With the promise of the playoffs just around the corner, a host of NFL contenders started to hold the steering wheel a little too loosely in Week 14.
In Dallas, a combination of Dak Prescott inconsistencies and poor Mike McCarthy decision-making almost had the Cowboys fall to the Houston Texans — the NFL’s worst team. In Los Angeles, the Mike McDaniel-Tua Tagovailoa Dolphins looked utterly lost against the team and quarterback (hey, Justin Herbert!) everyone will compare them to forever.
And finally, among the litany of examples, the Vikings took a few giant southpaws from the Lions in Detroit. Even while the Lions might be the NFL’s hottest and most dangerous team, it was still an alarming result from a Minnesota squad currently sitting with the NFC’s No. 2 seed. At least the Vikings can take solace in knowing they’re not the only contender trying to work some kinks out with just a month of regular season play left.
Here are For The Win’s Week 15 Power Rankings for the 2022 NFL season — featuring those red-hot Lions and vulnerable Cowboys — as the regular season hits its final quarter of games.
32
Houston Texans
Last week’s rank: 32
The Texans were this close — a botched play from the one-yard line — from pulling off one of the biggest regular-season upsets in NFL history. Instead, the unofficial tank for Bryce Young stays alive. We can’t confirm or deny this, but we might have also heard Lovie Smith saying, “trust the process” in the post-game.
31
Denver Broncos
Last week’s rank: 31
The good news is that was the best version of Russell Wilson we’ve seen as a Bronco. The bad news is he left in the fourth quarter due to a head injury, robbing Denver of the opportunity for a comeback win against a division rival. This team needs any silver lining it can find, especially after its top-five defense was cracked for 34 points — albeit by a very good Chiefs team.
30
Chicago Bears
Last week’s rank: 30
Chicago returns from a bye facing a slate featuring the NFC-leading Eagles, the AFC-leading Bills, the NFL’s hottest team in the Lions, and the NFC’s current No. 2 seed in the Vikings. So, yeah, it probably won’t win another game. As the Bears’ focus shifts to 2023, the only remaining noteworthy aspect of their 2022 campaign is whether one-man show Justin Fields can keep up in shootouts against some truly elite QBs and offenses.
29
New Orleans Saints
Last week’s rank: 26
With the exception of Chris Olave and some gadget plays with Taysom Hill, the Saints are a chore to watch. Fortunately, they’re opting out of the 2022 playoff race and minimizing the world’s exposure to their specific brand of below-average football.
28
Indianapolis Colts
Last week’s rank: 29
Coming off what might be the most embarrassing defeat for anyone this year in Dallas, Jeff Saturday’s Colts will try to rebound on the road in Minnesota. Even if they don’t win, at the very least future probable Hall of Famer Matt Ryan should be able to pad his stats against one of the NFL’s worst defenses. That’s the state of the 2022 Colts: Rooting for a washed-up QB, who had his competent days in another city, to make his career stats look gaudier.
27
Cleveland Browns
Last week’s rank: 20
Deshaun Watson, through two games, has been worse than Jacoby Brissett at quarterback in his return from an 11-game suspension following more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL described as “predatory behavior.” He hasn’t gotten much help from a running back corps that started the season on an epic run but has been stuck in neutral since. With the Browns’ playoff hopes all but doomed, the pressure’s on him to build some momentum — and optimism — for a franchise that swapped out its future for the embattled former Pro Bowler.
26
Los Angeles Rams
Last week’s rank: 28
Baker Mayfield needed just three days as a Ram to spark an incalculable 16-3 comeback against Josh McDaniels’ hapless Raiders. Think about it: He probably didn’t even know the names of some guys in that L.A. huddle on Thursday night, let alone the nuances of Sean McVay’s playbook. The Rams have little incentive to actually lose through the rest of 2022, meaning Mayfield could play himself back into the good graces of any team that potentially wants to make him a starter next fall.
25
Atlanta Falcons
Last week’s rank: 24
The Desmond Ridder Show begins Sunday. The rookie quarterback will have four games to convince the Falcons he’s a viable franchise quarterback. He’ll be tasked with running from the pocket like Marcus Mariota before him while adding a more stable element in the passing game. And if he can’t, well, every loss helps Atlanta rise up the draft board where it can make a run at C.J. Stroud or Will Levis.
24
Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week’s rank: 22
Pittsburgh’s anemic offense continues to be a problem, and most of those issues stem from its quarterbacks. When Kenny “Doesn’t Want to Test the Defense Downfield” Pickett was knocked out of the game early against the Ravens, Mitchell “Throw One Ridiculous Dime and Make Four Other Perplexing Plays” Trubisky dropped the ball in relief. Until Mike Tomlin and Co. can figure something out to generate more consistent explosiveness, this is a patently unserious team.
23
Las Vegas Raiders
Last week’s rank: 19
Josh McDaniels blown leads, 2022:
Week 2 vs. 4-8 Cardinals: 20-0
Week 5 vs. 9-3 Chiefs: 17-0
Week 9 vs. 4-8 Jaguars: 17-0
Week 14 vs. 4-9 Rams: 16-3 in final 3:35 with 2-day Rams veteran Baker Mayfield at QB— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 9, 2022
That list doesn’t include Josh McDaniels’ other major achievement for 2022: He’s the only win on Jeff Saturday’s post-high school coaching resume.
22
Carolina Panthers
Last week’s rank: 27
Just a few months ago, the Panthers were in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Ever since, a promising defense has now humbled Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Geno Smith. They’re even winning games with Sam Darnold! In any other year, Steve Wilks’ bunch would simply be playing out the string to build some calluses for 2023. Instead, in the NFL’s arguably worst division, the Panthers could take advantage of the fifth-weakest remaining strength of schedule to win a surprising NFC South title.
21
Arizona Cardinals
Last week’s rank: 25
Sure, Arizona had its dim playoff hopes snuffed out in a game where Kyler Murray appeared to suffer a severe knee injury. But let’s look at the bright side; Kliff Kingsbury got an early, up-close look at the Patriots team, where he’ll be an offensive assistant in 2023.
20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last week’s rank: 18
After an absolute drubbing at the hands of the 49ers, a beatdown so bad FOX cut its broadcast away, Tom Brady’s Buccaneers put the NFC South back into play. At this point, do they even want to keep that title? Or, rather, can they keep that title? At the risk of oversimplifying its problems (ahem, clears throat): Tampa Bay can’t block, can’t tackle, can’t catch, can’t run, can’t get open, can’t stay healthy, and has a 45-year-old QB past his prime who can’t elevate his teammates as he much he used to. Other than that, Mr. Brady, how has your 2022 season been?
19
Green Bay Packers
Last week’s rank: 21
The Packers still have a thin string of playoff credibility left, though it will take four straight wins to get there. Will the bye week reinvigorate Aaron Rodgers and strengthen his connection with blossoming rookie Christian Watson? Or will Green Bay fall flat on its face, lose to the Baker Mayfield Rams, and effectively pack up its 2022 season in Week 15?
18
Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week’s rank: 23
It’s been easy to forget the Jacksonville Jaguars were an actual NFL team for much of their short history (sorry, it’s true!). With the way Trevor “Golden Boy” Lawrence has been dicing up defenses lately — most recently cutting down the rival Titans (368 yards, 3 TDs) with ease — Duval County’s squad will likely soon be anything but anonymous. When a potential star quarterback starts to ascend, the spotlight never leaves.
17
New York Giants
Last week’s rank: 12
Brian Daboll’s strategy to win despite a talent gap had a shelf life. Saquon Barkley’s nagging injuries and sudden ineffectiveness have tolled the bell on the Giants’ shocking start. New York no longer has the chops to win games by limiting the number of plays their opponent gets, which means Daniel Jones has to throw them to victory. That was already a big ask before you consider his top wideouts are Darius Slayton, Richie James, and Isaiah Hodgins.
16
Seattle Seahawks
Last week’s rank: 10
Injuries have started to derail what once was the most inspiring story of the 2022 NFL season. Well, Geno Smith is still balling, but it’s clear the Seahawks needed Kenneth Walker III, among others, to really keep this train chugging along. With a loss to the Panthers, Seattle has now officially dropped out of an NFC playoff spot. They might not work their way back in either — three of Seattle’s last four games are against bona fide contenders/other squads fighting for playoff berths in the 49ers, Chiefs, and Jets. Ouch.
15
New York Jets
Last week’s rank: 13
A Jets team with an above-average quarterback is a Super Bowl contender. This version, with a battered Mike White at the core, is still pretty good, and New York’s defense is a blanket of humidity on a hot day. Robert Saleh helped build this team to win without a stellar QB in the mix — that’s a lesson you learn when covering for Jimmy Garoppolo as a 49er — so the playoffs remain a very real destination for a team whose rebuild is ahead of schedule. Especially when you consider Zach Wilson’s failures as a quarterback and leader.
14
New England Patriots
Last week’s rank: 15
Monday night was the story of the 2022 Patriots encapsulated perfectly. Rather than watch a frustrated Mac Jones and Matt Patricia waste another “gimme” win, the Patriots (eventually) took advantage of a decimated/injury-riddled/limited Cardinals team. Which is fine. Wins over cannon fodder count the same in the standings. But this team will be defined by how it plays against the big dogs. So far, the results are conclusive: The Patriots remain mediocre and uninspired when the games really matter.
13
Tennessee Titans
Last week’s rank: 9
Tennessee gave up 20 points via turnover in a game it lost by 14. This threw Mike Vrabel’s offense off schedule, forced his team to improvise more than it wanted, and ultimately gave way to Jacksonville’s first win in Nashville since Barack Obama was President. The key to beating the Titans remains the same — make them play from behind and throw the ball, and you take away their bread and butter.
12
Detroit Lions
Last week’s rank: 16
Everything, absolutely everything, is coming up Lions lately. The play that perhaps best captures the essence of Detroit’s scorching-hot fifth win in its last six games is the 335-pound OT Penei Sewell (!) making a clutch catch on a big third down against the Vikings. If Dan Campbell and OC Ben Johnson are dialing up those kinds of moments to drive daggers into hearts, then the Lions are starting to feel like the team nobody wants to play this winter.
11
Los Angeles Chargers
Last week’s rank: 17
A middling defense came together and shut down the Dolphins’ high-octane offense in Week 14. More importantly, it showed this Chargers team could handle some of the AFC’s top challenges with relatively simple schemes and some sparkling plays from Mike Williams. Los Angeles has the chops to hang with anyone in the league but, in true Chargers fashion, is prone to the brain farts and awful luck that has this team mired at 7-6 instead of something better. You’re never quite sure which version of the Chargers will be waiting for you any given week.
10
Washington Commanders
Last week’s rank: 14
Amidst a chaotic week for some of the NFL’s heavyweights, the Commanders — the NFC’s current No. 6 seed — were major beneficiaries in our rankings. The league’s arguably best DL duo of Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne can smile knowing they’ve cracked our top 10 for the first time all season.
9
Minnesota Vikings
Last week’s rank: 8
Minnesota is 10-3, but its defense is a real problem. The Vikings have allowed at least 300 passing yards in each of their last five games and given up more than 30 points per game in the process. Big plays from Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook have bailed them out in big moments, but that’s not a sustainable tack to carry this team through the playoffs and into Super Bowl 57.
8
Miami Dolphins
Last week’s rank: 6
In a 2020 QB battle “TuAnon” was salivating over for weeks, Miami’s eponymous franchise QB laid an impossibly big egg against Justin Herbert’s Chargers. Against the team of the man he will be compared to for his entire career, Tua Tagovailoa completed just 10-of-28 passes for 145 yards and one score. If you flip the film of Tagovailoa to make it look like he was throwing right-handed, it still resembled a performance where he looked utterly lost. The Dolphins need not yet worry about keeping their playoff prospects intact. But they should be worried about how their QB has wilted like the saddest flower against quality competition lately.
7
Baltimore Ravens
Last week’s rank: 11
Beating Pittsburgh with Tyler Huntley at the helm kept the Ravens atop the AFC North, but fending off the Bengals is a tall task. Baltimore needs a healthy Lamar Jackson in the lineup, even if he’s got no one to throw to. The Steelers held them to 94 net passing yards in Week 14 and may have escaped with a win if not for fill-in Mitchell Trubisky’s three interceptions.
6
San Francisco 49ers
Last week’s rank: 7
San Francisco is turning the 2022 season into an incredible case study best summed by the statement: “Do you actually need a QB to win the Super Bowl?” We’re still gonna say yes because a certain Philadelphia squad happens to share space with the 49ers in the NFC. Also, San Francisco might not be entirely healthy by mid-January. However, if Kyle Shanahan can continue dominating teams with Brock “Mr. Irrelevant” Purdy under center, this hypothesis will be tested a lot in the coming weeks.
5
Dallas Cowboys
Last week’s rank: 3
A win’s a win, and the general sloppiness of the rest of the league’s contenders in Week 14 helped keep Dallas in the top five despite nearly losing to a 17-point underdog at home. But Sunday’s comeback against the Texans was a microcosm of everything that can go wrong for the Cowboys in a vital moment. Dak Prescott remains prone to bad days and bad throws. Mike McCarthy’s playcalling remains unimaginative and occasionally baffling. The biggest problem of all? The league’s top pass rush not getting home to sack Davis Mills or Jeff Driskel even once.
4
Cincinnati Bengals
Last week’s rank: 4
The more time wears on, the more it seems like the Bengals might be the second-most complete team in pro football. Joe Burrow has never been “cooler” at the helm of an efficient offense with a bevy of attack diversity. Meanwhile, Lou Anarumo’s no-name defense continues to take away what opponents do well with ease. Its latest victim? The powerful Nick Chubb, who ran for a paltry 34 yards on 14 carries (woof) against Cincinnati.
3
Buffalo Bills
Last week’s rank: 5
The Bills didn’t have Von Miller but still turned poor Mike White into a tackling dummy in Week 14, battering the Jets’ quarterback and giving Buffalo everything it needed to win on a day where its offense never truly dropped into gear. A wintery day in Orchard Park stifled Josh Allen’s performance, but his team still controls its own destiny in the race for the AFC’s top spot and only postseason bye.
2
Kansas City Chiefs
Last week’s rank: 2
The Chiefs’ defense is so bad that it let Russell Wilson’s beyond offensively challenged Broncos score 28 points. However, Denver is never in that strange position if Patrick Mahomes — who otherwise played well — doesn’t throw a backbreaking three interceptions. The Chiefs are a clear favorite to run through the AFC in January, but they’ll probably need Mahomes to be perfect to do so. Of course, that isn’t to say he isn’t capable.
1
Philadelphia Eagles
Last week’s rank: 1
Philadelphia pantsed the poor Giants, one week after doing the same to the Titans. The Eagles are capable of battering teams on the ground or through the air, and the run defense issues that plagued them earlier in the season appear to be fixed. While mobile quarterbacks still give them problems, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley combined for 58 rushing yards on 20 carries over the past two weeks.
