Everything got a lot more interesting in the NFL in Week 14. With some favored teams falling and unexpected teams prevailing, the standings are becoming tighter for the final month of the regular season. Plenty of the playoff picture in both conferences still is out of focus.
In the NFC, there are a few standout teams and it’s more about positioning down the stretch for division title and wild-card hopefuls. In the AFC, there’s a major logjam of teams that have either seven or eight wins.
With all that in mind, here’s the latest look at how every team in the league stacks up against each other with four games left for all, from 1-32:
MORE: Explaining the Chiefs’ costly offside penalty that caused officiating outcry
NFL power rankings Week 15
1. San Francisco 49ers 10-3 (previous week: 1)
The 49ers seem unstoppable offensively when the fabulous foursome of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle are in the groove with Brock Purdy. They are the team to beat and try to outscore before they take Super Bowl 58.
2. Dallas Cowboys 10-3 (5)
The Cowboys shot up here after their huge win over the Eagles that gave them first place in the NFC East. Dallas still needs to play Miami, Buffalo and Detroit, however, trying to keep that edge.
3. Baltimore Ravens 10-3 (3)
The Ravens revved up their passing game well after the bye to emerge in a shootout with the Rams on Sunday, highlighted by a sweet Lamar Jackson rally with a lot of Zay Flowers. Baltimore is becoming more dangerous as the AFC team to beat with other contenders fading.
4. Philadelphia Eagles 10-3 (2)
The Eagles drop only a couple of spots after running into the sizzling Cowboys’ offensive and defensive playmakers on the road. With the gauntlet part of the schedule done, don’t sleep on the Eagles getting hot again at the right time.
5. Miami Dolphins 9-4 (4)
The Dolphins had one more blowup game with their big-play offense against the Titans on Monday night, but they still lost that game in shocking fashion with Tyreek Hill injured and then contained and still need to prove they can beat the better, winning teams with reasonable defenses. The Cowboys, Ravens and Bills will answer that question in the final three games.
6. Kansas City Chiefs 8-5 (6)
The Chiefs’ offense just can’t get everyone not named Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on the same page. The good news is that their defense keeps them in every game and there’s hope for unlocking the running game in the final month to get back on track.
MORE: What is wrong with the Chiefs?
7. Detroit Lions 9-4 (7)
The Lions’ young defense is falling apart as it digs big holes for itself via giving up chunk runs and big pass plays. The Lions’ offense has plenty of passing firepower with Jared Goff, but it’s much better off pounding away on the ground with a lead and having its D tee off vs. predictable passing.
8. Cleveland Browns 8-5 (13)
The Browns have found their competent quarterback play again with Joe Flacco in a bizarre, injury-riddled offensive season. They just need to have their defense be consistent with playmaking home and away to be a pesky playoff team.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-5 (8)
The Jaguars were inspired to have Trevor Lawrence healthy enough to play in Cleveland, but then they ran into a tough defense and didn’t find enough offense until too late. Jacksonville faces a tough task breaking its two-game skid vs. AFC North teams with the best one, Baltimore, up next at home.
10. Denver Broncos 7-6 (17)
The Broncos quickly cleaned up their cooling off act in Houston by taking down the Chargers with top-flight defense on the road. They also had Russell Wilson locked in again with better offense all-around.
MORE: Breaking down AFC West standings as Broncos gain on Chiefs
11. Buffalo Bills 7-6 (16)
The Bills stayed in the playoff picture and then some by getting their first big statement win since ripping the Dolphins early in the season. They now will try to stay hot to close, including beating Miami again to win the AFC East again.
12. Houston Texans 7-6 (9)
The Texans got a bit of an offensive wake-up call as C.J. Stroud and the passing game sputtered vs. the Jets before Stroud and Nico Collins had to leave the upset loss with injuries. They are in trouble should Stroud need to miss a game.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6 (10)
The Steelers got some major breaks with their wild-card status after their bad Patriots loss at home was worse than their bad Cardinals loss at home. Now they will just hope Kenny Pickett can come back ASAP and T.J. Watt doesn’t need to miss too much time.
MORE: How Jake Browning has the Bengals back in unlikely playoff contention
14. Cincinnati Bengals 7-6 (15)
The Bengals’ diverse offensive system under Zac Taylor is working for Jake Browning with some key “spread the ball around’ adjustments. The defense also is balling in key moments, proving how well coached this team is.
15. Indianapolis Colts 7-6 (12)
The Colts continue to be on a roller-coaster ride with Gardner Minshew offensively and they suddenly have lost their running game again without Jonathan Taylor. The defense also might have too many holes to overcome soon.
16. Minnesota Vikings 7-6 (18)
The Vikings got away with dismal offense and a QB change to Nick Mullens in Las Vegas. The ball just wasn’t moving and there was a deflated feeling of losing Justin Jefferson to a new injury not long after finally getting him back. Minnesota is winning but its playoff position is precarious.
17. Green Bay Packers 6-7 (14)
The Packers cooled off offensively and defensively to see their three-game losing streak coming to a screeching halt against the Giants. They still are well positioned for a wild-card spot for the final three games.
18. Los Angeles Rams 6-7 (11)
The Rams have to be pleased with Matthew Stafford’s play but their defense continues to have some key holes in coverage and the pass rush around Aaron Donald against better offenses.
MORE: Breaking down NFC South standings as Bucs take over first place
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-7 (22)
The Buccaneers are seeing sharp QB play from Baker Mayfield, the best in the division, to lead the division. Their defense is hanging in there despite a lot of injuries and Rachaad White is their MVP.
20. Seattle Seahawks 6-7 (19)
The Seahawks were more competitive than expected with Drew Lock needing to start at QB in the rematch with the 49ers in San Francisco. But despite some improvements from their defense, key injuries and ineffectiveness might hamper any more playoff return aspirations.
21. Atlanta Falcons 6-7 (20)
The Falcons like playing at home, as it gets the best out of youngsters Desmond Ridder, Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts at the key skill positions. But their defense isn’t the same as it was earlier and Arthur Smith keeps fading with his overall coaching.
22. New Orleans Saints 6-7 (23)
The Saints marched up a little by doing what they were supposed to do: stomp the Panthers at home with a better Derek Carr at QB with plenty of help from the running game. The defense and special teams returned to making big plays, too, giving them a shot to win the South as favored.
MORE: Updated 2024 NFL Draft order
23. Chicago Bears 5-8 (25)
The Bears are finding out quickly that Justin Fields deserves to be kept as their franchise QB, only with a little more help than D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet. The offensive line and defense stilll need more work for them to be a playoff team next season.
24. New York Jets 5-8 (28)
The Jets kept their fading AFC wild-card hopes without Aaron Rodgers alive by seeing a fired-up Zach Wilson return to starting QB action, playing the type of complementary offense they have wanted all season to boost Robert Saleh’s defense.
25. New York Giants 5-8 (26)
The Giants are looking longer at Tommy DeVito with no Daniel Jones, raising questions about whether they would be in the quarterback mix in the draft. To their credit, they keep playing hard despite being a shell of last year’s playoff team under Brian Daboll, including beating the Packers on Monday night.
26. Tennessee Titans 5-8 (27)
The Titans still made the right call in seeing what they have in Will Levis with extended playing time. Now they need to see more of their youth movement which is a clear lost season in a suddenly tough division and they had to be inspired by beating the Dolphins on Monday night.
27. Los Angeles Chargers 5-8 (21)
Go figure: The Chargers finally fixed a lot of their Brandon Staley-led defensive issues only to see their offense further crumble because of injuries, with Justin Herbert (finger) being the latest. However it shakes out, they need to move on from Staley after a non-playoff season.
28. Las Vegas Raiders 5-8 (24)
The Raiders have been held together by duct tape with Aidan O’Connell trying to generate some offense without Josh McDaniels. It’s a shame they aren’t getting anything legitimate from that side with Maxx Crosby and the pass defense balling.
29. New England Patriots 3-10 (31)
The Patriots got up off the mat, thanks to Bill Belichick seeing Mike Tomlin and the Steelers on the other side. Well, it also was seeing Mitch Trubisky vs. his still playmaking defense. They will try to win more a few battles of attrition with the run before it’s done.
30. Arizona Cardinals 3-10 (29)
The Cardinals had a confidence-building win under Jonathan Gannon before the bye in knocking off the Steelers. They will need to fly a lot higher offensively with Kyler Murray to out-hot the 49ers.
31. Washington Commanders 4-9 (30)
The Commanders will come limping in defensively after a bye trying to salvage the coaching job of Ron Rivera. Sam Howell also needs to play well to convince them he should be the keep for the offense.
32. Carolina Panthers 1-12 (32)
The Panthers are seeing a few more signs of life offensively around Bryce Young, but there’s just not much or enough there to protect him or the ball. The defense no longer can hold up with that much burden.