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Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings after Week 16 of the 2024 season

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It is a short week for some NFL teams looking to make their final push toward the postseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens all play on Christmas Day, with the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears playing on Thursday night.

Week 15 saw the standings for the playoffs get a bit tighter. The sixth and seventh seeds in the AFC still need to be determined, while the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth in the NFC with the Washington Commanders hoping they could close things out and clinch a wild-card spot as well. The NFC South and West divisions still need to be determined as well.

The Bills are still the top team in the NFL, and two wins coupled with two Chiefs losses in the final two weeks of the season would give them home field advantage in the playoffs.

Read below to see how the rest of the power rankings shake out after Week 15.

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1. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook runs with the ball for a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half at Highmark Stadium. (Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)

The Bills didn’t play great against the Patriots on Sunday but still managed to find a way to win. Their regular season is going great, but this team will be judged solely on what happens in the postseason, so that’s all that matters now.

Last week: 1

2. Detroit Lions (13-2)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and wide receiver Tim Patrick during the first half at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (IMAGN)

Jared Goff in the cold was a nightmare waiting to happen, yet he might have turned in his most impressive performance of the season. Goff is on the outside looking in, but he most definitely deserves to be probably third in the MVP rankings behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. This team’s offense is too scary.

Last week: 4

3. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes after Mahomes’ touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Kansas City is one win away from securing home-field advantage in the playoffs after another one-possession win, albeit one that felt a bit more comfortable than their other squeakers this year. By all accounts, the Chiefs look like they’re peaking late just in time again after walking on water all year.

Last week: 3

4. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. (Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)

Sam Darnold is over his brief slump and Justin Jefferson is looking like his OPOY self. They wrap up their season against the Packers and Lions, so we’ll see where they truly stand. They are riding high after a huge win in a swamp in Seattle.

Last week: 5

5. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley stands on the field during a timeout against the Washington Commanders during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

The Eagles were one late DeVonta Smith catch away from sealing the game despite quarterback Jalen Hurts leaving the game in the first quarter with a concussion. Instead, the Eagles couldn’t put the game away and became the second team to lose a game despite their defense forcing five turnovers. The Eagles’ 20-game winning streak was snapped with the loss, and their hopes of getting the 1 seed in the NFC is now highly unlikely. The biggest story for the rest of the regular season in Philadelphia is the health of Hurts.

Last week: 2

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a gain defended by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images)

Lamar Jackson remains in the NFL MVP conversation. The two-time MVP threw three touchdowns in the 34-17 victory over the Steelers to help Baltimore clinch a playoff berth. The Ravens now turn their focus to the Houston Texans for a Christmas Day game.

Last week: 7

7. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs runs for a first down against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, December 23, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. (IMAGN)

Their defense posted the first shutout in the entire NFL on Monday night. It’s not their fault they play in a stacked division, but Sunday afternoon in Minnesota could prove just where this team stands among their peers.

Last week: 6

8. Washington Commanders (10-5)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after throwing the game-winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium. (Peter Casey-Imagn Images)

Despite turning the ball over five times, the Washington Commanders still managed to win. Quarterback Jayden Daniels overcame two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter, and threw five touchdowns in the team’s comeback win. If the Commanders win next week, they will have secured a playoff spot in head coach Dan Quinn’s first season with the team. With the unexpected success the Commanders have had this season, Quinn is a front-runner for Coach of the Year and Daniels is the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Last week: 10

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

Roquan Smith tackles Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

The Steelers seem to be feeling the impact of not having wide receiver George Pickens. Pittsburgh’s offense has averaged less than 250 total yards during Pickens’ three-game absence. While Pickens is not the sole reason the Steelers’ offense has struggled recently, his eventual return to the lineup could provide a boost.

Last week: 8

10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws against the Denver Broncos during the second half at SoFi Stadium. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert needed a statement win, and they got it with an explosive performance against Denver. It’s not the big-fish win the Chargers were looking for against the Chiefs, but it’s a good step for their confidence as they prepare for the playoffs as underdogs.

Last week: 13

11. Houston Texans (9-6)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud reacts after an injury to wide receiver Tank Dell (not pictured) during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

The Texans will have to turn around in a short week and go up against the Ravens. Losing Tank Dell isn’t going to help matters.

Last week: 9

12. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

It wasn’t pretty in East Rutherford for Matthew Stafford & Co., but a win is a win for these Rams as they pushed their win streak to four games. It was a crucial win as they moved into first place in the NFC West with two weeks to play. With the Cardinals and Seahawks, the teams right below them in the division, coming to town in Weeks 17 and 18, respectively, the Rams control their own destiny moving forward.

Last week: 14

13. Denver Broncos (9-6)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throws against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Denver fans will have to sweat a little bit this Christmas after the Broncos blew a shot to clinch a playoff spot, as their highly respected defense crumbled in Los Angeles. Now, the Broncos have to beat the Bengals to avoid a massive collapse.

Last week: 11

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield walks off the field after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

That was a terribly costly loss at Dallas that knocked them from atop the NFC South.

Last week: 12

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith walks off the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field. (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)

Another week, another tough opponent for Seattle as they fell to the Vikings, 27-24, at home in a critical loss with the Rams overtaking them for the top of the division. But with a beatable Bears team upcoming on Thursday night, a win could put Seattle in a great position heading into Week 18, when a meeting with the Rams could determine who takes the divisional crown.

Last week: 15

16. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. celebrates after a victory over the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

The Michael Penix Jr. era has begun in earnest, and it only took one week to put the Falcons atop their division.

Last week: 19

17. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins celebrate a Higgins touchdown reception in the first quarter on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (IMAGN)

The Bengals got off to a slow start this season, but Joe Burrow has gone on to put together an MVP-caliber season. Cincinnati secured its seventh win of the season this past week. The Bengals host the Denver Broncos this Saturday and will have to secure a victory if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Last week: 18

18. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks on before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Dolphins played with more heart on Sunday against the 49ers than they had arguably all season, and it kept their very slim playoff hopes alive. Mike McDaniel might be coaching for his job, so it’s a good sign that the players rallied behind him for a win over a talented 49ers team.

Last week: 20

19. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. (Tim Heitman-Imagn Images)

The Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention before their game against the Buccaneers began, but that didn’t stop them from putting together a win. Cooper Rush had another efficient game, finding wide receiver CeeDee Lamb early and often. The defense forced two clutch turnovers late to help seal the game. The question for the Cowboys is does this late-season surge mean head coach Mike McCarthy is going to keep his job for another season?

Last week: 22

20. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell (93) hits San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on a pass attempt during second half at Hard Rock Stadium. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

The 49ers were already eliminated from playoff contention, but they fell for the second straight week, this time to a Dolphins team gunning for a spot in the AFC playoff race. San Francisco will finish their season against the Lions on Monday night, followed by the Cardinals in Week 18.

Last week: 17

21. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is shown during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

Jonathan Gannon’s group knew just how badly they needed to win on Sunday in Carolina against a beatable Panthers squad. But Bryce Young and the Panthers pulled out the upset. At 7-8 on the year, the Cardinals are officially eliminated from playoff contention, though they can play spoiler in Week 17 by defeating the Rams.

Last week: 16

22. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor celebrates as he leaves the field after defeating the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. (IMAGN)

The Colts’ win over the Titans keeps them in the race for the playoffs. Though chances are slim, it will be interesting to see if they can produce two wins to keep some faith.

Last week: 21

23. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard scores a touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

They eliminated Arizona but hurt their draft slot. It’s been that kind of year.

Last week: 26

24. Chicago Bears (4-11)

Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the second half on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (IMAGN)

Nobody expected a win against Detroit, but they had the home-field advantage with the cold weather and couldn’t do much. It’s now a nine-game losing streak for a team that looked like they were making noise. And just when it looked like they were getting out of the funk, although Keenan Allen and DJ Moore are putting up numbers, they aren’t putting themselves in positions to succeed.

Last week: 24

25. New York Jets (4-11)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is shown during a play where it appeared he got injured on Sunday. (IMAGN)

The Jets couldn’t back up their offensive explosion in Week 15 and instead scored only 9 points against the Los Angeles Rams. The team seems to be coming apart at the seams, especially with star receiver Garrett Wilson taking some of his gripes public. This season can’t end soon enough for New York.

Last week: 25

26. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) forces a fumble by New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) during the second quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. (IMAGN)

They’ve been limping along without their starting quarterback, and now Alvin Kamara is missing games, so they’ve really got no shot to compete.

Last week: 23

27. New England Patriots (3-12)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye throws a pass under pressure in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. (Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

The Patriots currently have the second pick in the NFL Draft based on their record and the tie-breaking procedures. You could make the case that the race for the top pick in the draft is just as exciting as the race for the playoffs, and the Pats are right in the thick of it for the former, but definitely not the latter.

Last week: 28

28. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye sacks Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images)

The Titans have to go back to the drawing board and invest in some defense. A 24-point second quarter is unacceptable at this point of the season. The offseason can’t come soon enough.

Last week: 30

29. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers carries the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

The Raiders got their third win and may have paid the price with a massive drop in draft positioning. Only time will tell how important or detrimental their win against Jacksonville will be for their future.

Last week: 31

30. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) fumbles the ball as he’s wrapped up by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai in the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. (IMAGN)

Dorian Thompson-Robison failed to provide a spark for the Cleveland Browns offense. The second-year quarterback threw two more interceptions in a lopsided loss to the Bengals. The Browns will likely attempt to find a solution at the quarterback position in the offseason.

Last week: 27

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) looks to knock the ball away from Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

The Jaguars’ loss helped their own draft position. It’s been a rough year for Jacksonville, and it’s just getting tougher.

Last week: 29

32. New York Giants (2-13)

New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) is sacked by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

The Giants control their own destiny. Normally, when you say a team controls their own destiny, you are referring to a team’s playoff chances, but for the Giants, they control their own destiny regarding the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. With the Giants’ 10th consecutive loss on Sunday, a new franchise record, and the Raiders winning, the Giants are in sole possession of the No. 1 pick. The only fear for Giants fans is if the Eagles rest their starters in Week 18, potentially leaving the door open for a win that would ruin their pick.

Last week: 32

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The Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings were compiled by the Fox News Digital Sports staff and the OutKick.com staff.

December 25, 2024
NBA Power Rankings: Every team’s young riser
Dec 25, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

The NBA regular season is in full swing ahead of a blockbuster slate of games on Christmas Day, and teams are already bracing for potential moves ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Two months into the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are keeping their hold atop the Eastern Conference standings with the defending NBA Finals champions Boston Celtics right behind. The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the mix, while the Philadelphia 76ers are still floundering near the bottom.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have remained the constant leaders, with other teams jockeying up and down the standings. While the Golden State Warriors are struggling to keep pace, the Memphis Grizzlies are continuing to impress.

For this week, we asked our NBA insiders to pick one rookie or young player (defined as someone 25 years old or younger) on each team who is already contributing. Whether as breakout starters or key reserves off the bench, these youngsters are making their presence felt this season.

Here is where all 30 teams stack up in this week’s power rankings.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 18

Atlanta Hawks’ 21-year-old guard Dyson Daniels leads the league in steals per game (3.2). Illustration by ESPN

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Young riser: PF Evan Mobley

This could have just as easily been Darius Garland, but since he’s a year older and has already been an All-Star, the distinction goes to the 23-year-old big man who continues to improve in his fourth season after Cleveland selected him with the No. 3 pick in 2021 out of USC. The 6-foot-11 Mobley is shooting career bests from 3 (40%) and the free throw line (78.6%) while ranking 11th in the NBA in overall field goal percentage (57.1) and 14th in blocks per game (1.4). — Dave McMenamin

2. Boston Celtics
- 2024-25 record: 22-7
- Previous ranking: 1
- Next games: vs. PHI (Dec. 25), vs. IND (Dec. 27), vs. IND (Dec. 29), vs. TOR (Dec. 31)
Young riser: G Jordan Walsh

There’s no clear answer for Boston — not exactly a surprise, given it’s a veteran team with championship expectations — but the second-year guard is the closest thing to it. The 2023 second-round pick has shown flashes in limited playing time this season, with the things that will ultimately determine his ceiling as a player being his ability to add strength to his 6-6 frame and whether he can become a reliable 3-point shooter. If he can, he’s got a future as a talented defender with length. — Tim Bontemps

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2024-25 record: 23-5
- Previous ranking: 3
- Next games: @ IND (Dec. 26), @ CHA (Dec. 28), vs. MEM (Dec. 29), vs. MIN (Dec. 31)
Young riser: G Jalen Williams

Chet Holmgren’s ascension has been put on pause because of his fractured pelvis, but fellow 2022 lottery pick Jalen Williams’ star rise has continued. The 23-year-old wing is averaging career highs in scoring (21.6 points per game), rebounds (5.9), assists (5.0), steals (1.8) and blocks (0.8) to build a case for the West’s best team getting a second All-Star selection alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. — Tim MacMahon

4. Memphis Grizzlies
- 2024-25 record: 20-10
- Previous ranking: 4
- Next games: vs. TOR (Dec. 26), @ NO (Dec. 27), @ OKC (Dec. 29), @ PHX (Dec. 31)
Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Young riser: PG Ja Morant

Morant, 25, has missed 12 games this season due to injuries. The latest setback occurred Thursday, when he took a hard fall after a contested drive through traffic against Golden State. Morant’s explosiveness lends itself to unnecessary injuries, especially when he tries to make spectacular plays, but he’s starting to learn it’s best to choose his spots. Still, Morant’s self-imposed ban on dunks weeks ago ended just about as quickly as it started. So, seriously prioritizing health is a must for Morant to reach his full potential. — Michael Wright

5. Houston Rockets

Young riser: C Alperen Sengun

A fourth-year veteran, Sengun, 22, took a major step in his development over the summer working out for seven weeks in his native Turkey with Rockets assistant Cam Hodges and other player development staffers. The club immediately noticed improvements in Sengun’s maturity and approach to the game, and that is manifesting itself every night in the box scores. Sengun is averaging career highs in rebounds (10.6), assists (5.3) and blocks (1.0). But like most of Houston’s young roster, Sengun needs to improve as a shooter. — Wright

6. New York Knicks
- 2024-25 record: 19-10
- Previous ranking: 8
- Next games: vs. SA (Dec. 25), @ ORL (Dec. 27), @ WAS (Dec. 28), @ WAS (Dec. 30)
Young riser: G Deuce McBride

As New York’s 24-year-old backup guard and sixth man, McBride has been completely solid on both ends of the floor for coach Tom Thibodeau. McBride has been a more willing shooter and playmaker — even when captain and fellow floor general Jalen Brunson is on the court with him — and it’s no coincidence that the club’s five most efficient five-man lineups (with a minimum of 25 minutes played together) all include McBride. — Chris Herring

7. Dallas Mavericks
- 2024-25 record: 19-10
- Previous ranking: 6
- Next games: vs. MIN (Dec. 25), @ PHX (Dec. 27), @ POR (Dec. 28), @ SAC (Dec. 30)
Young riser: C Dereck Lively II

The 20-year-old has made the team’s controversial decision to tank in the final week of the 2022-23 season to keep its top-10-protected pick seem like a stroke of genius. The springy 7-footer is a phenomenal complement to the Mavs’ star duo as a defensive anchor and pick-and-roll finisher. He’s averaging 9.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting 70.8% from the floor as part of a rim-running tag team with Daniel Gafford. — MacMahon

8. Milwaukee Bucks

Young riser: G Andre Jackson Jr.

An example of Jackson’s impact was on display during Milwaukee’s victory in the NBA Cup championship game when he held Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 3-of-12 shooting as the primary defender. After playing less than 10 minutes in each of the Bucks’ first four games, Jackson became a full-time starter by the eighth game, injecting youth, athleticism and defensive versatility into a veteran roster. — Jamal Collier

9. Orlando Magic

Young riser: F Franz Wagner

With the 23-year-old Wagner joining Paolo Banchero (22) and Jalen Suggs (23), the Magic might boast the most under-25 talent of any NBA team. All three were ranked in ESPN’s top 25 under 25, with Banchero (third) and Wagner (fourth) in the top five. Although Banchero is still the face of the franchise, Wagner has taken a bigger step forward with his play in Banchero’s absence. Before joining him on the sidelines due to an oblique injury, Wagner averaged 26.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 19 games without Banchero as Orlando went 13-6 to stay in the hunt for home court in the East playoffs. — Kevin Pelton

10. Denver Nuggets
- 2024-25 record: 16-11
- Previous ranking: 10
- Next games: @ PHX (Dec. 25), vs. CLE (Dec. 27), vs. DET (Dec. 28), @ UTAH (Dec. 30)
Young riser: G Christian Braun

It’s easy to overlook the third-year guard because he does many of the little things the Nuggets need around Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. But Braun is the team’s most accomplished prospect. After being a valuable role player in his rookie season as the Nuggets won a title, Braun has successfully moved into the starting lineup this season to help offset the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Braun is averaging 15 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 40.6% 3-point shooting and providing valuable defense and hustle. — Ohm Youngmisuk

11. LA Clippers

Young riser: G Jordan Miller

Although Kevin Porter Jr. might be the obvious choice here, Miller is a prospect with potential. The 2023 second-round pick has shown that he can score as he averaged 25.4 points in the 2024 NBA summer league. When the Clippers are healthy, Miller isn’t in Ty Lue’s rotation, but when forced into action, Miller has scored in double figures five times this season. — Youngmisuk

12. Los Angeles Lakers

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Young riser: G Max Christie

The Lakers signed the 2022 second-round pick to a four-year, $32 million contract this past summer despite Christie playing only sparingly his first two seasons with the team. But with L.A.’s defense floundering a quarter of the way through the season (21st in the league), new Lakers coach JJ Redick inserted the 21-year-old into the starting lineup and he has helped fix their problems on the perimeter. The Lakers have gone 5-2 with Christie starting and he’s also becoming more reliable on offense, hitting at least one 3 in nine straight games. — McMenamin

13. Golden State Warriors
- 2024-25 record: 15-13
- Previous ranking: 11
- Next games: vs. LAL (Dec. 25), vs. LAC (Dec. 27), vs. PHX (Dec. 28), vs. CLE (Dec. 30)
Young riser: F Jonathan Kuminga

Kuminga has been the franchise’s young riser since he was selected seventh in the 2021 NBA draft. Kuminga, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski are all considered young talents who could help Golden State transition from the Steph-Draymond era. In his fourth season, Kuminga is still only 22 and full of potential. Kuminga started six consecutive games at power forward — and scored a career-high 33 points against Houston on Dec. 5 — but returned to the bench after Dennis Schroder was acquired. And on Monday, coach Steve Kerr was critical of Kuminga’s shot selection and decision-making in last week’s games at Memphis and Minnesota. As of now, it appears the Warriors have shelved the experiment of starting Kuminga. — Youngmisuk

14. Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2024-25 record: 14-14
- Previous ranking: 12
- Next games: @ DAL (Dec. 25), @ HOU (Dec. 27), vs. SA (Dec. 29), @ OKC (Dec. 31)
Young riser: G Rob Dillingham

He still hasn’t played much this season, but the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft had a promising stretch of games against the Celtics and Rockets while filling in for Mike Conley earlier this season. Dillingham averaged 13.0 points and 4.0 assists and shot 47.8% against two of the best defenses in the league. It might be tough for him to crack the Wolves’ rotation at the moment, but he has shown some flashes of why he was a lottery pick. — Collier

15. Miami Heat

Young riser: G Pelle Larsson

Though Tyler Herro has made some big strides this season, it has been Larsson who has emerged. A 6-5 guard who was the 44th pick in June’s NBA draft, Larsson has proven to be a reliable 3-point shooter and earned some fairly consistent minutes in coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation — no easy feat — as part of a new crop of youngsters beginning to take on bigger roles this season. It’s a promising development as the Heat potentially start to edge into a post-Jimmy Butler world either this season or next. — Bontemps

16. San Antonio Spurs
- 2024-25 record: 15-14
- Previous ranking: 19
- Next games: @ NYK (Dec. 25), @ BKN (Dec. 27), @ MIN (Dec. 29), vs. LAC (Dec. 31)
Young riser: C Victor Wembanyama

You see it in flashes, but Wembanyama, 20, is gradually figuring out when to unleash various aspects of his ever-evolving game. The team believes there’s no limit to Wembanyama’s skill set. But acting coach Mitch Johnson said it’s difficult for a young player who is capable of doing everything to know on a game-by-game basis how to approach each situation. San Antonio’s video staff has shown him how each team tries to defend him, helping Wembanyama’s learning curve. — Wright

17. Phoenix Suns
- 2024-25 record: 14-14
- Previous ranking: 13
- Next games: vs. DEN (Dec. 25), vs. DAL (Dec. 27), @ GS (Dec. 28), vs. MEM (Dec. 31)
Young riser: F Ryan Dunn

Dunn doesn’t have too much competition for consideration as the Suns’ top young talent. There are only six players 25 or younger on the roster. Dunn and 22-year-old center Oso Ighodaro are the only players in that group to crack coach Mike Budenholzer’s rotation. Dunn, a draft night acquisition from Denver, has been a bright spot so far, hitting 25 3-pointers in his first 23 games in the pros after knocking down just 12 3s in 65 games in college at Virginia. — McMenamin

18. Indiana Pacers
- 2024-25 record: 15-15
- Previous ranking: 20
- Next games: vs. OKC (Dec. 26), @ BOS (Dec. 27), @ BOS (Dec. 29), vs. MIL (Dec. 31)
Young riser: F Jarace Walker

With Indiana’s rotation hit by injuries early on, Walker, the former No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft, has made the most of his playing time. His numbers are still modest, with some up-and-down swings from game to game, but his impact on defense has been crucial for the Pacers, who are searching for answers on that end of the floor. As the Pacers continue to get healthy, they might have to find ways to keep Walker on the floor. — Collier

19. Atlanta Hawks

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Young riser: G Dyson Daniels

Daniels, 21, has been by far the biggest revelation in the Hawks’ group of newcomers. He is comfortably leading the league in steals (3.2) — earning the nickname Great Barrier Thief, a nod to his Australian roots — while also pouring in 13 points per game. His disruptiveness on the defensive end — which has resulted in Atlanta forcing turnovers at one of the highest rates in the league — has helped keep the team afloat. — Herring

20. Sacramento Kings

Young riser: G Keegan Murray

Part of the reason for the Kings’ disappointing start has been their young talent’s lack of development this season. Keon Ellis, expected to start at shooting guard, has shot well from 3-point range (40%) but his role has fluctuated. Murray remains Sacramento’s most talented young player, but has been shunted into an off-ball role due to the addition of DeMar DeRozan. Murray, who is shooting a career-low 30% on 3s, has capably handled the task of serving as the Kings’ defensive stopper, but his skill set suggests he has more to offer on offense. — Pelton

21. Chicago Bulls

Young riser: F Matas Buzelis

The Bulls drafted Buzelis with the 11th pick in June and the early returns have been intriguing. He did not play a lot of minutes at the start of the season, but has earned more playing time. He is averaging 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and shooting 37.9% from 3 in about 18 minutes per game off the bench in December. — Collier

22. Detroit Pistons

Young riser: G Cade Cunningham

In his fourth season, the 2021 No. 1 pick has emerged as a strong candidate for his first All-Star selection at age 23. Cunningham is recording career highs across the board, including 9.7 assists per game. Cunningham has also boosted his scoring efficiency by shooting a career-best 38.5% on 3s. Turnovers (4.5 per game, third highest in the NBA) remain a weakness but the Pistons can be more confident that Cunningham is the building block for a potential playoff team. — Pelton

23. Philadelphia 76ers

Young riser: G Jared McCain

It is fitting that the answer to this question for the 76ers, who have been defined for the better part of a decade by injuries, is a player sidelined due to a meniscus tear. The rookie guard and TikTok star was one of the biggest surprises in the NBA over the first quarter of the season, and virtually the only bright spot during a dismal start for the 76ers. Now, though, McCain is out for an extended period after successful surgery earlier this month. — Bontemps

24. Brooklyn Nets

Young riser: G Cam Thomas

Even though he has been on the rise for a few years now and remains out as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Thomas — who’s averaging a team-best 24.7 points per game — is the answer here. Despite the club’s continued development, and its perceived aim to land the top pick in the upcoming draft, the average age of Brooklyn’s roster is 26 — just north of the league average. At 24, Thomas is still one of the younger players on the roster, and first-year coach Jordi Fernandez has said he wants him to get more seasoning as a playmaker and defender. — Herring

25. Portland Trail Blazers

Young riser: G Shaedon Sharpe

More than a year after trading Damian Lillard, the Blazers are still searching for their next great star. No Portland player cracked ESPN’s top 25 under 25, but Sharpe might have the strongest case. He has taken a step forward after core muscle surgery limited him to 32 games in 2023-24. Sharpe has averaged 17.7 points and shown progress as a finisher, hitting an impressive 58% of his 2-point attempts. If Sharpe can add consistent 3-point range (he’s shooting just 28% on 3s), his growing talent could prove difficult to contain.— Pelton

26. Utah Jazz

Young riser: C Walker Kessler

Ideally, there would be more competition for this distinction among the several recent first-round picks on the Jazz’s roster, but Kessler, a third-year center, stands above the crowd. The 23-year-old 7-footer is averaging a double-double (10.5 points, 10.7 rebounds per game) while ranking among the league leaders in field goal percentage (71.9%) and blocks per game (2.9). — MacMahon

27. Charlotte Hornets

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Young riser: G Tre Mann

Brandon Miller has all the makings of a young, two-way star in Charlotte alongside franchise player LaMelo Ball. But 23-year-old guard Tre Mann was in the midst of a career season, shooting 40% from deep and averaging a personal-best 14 points per game, before being sidelined due to lower-back soreness and disk irritation. His scoring ability off the bench was a massive boost for a club that last week had its preferred starting five on the floor for the first time this season. — Herring

28. Toronto Raptors

Young riser: G Gradey Dick

On a team with a bunch of young talent, the second-year guard has stood out for his rapid improvement from his rookie season. The 6-6 guard has seen massive statistical gains after being named the starting shooting guard for the Raptors. He has more than doubled his scoring average to 18.3 points while shooting more than seven attempts from 3 a game. — Bontemps

29. New Orleans Pelicans

Young riser: F Trey Murphy III

Murphy likely won’t be the face of the franchise. But he’s positioned to be a solid long-term fixture in the starting lineup and one of the team’s main contributors on both ends of the floor. The 24-year-old averaged career highs last season in points (14.8), rebounds (4.9) and assists (2.2). He has improved his scoring (18.7) and assist (2.3) numbers this season. A versatile 3-and-D wing, Murphy continues to improve as he gains more experience. He has been one of the few bright spots in what has been an injury-riddled season for the Pelicans. — Wright

30. Washington Wizards

Young riser: G Bilal Coulibaly

Coulibaly delivered the latest and most emphatic reason he is Washington’s young riser. Late in the fourth quarter of the Wizards’ fourth victory of the season against Charlotte on Thursday, Coulibaly soared for a one-handed alley-oop dunk from a pass by Jordan Poole. Coulibaly is the draft jewel of the Michael Winger-Will Dawkins regime so far. He proved he was ahead of his development curve as a rookie when he averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and shot 34.6% from 3 last season. This season, the 20-year-old is averaging 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals. — Youngmisuk
December 25, 2024

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings: Commanders’ Jayden Daniels has his signature moment; Eagles drop out of top 5

All the young NFL quarterbacks have their signature moments at some point, a play or a drive that shows off their talent and screams to the rest of the league that they are destined for special things.

Jayden Daniels had his moment Sunday.

The rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders beat the Chicago Bears earlier this season on a Hail Mary, but that’s essentially an accident, not a moment. Any quarterback with a big arm is capable of that.

What we saw him do Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles is different. It’s career defining. It’s essentially sending out a loud message to the rest of the NFL that they will have to deal with him for at least the next decade.

The Commanders beat the Eagles, 36-33, thanks to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Jamison Crowder with six seconds left. He started that drive at his own 43-yard line with 1:52 left and promptly led the Commanders to the victory.

Daniels threw five touchdown passes, and he did it against an Eagles defense that had been dominant over the course of their 10-game winning streak heading into Sunday. In addition to the five touchdown passes, he also led the Commanders with 81 yards rushing.

Daniels is the first rookie quarterback to throw for five or more touchdowns and rush for 65 or more yards in a single game in NFL history.

The clutch gene, which all great quarterbacks have, is what makes him special. He never seems to get rattled. On a fourth-and-11 in the third quarter, he ran for 29 yards and a big first down. Before Sunday’s game, I said on our pre-game show that the Eagles game would be a proving game for Daniels and the Commanders.

It was for both in a big way, The Commanders, who are up to eighth in my Power Rankings this week, are 10-5 with two games to play. It’s unlikely they will catch the Eagles to win the NFC East, but they served notice that they will be a tough out come playoff time — no matter who they play.

Daniels made sure that happened Sunday, and in the process locked up the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. It’s special moments that decide those type of awards, and Daniels had his to beat the Eagles, a signature moment for sure.

Biggest Movers

Rk	Teams		Chg	Rcrd
1	Chiefs	They just keep on winning. The offense is starting to click, which is not a good thing for the rest of the league — starting this week against the Steelers.	—	14-1-0
2	Bills	They had a letdown against the Patriots, and it almost cost them. But good teams find ways to win games like that, which they did.	1	12-3-0
3	Lions	The offense showed it can move the football in any type of weather in the blowout of the Bears. The undermanned defense gave up yards, but made stops when needed.	1	13-2-0
4	Vikings	If they win out, they have the top seed in the NFC. But the schedule is tough with games against Green Bay and Detroit to close it out.	1	13-2-0
5	Packers	They can now play a physical brand of football, which will matter come playoff time. They need to show that off this week against the Vikings in a tough game.	1	11-4-0
6	Eagles	Losing Jalen Hurts to a concussion against Washington hurt, but the defense let them down as well. They have to get back on track after Jayden Daniels carved them up.	4	12-3-0
7	Ravens	By beating the Steelers, they are back in the division race. The defense is making strides at the right time.	1	10-5-0
8	Commanders	They can lock up a playoff spot by beating the Falcons this week. Jayden Daniels is on his way to being the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.	2	10-5-0
9	Steelers	Two consecutive losses have set this team’s hopes back some in terms of trying to win the division. And here come the Chiefs on Christmas Day. They can’t afford another loss.	2	10-5-0
10	Rams	They just keep on winning and appear to be on their way to the division title. It wasn’t pretty against the Jets, but they found a way.	1	9-6-0
11	Buccaneers	Losing to the Cowboys takes them out of the top spot in the division. Now they need the Falcons to lose one, and they have to win out to make the playoffs.	1	8-7-0
12	Chargers	The Chargers bounced back from the blowout loss to the Bucs with a nice division victory over the Broncos. One more victory and they are in the playoffs.	1	9-6-0
13	Broncos	They haven’t locked up a playoff berth yet, but they are close. The loss against the Chargers wasn’t a good look after taking a lead early.	4	9-6-0
14	Texans	The loss of receiver Tank Dell to a knee injury will be damning for them. When he went out against the Chiefs, the offense became lifeless. Now they face a tough Ravens team.	—	9-6-0
15	Bengals	They aren’t done yet, but they are barely hanging on. They essentially play a playoff game this week with Denver.	3	7-8-0
16	Colts	Jonathan Taylor bounced back from his terrible fumble in the loss to Denver to rush for over 200 yards against the Titans. They are still alive, but need help.	1	7-8-0
17	Seahawks	Losing two straight games has their playoff chances slimming by the week. They need to win their last two and still might not get in.	2	8-7-0
18	Falcons	Michael Penix Jr. didn’t do a ton in his first start, but he didn’t need to against the Giants. But he will have to do a lot more against the Commanders this week on the road.	3	8-7-0
19	Cowboys	Two consecutive victories might be saving Mike McCarthy’s job — and probably should. They are still playing hard, even though they are done.	3	7-8-0
20	Panthers	Bryce Young is playing good football. That has to give them hope for the future.	6	4-11-0
21	Cardinals	They were eliminated from playoff consideration after losing to Carolina. They were a nice little story for a while, but the undermanned roster caught up with them.	5	7-8-0
22	Dolphins	They are still alive after beating the 49ers, but barely. They ran the ball in that game as well as they have all season, which keyed the victory.	3	7-8-0
23	49ers	The season full of misery is done. The injuries did this team in early this season and they never recovered. What a disappointment.	3	6-9-0
24	Bears	The defense didn’t even show up in the loss to the Lions. They looked disinterested, sort of like they were already in vacation mode.	1	4-11-0
25	Browns	They have to figure out the quarterback position next season — and it can’t be Deshaun Watson. They have issues going forward there.	1	3-12-0
26	Saints	The injuries have crippled this team. It’s a shame how bad they are right now. The question is who will be the coach next year.	1	5-10-0
27	Jets	So much for the push by the offense the past two weeks. Aaron Rodgers was bad against the Rams, and the coaching decisions were even worse.	—	4-11-0
28	Raiders	They lost by winning. They now wouldn’t draft in the top-2 spots, which means they would lose out on the top-2 quarterback prospects. Beating Jacksonville was not a good thing.	4	3-12-0
29	Patriots	They competed against the Bills, which is progress. It also sounds like head coach Jerod Mayo will get a chance to be back for his second season.	1	3-12-0
30	Jaguars	The silver lining of their awful season is rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. He is a future star at the position, but he’s one of the few on the roster.	2	3-12-0
31	Titans	They showed some fight in coming back against the Colts, but they fell in too big of a hole. They need to find a quarterback.	2	3-12-0
32	Giants	They are awful and heading for the top pick in the draft. That’s the good news for their failures, but they are tough to watch now.	1	2-13-0

December 24, 2024

NCAA Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: Auburn leads the pack
Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterDec 12, 2024, 09:00 AM ET

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Basketball recruiting insider.

Joined ESPN in 2014.

Graduate of University of Delaware.
A week ago, we had Tennessee No. 1 and Auburn No. 2. The Volunteers then went out and beat Illinois on the road … and we’re dropping them to No. 2.

So what’s the reasoning?

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Simply put, Auburn has been far more dominant than Tennessee, despite the Vols being undefeated and Auburn suffering a loss to Duke earlier this month. The Tigers have been the most dominant team through six weeks in the history of KenPom’s database, and they rank No. 1 in every efficiency-based metric. They also own wins over Iowa State, Houston, Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State — all away from home — and have the most Quadrant 1 wins in the country with five.

Tennessee is terrific and it’s not a surprise to see the Vols sit at No. 1 in the AP poll. They will very likely enter SEC play at 13-0. But they haven’t beaten anyone ranked inside the top 20 of the Power Rankings yet.

While it’s close, Auburn has a superior résumé, superior metrics — and we would take the Tigers on a neutral court. If Tennessee beats Florida on the road on Jan. 7 — or Auburn falls to Purdue this weekend — we will revisit this debate.

play

1:23

Auburn’s Johnson explains offensive outburst coming off the bench

Stepping up after an injury to Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson reflects on his mindset as his role changes and he scores 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting.

Previous ranking: 2

All eyes are on the availability of Johni Broome, who played just three minutes against Georgia State on Monday before leaving with a shoulder injury. He sat on the bench in the second half with his arm in a sling. The school announced Wednesday that Broome didn’t need surgery, but he will be reevaluated on a daily basis. Bruce Pearl replaced Broome on Tuesday with Chaney Johnson, who had the best game of his career: 26 points on 12-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds and four assists.

Next seven days: vs. Purdue in Birmingham (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 1

Tennessee’s defensive performance against Western Carolina was the program’s best in the history of the KenPom database, limiting the Catamounts to 0.49 points per possession (36 points on 73 possessions). Given the Volunteers have ranked in the top five in adjusted defensive efficiency in each of the past five years, it’s a tremendously impressive record. Oddly enough, Tennessee’s previous record for fewer points per possession allowed? Nov. 30, 1998, against … Western Carolina.

Next seven days: vs. Middle Tennessee (Dec. 23)

Previous ranking: 3

It’s hard to understate the impact that Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has had on the Cyclones. He was considered a perfect pickup in the portal given his track record for defense and toughness with the Gaels, but Jefferson has dramatically improved Iowa State on the offensive end. He went for 19 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists against Iowa, has scored in double-figures in five straight games and gives the Cyclones’ offense different looks due to his versatility.

Next seven days: at Morgan State (Dec. 22)

Previous ranking: 4

Lamont Butler missed two games, including Kentucky’s win in Seattle over Gonzaga, and wasn’t even a lock to suit up against Louisville on Saturday. Not only did he suit up, but he also started and put up an eye-popping stat line: 33 points on 10-for-10 shooting, 6-for-6 from 3, and six assists. He was only the second SEC player in the past 20 years to finish with 30-plus points on 100% field goal shooting, according to ESPN Research.

Next seven days: vs. Ohio State in New York (Dec. 21)

play

1:44

No. 5 UK’s Butler ecstatic after career-high 33 points vs. Louisville

Following his perfect shooting performance including six threes in the rivalry win, Lamont Butler says Mark Pope helped the Wildcats form strong connections in the preseason.

Previous ranking: 6

Jon Scheyer made a lineup change heading into the Auburn game Dec. 4, moving Caleb Foster to the bench and slotting Sion James into the starting five. James, the fifth-year Tulane transfer, has brought a different level of physicality and two-way ability, while also allowing Foster to be a spark offensively off the bench. In his four games as a starter, James is averaging 8.3 and 4.3 rebounds, including 11 points in the win over Louisville.

Next seven days: at Georgia Tech (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 7

Full credit to Nate Oats for going on the road to North Dakota to play a homecoming game for Grant Nelson, but it was nearly a catastrophic trip for the Crimson Tide. They barely got out of Grand Forks with a win, surviving a 40-point effort from North Dakota sharpshooter Treysen Eaglestaff. It was fitting that Nelson made three huge plays down the stretch and finished with 23 points and 10 boards, while Mark Sears has now hit 20-plus points in five of his past six games.

Next seven days: vs. Kent State (Dec. 22)

Previous ranking: 8

Next seven days: vs. North Florida (Dec. 21)

Florida had its two toughest games of the season in the past week, dominating Arizona State in Atlanta over the weekend and then surging late to beat North Carolina in Charlotte after blowing a 17-point first-half lead. In addition to the usual suspects on the perimeter — Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin — Todd Golden has gotten good mileage recently out of Denzel Aberdeen. He’s scored 12 points in two of the past three games and is shooting 40% from 3 on the season.

Previous ranking: 10

Oregon at No. 8 in the country might feel high — but the résumé speaks for itself. The Ducks have neutral-court wins over Alabama, Texas A&M and San Diego State — three teams in the top 20 of the Power Rankings. Their only loss is by two points to UCLA, another team in the top 20 of the Power Rankings. Whether Dana Altman’s team is a legitimate Big Ten title contender in its first season in the league will be tested by its next five conference games: vs. Illinois, vs. Maryland, at Ohio State, at Penn State, vs. Purdue.

Next seven days: at Stanford in San Jose (Dec. 21)

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Previous ranking: 5

Marquette opened Big East play with a 10-point win over Butler on Wednesday, but the Golden Eagles’ defensive issues are continuing to crop up. After allowing just one team to score more than one point per possession in their first eight games, they’ve now allowed four straight opponents to hit at least 1.11 points per possession. According to CBB Analytics, Marquette ranks outside the top 140 nationally in 2-point percentage defense, fast-break points allowed and paint points allowed.

Next seven days: at Xavier (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 11

After one of the least productive five-game stretches of his college career, Hunter Dickinson has been far dominant in Kansas’ past two games. He’s coming off a 21-point, 14-rebound, 7-assist performance against NC State and had 19 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in the loss to Missouri. In the five games before the defeat, he was averaging 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds — capped by just six points in the loss at Creighton. He’s up to No. 4 in KenPom’s Player of the Year standings.

Next seven days: vs. Brown (Dec. 22)

Previous ranking: 17

Texas A&M added to its incredibly strong away-from-home résumé last weekend, beating Purdue in Indianapolis — meaning the Aggies have beaten the Boilermakers, Texas Tech, Creighton and Rutgers outside of College Station. Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne had his best game in an A&M uniform, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds. Payne has been noticeably more productive coming off the bench, averaging 8.8 points and 3.6 boards in five games as a reserve, compared to 5.8 points in six games as a starter.

Next seven days: vs. Houston Christian (Dec. 20)

Previous ranking: 19

UConn’s win over Xavier was more difficult than expected, especially since the Musketeers were without Zach Freemantle. But the Huskies pulled it out in overtime, somehow it’s their first conference-opening win in Hartford since 1995. Tarris Reed Jr. has been stellar during the recent winning streak, highlighted by his 20-point, 13-rebound performance against the Musketeers. It was needed given Samson Johnson’s absence due to a concussion suffered against Gonzaga.

Next seven days: at Butler (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 13

Sean Pedulla was one of the more intriguing transfers to monitor entering this season. After earning All-ACC honors at Virginia Tech, Pedulla opted for a completely different system and style when he ended up at Ole Miss. But the Oklahoma native is thriving in Oxford. He’s having the most efficient offensive season of his career, while also making his biggest defensive impact. After scoring at least 16 points in three straight games, Pedulla was held to nine points against Southern but dished out seven assists and totaled seven blocks and steals.

Next seven days: vs. Queens (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 22

Another team that’s gotten back to playing the staunch defense normally associated with its head coach is UCLA, which is now third nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Bruins have allowed just two teams to score more than one point per possession, and they won both of those games. They lead the nation in defensive turnover percentage, and opponents are shooting just 29.1% from 3-point range against them.

Next seven days: vs. North Carolina in New York (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: Unranked

Tuesday’s game against UNLV had all the hallmarks of a classic trap game. Dayton was coming off a huge home win over Marquette and the Flyers head to Cincinnati to play the in-state rival Bearcats on Friday. UNLV, meanwhile, had lost three of its past four games. And if not for Malachi Smith’s bucket-and-foul with eight seconds left, Dayton would have dropped a stunner at home. But the Flyers came out with the win and have a chance to add a fourth victory over a power conference opponent this weekend.

Next seven days: at Cincinnati (Dec. 20)

Previous ranking: 9

Mark Few has a balanced eight-man rotation that seems to feature a different player or two every game in a starring role (outside of Ryan Nembhard, who shoulders a heavy role every night). According to EvanMiya.com, the Zags have five different lineups they have used for at least 45 possessions. Their most effective, both offensively and defensively, is one that features all three key reserves — Braden Huff, Ben Gregg, Dusty Stromer — plus Nembhard and Khalif Battle. Something to monitor moving forward.

Next seven days: vs. Bucknell (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 18

Jeremiah Fears’ incredible freshman campaign had its biggest moment Wednesday night. The 18-year-old, who was still playing AAU in the summer and didn’t reclassify until July, finished with 30 points, including 20 in the second half and a stunning four-point play with 11 seconds left to beat Michigan. He was averaging 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists entering the game, scoring in double figures in every contest.

Next seven days: vs. Central Arkansas (Dec. 22)

Previous ranking: 14

A name to watch for San Diego State is freshman forward Pharaoh Compton, who recently earned back-to-back Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors. Compton hasn’t started a game yet for the Aztecs, but he had 13 points in the overtime win over Houston in Las Vegas and then had 12 points and six rebounds in a victory over San Diego. And most importantly for Brian Dutcher, he’s active defensively and on the offensive glass.

Next seven days: at California in San Jose (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 15

The emergence of Joseph Tugler as a legitimate NBA prospect has been a fascinating storyline for the Cougars this season. He’s averaging just 5.8 points, but he’s skyrocketed up NBA draft boards — just outside the top 30 in ESPN’s latest 2025 rankings — because of his elite defensive ability and offensive rebounding prowess. Against Toledo on Wednesday, he also showed some offensive pop, scoring 13 points (while also totaling five blocks and steals).

Next seven days: vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 25

Outside of Kam Jones, there’s a case to be made that PJ Haggerty has been the best guard in college basketball this season — and he showed it again against Virginia on Tuesday. He finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. According to ESPN Research, it was the 37th straight game Haggerty has scored in double figures, the second-longest active double-digit scoring streak in Division I. He was averaging 21.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists entering the game.

Next seven days: vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 12

Against power conference competition, perhaps Purdue’s biggest predictor of success has been its ability to take care of the ball. The Boilermakers turned it over 13 times against Marquette, 22 times against Penn State and 16 times against Texas A&M — all losses. In their biggest wins — over Alabama, NC State, Ole Miss and Maryland — they coughed it up fewer than seven times per game. Auburn doesn’t turn teams over a ton, but Purdue is in trouble Saturday if it can’t deal with the Tigers’ aggressiveness and physicality.

Next seven days: at Auburn in Birmingham (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 20

After a pair of less-than-impressive performances against Prairie View A&M and McNeese, Chris Jans made a lineup change, replacing Riley Kugel with Claudell Harris Jr. Harris, a Boston College transfer, responded with 19 points and five 3-pointers in a win over Central Michigan. He’s averaging 14.8 points and shooting 44.4% from 3 in his past four games. Kugel, meanwhile, is averaging 5.5 points on 37.5% shooting in his past four games since dropping 22 in the loss to Butler.

Next seven days: at Memphis (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 21

Michigan State pulled away in the second half against Oakland on Tuesday, with the Spartans running their winning streak to four games behind 18 points off the bench from Xavier Booker, who has hit double-figures in four straight. But the funniest part of the night came from Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe wearing matching sweaters.

Next seven days: Florida Atlantic (Dec. 21)

Previous ranking: 24

Baylor is in the midst of a 16-day break between games — and a 20-day break between games against Division I opponents. While most of the attention on the Bears has been for their explosive perimeter group or Miami transfer Norchad Omier, the surprise for Scott Drew’s unit is junior big man Josh Ojianwuna. The Nigeria native scored in double figures five times total in his first two seasons in Waco; he’s already matched that number this season. He’s been a real asset on the offensive glass, too.

Next seven days: None

Previous ranking: Unranked

St. John’s has yet to notch a marquee win this season, losing in double overtime to Baylor and by three to Georgia in a four-day span in late November. But the Red Storm have elite metrics, ranking in the top 25 in the NET, while sitting in the top 15 at KenPom and Bart Torvik. Rick Pitino is getting breakout seasons from Zuby Ejiofor and Simeon Wilcher; the latter is averaging 13.3 points and shooting 40% from 3 over his past four games.

Next seven days: at Providence (Dec. 20)

Dropped out: Clemson Tigers (No. 16), Illinois Fighting Illini (No. 23)
December 19, 2024
Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings after Week 15 of the 2024 season

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The Buffalo Bills showed this past weekend they look like prime contenders to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs as conference and Super Bowl champions.

Josh Allen is playing like the NFL MVP and the rest of the team has followed suit. The Bills held on for a victory over the Lions on Sunday evening. Three strong weeks will be able to solidify that notion if the team is up to it.

Behind the Bills, the rest of the league is jostling for position. There are a handful of teams that have separated from the rest of the pack over the last few weeks. The Chiefs are still in that conversation, as are the Philadelphia Eagles and Lions, even with the loss to Buffalo.

Read below for the power rankings this week.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

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1. Buffalo Bills (11-3)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen runs against the Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

The Bills might have the fifth-best record in the NFL, but is there any doubt that they’re the best team? The clinic the Buffalo offense put on against the Detroit Lions on Sunday showed that no team wants to face surefire NFL MVP Josh Allen in the playoffs.

Last week: 4

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown reacts after his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

After all the talk in Philadelphia this past week about the passing game, Jalen Hurts had 290 passing yards and two touchdowns while AJ Brown caught eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles dominated in their win, outgaining the Steelers 401-163 in yards and holding the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game. As the injuries keep piling up for the Lions, the Eagles are hoping they can lurch in front of Detroit in the standings and get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Last week: 2

3. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes watches play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

All it took was a game against the last-place Browns for the Chiefs to get a comfortable win by multiple possessions. But it didn’t come for free either. Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury could put the Chiefs’ hopes of holding on to the No. 1 spot in real jeopardy, especially with a runaway Bills team keeping pace every week. But if Carson Wentz does have to start a game for Kansas City, the Chiefs can take solace in the fact that their defense and running game has been just as if not more important to their success this year than an explosive passing game.

Last week: 3

4. Detroit Lions (12-2)

Lions quarterback Jared Goff reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Maybe it’s Josh Allen riding a crazy hot streak, but the Lions looked like it was the 2023 version of the team after allowing 48 points. That came after close calls against the Bears and Packers during a stretch of three-straight home games in which their point differential was zero, and now they go to Chicago, where it will be in the mid-20s on Sunday. The Lions need a solid performance to make everyone forget about this latest skid.

Last week: 1

5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Sam Darnold is back, Justin Jefferson is back, and the Vikings are back. They have taken care of business against two weak opponents, just as they should. They wrap up the regular season with games in Seattle, home against Green Bay and then go to Detroit. It’s going to be a true litmus test to see where this team truly ranks as they go into January.

Last week: 5

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

Green Bay Packers Romeo Doubs celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

The Packers proved they are a force to be reckoned with after a dominant victory in Seattle. Jordan Love has turned it on, and they have scored 30-plus points in four straight contests. In fact, they’ve scored less than 20 just once, and that was in Week 2. This is not a magic carpet ride like it was last season. This team could do some damage.

Last week: 7

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker is congratulated by quarterback Lamar Jackson after catching a touchdown pass against the New York Giants during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The 2024 New York Giants have not been included in conversations about the NFL’s elite teams. At times this season, the Baltimore Ravens have looked to be among the league’s best teams. The Ravens took care of business against the Giants. Lamar Jackson threw for an impressive five touchdowns. Baltimore now shifts its focus to a high-stakes AFC North matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last week: 8

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Eagles on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Although the Steelers dropped this past Sunday’s game to the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh held on to its lead in the AFC North. But this Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens will be critical. The Steelers hope to get a couple of their key players healthy down the stretch. Star pass rusher TJ Watt suffered an ankle injury during the loss to the Eagles, while wide receiver George Pickens has missed the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

Last week: 6

9. Houston Texans (9-5)

Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Tank Dell during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

A big win over the Miami Dolphins and a crucial loss by a divisional opponent led the Houston Texans to win their second straight AFC South title on Sunday. The Texans’ defense has played a crucial role in the team’s 9-5 record, but CJ Stroud’s continued growth week after week has meant both sides of the ball are finally playing complimentary football – just in time for the playoffs.

Last week: 11

10. Washington Commanders (9-5)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

It is better to win ugly than to lose pretty, and that was certainly the case for the Commanders. If the Saints converted the two-point conversion as time expired, it would have been a significant blow to the Commanders’ playoff chances. However, the Commanders held on and now remain in control of their playoff destiny for the rest of the season. One of the positives for Washington is that the Jayden Daniels-Terry McLaurin connection has been one of the best in football this season. The pair connected for two touchdowns in the win.

Last week: 10

11. Denver Broncos (9-5)

Broncos’ Adam Trautman celebrates his touchdown with Bo Nix during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Broncos are gaining more momentum with each snap. They only got stronger as their game against Indianapolis went on, especially on defense. However, Bo Nix has had turnover issues for two straight games, but the rest of the team has done enough to overcome it. Nix will have to return to his midseason form if the Broncos hope to keep up their momentum.

Last week: 12

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

They’re making a playoff push and with Mike Evans fully healthy again and three teams with losing records on the schedule to end the season, it’s hard to think they won’t get to the postseason.

Last week: 14

13. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fields questions after an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

The Chargers are suddenly a fading team that could ultimately end up playing for their playoff lives in the final stretch of the season. It’s a script that this team has become all too familiar with over the years, and even Jim Harbaugh’s presence hasn’t changed it yet. The good news is the Chargers still have a two-game lead for the final wild card spot and their final two games will be against the basement-dwelling Raiders and Patriots.

Last week: 9

14. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

It will be a fight to the finish, but the Rams defeating the 49ers on Thursday night put them in a good spot to capture the NFC West when it’s all said and done.

Last week: 15

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

Seahawks’ Geno Smith is hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

An injured Geno Smith will hurt Seattle’s chances of getting a playoff spot in the long run.

Last week: 13

16. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

A good win against the Patriots may carry their momentum toward the Carolina Panthers games. Arizona will need a victory to keep pace before a pivotal matchup against the Rams in Week 17.

Last week: 17

17. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy jogs off the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Somebody has to win the NFC West. The 49ers are a long shot at this point and the schedule going forward doesn’t do them any favors. It starts with the Dolphins on Sunday.

Last week: 16

18. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Joe Burrow has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Despite throwing a couple of interceptions against the hapless Titans, Burrow’s three touchdowns and dazzling playmaking helped the Bengals secure their sixth win of the season. Cincinnati might not end up in the playoffs, but the Bengals front office will have some tough decisions to make this offseason.

Last week: 19

19. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London, center, celebrates after a touchdown against the Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

They broke a four-game losing skid, which is appropriate because they are still equally broken. Kirk Cousins and the offense are not meshing. They don’t fully maximize their stars and the secondary is suspect.

Last week: 20

20. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel directs from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Texans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

The Dolphins had to win on Sunday to keep any shred of hope of a postseason run alive, and they couldn’t get it done. Now the questions turn to head coach Mike McDaniel’s future. Could Miami move on from him? It’s possible.

Last week: 18

21. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Colts are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs after a brutal 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Too many turnovers, a lack of consistent play from second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and several miscues on the field could come back to haunt Indy as they sit two games out of the AFC’s final playoff spot.

Last week: 21

22. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb celebrates a score with quarterback Cooper Rush against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Even with the win, the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs are less than 1%. What might matter more, however, is that if the Cowboys keep winning games down the stretch, Jerry Jones might be inclined to keep head coach Mike McCarthy around for another season. It would have been easy for the Cowboys to quit on the season after losing to the Bengals and then having to go on the road on a short week. But the Cowboys came out to play and rolled over the Panthers, an encouraging sign for McCarthy as the players show up for him.

Last week: 22

23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler throws a pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

It takes courage to bypass an extra point to tie the game on the last play of the game and instead go for the win. Didn’t work, but tip of the hat.

Last week: 23

24. Chicago Bears (4-10)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Just when we thought the Bears had figured something out and were looking to turn the corner, they find themselves right back in the ditch. They have been non-competitive in two straight games, which is surprising considering in their previous three games they lost by a combined seven points. They wrap up the season with home games against the Lions and Seahawks before heading to Green Bay in Week 18. Not fun.

Last week: 24

25. New York Jets (4-10)

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams can’t hang onto a pass against the Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Of course, the week after the Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams turned back the clock and put on a performance reminiscent of their days with the Green Bay Packers to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Last week: 27

26. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Get them to the offseason already.

Last week: 26

27. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

Browns quarterback Jameis Winston makes the catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Jameis Winston has handled the starting quarterback duties for the Browns for the past seven games. While the Browns’ average points and yards per game have increased under Winston, the team has also experienced an uptick in turnovers. The Browns have dropped three consecutive games and will look for a solution at the quarterback position for 2025.

Last week: 25

28. New England Patriots (3-11)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Patriots still have to play the Buffalo Bills twice the rest of the way, which is probably good news. New England is in play for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and they don’t need to pick a quarterback. That’s a strong position in which to find yourself.

Last week: 28

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) is tripped up by New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The Jaguars had little to celebrate (outside improving their draft positioning) after a narrow loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. And with both teams eliminated from the playoffs, this weekend came down to bragging rights. On the bright side, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. managed to break two franchise records.

Last week: 30

30. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The Will Levis experiment might be over in Tennessee. Levis was benched after his fourth turnover, a pick-6, in Sunday’s rough outing against the Bengals. The offense has struggled all season long and first-year head coach Brian Callahan finds himself in the hot seat with just three games left on the schedule.

Last week: 29

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Raiders seem to sniff a potential win every week without ever closing it out. But these late-game follies have been critical in keeping the team at the top of the draft order. Their ability to blow these close games will be tested against a Mac Jones-led Jaguars team next week.

Last week: 31

32. New York Giants (2-12)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The season cannot end quick enough for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants, while decimated by injuries, never stood a chance as Lamar Jackson torched the Giants secondary, throwing for five touchdowns. One of the few positives is rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who had 10 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown while drawing some defensive pass interference calls for the Giants offense.

Last week: 32

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The Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings were compiled by the Fox News Digital Sports staff and the OutKick.com staff.

December 18, 2024

NFL Week 16 Power Rankings: Buccaneers getting hot at the right time; Lions fall to fourth after loss to Bills

There is a team lurking in the NFC that nobody will want to play come playoff time.

It’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I thought the Bucs could be a playoff team this season. In fact, I picked them to win the NFC South. But after watching them do what they did to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, I am even more impressed by what they are as a team.

After falling behind, 17-10, in the second quarter, looking like a team that would flounder on the road, the Bucs scored 30 unanswered points in the second half on their way to a 40-17 blowout.

The Bucs had 505 total yards, 222 on the ground, and Baker Mayfield threw four touchdown passes against the league’s top-ranked scoring defense. The Tampa Bay defense harassed Justin Herbert all day long and limited him to 195 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. In the second half, he couldn’t do much of anything.

The Bucs are now 8-6 heading to the final three games, leading the NFC South. Mayfield is a big reason why. He has 32 passing touchdowns, the most of his career. He threw two to Mike Evans on Sunday, both on big plays for the veteran receiver. When you combine a tough, bruising running attack with Mayfield’s right arm, the offense is tough to stop.

The defense has had injury issues all season, but getting their corners healthy and getting defensive lineman Calijah Kancey going has been big for that unit. The starting safeties are still out, but the backups held up against Herbert.

Tampa Bay is up to 12th in my Power Rankings this week. It closes the season with a road game at Dallas this week, followed by home games against the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. Those teams have a combined record of 14-28, which means the Bucs have a real shot to run the table.

If they do, they’ll win the NFC South, clinch the third or fourth seed in the playoffs and play a home game. Like I said, nobody will want to play this team in the postseason. They can score on anybody and when the defense is healthy, that unit can be really good — a great mix of young and old on that side of the ball.

Tampa Bay showed last year it could win with Mayfield and gang in the playoffs. Now they are seasoned some, which should make them even more dangerous this time around. That’s why they have to be considered a team that can go on a run in the playoffs and seem to be getting hot at just the right time.

Biggest Movers

Rk	Teams		Chg	Rcrd
1	Chiefs	They are back in the top spot with the Detroit Lions losing. The injury to Patrick Mahomes could impact whether they get the top seed in the AFC, especially with three games in 10 days.	1	13-1-0
2	Eagles	They keep on rolling in the NFC East, and the passing game came alive against the Steelers. But they do face a tough game on the road against the Commanders this week.	1	12-2-0
3	Bills	Winning at Detroit against the Lions was a big statement game. The past two weeks have showed that to beat this team, you might need to score 40 or more. Josh Allen is the MVP right now.	2	11-3-0
4	Lions	The defense just isn’t good enough. That could be the undoing for this dynamic offensive-led team. The loss to the Bills exposed that defense, and now they have more injury losses with defensive tackle Alim McNeill and corner Carlton Davis. It’s a shame.	3	12-2-0
5	Vikings	It was a little disjointed against the Bears, but they just keep on winning. They face a tough road game at Seattle this week as they eye the potential division title.	1	12-2-0
6	Packers	They showed a physical brand of football in beating up on the Seahawks on Sunday night. This team is a real threat in the NFC.	1	10-4-0
7	Steelers	The offense was lifeless in the loss to the Eagles. That opens up new questions about Russell Wilson as they head to Baltimore to play the Ravens.	1	10-4-0
8	Ravens	They came out of their bye with an impressive beatdown of the Giants. Now comes a monster divisional game with the Steelers.	—	9-5-0
9	Broncos	Bo Nix had a rough outing against the Colts, but they still found a way to win a game where he didn’t play well. The defense makes a lot of big plays.	2	9-5-0
10	Commanders	They looked dominant for much of the game against the Saints, but wilted late and made it a close game. They can’t do that this week against the Eagles or they will pay.	2	9-5-0
11	Rams	They now lead the NFC West, which is amazing. Sean McVay deserves a ton of credit for getting this team to this position.	2	8-6-0
12	Buccaneers	As they get healthier, they get better. Baker Mayfield is having his best season yet.	2	8-6-0
13	Chargers	That was a horrible showing against the Bucs. They have lost two straight and now face a big Thursday game on the road against the Broncos.	4	8-6-0
14	Texans	They have clinched the AFC South, but the next three weeks have to be about getting right for the playoffs. It’s still not like we expected so far for their offense.	1	9-5-0
15	Seahawks	They got pushed around by the Packers and now face a tough final three games with Geno Smith banged up. Their playoff chances don’t look great.	5	8-6-0
16	Cardinals	They impressed in beating up on the Patriots to keep their playoff hopes alive. Kyler Murray bounced back after a few tough games.	1	7-7-0
17	Colts	The Jonathan Taylor mistake of dropping the ball as he went into the end zone could end up costing them a chance to make the playoffs. What a horrible play that turned a victory into a loss against the Broncos.	1	6-8-0
18	Bengals	It’s a shame they probably won’t make the playoffs because the offense is dynamic. Joe Burrow has been MVP good all year.	2	6-8-0
19	Dolphins	They are basically done now after losing to the Texans. Tua Tagovailoa had a rough day on a stage where they needed him to be better.	1	6-8-0
20	49ers	Brock Purdy came up small in a big game against the Rams. They have an outside shot at the playoffs, but they can’t afford another loss.	1	6-8-0
21	Falcons	They stayed alive in the division race by beating the Raiders on Monday night, but it sure wasn’t pretty. Kirk Cousins still doesn’t look right.	—	7-7-0
22	Cowboys	They showed some fight in beating up on the Panthers. The defense played really well as Dallas’ slim playoff hopes remain alive.	4	6-8-0
23	Bears	This season continues to spiral downward. The offense just isn’t very good right now, and it’s time to start looking to 2025 and a new coach.	1	4-10-0
24	Browns	Jameis Winston still makes way too many mistakes, which is why he was benched against the Chiefs. They have quarterback issues heading into next season.	—	3-11-0
25	Saints	A season that started with so much hope is ending on a downer. They have a challenging offseason for whoever is coaching this group.	2	5-9-0
26	Panthers	So much for the strides Bryce Young was making playing quarterback. He wasn’t good in the loss to the Cowboys.	1	3-11-0
27	Jets	Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams was the difference in beating the Jaguars last week. It’s a bit of a tease for Jets fans since they expected to see so much more of that.	3	4-10-0
28	Jaguars	They have a star in receiver Brian Thomas Jr., which is good for the future. He is going to be special for whoever coaches this team and for Trevor Lawrence.	1	3-11-0
29	Titans	Will Levis could be done as their starter. It just didn’t work. They need to get a quarterback in the offseason.	1	3-11-0
30	Patriots	Drake Maye didn’t do much in the Pats’ loss to the Cardinals. They need to loosen things up a bit and let him throw it around in the final three games.	1	3-11-0
31	Giants	Things are so bad that it’s hard to imagine there won’t be changes — big changes. Can Brian Daboll keep his job?	—	2-12-0
32	Raiders	With Desmond Ridder at quarterback, they have no chance. They are on their way to getting their quarterback in the draft next April.	—	2-12-0

December 17, 2024

NBA Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up
Dec 11, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

We’re nearing the end of 2024, but nowhere close to the end of what’s been an intriguing 2024-25 NBA season.

After a slow start, the Milwaukee Bucks have made a comeback in the Eastern Conference standings. Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers, after an unprecedented run in the inaugural NBA Cup last year, are struggling this season to stay afloat in the conference standings.

In the West, the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies are making their presence known, chasing the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, who seem unmovable at the top.

In addition to our weekly rankings, our NBA insiders break down the biggest issues on offense or defense for all 30 teams. From slow starts to lack of defensive paint presence, here is what is plaguing teams on both ends of the court.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4

Last season’s NBA finals runner-up, the Dallas Mavericks, have been struggling so far this season after a successful offseason that added Klay Thompson to their superstar core. ESPN

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Boston Celtics

Biggest issue: Elevating their defense

It’s hard to find any blaring issues with the defending champions and a team that’s seen as the favorites to repeat this season, but it will be interesting to see if Boston can improve on its solid, but not spectacular, showing defensively. The Celtics currently rank 10th in the league in defensive rating, well south of its No. 2 ranking last season. Kristaps Porzingis returning and getting up to speed should help. — Tim Bontemps

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

Biggest issue: Free throw attempts per game

To be fair, the only issue a healthy team with a 21-4 record can have is that it must wait four months for the playoffs. However, ranking 26th in free throw attempts with 20.6 per game is at least mildly concerning for a few reasons. It could mean Cleveland doesn’t attack the paint enough, it doesn’t get a good whistle, or both — a combo that can make postseason success more elusive. — Dave McMenamin

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2024-25 record: 19-5
- Previous ranking: 3
Biggest issue: Rebounding

Oklahoma City ranks second to last in rebounding rate (47.5%) after finishing 28th in that category last season. In this instance, however, there is a 7-foot asterisk. The Thunder have been an average rebounding team since Isaiah Hartenstein made his season debut, which was delayed by a broken hand. Hartenstein, who was signed to a three-year, $87 million deal over the offseason in large part to address this issue, averaged 12.8 rebounds in his first eight games entering Tuesday’s NBA Cup knockout-round matchup with the Mavs. — Tim MacMahon

4. Dallas Mavericks
- 2024-25 record: 16-9
- Previous ranking: 8
Biggest issue: Luka Doncic’s slow start

The Mavs have the league’s fourth-ranked offense despite one of Dallas’ scoring staples producing disappointing results. The Mavs average 14.1 field goal attempts off seven or more dribbles — third most in the league — but rank 27th in effective field goal percentage (42.9) off those shots. By contrast, Dallas ranked fifth in that category (52.9% eFG) last season, when the Mavs led the league with 15.1 such shots per game. The drop-off is primarily due to Doncic’s slow start after missing all of training camp and preseason due to a calf contusion. His effective field goal percentage on such attempts is a career-low 41.0%, but he’s improved since taking 10 days off to rest a sprained wrist and work on his conditioning (51.9% eFG in four games). Last season, Doncic had a 56.7% eFG on 683 shots off seven-plus dribbles, the best of the 28 players with at least 250 attempts. — MacMahon

5. Memphis Grizzlies

Biggest issue: 3-point shooting

It’s tough to nitpick a team that has won nine of its past 10 outings, especially one that just snapped a 10-game skid against Boston on the road. Memphis ranks among the top seven in offensive and defensive rating. Offensively, the Grizzlies are putting up their best effective field goal percentage (56.1%) in a decade. But they lag just behind the rest of the league in 3-point shooting, ranked 17th in 3-point percentage heading into Monday’s games. If Desmond Bane (32.3%) gets back to his career average (41%) from deep, watch out. — Michael Wright

6. Houston Rockets

Biggest issue on offense: Poor shooting

Houston gets it done on the defensive end, but the Rockets rank 16th in offensive rating due in large part to poor shooting. Houston ranks 27th in effective field goal percentage (50.3%), but its saving grace has been offensive rebounding. The Rockets are No. 1 in offensive rebounds per game (14.2), gobbling up their misses. Houston’s starting backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green are shooting below 40% from the field, and opponents have outscored the Rockets in the paint in their past six games. — Wright

7. New York Knicks

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Biggest issue: Karl-Anthony Towns’s slow defensive start

Towns’s advanced defensive metrics have improved in recent weeks, however he’s still allowing opponents to shoot 6.5 percentage points better than their seasonlong averages near the basket. That’s the worst rate among NBA centers who have played 15 games and defended at least four rim attempts per outing. Because of that, it will be worth watching how often coach Tom Thibodeau plays Towns with Precious Achiuwa, the backup big and rim protector who recently made his season debut after returning from an injured hamstring. — Chris Herring

8. Golden State Warriors

Biggest issue: Balancing a deep rotation

Steve Kerr has been using 11-to-12-man rotations, touting the depth of the roster. But with De’Anthony Melton out for the season and other injuries that have kept key players out, Kerr has been experimenting and even shortening his rotation to 10 during their 12-3 start. Perhaps the most important thing is finding the right lineup to maximize Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. The Warriors are starting Kuminga to see if he can be the much-needed scorer they need alongside Stephen Curry. Kerr would love to start Draymond Green at center alongside Kuminga but doesn’t want to wear out Green against bigger centers and could settle on bringing him off the bench and starting Kevon Looney. Also, finding the right lineup to get Hield humming from 3 again will go far. — Ohm Youngmisuk

9. Orlando Magic
- 2024-25 record: 17-10
- Previous ranking: 6
Biggest issue: 3-point shooting

Only once in the past nine seasons have the Magic ranked outside the NBA’s bottom seven in 3-point percentage, but this year’s league-worst 31% accuracy would be a new modern low. (Orlando shot 29.5% in 1989-90, the franchise’s inaugural season.) The Magic figured newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would help, but he’s shooting a career-worst 30%, while Jalen Suggs has slipped from 40% last season to 32%. Orlando’s biggest concern is healthy oblique muscles. Improbably, Franz Wagner suffered the same oblique strain that has sidelined Paolo Banchero, leaving the Magic without their top two scorers. — Kevin Pelton

10. Denver Nuggets

Biggest issue: Perimeter defense

While they held Atlanta to 9-of-40 shooting from behind the arc in a much-needed win Sunday, the Nuggets’ defense has been poor. In each of its past five losses, the Nuggets surrendered 122 or more points, including allowing 145 to the Knicks in a 27-point rout back on Nov. 25. In their previous four losses, the Nuggets allowed 16, 22, 18 and 19 3-pointers to opponents and gave up 122 points to a Washington team that had lost 16 straight. It’s bad when Nikola Jokic says maybe the Nuggets need a different kind of motivation. “In my country, after this kind of stretch, you’re going to get a paycheck that is a little bit less than you had hoped,” Jokic said after that Washington loss. “Maybe that’s what we need to do.” –Youngmisuk

11. Miami Heat

Biggest issue: Terry Rozier’s efficiency

It might be a little unfair to single him out, but things haven’t gone as hoped for Miami since acquiring Rozier in January 2023. This season, the Heat are seven points per 100 possessions better with Rozier on the bench. Jimmy Butler has moved into a more of an on-ball role in recent games as Rozier comes off the bench. — Bontemps

12. LA Clippers

Biggest issue: Scoring

The Clippers’ defense has been outstanding, keeping them in almost every game. Offensively, Ty Lue will have to find enough points to win games. The Clippers average 108.7 points this season, seventh to last in the league. Outside of James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers have to find more offense, especially off the bench. With Derrick Jones Jr. — one of five Clippers to average 10 or more points this season — out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury and Terance Mann out with a finger injury, the Clippers will need guys like Kevin Porter Jr. to provide more offense. — Youngmisuk

13. Milwaukee Bucks
- 2024-25 record: 13-11
- Previous ranking: 14
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Biggest issue: Perimeter defense

The Bucks have had major challenges defending the perimeter for the past two seasons, ever since they swapped Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard, and those issues have been highlighted even more frequently this season. One of the major issues for Milwaukee during its 2-8 start was how teams attacked its guards on defense, forcing it into the fourth most on-ball screens in the NBA during that span, per ESPN Research. The key for the Bucks defense is for their guards to provide some resistance to give Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo a chance to protect the rim. — Jamal Collier

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

Biggest issue: Defending without Rudy Gobert on the floor

The Wolves have still been an elite defense this season when Gobert is at center, holding teams to 107.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the court. It’s when the four-time Defensive Player of the Year sits when the Wolves struggle, surrendering 113.2 points per 100 possessions. That’s the difference between what would be the No.1 defense in the league in efficiency and an average defense. — Collier

15. Phoenix Suns

Biggest issue: Points in the paint

Phoenix averages just 15.3 points in the paint, which puts it 27th in the league. The stat is damning for a few reasons, starting with the clear lack of offensive firepower the team gets from centers Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro. And perhaps the most alarming issue is that the Suns rely heavily on Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal’s jump shots to generate points, which ultimately makes them easier to defend if they don’t diversify their shot locations. — McMenamin

16. Los Angeles Lakers

Biggest issue: Opponents fast-break points per game

There are myriad issues plaguing the Lakers, but a persistent pain in their side all season has been giving up easy points in transition. Teams are scoring 15 fast-break points per game against L.A. — the only three teams that allow more (Portland, Utah and New Orleans) are all well below .500. To make things worse, the Lakers have gotten their turnovers under control — 7th best with 12.5 miscues per game — meaning that they just aren’t getting back fast enough on defense. — McMenamin

17. Atlanta Hawks

Biggest issue: Perimeter defense

Atlanta has been a slightly above-average club at forcing misses near the rim, holding opponents a little more than one percentage point beneath their seasonlong field goal rates. The Hawks would also gladly take being an average club on the perimeter. Instead, they rank dead last in the NBA in 3-pointers allowed, 3-pointers attempted and opponent 3-point percentage — even though newcomer Dyson Daniels has been one of the most disruptive wing defenders in the association to this point. — Herring

18. San Antonio Spurs

Biggest issue: Slow starts

San Antonio sits at .500. But you can look back at 10 of their 12 losses and quickly point out the devastating impact slow starts have had on the Spurs. Part of it is inconsistency with lineups considering San Antonio still hasn’t played with the starting five it envisioned coming into the season due to injuries to Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Victor Wembanyama. But the Spurs have also lost the opening quarter in 10 contests, owning a net rating of minus-31.4 over 120 first-quarter minutes. It’s an issue San Antonio recognizes but hasn’t been able to solve. — Wright

19. Sacramento Kings

Biggest issue: Opponent 3-point shooting

Remarkably, only the Thunder — the league’s best defensive team — are allowing fewer 2-pointers per game than the Kings. That’s partially by design. Without a strong rim protector, Sacramento tends to help aggressively on drives, resulting in the league’s highest 3-point attempt rate on defense — 46% of all shots they face. Opponents are making those 3s at a 38% clip, second highest in the NBA, and while that typically doesn’t carry over, the Kings might be an exception. They’ve ranked in the league’s bottom five in opponent 3-point percentage each of the past four seasons. — Pelton

20. Brooklyn Nets

Biggest issue: Defense inside the paint

No one sends opponents to the line more per shot attempt than the Nets, a slightly surprising stat considering how well they’ve been playing relative to the preseason expectations that they would be in the running for the 2025 No. 1 draft pick. The Nets have allowed opponents to shoot nearly 67% from inside of six feet, tied for the league’s third-highest rate. (Similarly, or perhaps even worse, the team is allowing the highest effective field goal rate in the league.) The inability to stop clubs from converting that close in leaves Brooklyn in a position where it is often fouling inside the paint. — Herring

21. Indiana Pacers

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Biggest issue: Tyrese Haliburton’s offensive struggles

The Pacers’ run to the NBA Cup and Eastern Conference finals was fueled by a dynamic offense, which ranked second in the NBA last season behind the champion Celtics. That’s fallen to 19th in offensive efficiency to start this season, the biggest difference for a struggling Indiana team. The Pacers are fueled by Haliburton, who last season was one of the league’s breakout stars, and have not been able to generate the same electric offense this year. Put simply, the Pacers need Haliburton to perform like the player who carried their offense last season. — Collier

22. Chicago Bulls

Biggest issue: Point of attack defense

The Bulls knew they were going to have a lot of challenges when they traded their best defender, Alex Caruso, in exchange for Josh Giddey, an offensive first point guard. Their defense ranks 27th in efficiency because of their inability to put pressure on ball handlers, which often results in easy driving lanes and opposing guards getting into the paint, especially with forward Patrick Williams sidelined recently with a foot injury. — Collier

23. Detroit Pistons

Biggest issue: Turnovers

This is unsurprising for a team whose two primary ball handlers (guards Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey) are 23 and 22, respectively. Cunningham’s 4.7 turnovers per game lead all qualifying players, and Detroit is one of five teams with multiple players averaging at least three turnovers. As a result, the Pistons have the league’s third-highest turnover rate. Those miscues are limiting an offense that still ranks 22nd in per-possession scoring. — Pelton

24. Philadelphia 76ers

Biggest issue: Lack of star driven offense

The biggest issue with this team is health. But from a strictly on-court perspective, the team is mired at 27th in offensive rating, thanks to ranking 28th in 3-point field goal percentage. One easy fix? The team’s superstars must hit their shots. Joel Embiid is just 3-for-23 from 3 this season, while Tyrese Maxey (29.3%) and Paul George (31.2%) have also struggled — not a good look from a trio with high offensive expectations entering this season. — Bontemps

25. Portland Trail Blazers

Biggest issue: Defensive rebounding

There’s no shortage of issues for the Blazers, who rank in the bottom 10 in three of the four factors on offense and defense, but they’re dead last in defensive rebounding. Among Portland’s primary starters, only center Deandre Ayton is grabbing defensive boards above the league’s average rate, and the Blazers sink even lower when Ayton is on the bench. Portland has been rebounding slightly better during its current four-game skid, but there have been few misses to secure. Opponents are shooting a league-high 53% from the field in four losses this month. — Pelton

26. Charlotte Hornets

Biggest issue: Inability to draw fouls

The Hornets’ biggest problem, aside from not having LaMelo Ball due to him missing time with a calf strain, is the club’s inability to generate trips to the line on offense. No NBA team has a lower free throw attempt rate — in terms of free throws per game, or free throws taken per shot attempt — than the Hornets; an ugly reality considering that Charlotte also ranks dead last in 2-point shooting percentage. Getting better efficiency from the line or from inside the arc wouldn’t hurt given that the Hornets have played an NBA-high 16 clutch games, where the score is within five points or fewer in the final five minutes. — Herring

27. Toronto Raptors

Biggest issue: 3-point shooting

Toronto’s overall struggles are a bit by design in the rebuilding of the Raptors roster. But as the team continues to progress, one thing to monitor is whether it can increase its 3-point attempt rate. The Raptors are 29th in the league in 3’s attempted per game, ahead of only the Nuggets — a number that would automatically be helped by the return of Immanuel Quickley, who has been limited this season with an elbow injury. — Bontemps

28. New Orleans Pelicans

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Biggest issue: Inconsistent paint presence on defense

You can trace back all that ails New Orleans to injuries. But it’s uncertain whether a fully healthy squad could have avoided the team’s current struggle to consistently defend near the basket. Yes, there are issues with transition defense and half-court offense. But the Pels rank 29th in opponent points in the paint (54.7 per game). Roster construction has a lot to do with that. Coach Willie Green has complimented the efforts of starting center Yves Missi. But Missi is a 6-11, 20-year-old rookie. Behind Missi, the Pels have two centers in Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Daniel Theis who stand at 6-8. — Wright

29. Utah Jazz

Biggest issue: Turnovers

Utah averages 18.4 turnovers, 1.5 more than any other team. The Jazz have many flaws — and until recently were at the bottom of the Western standings — but turnovers might be their worst on both ends of the floor, as Utah also leads the league in points allowed off of turnovers (23.7, 2.6 more than any other team). Second-year point guard Keyonte George leads the team with 3.3 turnovers per game, but he’s far from the only culprit. Five Utah players average at least two turnovers. — MacMahon

30. Washington Wizards

Biggest issue: Defense

The Wizards have a lot of issues after another throwaway season, but the biggest on-court matters revolve around their defense. Outside of its stunning win over Denver on Saturday when it held the Nuggets to 113 points, Washington has given up 121 or more points in five of its past seven games — all losses. In their past two defeats, the Wizards have allowed 137 and 140 points each to the Mavericks and Grizzlies. Everyone knows this is a rebuilding season for Washington, but certainly management wants to see some incremental improvements to remain competitive. — Youngmisuk
December 11, 2024
Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings after Week 14 of the 2024 season

The playoff push is on in the NFL, and contenders are starting to separate themselves.

The top team in the league is an easy decision, but after a wild week in the NFL, teams are jumbled.

Here are Fox News Digital’s power rankings through 14 weeks of NFL football.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

1. Detroit Lions (12-1)

Things have gotten close over the last couple weeks, but the Lions are finding ways to win and remain the toughest offense to face in the NFL.

Sam LaPorta has begun to emerge, which is scary after his strong rookie season last year. The Lions have a big test this weekend when they host the Buffalo Bills, who would love to get the bad taste out of their mouths after a loss against the Rams. And the Lions will have their hands full with a Bills offense indoors.

Last week: 1

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is introduced before a game against the Chicago Bears Nov. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)

The Eagles won their ninth consecutive game in a win over the Panthers, tying the longest winning streak in franchise history. However, their streak might have been snapped if Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette held on to what would have been the game-tying touchdown in the final minute.

Jalen Hurts threw for just 108 yards in the win. Saquon Barkley churned out another 124 yards on 20 carries. The Eagles next play the Steelers and are going to have to play a lot better than they did against Carolina to beat Pittsburgh.

Last week: 3

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball as Carolina Panthers cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) and linebacker Josey Jewell (47) trail behind during the second half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)

It’s the same story, different week. The Chiefs are either wizards or just illusionists. A last-second field goal to secure the division title in primetime looked as routine as ever, and the team has still shown no urgency. They’re doing the bare minimum to get by every week, yet that’s enough to put them above just about everyone else.

Last week: 4

4. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

The Bills had a bit of a letdown this week, particularly on defense, against the Los Angeles Rams. But Josh Allen continues to play at an MVP level, so that’s the good news. The loss doesn’t change the fact that Buffalo is the best team in the AFC despite being two games behind the Chiefs.

Last week: 4

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

5. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)

After some disappointing games over the last few weeks, the Vikings were not going to let the struggling Kirk Cousins have a successful revenge game. Sam Darnold turned back the clock to earlier this season, but we’ll see if that type of play is here to stay.

Last week: 7

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates with teammate fullback C.J. Ham (30) after catching a 52-yard touchdown pass during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)

The Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns Sunday for a second straight win. The victory also padded Pittsburgh’s lead in the AFC North. Russell Wilson’s efficiency and a strong defense make the Steelers legitimate championship contenders.

Last week: 5

Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels during a game against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh Nov. 17, 2024. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4)

The Packers should feel no shame losing to the Lions. The Pack held the Lions for 59 minutes and 59 seconds and even had a nice second-half comeback. Had an aggressive Dan Campbell call not gone the Lions’ way, who knows what happens? The Packers proved they belong, and it should be interesting to see what they do in Seattle.

Last week: 6

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love addresses the media after a game against the Detroit Lions Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

8. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

The Ravens were on a bye last week, which gave them a chance to figure out the best approach as they compete for the AFC North division crown. It’s still possible the Ravens knock the Steelers out of first place. Winning close games will likely be a focus for Baltimore down the stretch. The team’s five losses have come by a total of 22 points.

Last week: 8

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to pass in the first half against the Denver Broncos Dec. 4, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)

A competitive loss to the Chiefs means LA was swept by Kansas City again, and Jim Harbaugh hasn’t changed change that. It took the coach five years to lead Michigan over Ohio State. At this rate, Chargers fans might be looking at a similar timetable.

Last week: 9

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner (27) and defensive end Mike Danna (51) defend during the first half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

10. Washington Commanders (8-5)

The Commanders should be fresh coming off their bye week after demolishing the Titans the week before. The Commanders sit at 8-5 and in playoff position. The Commanders control their own destiny too. If they win out, they are guaranteed a spot. Their next four games are against the Derek Carr-less Saints, Eagles, Falcons and Cowboys. While they have already surpassed expectations this season, it would be a disappointment if the Commanders missed the playoffs.

Last week: 11

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels looks to throw during the first half against the Tennessee Titans Dec. 1, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

11. Houston Texans (8-5)

A big win over a divisional rival has given the Texans a two-game lead in the AFC South as they head into their bye week with some confidence. C.J. Stroud has faced criticism in recent weeks because of his turnovers, but he threw for 242 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville to surpass 3,000 passing yards this season. Star running back Joe Mixon has been the bright spot for the Texans’ struggling offense, but Houston is primed to win the division for the second straight year.

Last week: 12

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

12. Denver Broncos (8-5)

One of the league’s top defenses and a Rookie of The Year-type campaign by Bo Nix has anchored one of the biggest surprises in sports this year. Now everyone will get to see if this Broncos team is built to finish.

Last week: 10

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looks downfield during the first half against the Cleveland Browns Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

13. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

The Cardinals were hoping to even the season series against the Seahawks Sunday, but Geno Smith & Co. had other things in mind. Led by Zack Charbonnet’s 193 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Glendale, Arizona, Seattle swept its division rival.

In such a tight race, it could mean the difference for a division title. Smith was again efficient, passing for 233 yards and one touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 24-for-30 through the air.

Last week: 13

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver DK Metcalf, right, during the first half Dec. 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

They have spurts of looking good, and that’s what suggested they were going to dismantle the Raiders last week. They lost focus for a bit, and the game was closer than it really needed to be.

Last week: 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

15. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)

Talk about a big win at home over a tough opponent. The Buffalo Bills were riding high when they hit the West Coast, but Rams head coach Sean McVay had an answer for MVP frontrunner Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford worked it to perfection.

Once again, Puka Nacua became Stafford’s safety blanket in the 44-42 victory, collecting 12 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns, one on a carry. Cooper Kupp also added a touchdown and five receptions for 92 yards as Stafford went 23-for-30 for 320 yards. With the Seahawks beating the Cardinals, the Rams jump into second place in the division, one game behind Seattle, who they will see in Week 18 to potentially determine the NFC West winner.

Last week: 16

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

16. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)

Injuries galore in the backfield, the 49ers were hoping Isaac Guerendo, the rookie third-string back, could carry the load with the Bears coming to the Bay. Mission accomplished.

Guerendo scored twice on 15 carries for 78 yards, while Brock Purdy was lethal, going 20-for-25 for 325 yards with two touchdowns, both of which went to Jauan Jennings. George Kittle had his best game of the season with six catches for 151 yards. It was a must-win for the 49ers to remain in the playoff hunt. Though they are 6-7 and at the bottom of the division, there’s still a chance.

Last week: 18

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy walks off the field after a game against the Chicago Bears in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

17. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

It was the perfect start to the game when Michael Wilson found the end zone on a Kyler Murray pass to jump ahead against the Seahawks, the team the Cardinals knew they had to beat in this tight divisional race. But Arizona’s defense had no answer for Seattle’s run game with Zach Charbonnet.

He took a lead role with Kenneth Walker III out due to injury, collecting 193 scrimmage yards, 134 of which were on the ground. With Murray throwing two crucial interceptions despite his two touchdown passes, the Cardinals lost 30-18 and need to continue fighting with four games remaining to secure a playoff spot.

Last week: 15

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray leads teammates onto the field before a game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

18. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

Miami kept its season alive with an overtime victory over the New York Jets, but that’s not a reason to celebrate. The Dolphins probably need to win out to make the playoffs, and they’ve got the Texans and 49ers in the next two weeks.

Last week: 20

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) and wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrate a touchdown and a two-point conversion during the second half against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)

While the Bengals have had a considerable amount of bad breaks this season, they did benefit from a punting debacle Monday night. Even Cincinnati’s much maligned defense was able to make some key stops in critical moments in the game against the Dallas Cowboys. The star-crossed Bengals will look to win a second consecutive game Sunday when they take on the Tennessee Titans.

Last week: 21

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) and wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The Bengals won 27-20. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

20. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

Coach Raheem Morris has to be thinking about switching from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr. But that’s a move that cannot be taken back once it’s made this season. It would be unfair to the rookie.

Last week: 17

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after a game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

21. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)

Anthony Richardson is back and better than ever, and the Colts have proven themselves to be a fourth-quarter team. But snapping a three-year playoff drought will be the biggest test. Denver hosts the Colts after both teams return from a bye week. A win by the Colts could bump the Broncos out of the final AFC spot.

Last week: 19

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates with guard Quenton Nelson (56) and offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (79) after completing a two-point conversion during the second half of a game against the New England Patriots Dec. 1, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

EAGLES TANDEM JALEN HURTS, AJ BROWN HAVE FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP, VETERAN TEAMMATE SAYS: ‘THINGS HAVE CHANGED’

22. Dallas Cowboys (5-8)

The Cowboys looked like they were going to have a chance to win their third straight game and keep their faint playoff hopes alive. They forced Joe Burrow and the Bengals to punt, keeping the game 20-20 as they were set to receive the ball just after the two-minute warning. Things looked even better when the Cowboys blocked a punt, because they would have given themselves great field position.

Instead, Amani Oruwariye made an inexplicable decision to try and field the punt. Oruwariye couldn’t field it cleanly, the Bengals recovered and promptly scored the game-winning touchdown. A brutal loss for the Cowboys.

Last week: 22

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush reacts during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

23. New Orleans Saints (5-8)

Darren Rizzi is 3-1 as the interim coach and still believes his team might be a factor in the final month. That’s solid work that will surely earn the longtime assistant an interview for the head job after the season.

Last week: 24

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) walks off the field after an injury during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)

24. Chicago Bears (4-9)

After losing their previous three games by a combined seven points, they fell to an injury-riddled, albeit hungry, San Francisco 49ers team by 25. It was the worst the offense has looked in some time, and the defense didn’t fare much better.

Last week: 23

Quarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears throws a pass during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Nov. 28, 2024, in Detroit. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

25. Cleveland Browns (3-10)

Jameis Winston has proven to be a spark at times this season. But he’s also had issues when he is under duress in the pocket, especially during the Browns’ latest game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns have already been eliminated from playoff contention. The franchise will have to find a solution at the quarterback position.

Last week: 25

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston passes in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

26. Carolina Panthers (3-10)

Bryce Young has still not earned the full endorsement of coach Dave Canales as the QB for next season, but everyone sees what’s coming. He’s the guy, barring a collapse the final month of this season.

Last week: 27

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) scrambles out of the grip of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Josh Sweat (19) for a first down during the second half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

27. New York Jets (3-10)

The Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss against the Dolphins Sunday. They went from talking about making a Super Bowl run in the preseason to having their postseason dreams end with four games to play. Talk about a huge failure.

Last week: 26

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers leaves the field after a game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

28. New England Patriots (3-10)

The Patriots were one of six teams with a bye in Week 14, so not much has changed. New England has a bright future, but it starts next year. The good news (for next year) is that the Patriots have two games left against Buffalo, plus the Cardinals and Chargers. They’re still in play for the No. 1 overall pick.

Last week: 29

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye warms up before a game against the Indianapolis Colts Dec. 1, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

29. Tennessee Titans (3-10)

The Titans allowed the woeful Jaguars without their starting quarterback to beat them 10-6, officially eliminating the Titans from the playoffs. The next big question that will be answered is if first-year coach Brian Callahan will return next season.

Last week: 28

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis leaves the field after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10)

The Jaguars picked up their first win since October and moved up in the AFC South with a narrow victory over the Titans Sunday. They face a smooth road ahead against three teams already eliminated from the playoffs.

Last week: 30

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) congratulates running back Tank Bigsby (4) after his touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans during the second half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)

The Raiders had a few weeks when they looked competitive but fell a notch back this week against Tampa Bay. Raiders fans are one week closer to games being over and draft conversations picking up.

Last week: 31

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (12) is taken off the field after an injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

32. New York Giants (2-11)

The Giants have lost eight in a row, and the end of the season can’t come soon enough. The team was eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, and it is playing for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. Graham Gano’s blocked kick that would have sent the game to overtime might be a blessing in disguise because the loss gets the team one step closer to potentially securing its next franchise quarterback.

Last week: 32

This article was written by Fox News staff.

December 11, 2024
NFL Week 15 Power Rankings 2024 – How all 32 teams stack up
NFL Nation, ESPNDec 10, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
Welcome to Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season. The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs kept rolling last week to move to 12-1, but a few wild games shook up our standings.

The Buffalo Bills were upset by the Los Angeles Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles narrowly escaped the Carolina Panthers, and the Arizona Cardinals lost their third straight game.

In addition to the updated rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick the most shocking statistical ranking — good or bad — for the team they cover. Where does quarterback Bryce Young rank among the best in the league right now? Is the Minnesota Vikings’ defense sliding?

Let’s start with the Lions.

Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Week 14 result: Beat the Packers 34-31
Week 14 ranking: 1

Most shocking ranking: 1st in total points per game

Detroit’s offense has posted 20-plus points for 11 straight games while averaging a league-high 31 points. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson uses a creative approach to get the most out of his playmakers, including quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, and receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, among others. Detroit also has a point differential of plus-183, which is its highest through the first 13 games of any season in franchise history. This offense has appeared unstoppable at times. — Eric Woodyard

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Week 14 result: Beat the Chargers 19-17
Week 14 ranking: 3

Most shocking ranking: 28th in sack percentage

The Chiefs sack opposing quarterbacks on just 5.5% of dropbacks and put pressure on them just 32% of the time, which is 22nd in the league. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is still blitzing 36.5% of the time, which is the third-highest mark, but it is far from the dominant pass-rushing team it was last season when the Chiefs led the NFL in sack percentage (8.8%). — Adam Teicher

Week 14 result: Beat the Panthers 22-16
Week 14 ranking: 4

Most shocking ranking: 1st in total defense

The Eagles had one of the worst defenses in the league in 2023 and have done a complete 180 under new coordinator Vic Fangio. Philadelphia allows the fewest yards per game (284.2) and is tied for second in points per game (18) compared with 30th last season (25.2). The pass defense has shown the most growth, jumping from 31st (252.7 YPG) to second (178.5). — Tim McManus

Week 14 result: Lost to the Rams 44-42
Week 14 ranking: 2

Most shocking ranking: 19th in time of possession

The Bills are second in the NFL in points margin per game (9.9) and have the ninth-most rushes per game (27.8). Despite all of that, winning the time of possession (29:40) battle has not been a strength. Part of that is due to the Bills’ ability to score quickly, as they’re averaging 30.5 points per game. It’s also due to the defense struggling to get off the field — it’s eighth worst in third-down defense, which was an extreme issue against the Rams. — Alaina Getzenberg

Week 14 result: Beat the Falcons 42-21
Week 14 ranking: 6

Most shocking ranking: 17th in yards allowed per game

The Vikings’ defense ranks No. 1 in efficiency and No. 2 in expected points added, but it allows 337.8 yards per game. In fact, over the past three weeks, Vikings opponents have averaged 433.3 yards. Largely, that tells us there are holes in the Vikings’ zone coverages that can be exploited. But Minnesota has limited scoring to 18.5 points per game, sixth in the NFL, in part because it has the second-most takeaways (27). — Kevin Seifert

Week 14 result: Beat the Browns 27-14
Week 14 ranking: 5

Most shocking ranking: T-15th in total sacks

With 32 sacks, the Steelers’ pass rush ranks near the middle of the pack — a surprise given the Steelers and T.J. Watt usually rank near the top. But don’t mistake this number for a lack of effectiveness. After all, the Steelers lead the league with 28 takeaways. Prior to facing the Bengals, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin noted opponents are trying to neutralize Pittsburgh’s pass rush by running a lot of max protection and three-man routes. Austin didn’t sound too concerned about the lack of sacks. “Sometimes the pressure is just as good as a sack if we can force an errant throw or force some things like that,” he said. — Brooke Pryor

Week 14 result: Lost to the Lions 34-31
Week 14 ranking: 7

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in dropped passes

The Packers had an issue with dropped passes last season, but nothing like this. They lead the league in both drops (26) and drop percentage (7.3%) and already have one more drop than they had in all of 2023 (when their 25 drops were tied for 10th most), according to ESPN Research. Green Bay has three players in the top 10 in drops. Dontayvion Wicks is No. 1 with nine drops, Jayden Reed is tied for second with seven, and Romeo Doubs is tied for ninth with five. — Rob Demovsky

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1:27

Why Josh Jacobs is a star fantasy RB

Mike Clay refers to Josh Jacobs as a “fantasy star” following his hat trick touchdown performance in the Packers’ loss to the Lions.

Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 8

Most shocking ranking: 1st in wide-open throws

Quarterback Lamar Jackson tops the NFL with 35.9% of his passes being wide-open throws, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That means over one-third of his attempts have come when the average separation between the target and nearest defender is 5 or more yards at the arrival of the pass. This is the result of Jackson’s ability as well as the improved elusiveness of Baltimore’s wide receivers and tight ends. There have been many instances when he doesn’t see anyone open and scrambles to buy time for one of his targets to free up. — Jamison Hensley

Week 14 result: Lost to the Chiefs 19-17
Week 14 ranking: 9

Most shocking ranking: 19th in rushing

Throughout the offseason, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman boasted about the dominant rushing offense they would build in L.A., but it hasn’t panned out that way. Averaging 111.5 yards per game, the rushing offense is slightly improved from where the Chargers finished last season (25th), but it has largely been a disappointment and by far the worst of Harbaugh’s NFL career. During Harbaugh and Roman’s four seasons in San Francisco, they had the second-best rushing offense in the NFL; the lowest the 49ers ranked was eighth in Harbaugh’s first season. — Kris Rhim

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Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 10

Most shocking ranking: 3rd in rushing

Under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy last season, Washington rushed for more than 125 yards only twice and ranked 27th in rushing yards per game (93.6). Now, it averages 156.9 rushing YPG. Some of that stems from quarterback Jayden Daniels, but even if it was just the running backs, Washington would still rank eighth and average almost 14 more yards per game than a year ago. It has been an emphasis under coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and it has led to five games with more than 200 rushing yards and nine with more than 125. — John Keim

Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 11

Most shocking ranking: Quarterback C.J. Stroud leads the league in dropbacks under pressure

Stroud has been pressured on 39% of his dropbacks (199), the third most in the NFL, and he has the most passing yards under pressure (1,053). That starts with the offensive line. It would make more sense if the Texans hadn’t heavily invested in their line, but it’s made up of high draft picks and expensive contracts. Their O-linemen have a combined cap hit of roughly $51 million this season, per Roster Management System, which is fifth highest in the NFL. In 2023, Stroud was pressured on only 35% of his dropbacks (16th). — DJ Bien-Aime

Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 12

Most shocking ranking: T-8th in pass attempts

During the offseason and training camp, coach Sean Payton talked about a good defense and a productive run game as two of the best “allies” for a rookie quarterback. And then he proceeded to put the first rookie starter he has coached in dropback mode early and often, with 434 pass attempts so far. Bo Nix has responded positively for the most part, but he has thrown more passes than Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson, and he’s tied with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. It’s a good bet a lot of folks didn’t see that coming, perhaps even Payton, when the season began. — Jeff Legwold

Week 14 result: Beat the Cardinals 30-18
Week 14 ranking: 13

Most shocking ranking: Quarterback Geno Smith is second in passing attempts

Smith has thrown 466 passes, and the Seahawks are fifth in designed pass rate. Few expected their offense to be that pass heavy with a defensive-minded coach in Mike Macdonald who wants to run the ball, but that has been the reality in Ryan Grubb’s first season as coordinator. A number of factors contributed, including repeated struggles to stay on schedule, some large deficits that put Seattle in dropback mode and perhaps Grubb’s pass-first inclination. The Seahawks also haven’t been effective at running the ball for much of the season, though their run game might be emerging after breaking out for a season-high 176 yards Sunday. — Brady Henderson

Week 14 result: Beat the Bills 44-42
Week 14 ranking: 16

Most shocking ranking: Linebacker Jared Verse ranks fifth in QB pressures

Verse, the Rams’ 2023 first-round pick, has 59 pressures, which ranks fifth in the NFL this season. He’s first among rookies, beating out Chop Robinson (43), Laiatu Latu (39) and teammate Braden Fiske (32) through Week 14. The Rams entered the season trying to figure out how to replace the production of retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and they added two players who have had success getting to the quarterback. — Sarah Barshop

play

2:19

Dan Orlovsky calling in receipts after Rams’ win over Bills

Dan Orlovsky calling in receipts after Rams’ win over Bills

Week 14 result: Beat the Raiders 28-13
Week 14 ranking: 14

Most shocking ranking: 8th in rushing

Tampa Bay not only went from the league’s worst rushing attack the past two years, averaging 82.5 yards per game, to 138.3 yards per game this season, but its 6.7 yards per rush on gap run plays is tops in the league. The Buccaneers have dominated with a three-headed attack featuring Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. — Jenna Laine

Week 14 result: Lost to the Seahawks 30-18
Week 14 ranking: 15

Most shocking ranking: T-24th in receiving touchdowns

An offense with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, along with Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch, has just 15 receiving touchdowns through 13 games. This is as talented and deep of a receiving unit as the Cardinals have had in recent memory. The touchdown receptions have been concentrated between Harrison, who leads all rookies with seven, and Wilson, who has four. No one else has more than two, but another shocking stat is that McBride — who leads the team in receiving yards with 851 — doesn’t have a touchdown reception. — Josh Weinfuss

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Week 14 result: Beat the Jets 32-26 (OT)
Week 14 ranking: 20

Most shocking ranking: 30th in rushing yards per attempt

The Dolphins led the NFL in 2023 with 5.1 rushing yards per attempt on the strength of Raheem Mostert’s career season and De’Von Achane’s breakout campaign. This year, that number has dropped to 3.9 yards per carry as Miami has struggled to find the explosiveness that made it so dangerous last season. Mostert has battled injuries and was essentially demoted after a critical fumble in Week 9. Achane has been Miami’s lead rusher, but his efficiency unsurprisingly dropped after he averaged nearly 8.0 yards per carry in 2023. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Week 14 result: Beat the Bears 38-13
Week 14 ranking: 21

Most shocking ranking: 22nd in red zone efficiency

In 2023, the Niners led the league in red zone efficiency and their 67.2% conversion rate was the fourth best by any team over the past three seasons. This year, the Niners have had little trouble moving the ball with 51 red zone drives, which is tied for sixth in the NFL. But they have consistently failed to put the ball in the end zone. Some of that can be attributed to the star players they’ve been missing with injury, such as wideout Brandon Aiyuk (ACL) and running back Christian McCaffrey (PCL), but the number of negative plays and ineffectiveness in the run game has been jarring for an offense that not long ago was the best in football at finishing drives. — Nick Wagoner

Week 14 result: Lost to the Vikings 42-21
Week 14 ranking: 17

Most shocking ranking: Quarterback Kirk Cousins leads league in interceptions

Through the first nine games, Cousins was efficient enough to lead the team to a 6-3 record, including a 4-0 NFC South mark. The wheels have come off since. The Falcons have lost four in a row, and Cousins has been a major turnover risk with 15 interceptions. He has no touchdown passes and eight interceptions during that four-game stretch, the first time a QB has had no touchdowns and eight or more interceptions in a four-game span in a season since 2005. Cousins is tied with Baker Mayfield for the most fumbles (12) this season. — Marc Raimondi

Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 18

Most shocking ranking: 28th in pass block win rate

The Colts have had some surprising offensive line struggles. Their highly regarded line is still one of the league’s best at run blocking (74.1% run block win rate), but pass protection (53.2% pass block win rate) has been an adventure. If not for quarterback Anthony Richardson’s ability to escape the pocket, the Colts might rank much worse than seventh in sacks allowed, where they currently sit. — Stephen Holder

Week 14 result: Beat the Cowboys 27-20
Week 14 ranking: 19

Most shocking ranking: 31st in run block win rate

The Bengals are never going to be known for their ground game. Since 2022, Cincinnati has the fewest total rush attempts in the league. However, the run blocking has been lackluster, to say the least. The Bengals have the worst win rate on run plays (67.4%) after being eighth (71.8%) in the same category last season. Chase Brown has helped mitigate that by ranking 11th in yards after contact per carry, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. But the inability to win on blocks should be something that must be evaluated as the Bengals enter a pivotal offseason. — Ben Baby

play

5:27

Ja’Marr Chase reunites with young Bengals fan Brixton Wood

Ja’Marr Chase reunites with Brixton Wood after the young Bengals fan’s cancer returned and required significant treatment.

Week 14 result: Beat the Giants 14-11
Week 14 ranking: 24

Most shocking ranking: T-31st in yards per carry allowed

The Saints didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher for 55 straight games from 2017 to 2020 under then-defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who became the head coach in 2022 before he was fired earlier this season. The Saints’ once-stout run defense has struggled and is tied for last in yards-per-carry allowed. The Saints and Panthers are allowing rushers to run for 5.0 yards per carry. — Katherine Terrell

Week 14 result: Lost to the Bengals 27-20
Week 14 ranking: 23

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in rushing touchdowns

The Cowboys’ four rushing touchdowns have them threatening the team record. In 2011, they had just five. Three other times they had six, including the first two seasons of the franchise in 1960-61. Calvin Hill (1971) and Emmitt Smith (1990, 1995) share the team record for most rushing touchdowns in a game with … four. With how the Cowboys handled running back in free agency, maybe there figured to be a drop-off in 2024, but the poor efficiency up front has contributed to the lack of rushing touchdowns. — Todd Archer

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Week 14 result: Lost to the Steelers 27-14
Week 14 ranking: 25

Most shocking ranking: 2nd-most explosive plays allowed

The Browns gave up the fewest yards per play (4.6) last season, but that figure has ballooned to 5.7 in 2024, mainly because of the 100 explosive plays they’ve allowed. It’s a head-scratching issue for a defense that gave up the second-fewest explosive plays in 2023 and returned the majority of its starters for a second season with coordinator Jim Schwartz. According to Schwartz, there has been no commonality in these plays — sometimes it’s missed tackles and other times it’s coverage breakdowns. — Daniel Oyefusi

Week 14 result: Lost to the 49ers 38-13
Week 14 ranking: 22

Most shocking ranking: Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams leads NFL in sacks taken

Opposing defenses have brought down the No. 1 draft pick 56 times through 14 weeks, which is 15 more than the next most-sacked quarterback (Houston’s C.J. Stroud, 41). The Bears did a better job of protecting Williams after Thomas Brown took over playcalling duties beginning in Week 11 (Williams was sacked three times each versus Green Bay and Minnesota), but the numbers crept back up against Detroit (five) and culminated with Williams taking seven sacks in the Bears’ seventh straight loss in San Francisco. David Carr still owns the single-season record (2002, 76), which Williams is flirting with because he’s sacked an average of 4.3 times per game. — Courtney Cronin

Week 14 result: Lost to the Eagles 22-16
Week 14 ranking: 26

Most shocking ranking: Quarterback Bryce Young is 13th in Total QBR since Week 9

Young’s QBR of 62.8 over his past five games is better than that of Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels, to name a few. This is shocking because Young had a QBR of 9.9 in his first two starts of the season and only 34.1 last season as a rookie. His improvement has been remarkable. — David Newton

Week 14 result: Bye
Week 14 ranking: 28

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in pass block win rate

After finishing 32nd in pass block win rate in 2023, addressing the offensive line was one of the Patriots’ top priorities in the offseason. Yet, through 13 games, the Patriots have had nine different starting lineups on the line due to a combination of missed personnel evaluations, poor performance and injuries. There has been zero improvement with a 51.4% pass block win rate, which hasn’t helped Drake Maye’s adjustment to the NFL. — Mike Reiss

Week 14 result: Lost to the Dolphins 32-26 (OT)
Week 14 ranking: 27

Most shocking ranking: T-28th in takeaways

It’s hard to believe a defense with three players who earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl status in 2023 (cornerback Sauce Gardner, linebacker Quincy Williams and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams) has only 10 takeaways in 13 games. That includes only two interceptions (both by backup cornerback Brandin Echols). In fact, the Jets have yet to record an interception since Jeff Ulbrich became the interim coach eight games ago. Scheme, coaching and underperforming players have contributed to the turnover shortage. — Rich Cimini

play

1:18

Rodgers uncertain what the Jets will look like next season

Aaron Rodgers tells Pat McAfee the importance of finishing the season strong since there are no guarantees of having a spot on the Jets next year.

Week 14 result: Lost to the Jaguars 10-6
Week 14 ranking: 29

Most shocking ranking: 27th in red zone touchdowns allowed

Tennessee’s red zone defense was the best in the league last season, allowing touchdowns only 37.7% of the time. This year’s team is giving up touchdowns on 65.1% of opposing teams’ red zone visits. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has had a tough time finding ways to get pressure on quarterbacks without sacrificing coverage on the backend. Tennessee has also had its share of issues with penalties at the most inopportune times, which extends drives and give offenses another set of downs to find the end zone. — Turron Davenport

Week 14 result: Beat the Titans 10-6
Week 14 ranking: 30

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in total defense

The Jaguars are giving up 396.1 yards per game. If that number holds over the final month, it will be the second-worst average in franchise history, behind only the 2020 team (417.7). They hired coordinator Ryan Nielsen to fix the defense, and the numbers in the four major defensive categories — total defense, rushing (132.6 allowed per game, 24th), passing (263.5 allowed per game, 31st) and scoring (26.5, 28th) — are all worse than 2023. — Mike DiRocco

Week 14 result: Lost to the Buccaneers 28-13
Week 14 ranking: 31

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in the NFL in rushing

After grinding out a combined 494 yards on the ground in their final four games last season, averaging 123.5 yards per game, the Raiders had high hopes for the running game in 2024. Instead, Las Vegas is averaging 79.1 yards per game. Although Zamir White and Alexander Mattison have missed a combined eight games because of injury, former practice squad lifer Sincere McCormick is averaging 5.5 yards per carry in three games. Diamond in the rough, or more like fool’s gold? — Paul Gutierrez

Week 14 result: Lost to the Saints 14-11
Week 14 ranking: 32

Most shocking ranking: 32nd in points per game

There’s no reason to get too fancy. Sure, the Giants are averaging an embarrassing 5.2 yards per pass play and rank dead last with eight touchdown passes in 13 games, but it all ties into their inability to score points. The Giants are averaging 14.9 points per game, which is more than two full points worse than any other team. When asked Sunday why their passing game struggled so badly against the Saints, coach Brian Daboll said, “It’s a collective thing, put it on me.” Fair enough, because he took over playcalling this season. — Jordan Raanan
December 11, 2024

NFL Week 13 Power Rankings: Surging Broncos may be Sean Payton’s best coaching job yet; Steelers out of top 5

Sean Payton has been one of this league’s best coaches for a long time, winning a Super Bowl, leading amazing offenses with precision play-calling and having a great feel for what defenses do against him.

But he might be doing the best coaching job of his career this season — and that’s saying something.

Payton has taken the Denver Broncos, a team many picked to be one of the worst in the league, a team starting a rookie quarterback most thought was a reach in the first round, to being the No. 7 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today. The Broncos are 7-5 after beating the Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, on Sunday on the road, the first time they beat the Raiders on the road since 2015.

The Broncos now play two straight home games against the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts, both winnable games that could get them to 9-5 with three games to go. That would almost certainly get them into the playoffs.

The Broncos have been riding a top-level defense all season, but it’s the play of rookie quarterback Bo Nix that has elevated this team the past three games. In those games, Nix has eight touchdown passes and no interceptions. Payton, who had Nix as his hand-picked quarterback — even though most said he reached to take him with the 12th overall pick — does a great job of calling plays for Nix to make for easy throws and decisions.

But the thing that stands out from the past three weeks is Nix taking and hitting shots into the middle of the field with accuracy. He is certainly playing with more confidence, and the league has taken notice. He’s completely closed the gap in terms of betting odds for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year over at FanDuel, as it’ll likely be neck-and-neck between he and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels down the stretch.

As for the defense, it’s special. It is third in points given up at 16.5 points per game, with only the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions better. It is third in total defense, sixth in rush defense and ninth against the pass. It gives up a paltry 3.8 yards per rush, and it’s been 3.1 yards per rush over the past three games.

That run defense leads to second- and third-and-long situations, which leads to sacks. The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks with 44 as coordinator Vance Joseph turns his blitz-heavy group loose to menace quarterbacks. It may not be a group of stars on that side of the ball — aside from corner Patrick Surtain II – but they get after it. They play hard and tough and fast, and Joseph knows how to call a defense.

Denver, which is up to 10th in my latest Power Rankings, hasn’t exactly beat up on a brutal schedule. It has one victory over a team with a winning record and that is 6-5 Atlanta, who it beat up two weeks ago at home. But if the Broncos beat the remaining teams on their schedule who don’t have a winning record, they will be a playoff team. So no apologies needed, and they did go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs in Kansas City three weeks ago, only to have a last-second field goal blocked to lose the game.

With a dominant defense, solid running attack and Nix hitting the timely passes when needed, the Broncos will be a playoff team. The question will be whether it can be more. Defense does win in the playoffs and it travels well. And then there’s always the Payton factor. He can flat out coach, and he’s proving it as well as ever with this team.

Biggest Movers

Rk	Teams		Chg	Rcrd
1	Lions	They are a brutish, power team that can knock you off the ball and yet still hit shots off of that. The defense played well against the Colts.	—	10-1-0
2	Bills	They went into their bye having scored 30 points or more in five straight games. This is one team that has to hope the bye didn’t slow them down.	—	9-2-0
3	Chiefs	They won another close game last week, which has been a season-long trend. Playing close against the Panthers is not a good look.	—	10-1-0
4	Eagles	Saquon Barkley is keying their offense right now, and the offensive line is mauling people. The defense has really come on over the past five games.	1	9-2-0
5	Vikings	They went unbeaten in their three-game road trip, which is tough to do. They were all close, but that matters little in the record.	1	9-2-0
6	Ravens	They got back to playing Ravens football on the road to beat the Chargers. They were physical and got Derrick Henry going again.	1	8-4-0
7	Packers	They dominated the undermanned 49ers, but that’s what they had to do. The running game clicked with Josh Jacobs, and the defense came up big.	1	8-3-0
8	Chargers	The top-ranked defense was exposed some in the loss to the Ravens. Now they have a tough road trip to face Atlanta, which is coming off a bye.	1	7-4-0
9	Steelers	That was a bad loss on the road at Cleveland for a team pushing for the top seed in the conference. They face a tough division game at Cincinnati this week.	5	8-3-0
10	Broncos	The schedule is favorable and they have a great defense, a great coach and a rookie quarterback who is growing every week. The playoffs are real.	2	7-5-0
11	Seahawks	The defense has improved greatly since the bye. It seems they are getting a grasp of what coach Mike Macdonald wants them to do. They lead the division as we head down the stretch.	3	6-5-0
12	Cardinals	They must have left their offense somewhere during the bye. They did nothing in the loss to the Seahawks. Kyler Murray has to be better.	2	6-5-0
13	Commanders	Losing at home to the Cowboys is a bad look. They can’t afford many more losses or the playoffs will be gone.	2	7-5-0
14	Texans	This team just isn’t right. Losing at home to the Titans won’t badly hurt their playoff chances in a bad division, but they need to get it going. C.J. Stroud looks off.	1	7-5-0
15	Dolphins	Tua Tagovailoa has been outstanding since coming back. Now they have to end the narrative that they can’t beat teams in the cold when they go to Green Bay Thanksgiving night.	6	5-6-0
16	Buccaneers	They dominated the Giants, and with a soft schedule the rest of the way, they can make a run. Getting healthy on defense is big for this group.	3	5-6-0
17	Falcons	They come out of their bye off two straight losses with a tough game at home against the Chargers. They have to get the offense back on track.	1	6-5-0
18	49ers	With so many injuries, this team hardly resembles the team that went to the Super Bowl last year. If Brock Purdy is out this week, their season might be over.	3	5-6-0
19	Colts	Anthony Richardson is improved, but they still aren’t scoring enough points. They had a chance to make the division close with the Texans losing, but they didn’t play well against the Lions.	2	5-7-0
20	Rams	They were mauled physically by the Eagles. So much for that late-season push they were expecting. The good news is the division is still tight.	2	5-6-0
21	Bengals	They come out of their bye knowing they likely have to run the table to make the playoffs. It starts with a rough one against the Steelers.	1	4-7-0
22	Bears	Caleb Williams was good in the loss to the Vikings, bringing them back late to get to overtime. That type of situation matters for the future.	—	4-7-0
23	Saints	Two straight victories before the bye has them a magical run away from playoff possibility. It’s not likely, but you never know.	1	4-7-0
24	Cowboys	Give them credit for showing up and winning at Washington when things looked bleak. If they beat the Giants this week, they are 5-7. Wow.	2	4-7-0
25	Browns	Jameis Winston has brought this team some life. That was much needed. Too bad it happened too late.	2	3-8-0
26	Titans	Will Levis is making progress — even if people won’t admit it. He is also taking a beating with 20 sacks in the past three games.	3	3-8-0
27	Patriots	Drake Maye had his rookie game against the Dolphins, which can be expected. The defense did nothing to stop the Miami passing game, either.	4	3-9-0
28	Jets	This season is toast. The coach and general manager are gone, but what happens to Aaron Rodgers?	3	3-8-0
29	Panthers	Progress for Bryce Young is a good thing. And he is making it. Credit to him for improving.	1	3-8-0
30	Giants	So much for Tommy DeVito adding life to this team. They are so bad right now.	—	2-9-0
31	Raiders	They just aren’t good enough right now, which means changes are coming after the season. Just stink, baby.	—	2-9-0
32	Jaguars	Coming off the bye, there were no firings. That’s not surprising the way ownership operates, but it doesn’t mean it’s right.	—	2-9-0

November 26, 2024

Tag: Rankings

1. Buffalo Bills (12-3)

2. Detroit Lions (13-2)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

4. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

7. Green Bay Packers (11-4)

8. Washington Commanders (10-5)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)

10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

11. Houston Texans (9-6)

12. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

13. Denver Broncos (9-6)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

16. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

17. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

18. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

19. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

20. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

21. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

22. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

23. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

24. Chicago Bears (4-11)

25. New York Jets (4-11)

26. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

27. New England Patriots (3-12)

28. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

29. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

30. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

32. New York Giants (2-13)

1. Buffalo Bills (11-3)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)

4. Detroit Lions (12-2)

5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)

7. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

9. Houston Texans (9-5)

10. Washington Commanders (9-5)

11. Denver Broncos (9-5)

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

13. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

14. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

15. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

16. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

17. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

18. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

19. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

20. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

21. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

22. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

24. Chicago Bears (4-10)

25. New York Jets (4-10)

26. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

27. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

28. New England Patriots (3-11)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

32. New York Giants (2-12)

1. Detroit Lions (12-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)

4. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

5. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4)

8. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)

10. Washington Commanders (8-5)

11. Houston Texans (8-5)

12. Denver Broncos (8-5)

13. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

15. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)

16. San Francisco 49ers (6-7)

17. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)