford continues to play at an MVP level, but suddenly the margin for error is thin, and the playoff road isn’t nearly as clean as it looked a week ago. Everything still feels fixable — but not guaranteed.

This was the version of the Chargers people have been waiting for. Justin Herbert was sharp, decisive, and in control, even as injuries along the offensive line continue to test their depth. With key weapons back in the mix, the offense looked fluid and playoff-ready. The defense weathered some early pressure before settling in and finishing strong. Four straight wins is no accident — but the next stretch is brutal, and we’re about to learn exactly how real this surge is.

Seven wins in a row should feel better than this. Houston got the job done again, but it wasn’t convincing, and the home crowd let them hear it. The defense sparked things early with a pick-six, yet still surrendered far too many big plays to a struggling opponent. Offensively, the Texans didn’t find the end zone until late, reigniting questions about consistency on that side of the ball. With Jacksonville rolling, Houston’s postseason path may require road wins — and that makes tightening things up an urgent priority.

It wasn’t smooth, but winning ugly still counts — and this one locked up the NFC East for Philadelphia, ending a long run of division instability. The defense held firm despite missing Jalen Carter, and the offense has slowly started to resemble something functional again against softer competition. Saquon Barkley helped bleed the clock late, and Dallas Goedert continues to be a red-zone staple. Sure, Washington gave them some help, but the Eagles did what champions are supposed to do. Whether this team is a real Super Bowl threat again is still very much up for debate, but the arrow is at least pointing upward heading into a tough measuring-stick game in Buffalo.

That loss in Chicago was crushing on multiple levels. Green Bay appeared to have full control late, only to watch everything unravel in overtime — and losing Jordan Love to a concussion made it even worse. The division race isn’t officially over, but it’s no longer in Green Bay’s hands. The late mistakes will get most of the attention, but this game slipped away much earlier. A double-digit lead should have been a blowout, yet repeated red-zone failures kept the door wide open. Leaving that many points on the field eventually comes back to haunt you, and it did in the worst way.

This game belonged to the running backs. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell carried Pittsburgh on their backs, accounting for most of the offense and all three touchdowns in a gritty win at Detroit. The Steelers flipped the game right before halftime and controlled things for a long stretch, even if the ending got dicey. A few missed opportunities by Detroit and some timely breaks helped Pittsburgh escape. With Baltimore stumbling, the Steelers suddenly find themselves in a commanding spot in the division — though losing DK Metcalf for the final two games adds another wrinkle to an already unpredictable team.

The Panthers took control of the NFC South in front of a fired-up home crowd, and suddenly hosting a playoff game is very much on the table. Bryce Young continues to build a reputation as a closer, delivering once again when it mattered most. He made tough throws, extended plays, and got timely help from Tetairoa McMillan, who finally popped after a quiet stretch. The defense came up with clutch moments too, highlighted by a sealing interception that erased memories of last week’s miscues. If Carolina handles its business, this division is theirs — and nobody will want to visit Charlotte in January.

This season feels like it slipped away in one chaotic moment. A failed fourth-and-goal summed up a frustrating year that never quite clicked after the bye. Detroit isn’t mathematically done, but the margin for error is essentially gone, and even avoiding a losing season now requires a road win. Injuries up front have stalled the run game, and the defense fought hard but couldn’t hold up under sustained pressure. After two years of momentum and promise, this ending feels abrupt — and disappointing.

Everything spiraled quickly. Lamar Jackson left with a back injury, an 11-point lead vanished, and Baltimore’s playoff chances are barely breathing. Even winning out may not be enough now. With another home loss added to the ledger, the Ravens are staring at an uncharacteristically poor season in their own building. If Jackson can’t go, history suggests things could get ugly fast. Bigger questions are starting to loom as well — including what the long-term picture looks like on the sideline. This franchise isn’t used to feeling this uncertain.

The final score won’t tell you where this went wrong. Philip Rivers’ late mistake ended it, but the defense was overwhelmed for most of the night, unable to slow down San Francisco at all. Missing key pieces hurt, and even the return of DeForest Buckner didn’t change the tone. Rivers actually played well enough to keep pace, trading scores until the final miscue. The Colts showed flashes of something interesting late in the year, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to sustain a real playoff push. A strange season that leaves more questions than answers.

Technically, Tampa Bay is still alive — but it doesn’t feel that way. Another close loss, another late breakdown, and another back-breaking interception has pushed the Bucs to the edge. The defense wasn’t awful statistically, yet consistently loosened up at the worst possible times, allowing momentum-shifting scores before halftime and late in the game. The path is simple but brutal: win now or go home. A loss this week could make the finale irrelevant, and based on recent form, confidence is hard to come by.

Minnesota has quietly put together a small win streak and could finish above .500 — but it came at a cost. J.J. McCarthy’s latest injury throws his immediate future back into doubt, continuing a frustrating pattern. Talent has never been the question; availability and play style have been. The Vikings are approaching an offseason crossroads at quarterback, caught between not knowing enough and knowing they can’t stand pat. How they navigate that dilemma could define the next phase of the franchise.

Any brief defensive optimism after the trade deadline has evaporated. Dallas has been torched lately, giving up points in bunches and showing little resistance when games tilt late. Personnel limitations are real, but allowing that many points over a month-long stretch is alarming. The heat is rising around the coaching staff, yet making another coordinator change would only add to the carousel. You could feel the lack of trust when Dallas bypassed a short field and watched it backfire immediately. Nothing feels stable right now.

This season was already unraveling, but injuries stripped away whatever illusion remained. Watching Kansas City struggle to stay competitive against a bottom-tier opponent made one thing clear: this roster relied heavily on Patrick Mahomes to cover up flaws. Without him, those cracks are impossible to ignore. Motivation aside, this version of the Chiefs simply doesn’t have the margin for adversity it once did. The offseason is going to demand honesty — because a rebound won’t happen automatically.

At this point, Atlanta should simplify everything. Protect Drake London, feed Bijan Robinson, and let the season play out responsibly. Robinson remains the engine and continues to pile up production, even as the team sputters in key moments. The Falcons still showed fight, but missed chances in short-yardage situations defined the outcome again. With the playoffs out of reach, the focus shifts to evaluations — and there will be plenty of them coming once the season ends. The final two games matter, not for standings, but for futures.

All week it felt like the sky was falling with the Burrow talk, then he comes out and drops one of his cleanest games of the year in a lopsided win. Getting Tee Higgins back helped the vibe immediately, and Chase Brown finally gave them that steady punch, too. Even the defense showed some pride after starting slow. Yeah, the season’s already over playoff-wise, but games like this still matter when a franchise is deciding what to keep and what to rip apart. This one helped Zac Taylor’s case, and it reminded everyone the core can work — even if you have to factor in the level of competition.

Tyler Shough just did something the Saints haven’t gotten in forever: a 300-yard passer. And he didn’t do it with a fully-loaded offense either — missing backs, patchwork receivers, still found a rhythm. Once that fake punt hit, the game flipped, and Chris Olave went right back to looking like the alpha. If Shough is the guy moving forward, Olave suddenly has a clear lane to be his security blanket next year. The defense also turned back the clock, led by the old heads — Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis — which made the whole thing feel like a “one last ride” type of night. That’s the question now: was that the final Superdome moment for some of these Saints staples?

Quinn Ewers’ first start wasn’t a disaster the way the scoreboard suggests — he had stretches where he looked composed and capable. But once the pressure ramped up, the wheels started wobbling: picks, a failed sneak, momentum gone. McDaniel benching Tua and jumping Wilson for Ewers still hasn’t blown up in his face, but it’s hard to feel good when the defense is getting shredded like this. Two straight rough showings on that side of the ball, and it’s tough not to notice the “quality of opponent” factor. Miami’s basically in evaluation mode now, whether they admit it or not.

Washington looked like it came to swing early, then the whole thing collapsed — which is basically their season in one game. Injuries keep piling up in a way that feels beyond normal bad luck, and losing Mariota mid-game was the final “of course” moment. Then it got uglier with ejections that could turn into fines or suspensions, which doesn’t help anyone at 4–11. Even with the losing streak snapped recently, this team still feels like it’s trying to hold itself together with duct tape.

Arizona went from 2–0 to staring at a premium draft pick, and that drop has been violent. The brutal part is how many of these losses are close — eight one-score defeats sounds “competitive,” but it doesn’t change what the season has become. Marvin Harrison Jr. coming back and still leaving plays on the field (including a costly drop) just adds to the frustration, and losing Josh Sweat would be another hit to one of the few defensive bright spots. Calais Campbell keeps doing ageless things, and you’ll see flashes from guys like Michael Carter, but the big picture is still bleak.

Cam Ward is finally stacking passing touchdowns, and it’s not a small thing — three straight multi-TD games after months of mostly one-scoreboard output. Beating Kansas City was a needed boost, even if that version of the Chiefs was running on fumes after injuries at quarterback. Jeffery Simmons deserves a ton of respect for still playing like it matters — safety, splash plays, tone-setting effort — and the defense followed his lead with one of its best statistical games in a long time. Winning two of three has clearly lifted the building, but it also messed with their draft positioning. Feel-good wins are great… until April shows up.

Shedeur Sanders was better than last week — you could see the confidence, the arm talent, the “how did he do that?” moments. But he also gave the ball away twice and had one of those killer mistakes deep in his own territory when the margins were thin. So yeah, progress — but not the kind that shuts the door on Cleveland taking a real swing at a QB in the draft. They’ve got ammo, including another first-rounder, and Sanders hasn’t forced their hand yet. At this point, the reasons to watch Cleveland are pretty simple: how Sanders finishes and whether Myles Garrett gets the sack record.

Brady Cook wasn’t awful for most of the game, then the fourth quarter happened — and two turnovers turned a manageable deficit into a wipeout. He’s starting again, but it’s obvious the Jets are headed into another offseason of quarterback soul-searching. The defensive coordinator change gave them a short burst of better energy, but the bigger stat is still absurd: they’ve gone the entire season without an interception. Fifteen straight games. That’s the kind of number that sounds fake… until you remember it’s the Jets.

The Giants are deep in the No. 1 pick race now, and nine straight losses will do that. The season highlight feels like it happened months ago, and even the “close loss” angle doesn’t hit the same when you’re this banged up and sliding every week. The game at Vegas is basically a draft-position showdown, and it might also be an audition — or a goodbye — for both sidelines. Mike Kafka’s interim run started with a little spark, but lately the offense has looked flat, and the results haven’t followed.

They lost again, but they didn’t fold — and honestly, that’s more than a lot of teams at this point can say. The best thing that happened was Ashton Jeanty finally having the kind of breakout game you’ve been waiting for: chunk plays, explosive scores, real impact. A long touchdown catch, a long touchdown run, and suddenly the Raiders were actually threatening late. They still couldn’t finish it, but in a season this dead, seeing a young weapon pop matters. If nothing else, it gave their fans a reason to stay tuned in.