With two weeks left in the 2020 NFL regular season, a clear hierarchy has been created. More than a third of the league (13 teams) have nine wins or better, guaranteeing a winning season and justifying the expansion to 14 playoff entries.
Looking at the results of Week 15 , they didn’t really cause much shakeup at the top rolling into Week 16, but there are a few contenders who took some big hits and some doormats who delivered bright spots to carry over into next season.
From 1-32, here’s our latest look at how every NFL team stacks up against each other:
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 15 | Updated 2021 NFL draft order
NFL power rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs 13-1 (last week: 1)
The Chiefs keep looking better in their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Patrick Mahomes has locked into the MVP and the defense is starting to rise for the occasion of a strong playoff tuneup. Kansas City is a huge favorite vs. the field now.
2. Green Bay Packers 11-3 (2)
The Packers didn’t get many style points for surviving the Panthers and Aaron Rodgers was the first to point that out. This team seems determined to both get to 13-3 again and also prove it won’t be a playoff pushover this time around.
MORE: How Packers can clinch top seed in NFC playoffs
3. Buffalo Bills 11-3 (3)
The Bills are locked in offensively because of Josh Allen doing everything well again. For a second straight game, their defense played off that prowess to make big plays to finish off teams. They have developed as the best AFC threat to the Chiefs.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 11-2 (4)
The Steelers need a get-well game against the Bengals after looking lost offensively against Washington and the Bills. Forget catching the Chiefs — they just need to clean up sloppy play so they don’t drop into bad first-round playoff matchup.
5. Seattle Seahawks 10-4 (7)
The Seahawks showed their defensive grit and running prowess in taking down Washington without a lot from Russell Wilson. That’s important for them to be more complete for a playoff run. They must follow by beating the Rams with a similar style in Week 16.
6. New Orleans Saints 10-4 (5)
The Saints made the quarterback switch from Taysom Hil to Drew Brees with mixed results, given they had a shorthanded receiving corps. They still fought until the end against the Chiefs and did as best as they could defensively. The Saints need a Steelers-like tuneup after losing two straight, too.
7. Cleveland Browns 10-4 (8)
The Browns took care of the Giants as expected on Sunday night, a very important win knowing all the other AFC wild-card contenders one. Baker Mayfield has settled down well and their defense keeps overachieving at critical times.
MORE: How Browns can officially clinch an AFC playoff spot
8. Tennessee Titans 10-4 (9)
The Titans rediscovered their explosive, methodical offense to roll over the Lions. They will need to keep that up with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry when facing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers next Sunday night.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-5 (10)
The Buccaneers dug themselves a big hole but it was scary how easy it was for Tom Brady and the offense to dig them out of it, helped by strong second-half defense. There are enough holes in the other NFC contenders to think Tampa might save its very best for the playoffs.
10. Indianapolis Colts 10-4 (11)
The Colts held on against the Texans for the second time in three weeks with timely big defensive plays to match the ones made offensively by Philip Rivers and the running game. Frank Reich’s team can’t be forgotten as a dangerous floater in the AFC playoff field.
11. Miami Dolphins 9-5 (12)
The Dolphins did a better job grinding with their athletic quarterback and their running game than the Patriots did on Sunday. In a way, Brian Flores out-Belichicked Bill Belichick in a battle of attrition. It still will be hard to hold off the surging Ravens for the last AFC playoff spot.
12. Baltimore Ravens 9-5 (13)
The Ravens are finding their offensive groove with Lamar Jackson and the traditional running game now that they’ve featured J.K. Dobbins. They also are healthier up front defensively to help a secondary with some injury issues. They would be a brutal opening matchup for the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.
MORE: How Ravens can clinch an AFC wild-card spot
13. Los Angeles Rams 9-5 (6)
What was that? Sean McVay somehow got out-coached by Adam Gase at the worst possible time. The Rams came out sluggish against the Jets and didn’t give themselves enough time to recover. That’s the kind of awful AFC loss that makes one lose all faith in their NFC playoff chances.
14. Arizona Cardinals 8-6 (14)
The Cardinals are hot again offensively at the ideal time with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins and their pass rush has suddenly come alive with Haason Reddick and others. Arizona looks like it will be going through the playoff front door vs. backing in.
15. Chicago Bears 7-7 (18)
The Bears cannot be discounted, now that Mitchell Trubisky and David Montgomery are helping Matt Nagy’s offense reach its potential, balancing out more issues for the defense. Just imagine if they shore up things against the run and pass again.
16. Las Vegas Raiders 7-7 (15)
The Raiders found different ways to stay in the game against the Chargers, only digging deep to find a way to lose. The defensive problems have caught up to them, taking away anything Derek Carr or Marcus Mariota can do for the offense.
17. Minnesota Vikings 6-8 (16)
The Vikings had been asking for a bad close home loss after how they escaped the Panthers and Jaguars. The sad defensive and passing performance added to the disappointment of the Week 14 stumble in Tampa Bay. Looks like they will be joining the 49ers and Eagles in missing out on a playoff return.
18. Washington Football Team 6-8 (17)
Washington did its best to beat the Seahawks with tough defense against Wilson and better than expected play from Dwayne Haskins. But the lack of offensive firepower remains evident with the injuries, leaving no margin for error in trying to take the NFC East.
19. New England Patriots 6-8 (19)
The Patriots did their best to battle until the end in Miami, but their bad offense continues to put too much pressure on the defense, and that was taken to a whole new level subbing Brady for Cam Newton. Belichick must find his new franchise QB, stat.
20. Dallas Cowboys 5-9 (26)
The Cowboys have won two in a row to breathe late life into their once lost season. Their offense has looked better with Andy Dalton spreading the ball around well and Tony Pollard providing a major spark. The defense is still a mess, but it’s doing less breaking and more bending of late.
MORE: Examining Cowboys’ slim playoff chances
21. Los Angeles Chargers 5-9 (28)
The Chargers have traded close losses for close wins against the Falcons and Raiders. Anthony Lynn is getting his team to respond late and learn how to win. The quick development of Justin Herbert should mean they stick with Lynn at head coach, for better or worse.
22. San Francisco 49ers 5-9 (20)
The 49ers won’t be defending their NFC championship after losing to the Cowboys, too, completing their Super Bowl hangover tied to their ridiculous rash of injuries. They will come back dangerous next season with better quarterback play and a more well-rounded defense.
23. New York Giants 5-9 (21)
The Giants’ offensive woes have dragged down their good work on defense. Colt McCoy or Daniel Jones, they just don’t have enough pop as a run-based team.
24. Detroit Lions 5-9 (22)
The Lions have showed some heart and fight with Matt Patricia gone but it’s not enough with their defensive ineptitude holding back whatever positive offensive vibes they have.
25. Denver Broncos 5-9 (23)
The Broncos’ defense has become a shell of what it could have been with Vic Fangio and coupled with inconsistent offense, this is why they are this low.
26. Philadelphia Eagles 4-9-1 (24)
The Eagles’ offense has come alive with Jalen Hurts and then some, but it’s hard to make up for all the defensive injuries they had against the Cardinals.
27. Houston Texans 4-10 (25)
The Texans keep doing their best with whoever’s around Deshaun Watson but the problem is none of them can help the defense.
28. Carolina Panthers 4-10 (27)
Matt Rhule’s rookie season isn’t having an inspiring finish with Teddy Bridgewater having ups and downs. Now the Panthers draw their former coach Ron Rivera in Washington.
29. Atlanta Falcons 4-10 (29)
The Falcons went up big on a team that had Brady at quarterback and still lost. Tell us something new.
30. Cincinnati Bengals 2-10-1 (30)
The Bengals are in free fall without Joe Burrow despite better defensive play. Things won’t change with Ryan Finley needing to get another nod.
31. New York Jets 1-13 (32)
The Jets deserved to get out of the cellar as their win over the Rams was more impressive than the Jaguars’ Week 1 win over the Colts.
MORE: Explaining the Jets-Jaguars NFL draft tiebreaker
32. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-13 (31)
It’s hard to believe, despite having a rookie running back as good as James Robinson, they have been unlucky enough to lose 13 consecutive games. Minshew Mania has two more games before Lawrence Lunacy.